"Worn Traveler"

Back in 2011, when our Lantana was at their fullest, we welcomed a visitor to our back yard.  An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (derived that from my butterfly book).  Talk about a photo ham!!!  It was sooo cooperative in letting me take pictures, even up close and personal.  Either that, or it was very, very hungry!  I had a field day snapping my camera.

reference photo

One day, sometime later, I was going through my photos, trying to get inspiration for what to paint next.  I started cropping this photo, and came up with the 8" x 16" format.  I liked the way the lantana lead the eye to the butterfly.  Going through my pastel papers, I could see that the yellow/gold pastelmat would be good for the yellow/gold in the butterfly, leaving the paper to show (that's what instructors drill into your head).  So, the journey began.  Some of the leaves were changed, because I also wanted them leading the eye toward the butterfly.  The colors of the lantana were changed for more of a contrast to the green background.  There are lantanas that color.

"Worn Traveler", 8" x 16", Pastel

Framed(too much light on it)

This painting was a very good learning experience for me, and I loved doing it.  I have a lot of notes attached to cork board, above where my pastels are kept.  They are notes I've taken in class, from books, and dvds, on composition, design, etc..  I periodically go back over them, to see if I'm doing what they recommend.

"Worn Traveler" was entered in C.L.A.G.'s 2012 annual show, and received Third place in the Pastel/Drawing category.  The biggest award I received was a lady telling me her "want to be an artist" granddaughter wanted to save her money so she could buy it.

"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

"Have Fun"

When I received 1st. Place for "Paint What You Love", a fellow artist suggested I do a series.  So, my follow up was "Have Fun"---and I did!!  I've always loved my reference photo.  Fancy, my border collie, was a very active puppy.  If you are at all familiar with border collies, you know what I mean.  Well, this one particular time I was looking at it, trying to get some ideas, and it reminded me of a pastel artist friend who always ends up with pastel all over her face when she's painting.  Then I bought the toy mouse, and of course, you have to have a cat.  Well, there are no cats here!  Fancy enjoys tantalizing and running them out of the yard.  I had never drawn nor painted one, so the research began, looking for cats in poses that would fit into my composition.  I found several for reference, for anatomy, and came up with my own color choice.  Then, my idea was first done on tracing paper, and I did change my mind several times regarding what props to use.  I set them up like I did for "Paint What You Love".  Next, I followed through with choosing a color scheme.

 reference photo

deciding on color scheme

"Have Fun", 20" x 16", Pastel on velour

"Have Fun" was entered in the 2011, C.L.A.G. annual show, and won 1st. Place in Drawing/Pastel category.  Not only did it receive 1st. Place, but my other entry, "Shhh....Baby Doll Sleeping", tied for first, with it.  I will post that next time.  Needless to say, my feet didn't touch ground the rest of the evening!  Art does have it's HIGHS!!

My First Commission Painting

In October, 2010, I actually had enough paintings to hang at our local library.  The library has set up a beautiful area for the Canyon Lake Art Guild to display the artists' works, to either sell or just show.  One of my paintings hanging was "Paint What You Love".  A lady called me one day, to ask if I would sell it, that it looked like her dog, Misty.  My answer was "no, but if I could get a print done, would she be interested?"  She wanted the original.  After I hung up, the light bulb came on, so I called her back, and asked if she would be interested in a commission piece of Misty.  She said "yes".  The adrenaline started flowing!!  What had I done?!  When it was finished and I looked back--I thoroughly enjoyed the journey!  I went to her home and took photos of Misty, which was a very fun experience.  She also sent me some via e-mail.  Several were used to accomplish the end result.  The commission was somewhat challenging, especially being my first time.  My customer wanted Misty sitting in her husband's lap, like she always does when he is watching t.v..  As you can see from the photo below, Misty had a sweater on.  Also, the husband didn't want to be in the painting(face).  Soooo--I lined all my photos up and started using both my imagination and what I was learning in animal anatomy.  You would have been able to see smoke coming out of my ears!  I was very, very happy with the final painting.  My customer was, and is, also.  I will do it again.

"Misty", Pastel, 20" x 16"

I am always hearing both sides of the story--regarding doing commission paintings.  As far as myself is concerned, prior to my "first" commission, there were both sides going through my thinking about doing one.  However, we don't know how we will like something, until we do it.  The fear of the unknown.  Will they like the finished piece?  If not, does that mean I am not a good artist?  As the saying goes--"you won't know until you try"!  Lesley Harrison just posted on her blog about doing commissions.  I highly recommend you read it.  The article is very encouraging and enlightening.

