A New Drawing

A big problem with posting so seldom is not remembering what I posted the last time.  There is a danger of repeating myself.

Big news since last post: the drawing of the lichen won 2nd place, mixed media,  at the Ballinger, Texas Mini show.  This is my first prize, other than honorable mention and I was quite excited. 

The new studio has proven to be even better than I dreamed.  It is a refuge and a wonderful place to work, mostly uninterrupted.  For the first time, I can get into the zone!  The only problem I am having is remembering where everything is, which will get better eventually.

I have just begun an on-line art class, taught by Deborah Paris, Field Sketching for Landscape Artists.  This is an area I really need help with.  Looking forward to getting alot of practice and good information.

My latest drawing is pictured here, "Intertwined".  Because we live in the country and have alot of deer around, collecting shed antlers has become a hobby.  I decided to set up a still life with some of them and make a drawing.  It wasn't easy but finally was able to finish.  Coming up with the title was the hardest part!

This summer, in Coleman,  Carolyn Walker is presenting a workshop on using watercolor on Yupo.  This is something that has intrigued me for some time so I have signed up.  She supplies everything we need so a great way to "try before you buy"!

Since my last drawing was completed, have been playing around with acrylic painting.  Not an easy transition and I have alot to learn but I am having fun with it and hope to finally figure it all out.  With the Field Sketching class, probably won't have alot of time to paint for a while though.

Busy days ahead in art and also in life.  Second grandchild due this summer, first grandchild celebrating his second birthday, baby shower, etc. all requiring the six hour drive to Houston.  I have a feeling this summer will fly by!

Time Flies!

Another long absence from my blog.  Guess I just can't get into it, so much to do each day, this seems to stay at the bottom of the list.  My latest drawing is pictured here, a lichen I found growing on an oak twig, done mostly in graphite with a touch of colored pencil.  It will be entered in the Ballinger Mini-show next week.
My studio is up and running.  It is even better than I expected.  So nice to have plenty of room, know where everything is and not have to put everything away each time I finish for the day.  Time flies while I am working, no interruptions from phone, husband or dog. 
Recently, while doing alot of heavy lifting, moving into the studio and helping hubby with chores and heavy duty garden hoeing, woke one morning with swollen painful hands.  When it didn't resolve itself in a timely fashion, made an appointment with the doctor.  Blood tests run and x-rays taken.  Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, either caught very early or a very mild case.  After feeling horrified at first and fearing for my art career, realized that it could be alot worse, meds are helping and I am feeling fine.  Have had to make adjustments in the time I spend on my art; more frequent breaks and limiting sessions but otherwise things are going well.  This isn't something I am running about telling folks or announcing on social media or elsewhere.  Also, not keeping it as a secret, just going on with things and explaining to folks if it happens to come up.  One day at a time, no sense getting all bent out of shape when things could be ever so much worse.
Latest project started, a rather complicated still life that could prove very interesting or could send me to the funny farm!
As time goes on, I find myself so much more relaxed about my art.  Enjoying the process more than worrying about the outcome.  The list of things I want to try and to accomplish is long and I am looking forward, happily, to it all.

