Trying to be bolder with my color choices - also trying to learn how to paint braids. Need more practice!
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Pastel Painting - Beautiful Ladies
Beautiful Ladies
So instructor first wanted us to do our painting in soft pastels. Below is the results. I really like this lady. She is very beautiful!
Once the soft pastel drawing was COMPLETELY FINISHED, the instructor told us to get water, a couple of paint brushes and to open our GESSO!!! What??? Are you serious? What does Gesso have to do with soft pastel paintings?
Below is the completed results of using watered down Gesso. I was nervous about using the Gesso full strength. In this process, you dramatically overdo the intital lay down of colors, as the second stage will bring them back to a softer look. The instructor was hoping that we would use a "painterly style" to build volume and leave visible brushstrokes. I do have some visible brushstrokes although they may be hard to see in this photo.
The painterly brushstrokes are pleasing because it leaves something to the viewer's imagination and we can see the hand of the artist more plainly. Painting in this style is fun beause it allows for the implusive use of color and an unrestrained painting manner!
Too. Much. Fun.!
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Other People's Words That Move Me
From the movie "Thelma and Louise"
"We're not in the middle of nowhere, but we can see it from here."
HUH?
Alaska - I've Been Everywhere Man, I've Been Everywhere (Almost)!
Watercolors on Yupo Paper
2016
this painting is from a photo I took cruising through Alaska in 2015.
Glacier Bay
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Late Night Sketching - Beautiful Ladies
Watercolor and Ink with Zentangles
Late night sketching and painting on Canson MultiMedia Paper
Friday, August 5, 2016
Sea and Beach Glass
Another new addiction!
Sea and Beach Glass
oh what fun learning all about this new adventure!
I can hardly read enough about this! Fasinating to me!
Just gotta get to the sea or beach!
I can hardly read enough about this! Fasinating to me!
Just gotta get to the sea or beach!
Have you experienced the thrill of finding a deliciously-frosty and perfectly-tumbled piece of sea or beach glass?
Each piece will be an exciting find. Can hardly wait for this new journey to begin!
YUMMMMMM
Downright YUM
and makes my home smell like the Fall season!
Oatmeal raisin pecan cookie bar!
Preparation: make same as you would cookies but instead of cookies pressed batter in a 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350 for 30 - 35 minutes. It is advisable that you cool BEFORE eating! (its a funny!).
Canada - I've Been Everywhere Man, I've Been Everywhere! (Almost)
Montreal, Canada 2015
We took a cruise which ended in Montreal, Canada. It was October and perfect timing to catch the beautiful foliage. Also some snow!
This little country church was absolutely beautiful. I want to draw/paint this little church.
Notre Dame in downtown Montreal, and within walking distance from our hotel.
A square in Montreal - very cold, and some snow flurries. Did a little Christmas shopping while we were there.
Many, many beautiful gardens surround their city buildings.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Zentangle and Mandela
Are you aware that the drawing of a Zentangle or Mandela will increase your creativity levels.
Test it, give it a try!
Pastel Painting - Beautiful Ladies
Very beautiful lady and the way she is tilting her head to the side. A new view to draw from I am stepping out of my comfort zone with this. I usually just do front/straight ahead portraits.
A Moonlit Night - Watercolor and Ink
Watercolors and Ink
Zentangles, too!
Sennelier Watercolour Paper
140 lb
2016
Italy - I've Been Everywhere Man - I've Been Everywhere (almost)
21 day Tour of Italy. All over the countryside other than Silicy.
Just a few of the hundreds of photos we took. This was my all time dream vacation since my focus in graduate school was in the Italian Renaissance.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Colosseum (Rome)
Brunelleschi's Famous Duomo (Florence)
Juliett's Balcony (Romeo, Romeo Where Art Thou)
Gladiators!
Lake Como (home of George Clooney!)
Donetallo's David (Florence - outside the Medici home)
St. Peter's - The Vatican
Hubby and I in front of The Trevi Fountain
Chicago - I've Been Everywhere Man - I've Been Everywhere (almost) . . . .
CHICAGO 2014
The Museum of Science and Industry (that's hubby in that there astronaut suit)!
The Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art (Obama gave $1M to this museum)! and the Art Institute of Chicago
Deep Dish Pizza Chicago Style!
A photo shot as hubby and I stand under the "bean".
France - I've Been Everywhere Man, I've Been Everywhere (Almost) . . . .
Labyrinth Visit While Traveling Through France April 2016
This is the world's famous Gothic Cathedral - Chartres!
This is the Labrynith inside the cathedral where pilgrimages were made hundreds of years ago, or tourists (like me) can walk in their own spiritual pilgrimage.
The Art of Natural Dye + Book Making - Another Finished Book!
Very happy with the end results of this art book. The pictures are not in order as completion but I will label each.
