"Paint What You Love"

"Paint What You Love"
"Paint What You Love", by R.J. Ball, Pastel on velour

Nov 19, 2011

Wanting to Paint Dogs

"Please Play Ball", pastel pencil

It was around this time I started having a craving to paint my dogs.  So out comes my pastel pencils, and you can see my first attempt--"Please Play Ball".  It was so enjoyable and fun to do.  I think that is when my "inner self" was telling me what direction to take.  Every time I would come across the referance photo, there was this---paint me, paint me, like what I mentioned in my last post.  I would also like to add an extra comment on that post.  Upon reviewing it, I had an insight I had not thought about before.  The first drawing, "Melissa Rodgers", was from a family photo, a grandmother,--I do not have any childhood memories of her.  The second drawing, "Athene"(my mother), was done from her sitting for our drawing group--in person.  The third drawing, "Ryan", is a grandson.  I took the photo at a family birthday party(I had to draw that smile!!).  I can definitely see the difference between all three, based on my involvement with the subjects.  Just had to throw in this little bit of artsy "ahaa"(light bulb turning on).  Keeping that in mind will take us to my next post--how I came up with "Paint What You Love"

Nov 6, 2011

Draw, Draw, and Draw Some More

I wish I could say I take my own advice--but I don't.  I love to draw, but have a hard time disciplining myself to take that time.  What a difference it makes, and how much it improves one's drawing skills!!!  I can see how my drawing has improved--then tell myself how much better I would be --if...  In the early 2000's, I met with a couple of ladies every Tuesday, and we worked mostly on drawing skills.  We did the workshop, "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain".  Then we discovered the book "The Artist's Complete Guide to DRAWING THE HEAD".  That is still one of my favorite books, and have now listed it.  I worked on Strathmore's "Charcoal" paper in "Velvet Gray", using the smooth side of the paper.  Pastel pencils used are CarbOthello white, #100, and #645, caput mortuum red.  My drawings posted today are what I did from what I learned using his technique.  We (us gals) took turns being a live model, and even talked my mother into sitting for us.  I am now participating in a Life Study drawing group.  It makes me go and draw, renewing what I want to learn in training the eye to see.  Drawing with a live model is sooo much better.  Then there are those photos that just say "Draw Me"!!
"Melissa Rodgers"

"Athene"

"Ryan"