365 faces challenge - random 41/60 something

Sorry for absence.  Family drama got in the way of my art work, so in truth I did miss 3 days.  Above is 46.

49. So, as I am so far behind now I am just going to choose a random 6 that I like best so I can catch up.

I am still very much enjoying learning colour pencil work and how best to blend, using different tecniques. (and one day I will learn to spell too!)

I do try when short on time at least to manage a pencil sketch in the moleskine, but for a few days there was either no time available or I was just wiped out with the stress of it all.

I even got behind on my art lesson with 'gulfsprite' but think I have caught up with that now.  Above was one from the class.

This one is just from a few days back, and I loved it.  Though nobody else did, so I got the worst reception ever on instagram with this one - funny when we dont all like the same things.

I hope to be back on track now, and trying to keep my back seat from the on-going drama.  I hate drama, much prefer peace and quiet and pencils and paint.

So Much to Learn

One of the best things about my journey in art is all the learning to be done.  Each day I am learning more about how to progress with my art which is the most amazing of experiences.  Okay it does take a bit longer later in life, but I think is more appreciated.

I love doing the faces, but have never been all that thrilled with the hair on my girls, or that sure on what to do in the backgrounds, always wanting them to have a bit more of an interest.  This weeks lessons in Painted Faces III and in Art Geeks have been teaching more about the face and how to enjoy creating your own version of the hair, and in the group we have been discussing surrealism and how to include more into our background pieces.

I think I am getting quite an addiction going on, I have a head just full of paintings waiting to get out, and as usual not enough hours in the day.  Also my little dog was neutered yesterday so she is needing quite a lot of care right now, having said that she has slept most of today which has allowed me to complete another page.

I just finished this one.  Also the majority done this month have been in watercolor, I think I am starting to actually prefer this, after so long fighting it and not really understanding how it works, my next task is to put away my desk full of acrylics.. not saying I wont use them as sure I will but need more space for my watercolors, inks and of course my crayons.. still having a lot of fun in my sketchbook with the crayons.

keeping up

Really struggling to keep up with everything at the moment.  Determined to keep a record of my art works here on blogger as I feel its important to see my own progress and I also hope it may be of help to others.  Above is the second journal page lesson in Painted Faces III with Gulfsprite.  Many have said how lovely the page is, which I agree but .. it is with the help of an excellent teacher.

In our facebook group (Gulfsprite class group) we were discussing the use of other mediums, one of the girls has broke her hand and having to try using her none dominant hand for her art - this started a discussion on adult colouring books and the use of crayola crayons, so some of us went off and had a try at art using just crayola crayons, above was my first attempt.  Not the easiest things in the world to shad with, but I have seen some true masterpieces done, so I have another book on the way to tell me more.  Using crayons is just a wonderful experience.

We were also discussing marker pens, which is something I have previously not got to grips with.  Seems the secret for me is to just 'go for it' with no thought at all and play, this has to be the best thing I have ever done with just markers... It took me about half an hour.

Finally is today's art lesson and journal page.  Not really sure about this one, I do like the face I did but the background is bolder than it should be, I feel a softer approach may have been better.  I have another two pages sketched out though when we were learning 'ears' so hope to find some time to develop those over the weekend.  Though I have visiters tomorrow, and am out most of Sunday as its my birthday, so not looking that great time wise..  I may well be a bit slower next week too as my beautiful little dog is going to the vet to be neutered so I will be spending time caring for her till she is back to full speed.

Art in April

So, I have started my new on-line art course - you can find it here Painted Faces III and just three lessons in I am learning a lot, and I do think my style is improving.

Alongside I am also still working on the People Pleasing book, and learning how to STOP this as it is not good for the health.  Above was to copy down the 10 commandments of a people pleaser and then change them to a new and improved lifestyle, learning that it is okay to put your needs first, or at least to learn to consider them at all.

My new commandments are written out above, not so easy to stick to them but I am trying hard.  Of course the book does not actually 'say' to incorporate this with your art, I just like to do it this way.

Above was just my playing around with my own style, after a lesson in 'features' on the course, I am hoping my facial features are starting to improve, still the lesson on shading to go and today's lesson (or yesterdays for most) is a very long one that I am about to watch.  Certainly get your money's worth on this course.

This last one was actual 'homework' from the art course, it was the first 'journal page' lesson, not like me to use so few colours so was an experience.  We are going to learn more about jewellery and hair yet too, I did enjoy this page also with the collage element.

Not had a whole lot of time for art with the Easter weekend.  Intending to cram lots into today though, always happiest with my pencils and brushes.

Difficult Week but still Painting

It has not been the easiest of weeks, and although I have dated my paintings each day they were not in all honesty done daily.  I did have at least two days of no art at all.  I quite like this first one, I have started to use even more of my art supplies for improved effect.