Stitching on bric brack to fancy up the plain yellow (tumeric dye) cover. Also added a flower shaped button and a green center bead, along with a chord.
Finished the hand sewing of the bric brac. Happy with the results.
Decided to add some tiny beading for additional jazz!
Finished the beading and decided to add beads to the wrap around chording.
Just so you know, I stitched in four signatures (page groups) of three pages each! A total of 48 pages to sketch on, write on, paint on, or just leave empty to enjoy the dyed paper appearance!
Here I am showing you a center page that has been sewed and knotted with the Japanese Stab Binding technique.
Here is a side view of the sewing technique. Hopefully you can see this well.
Pastel Painting - Beautiful Ladies
Loving my soft pastels! Loving this lady. Look at how all her features, her mouth, her eyes, her check bones are all so soft looking! One of my favorite Beautiful Ladies!
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Other People's Words That Move Me
Excerpt from A Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin
(a well loved, well read, often read novel of mine that sits comfortably on my bedside table).
"What if, once upon a time there were no stars in the sky at all?
What if the stars are not what we think?
What if the light from afar doesn't come from the rays of the distant suns, but from our wings as we turn into Angels?"
Oh my gosh - read it again - slower this time! It is BEAUTIFUL!
Monday, August 1, 2016
Pastel Painting - Beautiful Ladies
Twiggy (from the 60's) look alike - maybe.
I love learning new techniques with my soft pastels and my pastel pencils.
Zentangles
Believe it (or not) doing/creating Zentangles will most definately help to get your creative juices flowing!
Book Making
Below are three pictures of binding used in book binding. The procedures for each technique can be found on the internet or better yet, take a class with Delaney Smith. She teaches at the art leagues in and around Houston!
This one is called pamphlet stitch. Sorry its so hard to see
This stitch is the Japanese stab binding. Your book will not open flat.
This one is also Japenese stab binding but with more holes to make the pages hold together better.
I'm Wild About Labyrinth's!
Labyrith's - my so favorite fun thing to do! Well it's about more than fun - it's a spiritual thing!
I am walking this labyrinth at The Univerity of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. It is beautiful!
Did you know that there are about 22 ish labyrinth's in and around the Houston area?
So there are two schools of thought concerning the Labyrinth. One is from the Greek Mythology, and one is from a Christian perspective. I prefer the Christian one. The labyrinth was built in catherdals for the pilgrims that could not travel (make a pilgrimage) to the Holy Lands to prayer. They would instead walk the labyrinth focused on prayer and their Lord God.
So here's the Greek version: The Minotaur (half man, half animal) monster had to be fed 12 young maidens and young boys each Spring in order to keep him happy. King Mino's was not happy about this since he had a young daughter named Ariadne. Theseus was on his way to Athens in time for the yearly tribute to sailing ships. And so enters Bachelor #1: When Theseus passed through Crete, Ariadne saw him and fell madly in love! (Of course).
Ariadne gave Theseus a ball of string so he could fasten one end of it to the labyrinth's door and unwind it as he went through looking for the Minotaur. Ariadne promised to help Theseus escape if he promised to take her to Athens and marry her. He promised, she helped and he did flee the labyrinth! They jumped on his ship and set said for Athens . . . . do you hear wedding bells . . . not so quick!
On the way to Athens, Theseus stopped his ship on the Island of Naxos where he abondoned Ariadne to go hang out with his good friend the God of Wine Dionysus. With a little wine, Thesueus soon forgot his promise to Ariadne!
The story does not end well. So Theseus is sailing along. He told his father that a white sail meant he would sail smoothly into Athens, a black sail meant yeah wasn't gonna happen! Theseus forgot there was a black sail flying - forgot his promise to his Dad. Well, when his Dad saw the black sail up he was filled with grief over his son's death, he jumped off a cliff into the sea.
Remember to keep your promises!
Ariadne gave Theseus a ball of string so he could fasten one end of it to the labyrinth's door and unwind it as he went through looking for the Minotaur. Ariadne promised to help Theseus escape if he promised to take her to Athens and marry her. He promised, she helped and he did flee the labyrinth! They jumped on his ship and set said for Athens . . . . do you hear wedding bells . . . not so quick!
On the way to Athens, Theseus stopped his ship on the Island of Naxos where he abondoned Ariadne to go hang out with his good friend the God of Wine Dionysus. With a little wine, Thesueus soon forgot his promise to Ariadne!
The story does not end well. So Theseus is sailing along. He told his father that a white sail meant he would sail smoothly into Athens, a black sail meant yeah wasn't gonna happen! Theseus forgot there was a black sail flying - forgot his promise to his Dad. Well, when his Dad saw the black sail up he was filled with grief over his son's death, he jumped off a cliff into the sea.
Remember to keep your promises!
Its All About Being An Artist!
What more can I say? I know this must be true for you too because it is very true for me!
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