Day 16 and 17 of 29 Faces Challenge

Watercolor Portrait

I am counting this painting as a two day project since it took me two days to finish.  I really love the simplicity of this painting.  It is a lot different from the inspiration photo I posted on Facebook and I am glad.  I can see my style evolving.

see you tomorrow....

Day 15 of 29 Face Challenge: trying new technique

New Technique

I tried something new tonight, teeth.  The eyes are a little off tonight, but I think the tech are pretty good.  

See you tomorrow.....

Day 14 29 Faces Challenge -

Day 14

Photo was used as a reference for this painting in my journal.

see you later.

Day 13 of 29 Day Challenge: Still keeping it simple

Day 2 of painting faces.

Ok Folks, need to work on ears.  Paint medium today is acrylic paint watered down.

see you tomorrow...

Well tomorrow came a little early.  The ears were really bothering me so I made a little edit.

Learning to edit

Day 12 29 Faces - Painting Faces

Day 12 practicing painting faces.  For the next week I will be working on shading and painting. This evening was very tentative.  Hope to loosen up as the week goes on.  Medium used Water soluble Derwint graphitint pencils and water.

Painting Faces

see you tomorrow.....

Day 11 of 29 Face Challenge - Keeping it Simple.

Day 11 - Keeping it simple.

See you tomorrow....

29 Face Challenge Days 8, 9, and 10 - Growing in Confidence

Hi, I have been busy the past couple of days with a commission to knit Hats, art projects that need to be mailed this weekend, so I did not get a chance to draw any faces.  Today I drew three, it took me about 90 minutes.  I am learning to take my time and really concentrate.  Work on getting the eyes on an even plane, etc.  This has been a real learning experience.

Day 8 More Shading

Day 9 - Side Glance

Day 10 - More Shading

See you tomorrow.

Day 7 29 Faces: day 2 of shading exercise

Shading Practive

more tomorrow....

Day 6 of 29 Faces 2017: Taking a step back

I am using 29 Faces 2017 to improve my ability to draw and paint faces.  I was thinking about how I was going to achieve this goal and remembered that I sighed up for a free online class from Tamara Laporte called Fabulous Faces.  So I decided to "use what I have."  The lesson I reviewed was on shading.  I have been very tentative about shading and this demonstration helped a lot.

My first portrait using the shading lesson.

First shading lesson

see you tomorrow.

Day 5 29 Faces: Simplicity

Simple drawing

As I work to find my voice, I keep coming to simplicity.  As I was doing research for today's face I came across the artist Keiko Minami (1911 to 2004), a Japanese born artist. Her work is very simple and linear.  The drawing today is inspired by her work.

see you tomorrow.

Day 4 of 29 Faces

Day 4 looking away

Trying something new everyday Boy do I need to practice noses.

See you tomorrow

Day 3 of 29 Faces

Face in the shadows

I wanted to try painting the page and using that as the painting and shading for the face.  The Sketchbook I am using has gray paper and the photo came out sort of shadowy faded (if there is such a description) but I really like it.  I do however, think I am going to switch to a book with lighter paper.

see you tomorrow

29 Faces Challenge Day 2 - Dapper Dude

Sketch based on photo from Sktchy App

This is day 2 and boy was it fun.  The sktchy app is fodder for ideas.

see you tomorrow.

29 Faces Day 1

Day 1 Graphite drawing

Ok, Day one is done.  Felt good to try this again.  Hope I make it the whole 29 days.

see you tomorrow

31 Day Blogging Challenge day 31: I made it!!!!!!!

2012 - First attempts at face

2013 

2015

The last day of January....Blogged the entire month. There were some two-fees but hey I am pretty busy.  It has been a very eventful month, but I have for the most part enjoyed it.  Blogging has been fun.

Tomorrow is February first and a new challenge will begin. I am going to be participating in 29 Faces challenge and will be blogging about it here.  29 Faces is a twice a year challenge sponsored by Ayala Art and is held in February and September.

I am going to give it my best to try and draw a face everyday; and, I am going to try and treat each day as an adventure so who knows what will happen.  I know it will be fun.

My faces have improved over time; but I have not drawn faces in over a year, so it is almost like starting from scratch.  Hmm this could prove interesting.

It has been blogging this month.

see you tomorrow with the first face.

31 Day Blogging Challenge: Days 29 and 30: Ending the month in silence, my heart is aching

31 day Blogging Challenge day 28: Silent Saturday sites in Italy

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Lemon Plant on Winery in Sorrento

Amalfi Coast 

Amalfi Coast

Pompeii

Downtown Palermo, Sicily

see you tomorrow.

31 Day Blogging Challenge Days 26 and 27: There are no words

This week I have been working on a commissioned knitting project and quietly watching the interesting events happening in our world.  I am not in shock, because it is nothing less than I expected; however, I feel the need to embrace the beauty of these photos I have taken, they make me smile.

Tomorrow is Silent Saturday....Hurray.

31 day blog challenge days 24 and 25: Random thoughts

Bright Yellow

My Interpretation of mountains

Photos and paintings....art speaking to my soul.  As this month comes to a close, I am thinking about what I am going to challenge myself to do in February.  I have an idea that I think I am going to commit to, and quite a few projects that should be fun.  I just want to spend some time quietly enjoying life.

see you tomorrow.

31 day Blogging Challenge Day 22 and 23: Jollyologist

Sunset at Fort Worden in Washington State.

This is one of my favorite photo's.  Sometimes I amaze myself with the photo's I take using my phone.

I spent the weekend in Springdale, Utah which is in the Zion National Park Area.  I went to attend a Women's Retreat.  It was a wonderful retreat.  The theme was Self, Others, God.  There was a story that touched me very deeply.  It was about a mother raccoon who gave everything she had to everyone else until she was depleted.  I could so relate to being so busy helping others that I neglect take time to rest and refresh.  The question becomes how much help can you be to others, and how can you serve God, if you are too busy or too tired.  For me this is really food for thought.

We watched a movie about the 4th Wiseman.  It was a story about the fourth Magi that wanted to go along with the three Wisemen who were following the star to where Jesus lived.  The fourth Wiseman sold all that he had and tried to get others to go with him. His father granted his desire to go and sent with him one of his slaves to travel with him in return for his freedom when they returned.  They traveled for over 30 years trying to see the Messiah; however, time was spent helping others along the way.  While the main character was the 4th Wiseman; I was struck with the plight of the slave.  This man spent 30 years complaining.  He faithfully sent letters home detailing their adventures as they traveled; at first his missives were very polite and hopeful; then they became plaintive cries for relief and desperation; then resignation that they never return home.  He refused to help members of a leper colony, spent his days in the City while the 4th Wiseman (a doctor by trade) tended to the needs of the people in the colony.  I do not want to tell you how the movie ends because I hope you will take time to find it give it a viewing.

On Saturday evening we watched a video The Joy of Stress by Loretta LaRoche.  She used the term Jollyologist.  This word simply cracked me up and I just had to embrace it because the term asks us to spend time bring joy or at least a good laugh to people we interface with each day.

This was really a great weekend.  I learned a lot, laughed a lot and decided that I am going to take more time to relax and enjoy the embrace of God.

see you tomorrow.