Thursday--study for painting

So, I tried drawing again this afternoon.  I was still having problems, but after redrawing this pose for the 5th time, I feel satisfied.  Although,  she sort of looks like she belongs on a can of refried beans.  Hello, Rosarita.  This was taken from a picture of me, but I was trying to keep from an exact likeness.  But, I don't know if I'm any good at that.  The eyes just came out looking wrong.  Oh well.  I don't think I want to draw anymore today.  This is a study for a painting I want to do.  

Art and anger management

So, I'm having a bad day.  I'm feeling very frustrated, after redrawing the same picture 3 times.  This is the point where I feel like I'm very silly to have even attempted any of this.  Why empty out the guest room,  this is a joke.  I can't draw !!! I just feel embarassed that I started this whole thing. It's just a no good morning.  Plus I feel like there's not really any thing I can do well.  I guess I have to accept my averageness in life.  Long story short, I don't have anything to show, because I threw the pictures away.  I think I'm going to go scream into a pillow now. 

Room of one's own

For as long as I've wanted to paint, I've always put it off because I didn't have a good place to do it.  It's messy, and with little kids, a disaster was inevitable if I kept my paints in the main part of the house.  I've always wanted to use the guest bedroom for an art room, but felt selfish asking for it.  And funny thing, on our way back from Palmyra, Travis said, "we need to take all of the furniture out of the guest room, so you can have a place to paint".  I wouldn't have done this without him (my "life-coach") forcing me.  I feel a little presumptive/indulgent to have a whole room to myself.  Let alone a room dedicated to creating art.  But, if "life coach" insists, than I'm not going to argue.    

Back when we were building the house, this was my favorite room.  It's sort of an extension off the rear of the house and it's under it's own roof. So, it's quiet.  It has a vaulted ceiling, huge windows and is out of direct sunlight.  Perfect for an art room.

We're going to paint the walls white (match the trim) and put up a corkboard wall/shelf.  I need storage, seating, etc.  I'll put up some pictures when it's done.  

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Tuesday--one armed Paige

This was fun.  We (by we, I mean Lily, Paige, Grace and I) drew a portrait of Paige this morning.  We were on the couch, with Paige sitting quietly, cross-legged; Lily lying across the top cushions and Grace climbing all about.  A little bit distracting.  So, I decided to let the girls "help me".  Thus the Picasso-esque hand and beautiful background.  I love it.  Art by committee.  I'll do something else today.

Monday--two views/same pose

This was an exercise that made me draw the same pose two different ways.  First, I drew it without looking at my paper, all with one  line.  Then I drew a sketch.  Using the "no-lookie" method first was a good way to help me draw more intuitively.  I think the first picture shows her lean better. The pose is taken from Igres "Valpincon bather", but with a modern model.  (from a photo) (pencils--hb/8b)

Sunday--hands

Hands are hard.  I don't like to draw them.  

Saturday--At a lecture

Making the most of a dull situation.  We were at UNC chapel hill listening to this man.  He had lots of pie graphs.  So, I drew him.  And some of the other people around the room.   He sort of came out with funny.  Big head, no neck.  That's the best I could do with him moving all over, waving his arms.   

sketch 5--looking up/neck

Just a quick sketch, I don't have much time.  With my new pencils.

Sketch 4--bi-racial woman

I did this with charcoal & pencil.  It still needs work.  But, I'm moving onto something else.  Travis got me some new pencils, so I'm going to use those for my next drawing.

Sketch 4--sleeping

Last night I drew a sketch from a photo I took of Travis sleeping with Cole.  Lily saw it and wanted me to draw her sleeping.  Since it was almost 9, I let them watch spongebob while I drew them falling asleep.  It's summertime, so I figure they could go to bed late.  (I'm paying for it today)  But, anyhow, these are the sketches that came out of that experiment.  Cole is clearly faking.  Paige, I couldn't get right.  But, I like Lily's.  Also, I learned I don't like 2b graphite for the inital sketches, because it's not eraseable/smearable.  It would be good for final details.  I'll use charcoal/conte for my drawings today. (graphite/pencil on sketchpad)

Sacred Grove

Travis had me go through the grove by myself for 15 minutes.  I was going to draw, but had to photograph the light instead.  It was amazing.  Beautiful.  

