"Shhh....Baby Doll Sleeping

Sometimes while working on a painting, I take a rest from it, especially if there is a problem area, or something just isn't coming out the way I have envisioned.  During such a time, while working on "Have Fun", I decided to play with an old photo I had of my cousin, Devon, when she was little.  When I came across it, I saw a story, hence the title.  I wanted to practice my drawing, and occasionally do that when nothing else is coming to mind, as what to do next.  It slows me down and gets my creative thinking to start working.  Some parts of the drawing process, especially working on values, with a pencil, can be a little tedious.  Evidently the brain must kick in to break the monotony.  The photo was quite small(3"x3", black and white, and was taken in the 1950's), so I scanned it to my computer, cropped, and enlarged.  It needed a lot of work on the values.  Not too long after I thought I was finished, I took a colored pencil workshop with Richard Drayton.  He taught us a lot on doing values with colored pencil, using his technique.  (I loved the workshop!)  Getting my lack of confidence under control, I took it in the last day, after class, hoping he would give me some input.  He pointed out that the darkest area behind Devon should be enlarged.  Something to do with the flash.  That made a lot of difference!  Soon after, "Have Fun" got finished, and I decided to also enter my drawing of Devon in our annual show.  Sure am glad!  As was mentioned in my last blog, "Shhh...Baby Doll Sleeping" tied for 1st. Place in the Drawing/Pastel category, with "Have Fun".

reference photo

Cropped and enlarged

not too crazy about my photo

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"

Moses and Santa Fe

Before I tell you about "Moses", I wish to tell you about the first workshop I took in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  It was "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain", by Betty Edwards, also mentioned in my art books list.  It was an eye opener, and turning point for me, in drawing.  She now has a revised edition with workbook, and I have both old and new.  I highly recommend it!!  My instructor, Lesley Meyer, was both a friend and mentor to me, while I was in Santa Fe.  Now, to Moses.  This painting was started in a portrait class, and I actually finished it(out of class) within two weeks time(the fastest one to date).  I am not sure I could accomplish that, again.  It is pastel and done on Mi-Tentes.  At the time it was started, I was also doing a bible study on Moses, and the photo was on the cover.  Well, while in the process of getting it matted and framed, people kept asking me if it was Tommy Macione.  I had no idea who that was, but soon found out, he was an artist living there in Santa Fe(and quite eccentric).  A couple of weeks later, my mom and I were in a local coffee shop, downtown, and who walks in but Tommy Macione.  Talk about getting excited!!  couldn't miss him--looked just like the painting, only a little scruffier.  I did go over and introduce myself, and told him I had just done a painting of him(forgetting that I had a photo of painting in my purse--too much excitement!).  He told me that he had done an interview with National Geographic some years earlier, but didn't know if anything had been published(I found out later that, yes, it had been).  After that encounter, I would frequently see him painting along side the road, and very impressionistic.  To see a photo of him, google Tommy Maccione Santa Fe (the name is spelled wrong), and then click on Plaza Artist.  There is more info. on him.  I really didn't do very many paintings while living in Santa Fe, as I started working for a gourmet food broker, thus enjoying getting to know the owners and managers of most of the shops and restaurants in Santa Fe--a very enjoyable job!

At this time, I was living in Austin, Tx., still playing with my pastels, but also doing finished-ware ceramics(mostly decorative collectibles).  It was fun, but I kept wanting to get out my pastels.  I took my first pastel class from a lady in Pflugerville, Tx., and did my first portrait.  This is Brooke, my niece.  I really enjoyed painting her(again, from a photo), and realized how much I loved doing portraits.  Soon after finishing "Brooke", my husband came home one day and asked me if I would like to live in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for a couple or so years.  Can you guess what my answer was?!!  This is where I'll start off on my next blog.  I did another portrait, and it has an interesting "Santa Fe" story.