I really must try to do a better job on this blog.  It is no wonder I only have three followers!  I might need to consider changing the title of my blog, since not much painting has happened in my studio in quite some time.  All work of late has been in graphite, which I am enjoying very much.  The posted photo is of my latest, a portrait of my dear friend's two cats.  Working on this was fun, since I know and love these two kitties well.
On to the next project, which, if I do things as I should, will be more sketching practice than working on a specific drawing.  Sketching needs to be a priority so I can more easily do quick studies of scenes/animals, etc. that I happen upon.  When I do a specific work, thumbnails need to be a priority.  My planning has been lacking and I need to spend the time getting the entire composition arranged and values arranged before starting.  It is hard for me to do.  An interesting scene presents itself and all I want to do is get it into a completed work as soon as I can.  The main subject goes fine but then I am presented with figuring out how to put in a background and foreground without messing up what I have worked so hard on.  Planning is something that has to be done, as I have been told repeatedly and agree with. I just have a hard time slowing down enough to actually do it! 
Today will be spent in planning two ideas I have.  With Stars of Texas art show entries due in just over a week, my inclination is to whip something out but must resist that temptation.
Last week Hubby and I visted my studio, which is being built in Abilene.  It is coming along but not nearly as quickly as I would like.  Electricity has been run so next step is insulation and paneling.  Hopefully it will be ready for delivery by the end of the month but not holding my breath.  The crew that was working on it quit last week so not even sure a new crew has been hired!  Frustration!  Once it is here and all set up, will be so nice to have a quiet place to work without phones, temptations of the electronic kind (computer) or a dog who wants to go in and out every five minutes.
Another constant distraction is the outdoors, which calls to me.  Living in the country is wonderful and being out in the beauty of Nature inspires me.  What I need to do, yes another thing for my list of goals, is go ahead and spend more time outside but with sketchbook in hand.  Back to those sketches.  I originally said that I was going back to graphite to work on the basics and for help getting values correct.  What I really need to do is truly go back to basics and sketch, sketch, sketch.  Gesture drawings of the animals I normally take photos of would help as well.  I can see that my problem is being in a hurry to be able to make art comparable to an artist who has been working at their art for many years and I have only just begun.  My time spent working on art doesn't help either, need to do more.  Same song, second verse.  What I need to do is obvious, actually doing it is the challenge!
Seems this blog entry has turned into more of a journal.  As I wrote, more things occured to me and realizations made.  It may not make for interesting reading for others but sure did help my journey.

As I note the title of my seldom updated blog, it seems I may need to change the title.  While I do have a small watercolor in progress, the majority of my work of late has been in graphite.  It is so enjoyable and has helped me quite a bit with my values.  Works in graphite have always attracted me so, perhaps, that will be my medium of choice.  However, I do enjoy wielding a paintbrush too.
My intention of getting more art work done hasn't worked out so far.  We have had house guests and then there are the preparations for Christmas.  My camera has been busy on the daily morning hikes with Callie dog so have many reference photos for future projects.  I think I will always have way more photos than actual works!
Exciting news!  Something so wonderful is happening that I never expected or dreamed would come about.  I am getting a studio!  I have ordered a portable building 12x24 that will be insullated, paneled, wired and have a small heat pump for climate control.  It is hard to imagine that there will be a space to create without the constant blare of the TV set (hubby has one on all day, whether he is around to watch or not, he comes and goes) or phone or dog asking for attention.  Imagine, just my work and music.  Ahhh.  It will also be nice to have all of my art things in one place.  As it is now, my art table and main work space is in the living room window.  There are supplies in the oak cabinet nearby, also in the guest bedroom and our bedroom.  They are taking over our small home!  The place where we ordered our building is running behind so it probably won't be delivered until after Christmas. 
I hope everyone (not sure how many folks actually read this) has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2012 too!
P.S.  My latest graphite WIP, while almost complete, can't be shown here as it will be a gift.  Will have to post later.

Neglect

I have no idea if anyone is still following this blog, I have neglected it terribly.  My extra time is spent on so many things but doing art comes first.  I read that last sentence and I know, deep down, it doesn't always but guess there are times when it can't.  Neglect the blog, not a disaster I suppose but, neglect working on art and skills get rusty and work suffers.  It is the same with relationships, neglect of loved ones and friends makes emotional distance and emptiness.
This past several days, I spent in the company of good friends who are also artists.  We have relit our fires by setting goals and with promises to keep up with each others progress.  There is support and friendly urging to keep on task.  Working alone in a studio is OK but knowing that support and encouragement is there and keeping in touch with it keeps me going.
The next time I post here, will have a photo, either of a finished work or a WIP!  Goals!

