I have had to add the 'almost' as although I do art everyday with commitments and the slower medium of colour pencil I am having a bit of a struggle to manage a complete face 'every day' I could give it up but would rather just extend my time, rather than finishing on 31st December 2016 it may well be January or even February 2017, but so what?
I have fallen in love with the coloured pencil, so after all these years of effort I have finally found what I like the best, and still do daily study from various sources to learn all I can about how to perfect the art.
When getting too far behind I break out the watercolour as also enjoying them since they have been the theme for this months 'New Obsessions' class with Gulfsprite.
I have also been using marker pen as a base and to blend with. Today my odorless paint thinner arrived though which gives me another method of blending to try, who would have thought there was so many ways to use the coloured pencil?
Above is my favourite piece to date. All colour pencil and at last my faces are beginning to have a bit of shape, as you see I am also trying to add some flowers in the background.
Lastly I used some oil pastel and watercolour on this one so a bit more of a mixed media. Aside from all the wonderful pencils there are out there on my wish list I still long for more free hours in the day, would love to do this all day and every day.....
Still having that love with the coloured pencil, and thanks to a recent art lesson with 'Gulfsprite' in watercolour enjoying that too, so much so I have just ordered some 'how to' paint flowers in watercolour to go alongside the faces, inspired by one of the other students in the group.
Above is a mixed media piece from one of the weekly lessons with 'Gulfsprite' Loved this one and enjoyed working with my fave colours.
The girl was all with 'Derwent Coloursoft' pencils (background in watercolour) as I read these were a great pencil to use I had an old set lying around and thought I would have another try with them, yes I am hooked, also bought a small set of 'Derwent Artist' as I have asked for donations for artist pencils for my birthday in a few weeks, I would like a tin of 120 pencils, they are not cheap but look amazing.
Again, all colour pencil and was inspired by a lovely card I bought with art work by 'Jane Winton' a great folk art artist, look up her work its fabulous.
This was me just playing with some of the techniques taught in above art course, I love doing these.
Lastly a 'not so great' pencil drawing, this is what has convinced me I have a lot more to learn to stop my girls being so 'flat' I have taken steps to learn more about shading in the hope to improve.
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.
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.
Oh dear, a bit behind with the blogging I see. But I have not been slacking on the art front, loving the Obsessions Mixed Media with Gulfsprite - above is my latest inspiration from the last lesson - Its a self portrait attempt before we were taught to do it, knowing it was coming up I had a go - my friend says it does look like me so thats a start.
Here is the 'work in progress' of this weeks lesson, going to be finished in oils which I am really looking forward too, but having to await their arrival before I can finish off, and some new brushes to apply it with.
I am really loving these mixed media backgrounds we have been taught, I even ordered a new journal so I can practice some more.. still not enough hours in the day though. I am also studying two books, one is portraits were I had a try at my husband and dog (he's not seen it yet LOL)
It can only get better right? Next time use softer lines, yes I know that now...
My other teaching book is on Charcoal, I love charcoal and pastel - luckily I can do these together in time, such an interesting medium and when studied that there is so much more to it than just scribbling with some vine or refining with a charcoal pencil its fascinating, here is one of my latest practice pages..
Again not enough hours in the day, and its getting too warm in there in the day and I dont have the right lighting for evening work. I have a plan to sort all that out soon, so fingers crossed. I really need to be able to spend more time in my studio, so changes need to be made to that end.
I like to think the faces I paint are developing, but I still struggle with the 'eye' thing. Despite the fact I have new spex now, I often wonder whether it is due to my eye problems that this keeps happening - as you see on the above face, the eyes are just totally different - which is such a shame as I was happy with the nose for once and the mouth was okay for me.
How adventurous is this then? I added hands! they are not so bad for a first attempt, but again see the eyes are 'off', maybe I will need to seek out my ruler for the size? but then still struggle with the shapes being equal................
