July Goals Review

As I was on break from alot of July, I combined my July and August goals, but here's how I'm doing so far...

Business

• Think about where I want to go - Still thinking about this one, I think I may have to get out some paper to really narrow it down. It's important that I choose something I really want to achieve and something that is realistic.

Research

• Pick up my color study again - Maybe in August, even if I just applied some of what I've learned that would be a help.
• Reading about something - I'm reading Ted Kautzky's Pencil Book.
  

Artwork

• Do a CP piece on claybord with normal technique - This may become just do a CP piece.
  
• Do a CP piece on claybord with broadstroke technique - I've done enough experimenting with this idea that I know it's not going to achieve what I want it to, so this is considered done.
• Continue sketching as much as possible - Definitely happening.
• Continue practicing a slow process...refining drawings, doing color and value studies and taking my time on the final support - Yes, still doing this punctuated with quick sketches.
  

Studio Move and Portrait Update

** Updated with larger pictures of the studio. **
This post contains a picture of my relocated studio and an update on the portrait I've been doing this week.

Above you see where I've gotten to with the portrait of Jeanette that I've been doing. It's better, although I think it could still use some work, but it's close.

Below you see some photos of my studio relocated to another room. It was in the corner of the bedroom, it is now in the front room of the house by the bay windows. It certainly is more spacious! The price of that space is a measure of privacy, but I am still very happy with the move. (It's no small thing to move those desks and shelves - I found some books that I had forgotten about - so it suddenly seems as those I have new stuff! :D

Quick Portrait

Portrait of Jeanette Jobson,
work in progress, 12 in x 12 in

This is a work in progress portrait that I started last night. The subject is the ever intriguing and ever kind Jeanette Jobson. Thanks to Jeanette for letting me use the photo for a little practice.

This was done with a 6B lead in my lead holder on drawing paper. I did some of this with the broad stroke technique, but not all of it. The paper isn't great for that sort of stroke, but it was good to try doing a portrait with it.

Clearly, there is more work to be done!

July 2008 Virtual Sketch Date

This post includes my entry for the virtual sketch date this month.

First, thanks to Jeanette for administering it this time and Leslie for providing the reference.

I had planned to just do my usual graphite drawing for this, but I struggled with several different value studies and couldn't really get one I loved. So, I decided that this was a sketch and just went unplanned into colored pencils. I had good fun with this. I loved using purple and orange on the fruit and green and blue on the leaves - my favorite combinations.

It was fun to do a "sketchy" CP piece that wasn't aiming for a polished look.

Value Study

This is a value study that I worked on last night...looking at it now, I've got some adjustments to make. I'm hoping to try some new things with this...like aqua crayons for an underpainting on aquabord.

I'll let you know how it goes!

See you for the sketch date on Saturday.

Why You Need a UPS

This post is about being smart with your computer investments (and shares a little bit about my clumsiness.)

Funny Story
Yesterday I posted to my blog and then sat relaxing with my coffee and started work on another post. BAM! I tipped my travel mug of coffee over. Being of superhero descent (OK, just kidding there, but I did respond quickly) I grabbed it before more spilled onto the desk. This was a great relief, I wiped up the small puddle which had missed the computer, the keyboard, and the digital camera - all of which were close, but unscathed. Whew!

Trying to be overcautious, I decided to flip on the desk lamp just to be sure that I had gotten it all. ZAP! The lamp flicked off and the UPS (or battery backup on the computer) started beeping and audibly telling me that the power source for the computer had failed. So I figured that the lamp had short-circuited and blown a fuse. Then I went out to the garage fussed with the fuse box, but just kept tripping the circuit.

Then, I raced back in and began inspecting...there was no coffee anywhere on the desk. Then I glanced down the side of the desk...hmm, a little coffee on the side of the drawers under the desk...hmm, more coffee on the UPS...hmm, in fact all down the side of it! As my husband explained, when I grabbed it I must have knocked a bit more out that then flew in an arc over the side of the desk without leaving a trail on the desk.

Moral of the Funny Story
OK, so I spilled coffee all over the UPS and caused a problem. Why does that mean you need to get a UPS? Because, if it wasn't there, the coffee would have gone all over the plug and short-circuited the computer, modem, wireless router, etc! We are talking loss of major investment!

Sounds like a freak accident...well, they happen. We already lost a computer to a freak surge that fried it and the other components that were attached. So, this is just a public service announcement...get yourself a UPS - your computer and peripherals are worth it. Oh, and the second service announcement is don't drink near your computer!

Above are a few sketches done while watching a video with my sons...just what was to hand.

Don't forget about the virtual sketch date...we have lots of new participation this time. Photos will be posted on Saturday.

Another Quickie Portrait

Yesterday I replaced the fill valve in one our toilets (and it no longer runs!!! :-) I then discovered that I am also going to have to do something about the valve seat...all that to say, I was tired and only managed this quick 25 min sketch from a WetCanvas reference photo. Thanks to Dewi for the photo.

Confronting the Demon of Blurriness

This post is about the process of deciding how to compose a drawing, particularly in reference to backgrounds.