Playing Catch Up

Another long while since posting here. Not sure how I expect to gain followers if I never blog and seem to be repeating myself when I do. Need to work on that for sure.
The Christmas holiday was a busy one, company coming and going for two weeks. Took a while to get back in the art groove but have managed to do just that, completing two pieces in the last couple of weeks. Things are going well, so on a creative high right now, hope it holds!
Read a recent blog post by another artist that really made me think. She made the same remarks I have made, about working through the fear of making mistakes and rejection. Another comment she made, about always being an artist but not making any fine art for many years made a light come on.
I have posted before about having difficulty considering myself an artist, something I am not having as much trouble with these days. What struck home with me about her comment was that, yes, I too have always been an artist. It is just now, in the last few years that I have been creating fine art. My earlier attempts as a child were more as a hobby, always of animals and I, for some reason, never developed the passion for art that so many do. It has been a long time coming but the fire has been lit and is growing by the day. Perhaps it just has to do with confidence and now, that I am almost 60, I am finally figuring it all out!
I am just happy that I have found the art part of my life again and sorry I have let so much time pass. No regrets though, my life has been very full and wonderful and this is probably the best time for art to take hold.
My latest work can't be posted yet as it is for gifts. Have done nothing but graphite recently, kind of getting back to the basics as it were. Loving every minute!

Art Show

It has been a busy time, helping get the art show ready, and my role is small compared to others. It opens tomorrow (Oct. 1) and is also open on Saturday. Many days of work for a two day show! So many wonderful pieces, glad I didn't have to pick a winner. Alas, neither of my pieces won an award but, after seeing the caliber of art that was accepted, not surprised in the least. Our league dropped the size restrictions for the first time and we got some very large paintings. My graphite pieces were rather small and almost invisible! My pleasure comes from getting my work into the show and I know, one day, I will actually win something! The fun is in the doing anyway.
Need to finish a watercolor of peaches then move on to other ideas I have. Way more ideas than I have time to get to so keep a running list so I don't forget!

New work

Seems every time I post here, my first sentence has something to do with how long it has been since I posted. Guess blogging isn't my strong suit.

My latest work has been a commission of sorts, a request from my son and daughter-in-law for some art for their soon to be born son. Their first child and our first grandchild so very exciting times. Both of these pieces had more work done to them after these pictures were taken but nothing major.

I have a painting in progress and a long list of ideas for watercolor color and graphite work.

This summer was so busy with watering and working in the vegetable garden. I am looking forward to the fall and winter when I have more time to spend on my art. Of course, there will soon be a new grandson to be spending time with.

Our art league has a juried art show coming up the first weekend in October and I just found out that two of my submissions were accepted. One of these days maybe I will win a prize too!

Turkey

I have recently finished yet another piece in graphite, this one of a tom Turkey that was strolling by the front of our house one day. I was able to take a photo through the window and used that as reference. While working in graphite has been very enjoyable, I am not sure I can give up color to concentrate on working in black and white. My next project will be using colored pencil so I can work in pencil but also have some color!

As I am sure happens with all artists, my emotions ran the gamut with this piece. Whenever I was at my unhappiest with how things were going, laying it aside for a while, then coming back to it with "fresh eyes" always helped. Amazing how it seems a work in progress can change so drastically when one just walks away for an hour or so. At least that is what happens for me. The last thing I feel when a piece is finished is surprise. Wow! It really did turn out OK. After all the worrying with it and about it, things actually worked out. That feeling is so wonderful; exciting, satisfying, and some relief in there too.

Each project I have done, whether I am happy with the results or not, has taught me so very much. Hopefully, I will start getting more brave and not be afraid to experiment more. Still have the problem of being afraid to mess things up! If I want to progress and evolve, have to overcome that for sure.

I had some trouble with photographing this drawing. I guess it was the graphite reflecting the light. The drawing looks darker in person than it does here.

Ideas and Time

As has been my habit of late, too much time has passed since my last entry. Too much time has also passed since I have done any art. I began a watercolor landscape, something I could get help with in a Tom Lockhart workshop this weekend, but, alas, the class didn't make. Forging ahead with the painting and having some fun with it. First, had to fix some problems, which went better than expected. Thought I might have to start anew.
Our art league will have a membership show this summer and I need to get busy so I have some art to hang. There has been a lot of traveling lately, family visits, funerals to attend and a short illness. This has cut into my art time, as has getting the veggie garden planted and feeding a large number of very hungry hummingbirds!
Have enjoyed my recent graphite drawings so much, contemplated letting my watercolor go to concentrate on that medium. However, I also find myself missing the paintbrush so will just keep doing both. Perhaps I can combine the two.
It has been a beautiful spring for wildflowers so have been taking photos quite a bit lately. Maybe some of those will become paintings. I have a very long list of ideas, just need to sit down and get busy with them! Speaking of which, I need to stop posting to the blog and get back to my painting now!