Just 3 more sleeps till the next 'facecinating girls' course for winter faces, see below blog post for details - so its unlikely I will blog again till my first painting from the course - I am excited about it, as I love Andrea's courses, I think its the contageous smile that does it.
Here is my latest face, a bit of a cross I think from the classes I have taken - all worth while. One of my very favourite classes was with Andrea Gomoll, she is a great teacher and her classes are always such fun here is one of my blog posts from her first class Andrea's class
Well, hasnt she just gone and announced a brand new class of 'Winter Girls' I was already hooked, but the video on her page tells you much more and shows you exactly what you will learn to do (usually more). It starts on Sunday!!! yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. and is 25 Euros, which is a steal here in the UK works out at just over £20, worth every penny I can tell you. You can find the details here http://andrea-gomoll.de/facecinatinggirls_winter/
I finished this one off earlier today, having fun already - but more so on the new course, as much as I love painting, it is often nice to be part of the group and share work, the Fascinating Faces course has a facebook group too, so to share your work and chat with others, and Andrea is always on hand for critique if you should require it - or just for encouragement.
I am thinking of using my winter girls on some cards for this year, see how it goes - but thought it might be a nice use for them.
I am loving this course!!! (Fabulous Faces with Willowing). I was quite happy with the above face, they are all still what I call 'getting there' faces, but much closer than I was. I am not getting to do as much art as I would like due to health issues, but on better days do some catch up and I love it.
These are exactly (almost) what I have spent the last couple of years aiming for, I never really wanted to do realistic faces but pretty whimsical type ones - so I am getting happier with the results each time. Shame about the wonky features at times, this is down to my silly eye problems though I'm afraid, I notice some of the other features are a bit wonky too at times, maybe thats added character..
Never mind, they are making me happy and thats the main thing.......... I have canvas's... one day I will get brave enough to use them.
It really was not my fault this time! This book has been on my Amazon wish list for some time, so long I had forgot what it was about, knew it being by Pam Carriker it would be good, but clueless as to why. Then this weekend my wonderful friend brought me gifts she lifted from my Amazon wish list (we share them at Christmas) no its not my birthday, or Christmas - I am just lucky I have a great friend.
I am half way through this book and I love it - another one for Dawn I'm afraid, it has oodles of juicy art journal hints, interviews with some fab mixed media artists, and the whole thing is as the name suggests, its about how to cram the creativity into our busy lifestyles - just perfect.
I am still wading through my art courses, but life is in the way this week - just a few things that need my attention, so art is on a back burner really - but I do try find as much time as I can, even if its just for a quick sketch as above, and my journal pages... that if all else fails I can stick in one of my sketch faces onto a busy background - journal backgrounds are just the very best therapy..
Not going to make WOYWW again this week, I would manage a chaotic picture and post but no time to visit all the desks, so not fair to take part I feel. As if I dont have enough on just now, on top of the 3 dog walks I already do daily I have volunteered to help out a friend and walk her Kelpie and Border Collie Pup this week, so that will keep me busy, and an extra dog on Thursday too - think my legs are going to be shorter soon - just wish the weather would settle a bit, its a bit erratic at the moment. (Weather changes are bad for arthritis sufferers).
Righto, free afternoon today so must get on with some valuable sketching time.......
In case you don't know what this work desk lark is all about see here - Julia's Blog
Good Morning/Evening fellow 'deskers' sorry about the mess (again) yesterday I was full of hopes ready to tidy up and show off something amazing, but alas the world turned to disaster. Here is another desk though, just so its not too boring..
Of course desk 1, is just my art journal, not very interesting at all. Desk 2 is the side of my drawing board, just to show I don't confine my mess to one place by any means. After the photo though I did go round and put all the lids on paint and put them in the drawer, as it was too much even for me.
Lastly, here is my latest oil pastel portrait, this actually started off as a famous person - the sketch was better (in last blog entry) till I added colour, now it looks absolutely NOTHING like who it was meant to be, never mind....... keep trying.
