December Bear Sketch

Holiday Bear on cardstock

Today as I go through the house picking up a few of the holiday decoration's to put back in stroage boxes, I gathered up this bear and his female counterpart that I had sitting on the couch. He's been with me a number of years and I've often thought of painting him but never took the time. Today was a great opportunity. Darn, why didn't I paint it on some nice watercolor paper? Freedom comes easier when there isn't the pressure to make it perfect, don't you agree?

Are you thinking of some artist goals you'd like to accomplish this next year?

Are you taking stock of all your accomplishments this year?

Along for the Ride

Along for the Ride ~ watercolor

Last Saturday, for those of us that were selling at our local Farmers Market, the weather co-operated and we even had a little sun. There were less vendors than usual, with some of the vendors attending a large event, in a near by town. I was worried that with fewer vendors there would be little sales. But, to my surprise there seemed to be just as many customers as usual. I sold numerous cards and one original watercolor. The painting was about 22" x 11" titled Along for the Ride. Matted in white with a blue inset boarder, and a blue frame.

Once, while anchored in our boat, with the dingy tethered behind, this seagull decided that he'd just ride along on the stern of our dingy as it bobbed up and down with each wave. I just had to take his photo, he looked so at ease there, just like it was the norm for him. ... It was a fun painting to do and it brought back memorys of that day and our stow away each time I looked at it.

My first (ever) oil painting

For some time now I've thought I'd like to try oil painting. I had some 8" x 10" canvas boards, (I'm not sure that is the proper name for them), and a few brushes I thought may work. I purchased some oils, some linseed oil and found some helpful step by step instructions on Joe's blog. In the first photo you see where I've toned the panel with a mixture of cad yellow and aliz. crimson, plus some white acrylic. That was as close to the yellow ocher Joe used in his instruction's. Also you see a photo I was using as a reference.

This photos shows where I have done a rough sketch of my picture (and I use the term very loosely) with my homemade vine charcoal.

At this point, in the photo above, I was suppose to be blocking in the major shapes. I think this is where I start to get overwhelmed and begin to think that I've not done my blocking in correctly. I was already beginning to get nit-picky.

This is where I've stopped for the day. I can't seem to get a close-up of it today because of a glare when I photograph it ... maybe tomorrow it will be a little dryer and I'll edit this post with a finished photo.

I'm pretty satisfied with my first attempt, but feel I may do some touch-ups tomorrow.

I still need to:

1. Learn what brushes to use where. I seemed to want to use only one brush and had to force my self to try one that would work better.
2. Remember that I can use either the thinner or linseed oil to mix with my paints to aid in painting. I think I used way too much paint, when I could have used a thinner application.
3. Learn not to mess up my whole pile of paint to mix a color.
4. Figure out what to do now with the paint left on my palette that isn't used.

Do I seem a little crabby lately ...

SOLD

Have you noticed that crabs seem to be on my mind lately?

This is another dungeness crab that I've tried to capture in a loose manner. My work ususally is so tight, that I need to make a concience effort to loosen-up. The support for this crab is regular brown craft paper, upon which I've used charcoal to draw the shape of a crab, then using pastel to create the middle and light values... then back to charcoal to make the shape of the legs - then a touch of brown conte' here and there.

What I learned with this painting/drawing:

• The craft paper was not very forgiving. When I wanted to blend the colors, the paper just held on to the pastel ... such as the white on top of the crab back. I was going to blend the white lines ... it just sat there, not blending.
• Craft paper has a great brown color that I find attractive, so I may try pre-coloring some watercolor paper to paint on.
• I'm not sure I will ever become comfortable with the dry chalky feel of pastel and charcoal.
• I love the look of charcoal.
• I would like to become better at using pastel ... even if it is messy ... I have some artist friends who really are masters of this medium and I so envy the look they can achieve.

Fundraiser...

"I'll be home soon, Mom"

painted surface: 15" x 22"
framed size: 23.5" x 29"

On April 27 at Harmony Hill, overlooking Hood Canal, in Union WA, Turning Pointe Domestic Violence Services is once again sponsoring an art show/auction. This is Turning Pointe's major fundraiser for the year, as well as a chance for South Puget Sound artist to really shine. Being relatively new to the area this is going to be the first year that I participate in this show/auction/fundraiser. I will be donating a painting I did of my grandson's first school bus ride ... I've tried to capture the look of innocent anticipation and excitement on his face that I saw that day. This watercolor painting I think is appropriate to the show in the fact that so many young children are effected by domestic violence and innocence lost. The call to artists quoted 13 domestic - violence related fatalities in the past two years in our county alone ... how very sad. I hope my painting brings enough money to the services to help in some way.

Two pears

I enjoy seeing paintings with fruit in them, but as a rule I forget to do anything with fruit but eat it ... by then it's too late. Although to paint a pear with a couple of bites taken out of it would make an interesting enough prop. I need to remember those sorts of things when I'm asking myself "what can I make a fast painting of"?

I had purchased these two pears to have pears and some cheese for after dinner instead of a heavy dessert - then only to have to come up with a something different because the pears were still too hard. There is some light colors representing a window that the scanner just refuses to pick up ... just as well, it really didn't help the painting at all.