More in graphite

I have completed another project, another in graphite. This will go to my father for his upcoming birthday. Sure hope he likes it. I do enjoy working in graphite but find I do miss color so not sure I could only do work in black and white. Perhaps I will try colored pencil next. Have done a couple of things before but have learned some things since then, such as how to mix colors, so, perhaps, it is time to try again? Will never give up on watercolor painting, still love to do that. Just so many things to try and learn!

Working in graphite, as I have probably written more than once, is helping me so very much with values, something I have a very hard time with in watercolor. I find I have to study my subject more closely to make an interesting rendering in graphite, this should help me in other media as well. I am not as happy with this latest work as with the last. More work was done after the photo was taken and, as with watercolors, not everything shows up as it should.

So many things coming up in my life; out of town trips and also time to get the vegetable garden in, will have to make a concerted effort not to let my art go by the wayside.

Let me try again!

After posting my last blog entry, I realized that I repeated myself quite a bit from the previous blog. Wouldn't have that problem if I posted more often, now would I? Also, didn't want to leave the impression that I thought artists that didn't spend a lot of time drawing weren't doing things "right" somehow. Not at all! Getting back to drawing is important.....for me. In my artistic journey, this is what I need to do now to improve. To really improve, I need to spend more time doing art, any art; drawing, painting, whatever! So, having said that, I will end this entry and get to it!

Back to Basics

Didn't wait quite as long to post this time but could do better.

I decided it was time to work on the basics and get back to drawing and sketching. I think, overall, this will help my painting, giving me a much better starting point from which to work. Oh, and how I am enjoying this! Drawing was something I used to do many years ago, much more than I ever painted. Now, I have rediscovered working in graphite and, while I am not abandoning watercolors, feel the pull to work with pencils for a while. Recently, I did some plein aire sketches of trees with pen, with varying results but, no matter what the result, it was fun!

The more I draw, the more I realize how important being able to draw is to a finished piece of art, no matter what the medium. No shorcuts of projecting images and tracing them, good, old fashioned drawing is the basis of all well rendered art, in my opinion.

Posting a graphite piece of a Goldfinch. My son took a photo while he was visiting and I used that as my reference.

Another dry spell

I did it again, neglected my blog. I haven't done much art either, but didn't ignore it completely. Finished a painting, which I will post here. Still a couple of minor things I plan to do on it but mainly, it is finished. Lately, put the watercolors aside to concentrate on drawing. It is something I feel that I need to really practice on and should also help my paintings look better. Starting with a better drawing before painting has got to help! Surely can't hurt.

Working in graphite is something I used to do years ago and enjoyed so am discovering it again. Funny thing, I have the same problem in graphite as I do in watercolor, values. Having a hard time getting out of the habit of having everything in the mid range.

There must be more time spent in practice or I will be stuck in this mediocre rut for a long time.

The posted painting is of our old tractor covered in snow.

Neglect

I am ashamed at how long it has been since my last post- 2 months! In all that time, not only have I neglected my blog but my art as well. I have just completed a small flower painting and have two drawings that are about ready to start painting. No excuses, just got busy with other things and, when I neglect my art long enough, makes it that much harder for me to get back into it. Sure wish I knew why that was. Once I do get to painting again, I enjoy it so much. At this rate, it will take the rest of my life before I see any improvement!
Thanksgiving was a busy time, had house guests for a week. Christmas we will be gone for about a week. It will be tough to get a lot of art done with gift wrapping and holiday baking but I intend to try. It felt good to do the small painting, which inspired me to stay with it. Each time I work on a painting, I remember more of what I should do and how I should do it.
Hopefully, I will soon have more paintings to post here, to show my progress. Wish me luck!