In brief, the weather is still too hot for me, and too hot to spend much time in my art space. The husband is quite poorly, so having to play 'nurse' which really is not my forte - my Mum reminded me earlier that this is a wife's role it seems, and we do infact take those vows. Mum is not too well either, our health service is not looking after her too well, despite my official complaint - but hey, she does actually have another appointment scheduled for Friday (not bad for someone with chronic heart failure and poor kidney function) seems there is no rush to treat such things, and certainly no rush to care for anyone past 75.
Sure all you crafters appreciate if it wasnt for my art world I would go totally bonkers, what a savoir in the lowly crayon.
Will be watching Julia' later to see if I can sneak an early posting - but if not I will no doubt be in the 80's again as will be later on in the day. Will get around as many desks as I can again, I did over 100 last week so was most proud of myself, and am very grateful for everyone who took time to visit me and my mess.
This is the finished face from the sketch and underpaint I showed you in my last blog post. I quite like her, she seems a bit of a dreamy girl.
With all the hot weather and lack of art I finally got organised and sorted out my A3 sketch paper so I can use it in another room, ie making it more portable. Due to neck problems I do find it easier to do most of my work at an easel or drawing board. So, had to try find a way to sit with an A3 paper on an upright board, not ideal as I still find myself leaning which causes the pain. But, I do manage to get a couple a day done, so I can then give them colour. This week I started on a couple of famous faces, well I know who they are, but OH didnt... see if you do.. First is.............
She didnt look as good when given colour, will show you next time, still gives me the experience, I think I could do with a tutor to help me with the oil pastels, or maybe it will get better with practice, lets hope so.
next I did this one, who actually looks like two famous people (or at least I think so)
I had a go at a couple of men too, that was funny - deffo more practice needed there, one was a good face as it goes but looked nothing like who it was meant to be, the other was just awful.. think I was getting tired then. Both give me colour practice though, so might show those next time.
Its a tiny bit cooler today, on occasion. Was hot when I did my second dog walk, but has rained a bit since then, not much I hasten to add. The forecast is called 'changable' for the near future, which means some rain but they are not sure how much, were or when.
I have often been taught that the way to improve is to keep up the Practice, so I have been doing this every day this week. I dont manage a face a day as I do have other things going on in life, and especially with backgrounds and some underpainting there is drying times.
These are the faces I have done this week. Again they are with oil pastel which I just adore to work with. I do still feel my faces are a bit 'flat' and need more dimension to them, so more practice is still needed - probably a lifetimes worth LOL - but still, I enjoy doing it.
I have ordered an A3 display book so I have somewhere to put them and to log my progress, funny thing as some days I think 'thats great' then the next day I seem to go backwards again? Today I have been working on a cover for my new book (I say today, was yesterday too), also running out of some of my pastel colours, so I have invested in some new ones of the more expensive and professional brands, only 4 sticks but its a start, wonder how they will affect my progress?
Here is my last one, finished her off yesterday...
I think she is a bit on the scary side, not sure what went wrong there.............
Good Morning/Evening fellow 'deskers' sorry about the mess (again) yesterday I was full of hopes ready to tidy up and show off something amazing, but alas the world turned to disaster. Here is another desk though, just so its not too boring..
Of course desk 1, is just my art journal, not very interesting at all. Desk 2 is the side of my drawing board, just to show I don't confine my mess to one place by any means. After the photo though I did go round and put all the lids on paint and put them in the drawer, as it was too much even for me.
In brief, the weather is still too hot for me, and too hot to spend much time in my art space. The husband is quite poorly, so having to play 'nurse' which really is not my forte - my Mum reminded me earlier that this is a wife's role it seems, and we do infact take those vows. Mum is not too well either, our health service is not looking after her too well, despite my official complaint - but hey, she does actually have another appointment scheduled for Friday (not bad for someone with chronic heart failure and poor kidney function) seems there is no rush to treat such things, and certainly no rush to care for anyone past 75.
