Watercolor & Graphite

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The days are flying by! I am working on some oil paint studies, some are working, some not so much. But, I am learning and gaining experience. This is such a busy time of year with the holidays…I find that setting up for oil painting is a little harder to manage.

The great thing about watercolor pencils and graphite is they easily go anywhere. I have been doing the water color grounds first and then drawing on top. Sitting in the living room in a cozy chair with my journal and pencil allows me to visit with folks coming in and out of the house.

After tomorrow I have a few days off, hope to get back to oil painting.

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Style Departure

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The goal for this painting was just to try out the oil bar paint on paper, but with a gesso ground. When I use just the paper, of course some oil seeps through over time. While the feel is different on the gesso ground I think it is a better choice for longevity of the work. For the drawing and subject I just wanted to do something simple…so I chose the pelican in a very graphic depiction. And, I had a lot of fun doing it!

It’s a total style departure. Fun to do something totally different.

Fish!

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I am enjoying working on some small fish paintings as studies for larger oil paintings. My schedule hasn’t allowed me to get back to the oil paint, so I have to work with supplies that travel a little easier. Watercolor pencils, graphite and ink pens are the easiest of travel companions.

Looking forward to turning the red drum into a larger oil painting. Fun to learn and observe the shapes and colorations of different fish!

Busy Summer Days

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Jellyfish: watercolor and fountain pen

Jellyfish: watercolor and fountain pen

I am so behind in everything related to making art. I feel like I am just dabbling around these days instead of getting anything serious done. Lots of visiting, boating, camping getting done though. And, lots of future inspiration from all the summer adventures. I am working on the following:

1. Finishing my large Jack-in-the-pulpit painting

2. Just started a large painting of the Fort Point lighthouse with two tree shadows

3. Encaustic experiments are on going

4. Daily sketching has been a challenge, need to discipline myself back to that

Sneaking a sketch in

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Quick study: watercolor and fountain pen

Quick study: watercolor and fountain pen

This weekend was super busy. We are planning on a sailing trip over the fourth of July holiday, so lots to do to get ready for. I plan on doing a lot of drawing during this trip…so I am trying not to feel sad that I didn’t get to draw or paint this weekend. Oh, wait, that isn’t entirely true, I just finished this quick sketch which made me late cooking dinner! This was drawn from a photo I took on a Maine island last fourth of July.

Looking forward to a sail in just a few days!

Art Journal Challenge Day 16

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black prismacolor drawn in moleskin sketchbook

black prismacolor drawn in moleskin sketchbook

Black and White. #AJChallenge for today was black and white…I decided to try my acrylic metallic silver as a light wash underpainting and then black prismacolor for the drawing. I have always loved this image that I took of fallen plumeria’s in Hawaii…I think that we were in Maui. Even on the ground these blossoms are so beautiful. We were on our way out and these had fallen under the tree in the parking lot. It was the last photo I took on the island that trip. I think it would be nice to do a graphite piece of this, not sure about the acrylic ground.

Day 13 was a mythological character, I took a stab at a mermaid. Super fun to draw, but not great proportions. The great thing about the challenge is that even if I don’t have the time to do the day justice, it gives me great ideas for the future. Mermaids are a subject I will come back to for sure.

Mermaid: ink pen

Mermaid: ink pen

Day 7

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Single Lily inspired by Georgia O'Keefe. Ink pen

Single Lily inspired by Georgia O’Keefe. Ink pen

Plans change. #AJChallenge Day 7, re-interpreation of Georgia O’Keefe’s Single Lily. I do love this painting by Georgia O’Keefe. However, I had my heart set on Emily Carr. But, it just didn’t work out, mostly because at the time I did this drawing the reference material for Carr just wasn’t available to me. This reference is from my wall calendar.

I didn’t miss Day 6 of the seed and pod challenge, just not super happy with the results, so no need to share that. Maybe I will revisit that day in February.

On to the turkish tea pot today! I feel fortunate that one of my friends sent me a photo to use as a reference. I didn’t want to have to google.

Day 5

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Water-soluble crayon and ink: View from the sailboat

Water-soluble crayon and ink: View from the sailboat

I am running a bit behind on the #AJChallenge. This was done for the 5th day, the subject was to draw a bridge. I knew this was the subject I wanted to do, but I just couldn’t get to it on 1/5/15, so I did this about 5:00am on 1/6/15. Yesterday’s challenge was seeds or pods–I am working on a Devil’s claw for this one (so also a day behind). Then I have to play catch up because today’s challenge is to do a rendition of one of your favorite paintings! Oh my! I was thinking Van Gogh, but many other folks have chosen him, so I think I am going to go for Emily Carr. Hopefully I can get that done today!

It’s great to have some subject matter that is so different from what I might normally choose.

Challenge Day 4

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Cat from Castine: graphite

Cat from Castine: graphite

Animals! #AJChallenge Day 4. One of my favorite subjects, but I find that I don’t do many animal drawings really. Not unless it is part of an assignment or challenge. I am thinking that I will add animals to be subject matter for this year. They aren’t easy, so lots of concentration required. A good thing. Today I got the year right!

This cat was hanging out in Castine in front of Markel’s bakery last summer. She had such a personality. You could tell she was really engaged by everyone coming by. I think that she was mostly interested in our dog Big and that is why she looks so intense. I took a bunch of photos of her, I think I will do a few more sketches of her. Good practice.

Artist’s Journal Challenge

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Boat propeller: sepia ink

Boat propeller: sepia ink

This is such a great idea! It’s great to have some sketch motivation until my next Sketchbook Skool Klass start. Each day of the #ajchallenge has a different subject for drawing. I started late on this–on day 2, but will do my best to keep up with it. This drawing is for Day 3–something industrial. I don’t think my choice of subject fits exactly, as industrial seems to bring to mind the tools needed to fabricate a product. But, it feels industrial to me as this boat propeller is made out of metals and had to be forged in an industrial way! What is really funny about this is, it was drawn on 1/3/15 and I put in the date as 2014! Change it hard.

Next challenge is to draw an animal. Looking forward to that one.

Here is the link just in case you are interested to the Artist’s Journal Challenge list for Facebook: AJChallenge

And, here is the link that anyone should be able to see: AJChallenge