Art Show

Last week, our art league had its annual juried art show. It was a very busy week, setting up and making sure all was ready. We have a very good group and, like all groups, there are some that help more than others, but everyone pitches in. I was pleased to have one of two paintings accepted. I didn't win any awards but better than that, the painting sold! My first ever sale and I am still excited about that. That sale inspired me to do more art and even to try and enter other shows than our local one. Of course, if I don't get busy and produce some art, won't have anything to enter!
Still having trouble getting started. I spent all of yesterday looking at reference photos, managing to let the day go by without beginning anything. Today, I must, I will begin. It is like wanting to write something and just staring at the blank sheet of paper. One must just jump in and write/paint something, anything to get things flowing.
Now, here I am delaying again by writing in this blog. Ha! Signing off to get busy!!

Time Away

This poor blog has really been neglected of late, as has been my art. Took a trip back to the big city to visit family and friends then, for several days after returning, didn't feel well. All that combined to keep me from blogging or painting. Just finished a painting which won't be posted here as it may just be a gift for a family member. Don't want to ruin the surprise!
I think my next project will be small works, in various media, on 2"x3" artist's cards. Will be interesting to see if I can work that small but should be fun. There are so many different things I would like to do with art, in all kinds of media. Seems there will always be something else to try.
Our local art league is having their annual juried show next weekend. This coming week will be full with preparations. I feel quite fortunate to have one of my paintings accepted into the show. It is like I have already won a prize! Have heard that this judge likes abstract works, even though she doesn't paint in that style. In that case, very little chance of my painting winning any awards. Would be icing on the cake, since I really do feel excited just to be in the show at all!
All of this means that I won't be having any time to paint this week but should be inspired by all of the wonderful art in the show.

Will I ever learn?

My latest painting is reminding me of a very bad habit of mine, being too timid! While I know, in watercolor, one begins light and goes darker, there is a happy medium. It takes me way too many layers to get as dark as I need to be. Why can't I remember that each time I sit down to paint? Still have a lot to do on the painting, it isn't a lost cause but I sure get mad at myself when I realize, once again, I am being way too stingy with the paint!

Fun or Work?

I just read a comment made by an artist who wrote that when folks tell her that being a professional artist must be fun, she immediately replies that it isn't fun, it is work. Then she says she enjoys what she does. That confuses me. If you enjoy what you do, isn't that fun? Yes, doing art is hard work, we sweat bullets over it but, if it were all bullet sweating and no fun at all, why do it? Can't one work hard and have fun too? Does one exclude the other? I don' think so. Sometimes, when I am working on a painting, it is a roller coaster ride! And that can change from one minute to the next!
I think that artist may be feeling that those who tell her she must be having fun being an artist, is feeling she has to defend what she does; somehow, if it is fun, it isn't legitimate work. Perhaps a more appropriate answer to the comment would be that, "yes, being an artist is fun but it is also hard work". Such a response might just start a dialogue so that the person who made the comment is then educated in a pleasant way about all that is involved with being a professional artist. The "lay" person only sees the art and thinks of the artist painting away joyously. They haven't a clue about all that goes on that doesn't involve creating the art!
Perhaps the artist means that the art is fun but the business end isn't, which is totally understandable.

Productivity

Lately, I have been painting way more than usual and have some finished work to show for it. All of these were learned and/or started in my art class. They were fun but not sure I will do many or any more like them. Will be more likely to do flowers than pots but I did enjoy doing the pots.

Haven't felt well the last few day so haven't been painting. Got back to it today and ended up tossing a work in progress. Was trying a watercolor canvas, thought it would be a nice change. Well, I was wrong. Guess someone needs to give me lessons but I couldn't get the thing to wet, paint wanted to bead up. Also, if you go back in to add shadows or second washes, the first color that was put down, comes up again. Like I said, guess there is a trick to it that someone needs to teach me but, until that happens, won't be buying any more of those things. The pots were done on watercolor board and I didn't mind that at all. It is different than paper but easier to figure out!

Started a painting of a cat today. Hope I can manage it!