What I have been up to

Been a few days since I posted.  It has been really busy around here with a lot of church related activities.  I have been able to squeeze in some art time.

For the Birds

The idea behind this 5x7 journal page was a swap hosted by Gisele Grenier.  The premise for this page was to use the Movie The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock as inspiration.  This background for this page is a wash of black and white acrylic paint.  The bare trees are drawn free hand and the birds are an assortment of Stencil girl product birds.  I forget that I can use stencils in my art projects and this one had great results.

Human Lung

the heart

The lung and the heart are works in progress, they need to be painted.  I am participating in a 21 day challenge that seemed really interesting.  It is call 21 embody and each day for 21 days you draw and paint a body part.  These represent day 1 and 2 and I will spend the next couple of hours painting them and drawing day 3's body part.  I tell you this is really interesting especially since I did not think I could really draw a realistic heart, who knew!!!!

So, I am still working through the Paint Mojo class and will post some of that by Saturday.  

see you soon, maybe tomorrow.

Paint Mojo week 1

Batch of Ephemera 1

Bundle number 1

Ephemera batch 2 - tea dyed papers

Ephemera Batch 3

Bundle 3

For the next six weeks I am going to be working through an online class, Paint Mojo.  I have been watching the video's for week one.  The first step was to put together some Ephemera bundles.  The idea is to gather papers that can be used for collage.  However, the practice is not think about what you are doing and see what comes together.  I have a lot of ephemera that has been collected over the years.  I decided to go through my stash and randomly pick out some items and put them into a bundle. 

One of my favorites is ephemera batch 2 which includes papers that were part of a bundle soaked in tea last year while attending a class with Orly Avineri and Katie Kendrick on Bainbridge Island, Washington.  For some reason the bundle did not download, but that is ok.

I think this is going to be a really eye opening experience.  I started not to post these bundles because painting was not involved.  This morning I realized that I am doing this for me and taking my readers along for the journey.  As a result, I need to show all aspects of the process and that includes painting and non-painting exercises.  There will be works in progress (WIP), swipes of paint on a page, marks and all sorts of things because the objective is not to come up with a masterpiece although that may happen.  No, the objective is learn a process I have seen and wanted to learn for a long time.

So I am going to enjoy recording this journey so that I have a record of what I have learned.  It will be swell for you to join me on this road of discovery.

see you soon.

29 Faces challenge the end Days 26-29

Day 26

Day 27

Day 28

Number 29

Holy Crapola Batman.  I did it.  29 faces in 28 days.  It was such fun. I learned a lot and think I actually grew a lot in my abilities.  I can draw a nose and ears are not too bad either.

Most important is that I kept the commitment.

My next project is working through a online class I won, Paint Mojo by Tracy Verdugo.  I am so excited to spend the next 6 weeks working and enjoying.

so, see you tomorrow.

Playing Catchup - Days 23, 24 and 25 of 29 Faces Challenge

Day 23 side braid

Day 24 Flowing hair

Day 25 - Top Bun

I had two art projects to complete and fell behind in my daily drawings.  Once the projects were completed, I started drawing faces.  I did not paint them, although, I may spend this evening painting.

I find that painting sometimes changes the look and I like the effects of the drawing.

The Challenge is almost finished; however, I am committing to drawing more faces throughout the year.  I am going to do a 100 face challenge and the best part is that I will have a 29 face head start.  In this way I hope to perfect the painting of faces.   I will post the faces as they are completed.

On the 28th I will announce my challenge for March.

see you tomorrow....

day 22 of 29 Faces Challenge

more practice with hair

Today's challenge was with hair giving volume.

see you tomorrow....

Day 21 of 29 Faces Challenge

Lady in Blue 

This is another painting inspired by Gustav Kiimt.  It was and is truly a learning experience.  Making a face standout from the dark background is a challenge that I will keep working with.  I am enjoying the challenges.

More to come.

Day 20 of 29 Faces - It's all about the hair

Day 1 of hair practice 

This week I will be working on hair.  Today's painting was done with Derwent inktense blocks.  They are really nice to work with.

Days 19 of 29 Faces Challenge: Inspired by Matisse

Keeping it Simple - end of week

Day 18 of the 29 Faces Challenge

Deep in Thought

This painting is inspired by Gustav Klimt.  I happen to love painting closed eyes, like the person is deep in thought and I don't do it enough.  This was fun to work on and I think it has given me the confidence to start working on my online class, Painting with the Masters that I have had for some time.

See you tomorrow

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.