blue room

I forgot to write about this picture.  It's from a dream I've had for a long time.  Sort of dark, but I liked drawing it.  Maybe I won't have it anymore.

Deadline...what day is it?

Took some more pictures.  Still haven't got exactly the right idea.  I don't know what I'm going to do.  This may lead to procrastination.  But, I'm committed to sticking to my goal.  I'll get some kind of a sketch up here by Saturday.  That way I can start painting on Wednesday (after the holiday).  Eeeeee, I'm scared to paint.  Silly, I know.  But, I just think about all the time it takes to get set up and then if I screw it up, how frustrated I get.  This is a real love-hate thing for me.  Either I love it to the tops or I hate it until I want to love it again.  

Studio is mostly finished...

It still needs another coat of paint.  But, considering how heavy the ladder is, I'll probably make-do with less than perfect (slightly blueish) off-white.  It's an improvement.  Just to have a room to call my own is awesome.  The light in there is so nice.  I need a better adjective, but I'm too tired.  

Lily is my companion in there.  She likes to spin on my chair.  Even though I always tell her to get down.  The kids went to town on the chalkboard wall.  They give me inspiration.  They just draw without thinking.  I wish I could be like that.  After drawing for a few minutes, I can almost get there.  Where the marks just show-up on the paper.  It's very zen.  Just to let it flow.  It's like when you're dancing or running or (for me) riding a horse or whatever else.  Just movement without thought.  Movement just to enjoy moving.   

Wednesday--my scanner is suicidal

My scanner is not working properly.  It keeps zooming in on my pictures as I scan them in.  Earlier today, I was picturing myself dropping it out the window...and then going a little Office-space on it.  

This scan is only a small part of the drawing I did today.  It's conte, chalk & pencil.  It was nice drawing a man's face for a change.  I'm sick of looking at/drawing my own.  Stubble and thicker skin and texture.  Rougher.  It was nice.

Tuesday--female figure

Unfinished pencil sketch.  Didn't have time to finish this one.  This is also from an anatomy book.  Her arm is a little too straight.  I need to go back to the figure drawing class. It's kind of a neat format, you just show up Monday nights and draw.  Real people make for better pictures than photos.  That's just my opinion.  

Monday--figure from photo

A man from my anatomy book.  He's in two pieces.  Big paper, little scanner.  I liked drawing today.  It's so nice to have a place to work, without any interruptions.   This is pencil & chalk.  

Also, I'm a little stumped on my painting.  I've lost my original vision.  It got all mixed up in my brain.  I've got to figure this out.  Nothing is really striking me.  Mmmmm.

Saturday--drawing deficit

Not doing so hot on the art thing this week.  The studio will be finished by tonight.  School starts Monday.  So, I'm predicting lots of art making next week.  I still need to do something today.  Hopefully later this evening.  I'll post it tonight if it happens.

P.S. Mark you're reading my blog!  Yay :)  Isn't Cannon beach beautiful?  That's my favorite place on the coast too.  The beach and the town.  Thanks for the accountability!  Maybe I'll actually make some art now.

Thurs--unreadable

These sketches, like my handwriting, are illegible.  Except to me.  I was in a writing mood, instead of drawing.  My mood is affecting my ability to draw.  I wish I could be constant.

Also, I want to work on some different compositions for my painting.  I know I'd like the figure to be near a single light source.  Coming out of somewhere darker into somewhere lighter.  And then I need to figure out how to draw/paint this scene more from life.  From photo, it's too flat.  And, although I'm using myself to draw from, I don't necessarily want the painting to look like me.  I'm just not that skilled at drawing from my head.  I need to take some more photos of what I'm thinking of.

Wed--I need a vacation from my vacation

Wow, I keep thinking it's Monday.  We got back last night from the beach.  I was able to squeeze in some drawing each day.  There's sand in my pencil box. Have some ideas for paintings.  Had some bizarre dreams, maybe they can be starting points for inspiration.  

I've got to get my room done, so I can start using it.  School is starting next Monday, so I'll be busy getting ready for that.  But, by the 1st week in September, the kids will all be in school (MWF I'll have 3 hours in the morning while Lily & Grace are at preschool).  I love my kids, but it will be nice to have a break.  I'm looking forward to a quiet house.  I will be fighting the urge to clean instead of use that time for painting.  

Timeline for my painting:

August 30th--composition worked out/final sketch done

September 6th--underpainting roughed in

September 13th--first layer--larger masses

September 20th--2 layers of glaze

September 27th--2-3 layers of glaze/finish

October 1st--pictures/application submitted

Done 

(Courbet, Calm Sea)

To whom it may concern...

Since I haven't really, officially told anybody about this blog, I doubt this matters.  But, we're going to the beach.  So, I won't be posting till Monday.  Don't be sad, my imaginary readers.  This blog is kind of a funny idea.  I thought it would help me be accountable, but when I haven't told anybody about it, it's actually kind of stupid.  So, that would probably explain why I haven't posted any actual work the last few days.  The irony.  I want some accountability, but I don't want anyone to look at this thing.  

Once the room is done being painted, then I guess I'll have to start "painting-painting".  No more stalling.  Maybe then, I'll have something more interesting to post.  Maybe not.  What do I know? Not much.  

Plus, it doesn't help that I'm in need of inspiration.  Maybe the beach will be good.  I like the ocean.  But, I miss the Pacific (see picture, that's a real beach).  It's so much more moody than the Atlantic.  Here the water is warm, flat, boring.  Blah.  Where are the cliffs?  And, I thought oceans had waves?  But, then again, the ocean is a good place to be.  I'll take whatever I can get.