Last night I managed to squeeze in some sketching time. First, I did the outline drawing and value sketch for what I hope is my next CP piece. Then, as I was disgusted with that, I did a quick sketch from a WetCanvas! reference library image (thanks to terence_p).

Now about those flowers...

As I said, I created a line drawing from a photo I took on break. I quite liked the line drawing (although I will have to be careful about going too close to the edges.) Then I slapped on another layer of tracing paper and went for the value study. I liked the values for the flower petals (although I do wonder about being able to render them in CPs.)

Next I moved on to the background. (Yes, one ought to do it the other way, but this is just preliminary stuff, on the final version, I'll begin with the background.) In the reference photo there are dark leaves behind the flowers and small bright buds in front. I think I'm going to eliminate the tiny buds altogether because they will be a distraction. But the dark, slightly-out-of-focus leaves...how to render those?

Gut Reaction #1: Do the blurry leaves. However, I have tried to do that "slightly-out-of-focus" bit before and it is always a bit of a disaster.

Gut Reaction #2: Dark Background, nearly uniform, no suggestion of leaves. This is a good solution, but the trouble is that this is becoming my only solution! It's getting a little repetitive.

This Morning's Considered Reaction: Learn how to do a blurry background, even if I never use it. Maybe set this aside and just work on the background idea for a day or so.

If anyone has hints, tips, expertise, etc I'd love to hear it! Share it in the comments and we can all learn.

Sketching As a Language

This post is about my recent discoveries about sketching and what it means to me.

While I was on break and just sketching for me (that is, without predetermined plan or objectives), I realized something very important.

Background...I don't do scrapbooks. Yes, scrapbooking is incredibly popular and has grown into an art cottage industry, however, I have never really been into it. This is sad because when my husband proposed to me, he wrote a book. He created a scrapbook of all of our dates with receipts, ticket stubs, photos, etc. The climax was, "Will you marry me?" It was wonderful. He then said, "you do the scrapbooks now." And I did them for a few years. But, I haven't done one since we were living in England, so I'm too far behind to catch up now. Sad but true.

While on break, I found that I wanted to record small events, details to remember, etc.

Small Details
We visited family for some of the time. I drew the pattern on my mother-in-laws couch pillows, just because it reminds me of their living room and all the happy memories we've had in there over the years. I drew some decorative items in my parents' house, a chocolate pot among them, because I remember them from my youth. I could have taken pictures of these items, but somehow, drawing them meant more to me.

Events
When we were on the beach, I drew a tugboat off in the distance, because I wanted to remember discussing with my mom about whether the boat and other machinery were out there for fish or kelp. I drew the cliffs behind us because I remember staring at them for hours when I was a girl and we spent the summers there. I drew my parents holding my son's hand while standing in the water, because watching that scene was a very special moment for me. Now, I feel like I can be transported back to that beach just looking at the drawings.

Conclusion - Sketching is a Language
What does this mean? Well, honestly, I think it means that sketching has become a language for me. My drawings say more to me than my photographs. I know that sounds a little hokey - in fact, when I've encountered books before that talked about drawing as a language I've immediately put them down with disgust. But now, I suppose that I sort of get it. Not in some bizarre rambling, flaky artist way, just in a "I can write down my memories without words" way.

Sketching People and the Problems They Create

This post is about my adventure in sketching people over my blogging break.

Recently I've been wrestling with what directions to pursue in my art. For as long as I remember, I've wanted to be a portrait painter...a bit like that childhood dream that you just never let go of. As I grew up I made career choices that were more stable...I was a software engineer for many years. Then I "retired" from the software industry and began a new career as a mother. Being a stay-at-home mom is a full-time job with lots of overtime :D, but I have also found time to pursue my artwork. As I have done that, I have drifted from people as subject matter. Recently I've been struggling with that drift. On my break I didn't really solve this question, but I did find out some interesting things.

Problems With Sketching People That I Solved
Comfort Level. As I sketched people more and more on my break, I got more comfortable drawing people from life. I can't even say that I greatly improved, it was just easier to choose an unusual position and draw it.
Desire. I found I am still fascinated with people. Although I didn't draw any portraits, only figures, I did find myself staring at several faces and wishing that I could draw them.
Habits. Ever since I was a child I have marveled at the "eyes are the window of the soul" concept. I have always wondered what a person's eyes, nose, hands, feet, etc "said" about them and tested that against what I knew about them. This "habit" of mine shows no sign of abating. Whether or not our physical features say anything true about us or not, I have a great fascination with people and their features.

New Problems
Paper Fright. When I had an audience, I froze up and it went horribly wrong. This happened to me on the beach and in an airplane. Once people shifted and I knew they were watching what I did, I just couldn't clear my mind and focus. This is a serious weakness for an artist wanting to draw people from life!
Differences in Portraits and Figures. As I mentioned before I mostly sketched figures on this trip and I enjoyed it. However, that is not the same as a portrait, and it is the personal characteristics of the portrait that fascinate me. It's a bit like the difference between painting a landscape and painting a flower in macro.