This dramatic girl was done on my paint palette page in the style of the paint palette Polly's I did, trying a new direction with them so I can continue at some point.  I did find the drama of the piece quite uplifting.

A similar style in my art journal, not one of my better days but at least I managed to throw some paint about and have a practice.  I did like the colour palette.

I did like the style of this one.  I did the initial sketch with a brush so it did start off a bit looser, then refined it at the end with pencils.

Right up to this morning, whilst some of my collage work was drying out I got out some soft pastels and a sketch book and did this one just from my head with no reference picture, she is quite interesting and I still do not really know what I am doing with pastels, would love to learn to use them correctly with the effects I have seen.  But no pencil work on this, all done with soft pastels.

Lastly I finished this one off this afternoon.  Paint and collage to the back and she is painted and coloured using pencils, inks, pastels, oil pastels and paints.  Hope to have time to try another tomorrow before again (hopefully) finding the time to start my new faces course with Gulfsprite on Wednesday.
With Easter upon us I will probably loose more time, and its my Dad's birthday on Saturday so a family gathering for that and mine the week after.. I am hoping to go out then as there is a dog show at one of the local rescue's I support and I would love to take my pretty girl Rhubarb to the fun dog show.  Also have the day job getting in the way from time to time too, but should not complain about that one, that is to keep me in art supplies so a necessary evil.

keeping up the practice

It is harder than I thought to keep this up!  But so far so good, I have managed to drag myself into the arty space every day and do 'something' not always a finished page but 'something' involving a brush, crayon or pencil.

Not every face is perfect or 'great' but niether is every day, nor every face in reality.  The good news is though there is a new course called Painted Faces III with Gulfsprite, starting on April 1st - and my seat is 'almost' booked.

I feel sure there will be a marked improvement in what you see then.  I need help with shading I know, and a few other of the finer details.

As you see, above all a visual journal is a place to 'play' it really doesnt matter if each page is not a total 'delight' often they are not, and most people do not have to even show them to a soul if they would rather not.  Must say I do have pages that are really 'bleugh' and even I dont own up to.

Still working on the bodies too, not going so well as yet, but at least I am not shying away from them and having a go.  Must say I do like this visual journal to work in, the paper is good as is the size (I think its 12 x 9) though I do prefer to work larger this is good too, really could not go much smaller though.

Above was a page I finished off a couple of hours ago, it is the hair I was working on and I used coloured pencil on a lot of the face and hair alongside paints and inks.  Yes, her nose and mouth are a bit dodgy but hey................ its a nice background...  I even used my gelatos on this one, not had those out to play for a while.

Art Every Day

Still going strong and managing to do some form of art every day, even those days when time is so short I manage to do something.

Not everything turns out the way I would like, but I do feel I am making lots of progress and at the same time having plenty of idea's of the direction I would like to go.

The main thing is to enjoy what you do, and one of the BIGGEST lessons I have just learnt in my 'disease to please' book... is about seeking approval, this can be as bad for you as many other things in life.  Luckily my Mum gives me lots of encouragement and approval, but learning not to seek it elsewhere is a very important lesson, and once that can be shaken it is another way of freeing up your anxieties and concentrating on pleasing yourself.. and why not?

Now my pages have been photographed I can see I do need to work on the shape's of their faces a little, they are reminding me of 'spitting image' puppets, LOL.  I am enjoying this new journal too, its a Strathmore Mixed Media 9" x 12" so a nice size and the paper takes a lot of layers with no struggles too.

I have purchased some great fashion books to copy my models from and learn more poses for them.  Finally back to have idea's a plenty and not enough free hours to put them on paper, but rather that than a lack of mojo or enthusiasm.  Those of us lucky enough to have found art are very fortunate, we can shut out the rest of our worries and live on our pages of colour for a while............ Bliss.

anyone who suffers from this awful affliction of 'People Pleasing' I cannot recommend this book enough it shows you exactly what this can do to you, and explains why it needs to stop and you need to learn to start living for you!

New me, New Style

Starting as I mean to go on, with the 'new me' thing I have even managed to find the time each day since my last post to do some art.  Above was on Tuesday, I had the idea I wanted to try some daffodils as spring is struggling to begin here, though we do have daffodils and crocus out and about which are a delight to witness.  The girl is my version of one in a fashion illustrator book I am learning from, while I try to make my girls less 'stiff' and a little more movement in them, still a way to go I know but improving I feel.

On Wednesday my new idea was developing slowly, not quite sure what prompted this one but I think she does have 'something' about her.

Thursday I have very little time for art (or much else) I had already played with a background so just added a quick sketch in paint again with the help of the fashion illustrator book.  Still developing the new idea's I have.