Here's to sand between my toes (and out of my swimsuit).  Oh, and maybe a sketch or two. 

Monday--painting the studio

So, I did use a paint brush this week.  Just not in the way I prefer.  But, we did get started on the walls in the studio.  (I'm still embarrassed to call it that, by the way)  It surprised me how formidable the black wall looked.  Before the walls were a pale blue and they sort of floated away.  The black just stands there, refusing to recede.  

Also, I found the coolest of cool gadgets.  It's a little flat brush thing with rollers on one side.  It's for all the edges, and it makes perfectly straight lines.  No more cutting in.  No more taping.  (I hate that crap)  Especially helpful where the black & white paint meet.  No where do you notice screw-ups more than there.

Wednesday--just thinking

I was just reading my book "1,000 places to go before you die".  Highlighting the places I've been.  And then I was thinking about how these places reoccur in my dreams.  Like a historic street with "I didn't know they made paint that bright" buildings in Puerto Rico, or the rainy day on Montmartre, or the dark woods in Oregon.  Etc.  I guess seeing new places inspires me.  As well as comforts me.  Since, all these places, as far and remote, or as strange as they can be, still fall under the same laws.  Gravity, still there.  Sky, still there.  Sun, moon, stars, air, dirt, plants of some sort...still there.  People.  In all their states, still there.  

But, it's seeing these things in their variety.  Not just seeing.  Hearing, tasting, touching.  Being.  The way these places relate to places I've been before.  And, then change the memories of those other places.  

And, just like color.  When experiences are placed next to others, they change.  Because of their relationship.  They are defined by their relationship.  This is why we can all experience the exact same thing in so many different shades.  Contrast.

Tuesday--nada

I'm in a funk.  Just a sort of malaise.  The only mark making I did yesterday was to-do lists.  And, if standing and staring at my drawing table for 30 seconds counts, then I did that too.  And now it's raining.   

Here's the hands

These are the hands I was talking about.  Sort of looks like the jar is being cradled.  I like that.

Sunday--Eye drawing

Oh, also I got sick last week so that slowed me down a bit.  Who ever invented antibiotics, I love you.  The doctor was chastising me for waiting so long to come see her.  Sorry, I'm a little busy. This week things should be more productive.  Here's my first thing for the week, just some eyes.  Not much.  Also, I need to come up with a timeline for my painting.  I've been sketching a few different poses, I've got the perfect hands, but I'm still trying to figure out the face.  Mainly the eyes.  But, I can only dedicate so much time each day.  Which is hard, especially with my new tempting room.  Oh, also we're going to the beach on Thursday, so I'll be drawing in the car more.  Dramamine, please.

lots of drawing, not much blogging

This past week has been very busy.  I'm just glad I got my drawing time in.  Not enough left over to blog about it.  Mainly, I've been trying to get my art room finished.  It's coming together.  I'm going to start painting it tomorrow.  The main wall I'm putting a 3 ft strip of magnetic paint wall-to-wall and then chalkboard paint on top of that, covering the entire wall.  Then I can switch out things I'm working on without hurting the walls.  The rest of the walls will be painted white.  This will be fairly easy, although I'll need to find our ladder (which means digging through the garage...that could be dangerous) 

My Art Room--before photos

Here's the guest room after we emptied it out.  I need to go get some furniture for it today, so I actually use it.

  

Church Art competition

The church is having it's annual art competition.  It's open to members of the church and the theme this year is: "Rememering the Great Things of God" This theme is drawn from scriptures that teach the importance of acknowledging and remembering God's works, promises, and covenants to his children."

Submissions are due by Oct 10th.  Deadlines are good for me.  I get more done.  So, I'll work on my alabaster painting.  The idea of the painting being to consecrate our lives to God.

Friday--rework alabaster jar

While reading in the New Testament, I came across the story of the woman with the alabaster jar of ointment.  This struck me.  Partly because I'd never heard the story and partly because I think it applies to all of us.  This reminded me of the story in Luke about the woman who annointed Jesus' feet with ointment and her tears.  There's a painting in the Louvre of this story.  That was one of my favorites.  She's using her long hair to wash his feet.  

At any rate, I want to paint the other story.  To me, her ointment represents our faith, works, talents, whatever we can give to the Lord.  Anything that is precious, that we choose to sacrifice.  After doing some reading about what the alabaster jar really was, I was even more intrigued.  In biblical times, people would purchase these small vessels that were made of alabaster (a porous marble) filled with strong perfume.  The jars were not meant to be opened, but rather would slowly release the perfume through the alabaster, over time.  Because the perfume was expensive, these were precious items.  That's why the disciples were astonished that she broke it and used it to anoint Christ.  To me, I picture this woman learning about Jesus and probably hearing him speak.  I picture her in the moment she first believes that Jesus is the Messiah.    I see her picking up the jar and taking it to the dinner.  And I see her feeling hesitant and unsure if it will be well received.  In the instant I read the passage, I felt the parallel.  Our own acts that show our faith.  Our fears about whether our gifts are worthy to be received.  And ultimately that anything that is precious to us that we then give to the Lord, is worthy to the Lord. 

So, this study is just the head.  You can't see that she is holding the jar.  I think I will show her though a door frame, inside her house.  In a quiet moment.