A Resource for Learning

The internet gives us such a great connection to the world outside of our "little world".  The information and resources are truly awesome and unlimited.  I thought encyclopedias were great---way back when!  One link I checked out on the Lesley Harrison site, was that of Vivien Walters(and am including her site in my "links").  Not only do I love her work, but she also does pastels on velour.  So, I contacted Vivien, via e-mail, and signed up for one of her E-Workshops.  It was exciting to be doing it from someone in the U.K., plus I didn't have to pack up my pastels and travel.  At the time, I liked her format for teaching, because the drawing was already done on the velour paper, freeing me to get to the basics.  I wanted to learn how she applied the color(pastels), and in what order.  The workshop was well worth it.  Vivien was always there to give me feedback and help.  I would love to take a workshop from her, in person.  So, here is my wolf.

"Waiting"

"Waiting", pastel, 14" x 11"

"Waiting" is a painting of one of my previous dogs, Brandy.  She had the sweetest disposition and was loved by all that knew her.  Prior to doing her, I had visited The Museum of Western Art, in Kerrville, Texas.  There was one particular artist whose work really caught my attention.  Besides being the only female artist, her works were the only pastels--and--her paintings really stood out because they were done with a black background.  It was like an "ahhhah" moment for me!  And not too much longer after that visit, while reading a book on color, I learned how more vivid colors look against black.  A beautiful contrast.  So, I did a few paintings with this in mind.  I loved the contrast and colors, but need to change their composition, so I won't post them at this time.  Then I decided to do another dog painting, and came across a snapshot of Brandy.  Will include it, because it shows you how, taking a simple photo, cropping it, plus adding an idea(i.e. technique), can produce something completely different.  I was learning to think outside of the box.  Knowledge is really powerful and exciting!!  The brain seems to pull it out of your memory just when you need it.  Keep reading and learning.  Besides that, it keeps the brain cells active--and I need all the help I can get.

The Making of "Paint What You Love" (my theme painting)

Time span - 2007.  I am still yearning to paint animals, pets, dogs, and especially my dogs(there are a lot of referance photos).  So, I get out my photos and start looking.  When I think back on how "Paint What You Love" first came into mind, I really can't come up with an answer.  It seems like it just fell into place.  Especially when you turn off the left side of your brain.  One idea brought on another, etc., etc..  Of course, there were changes along the way, but still the same idea.  I do remember taking a book off the shelf that I had, for about a year, but had not really looked through it thoroughly.  The book is "Painting Animals That Touch The Heart", by Lesley Harrison(in my list of Favorite Links and Books).  One of my prized book possessions.  It totally got my creative thinking stimulated!!  She had done a painting of a young wolf, and put a daisy in its mouth.  That gave me the idea of a paintbrush.  Then I found a photo of Fancy(my border collie), sitting on my husband's lap.  Perfect!!

I have a stuffed dog toy that is about the same size as Fancy was in the photo, so I started setting up my still life.  Meanwhile, I also had my husband paint a dog bone(she,(Fancy), is going to paint what she loves).  The Cool Whip container was put in the set-up at first, but I decided something taller was needed.  I found an old paint can in my husband's workshop, and it was perfect.  There was paint already on it, and I could just add some color to match the paint Fancy was going to use for the bone.

I always do a drawing on tracing paper to see if I like my idea.  Plus, if you have another idea, you can do it on a separate piece and place it on top to get an idea if you are going to like it or not.  Then I copied the sketch on my printer(card stock), and did several rough color schemes with colored pencils.

Before I get around to the final painting, sometimes I end up with more than one "practice" painting.  That is my way of telling my brain(left side) it doesn't matter if I make mistakes, plus I might still change my mind on doing something(a woman's and artist's perogative--right?!).  Also, this painting (and more afterwards) was done on velour(and don't even think velvet--completely different!).  Velour is not real forgiving, but I discovered it isn't all that frightening, either.  Now, I am going to toot my horn!  Not only did I receive my first award for a painting, it was a 1st. place award in the drawing/pastel category.  During the reception of the awards, I was told to do a sequel from it.  I did, and currently working on a third, with a fourth in mind.  Will post the second one, soon.  Pay attention to what your fellow artists and friends suggest--you never know what good may come of it.

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"