Stetch 3--landscapes and me

On our trip back from Palmyra last week, instead of sleeping I drew.  This was one of those sketch pad throwing days.  I had little to draw other than my feet, my reflection in a tiny visor mirror, Travis or the horizon in front of us.  I started drawing Trav's profile and got carsick.  So, I turned forward and focused on the road for a while.  That's the landscape sketch.  That was kind of a made up landscape, sort of bits borrowed from what we were driving towards.  Once my stomach was no longer queasy, I drew my feet a little.  Then, running out of things to draw, I drew my reflection.  Not ideal conditions, but once I started everything else seemed to fade.  I could only see part of my face at a time, which made it tough to relate one part to another.  But, it also helped me to focus on one area at a time.  I like this sketch, even though the left shaded side needs to be brought in a little.   I have to say I understand why artist did so many self portraits.  You get a very cheap, very still model.  And you can take as long as you want.

(these were done with a pencil (my little ponies I think:) and so I had to darken the scans so they could be seen on the computer)   

Sketch 2--Little cole & big Cole

I love these sketches, because they were done from life.  From the eyes of a Mom.  One's an old sketch of Cole as a toddler, sleeping.  And the other from last week, while watching TV.  This was difficult.  He's wiggly.  But, that's ok. These are kind of hard to see, since they're pencil, and I tend to draw softly.  

Sketch 1--continuous line drawings

Let's see, since I'm starting this on Weds, I'll use some sketches from our last trip to count for my first few days this week.  These are line drawings from our road trip.  I only used one continuous pencil  line.  This is actually pretty difficult, because once the line is on the paper, there's no going back.  (pencil on sketchpad)

Figure drawing...

So, I took a figure drawing class last year.  I loved it.  Drawing from live models is completely different from drawing from photos.  The first figure drawing class I took was at BYU, where the models where wearing nude colored bikinis/briefs.  For modesty and what not.  Well, the class here was different.  Let's just say they kept the room warm.  But, since it was a woman, I didn't feel weird about staring at her for 3 hours.  At any rate, these are just a few of the sketches.  And only the modest parts, since I don't want my kids asking me weird questions. :)  (charcoal on newsprint)

I want to be an artist.

So, I'm starting a new blog.  Ta-da!  With all my spare time, right?  Anyways, I've had this secret for a long time.  I actually feel a little reticent about sharing my passion.  Actually, I'm scared.  But, I guess that just shows how much I care.  Equal parts fear to passion.  Also, I'm not claiming I have any great technical skills.  But, I do think I have some raw talent that just needs some time and training.  We cleared out the guest bedroom downstairs, and it will be my quiet place.  An hour a day.  Drawing, painting, different art exercises.  Whatever.  Then I will post on here, for a little accountability.  And growth.

So, where did this come from?   I've always loved art.  Been compelled by it.  In fact it's one of the few things that can cause me extraordinary frustration or total satisfaction.  Actually it's the only thing that causes me to throw things.  Like my sketchpad. When I was 10, I had a head full of fantasy.  At that time, it was mostly equine related.  But, to be able to draw my fantasies on paper was a way to make them real.  So much so, that I would draw, draw, draw, until an idea was no longer interesting.  Sort of purging my mind.  Then I'd have to find something new to inspire me.

At any rate, that little a.d.d. girl is still in there.  And, I find myself getting fixated on all sorts of things.  Only to play them out, until I'm no longer interested.  Art has never lost interest to me.  There's always a new way of looking at the same things.  The beauties and tragedies of life.  

And, although I've always loved art, my commitment to it has waivered.  I'm hoping my 60 minute daily regime, will help me push past some of my frustrations, and come out the other side.