What I Take From All This
I carry on. The path I'm on now is a good one, I'm excited about the plans I have made. And as I progress through them I will add in new goals relating to portraiture. Part of being an artist is enjoying the journey for the journey's sake - not just being able to draw/paint something exactly as you want it.

What I Learned on Break

Some flower sketches done over my break.

This post is about some of the things I learned while I took a 3 week blogging break.

About Breaks in General:

• Short term breaks are good for you. A few weeks ago, I was totally out of ideas and figured I'd never have another. Now, I'm ready to blog, keen to blog, and I have ideas. Even enjoyable things can become a drudgery and a break from them is helpful.
• You don't want to be on break forever. Three weeks is about my limit. If I was still on break, I'd be grumpy that I hadn't written a post.
  

About My Art:

• Sketching. I really enjoyed grabbing my sketchbook when I had five minutes and just drawing whatever was in front of me. I had no goals or objectives in mind, I just wanted to enjoy the process of drawing again. It also gets easier to just dive in when you are drawing several times a day.
• Coloring. Honestly, it was good for me to get away from fussing about with color for a few weeks - just graphite sketching, with one or two spots of pen and ink. I'm ready to come back and dive in to color again.
• Ideas. While I was in "just sketch for fun" mode my brain worked out some ideas, particularly some ideas about style. I've studiously been trying to not worry over style for a few months now - clearly I was getting nowhere. Then, one day, just sketching and relaxing...BOOM...ideas starting pouring forth.
• Organization. Well, I'm not sure if it's organization or attention to detail, but I found myself lacking. Some of my break coincided with a family holiday...I did not purchase a particular item before I left that I desperately wanted on the trip and I left a sketchbook on an airplane (without info in it.) I'm still kicking myself about those things! :-)
  

About Blogging:

• People. I really missed my virtual friends while I was away. In many ways, it felt a little lonely (at least for art conversation.)
• Reading. I glanced at my reader a few times, but did not keep up on blogs for the three weeks. Even though it is a slow time for blogs, I still had over 400 entries. Considering how much time it would take to read everything through, I decided to skim many, delete others, and just read over my favorites. That process has made me think that I need to reconsider how much time I spent reading blogs. Maybe I am oversubscribed. Maybe I just need to read my favorites and ditch the rest...not sure about that, but I am thinking about it. (BTW, I still have not fully caught up!)
• Writing. I missed thinking about art issues and writing about them.

In short, I missed you all terribly and I'm ready to dive in!

I'm Back!

Hey Gang!

I'm back. Taking a blogging break was really good for me...I've got a bunch of sketches, I've cleared my head on a few things, and I've found a direction I want to move in.

More about all that soon.

Tomorrow is the posting of the Virtual Sketch Date for July. Check it out.

I'll get some things up in the next few days, but just had to say I'm back.

July/August Goals

Since I've been on break for most of July, I'm combining my July and August goals.

Business

• Do some thinking about what goals I need to set to be happy with my progress in this area at the end of the year.

Research

• Pick up my color study again.
• Reading about something.
  

Artwork

• Do a CP piece on claybord with normal technique
• Do a CP piece on claybord with broadstroke technique
• Continue sketching as much as possible
• Continue practicing a slow process...refining drawings, doing color and value studies and taking my time on the final support.
  

June Goals Review

This is the final week of my blogging break. So I thought that I would do a goals review and a goal planning for the next month.

Today is the goals review.

June Goals (as listed here)

Business

• Website updated.
• Updated blogroll and "about me" sections of blog
  
• New work - met with client
  

Research

• Read about Watson and broadside pencil painting
• Experimented with that technique
  

Artwork

• Work for client was put on hold by client.
  
• Did some experimenting, mostly with graphite.
• Did a Virtual Sketch Date.

Robert Beverly Hale and the Masters

Last year I spent some time looking at Robert Beverly Hale's book Drawing Lessons from the Masters. Above is a piece I did after Norman Rockwell during my studies in the Hale book.

Here are those posts.

A few thoughts that still stick with me:

• drawing takes practice (he constantly uses phrases like "hundreds of times" when referring to doing exercises)
• artists don't draw what they see, they draw what they want you to see

One of my favorite quotes from the book:

"You must realize there is no royal road to drawing. It is practice, practice all the way. So get your pad of paper and start drawing simple lines. You will find it very hard to make a really straight line, and harder to make a vertical than a horizontal. Try drawing a perfect circle. Draw a few thousand and they will get perceptibly better. Above all, don't get discouraged. It is said that only the divine Raphael reached circular perfection." (Hale, p. 14--15)

Art History Links

During this week of my blogging break, I thought I would highlight a few oldies but goodies.

Above you see the art history page of my website. It is a summary of all my posts last year done for the "master of the month" projects that I participated in. It's good fun, go have a peek.

Still in the Neighbor's Garden

Here is another beautiful specimen from my English neighbor's garden. This plant is very tall and stands above the row of boxwoods that surround the garden. From my house, I can see a blaze of purple standing over the green hedge, it is a lovely sight!