Up to today which is Friday, back into the new journal.  My husband is home today and he peered over my shoulder and said 'oh, still in dont give a sh*t mode then?' as he feels my work has improved as a result.  See if I can keep it up now, nearly 49 years as a "People Pleaser" is not going to disappear over night it needs a lot of work.  Fingers crossed again, I am enjoying my new works and new idea's, not helping much with the sleep thing though as I would rather be up and painting.

People Pleasing

Have you noticed how nice and friendly my blog has always been? never an opinion, or any phrase or offering that just 'might' offend somebody somewhere?  This is part of the definition of 'People Pleasing'.  I had no idea what this actually was until recently (actually this weekend) whilst reading This Book I read that the author had penned another book called 'disease to please' I have ordered this one too.
I always thought that pleasing people was a good thing, it would make you a nice person and gain love and respect from those around you.... WRONG!!! it is very bad and take it from me it can also make you very ill.
To learn more after some on-line research I found this video on you tube that tells you more and starts the path to sorting this out.  As my daughter is often keen to remind me, I will be in my 50th year next year, and spent an entire lifetime trying to please, and trying to please two specific people in my life, who have always bullied and put me down, stamped on my confidence and near destroyed me.  The above video just explained in no uncertain terms that I will NEVER make them happy or gain their approval, and why on earth do I find it necessary to seek approval from anyone?  Now is the time to begin living for me....

Here is the new Strathmore journal I treated myself too.  The first picture is my first page... When I purchased it last week it was to be my 'happy journal'.  Hopefully it still will be my Happy Journal, but more likely it will be my 'honest' journal, I may share some of the pages here but not all - not because they might offend you, but to keep some things more private.

Above is my 50/100 faces I am still working through with my arty pals on instagram.  The background was not my idea but shamelessly stolen from Jenniebellie, its 'spirograph' I highly recommend this childhood toy, its just so much fun - I also got some stencils to match.  The face was drawn in inktense pencil, which is why there is so much blue.. I think she has attitude, do you?

Dont be like me, and try to please everyone.  It is an impossible task.

Sad Neglected Blog

Happy New Year!!! Well, what can I say? who would have thought it would be almost 3 months since my last blog post?  Without going into too much of the boring stuff, 'below post' little dog was very poorly and my health took a downward too.  All is well now though, near enough and we are back to it.  I did do a small amount of art works but not so much, yesterday I had a good few hours in my long lost art room and came up with these, so lets start from 'now' eh?  I wanted to learn 'movement' in my art, so my girls are not so stationary so my last book was on fashion illustration. 

Finding it quite easy to do and enjoying the effects.  I put the above face on my instagram account and it seemed quite acceptable to my arty pals on there.  Having also made the realisation I cannot earn a living from art no matter how I try - I am also starting a new business in dog walking, I want a door sign to advertise and cards etc, so trying to get something together for that too, to show my arty side as well as what I am to be doing.  Hence needed to learn about movement.

I am not giving up on my art by any means.  Just taking off the pressure and giving myself the means to afford my paint, books and on-line classes.

Must add, another reason for needing to restart my blog is I have been lucky enough to do an interview with the wonderful JENNIBELLIE not sure when this will go live, but I will let you know when it does.  There is a link there to my blog, instagram and etsy shop - so need to be sure they are all active.

All is now well in doggie land here.  My new girl is now getting back to full health, and we are all getting along nicely.  So I will close with one of our fave photo's of the three of them together.

100 faces challenge

..and I thought I was all alone in this challenge!  it was pointed out to me in one of my blog posts that there was others doing the same challenge... I found them on instagram.  A great bunch of wonderful artists who set themselves a challenge for one hundred faces.  So I have of course joined in with the instagram posting and found the 'one hundred faces tribe' on a facebook group.

Though I do faces in my journal, and on loose leaf and just about everywhere inbetween my own challenge is to do 100 'Paint Palette Polly's'  I am now up too number 12 - so I am a bit behind the others in the challenge.  But they are teaching me a lot.

You might notice the first faces in my art journal up above are slightly different.  This is me practicing with charcoal and pastels.  Some of the 100 faces tribe do some wonderful art with charcoal, so I dug out my charcoal and chalk pastels too, not quite in their league but then they do paint realism which 'clearly' I do not.

This last 'Polly' here is the usual painted background, but the face was drawn with charcoal and coloured with chalk pastels - made a great change for me.  I have only listed up to number 9 in my Etsy shop and plan to take a break from listing them there in order to take the pressure off and just have more fun with my art.  I have been watching some great video's on youtube by Christy Sobolewski which has led me to dig out the A3 paper and have more fun..

This is a 'work in progress' I am doing - not sure what to do with that lovely background yet, as it is too much for the piece I know, shame to cover it but its just not working.  The girls need finishing off and shading yet too.

Here ends my first post of a new month.  It is now December and here in the UK the weather is turning somewhat chilly, time for the winter duvet tonight as that wind is bitter, might even need the thermals for dog walkies tomorrow.