Second in a series

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Single Daffodil. 5x7 cradled panel.

Single Daffodil. 5×7 cradled panel.

Sketch to painting. Imaginary color. Water-soluble crayon over absorbent ground–not sure about that choice. The background laid down very nice, but this is a difficult choice of medium. I think that I will try this one again with Casein. I like the softer background of the tulip, I think prefer a little less chaotic. But, all in all, an interesting experiment. I am working on achieving a series of paintings that will all work together–regardless of the medium chosen.

Fountain pen sketch for painting

Fountain pen sketch for painting

Last day in Maui

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IMG_0321

Back to homework for #sketchbookskool. This lesson was a challenge for me mostly because I just couldn’t find three items to draw. I finally decided on a couple of nice large leaves from the yard. I will redo this assignment when I get home. I also don’t have my watercolors with me, so used water soluble crayons…which work, but they aren’t the same.

Always sad to leave Hawaii, but I am ready to get back to Maine, my family, my Big dog and all that crazy snow!

Challenge Day 9

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Water-soluble crayon and ink pen

Water-soluble crayon and ink pen

So happy to get a resource photo for the turkish teapot from my friend Mallory. I really like to draw either from life or from my own photos, and it’s fun to include friends in my search! This is a great teapot, And, a challenge to draw. The great thing about the #AJChallenge is that every day I get an opportunity to learn about something new. So many of the subjects i would never choose on my own, I am really enjoying the discovery part of this project.

Today’s challenge was coin or paper money. I happen to be visiting my parents, so I asked if they had any interesting money. Turns out my Dad had a little box with some old coins and paper money from his Uncle Norman. He hadn’t opened the box in several years. It was fun to open up the paper money and look at the different coins. I didn’t enjoy the sketching part of this, but I really loved the discovery.

My Dad's box of coins

My Dad’s box of coins

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.

Working the background

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water-soluble crayon and colored pencil

water-soluble crayon and colored pencil

Doing these little detail drawings is a lot of fun. I am working on incorporating some movement and activity in the background. This background was inspired by the pattern on the topside of a scallop shell that I picked up a long with this broken shell. The broken shell reminded me of Georgia O’Keefe shell paintings, so I thought I would try to do one with that as inspiration.

I like the texture and movement in the background, I am going to work on these combinations for a few more pieces. I need to work on doing a better job of creating a motion feeling…but it’s starting.

This was drawn in my moleskin sketchbook.

Materials

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Warm up assignment

Warm up assignment

I was a little behind on my #sketchbookskool homework, so I think that I rushed through a little to catch up. I don’t think that I should do that, I need to remember, its an online course! It’s not going anywhere! So, because I rushed I didn’t feel super great about the projects. I also didn’t really like the technique that we used. The assignment was to draw in pencil, ink in the outline and then color in with watercolor. It’s just not my thing…but, I can see that it can be a good approach for certain things.

This week the subject matter is more interesting to me, drawing animals! Looking forward to this, but I need to find some figurines to draw from for the assignment. The first step in this weeks class was to draw your art supplies. I see other artists do this a fair amount, it’s something I never really considered as a subject. However, once I sat down and really focused in on it I did find it fun. On to the animals!

Ink outlines and watercolor washes

Ink outlines and watercolor washes

Realistic, but abstract

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Bird of Paradise: water soluble crayon and graphite

Bird of Paradise: water soluble crayon and graphite

This turned out pretty much the way I wanted it to. That doesn’t happen often. It was planned…but yet loose. I made myself put the color in loosely knowing that once the color was down, that was it, no going back in color. Just over drawn in graphite. I will try to do more of these, some in graphite some in ink. My goal is for the over drawing to simply have beautiful lines, even if that means changing what is in front of me. I am not exactly happy with the lower right corner, but the rest of it I am pleased with.

No place like home

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Water-soluble crayon & colored pencil

Water-soluble crayon & colored pencil

This is our last day on Oahu, Hawaii. I am ready to head home. It’s been so nice seeing a different place, although I admit that Oahu is not really for me. I love the other islands and look forward to coming back to Maui in February. I am just not a city girl, and it really doesn’t matter that the beach is here and that the temperatures are warm. I like the slower pace of the other islands. I feel good that we came and better yet that we had a nice relaxing few days on the North Shore of Oahu. I did get some good photos for painting resources.

In progress: water-soluble crayon & graphite

In progress: water-soluble crayon & graphite

Traveling

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In progress: water soluble crayon & colored pencil

In progress: water soluble crayon & colored pencil

My husband and I are visiting Oahu Hawaii. The destination was not our exact choice, but the conference that he is attending is located here. We have been to the Big Island, Maui, and Kauai. Oahu is so very different than the other islands.  We are not city folk, so we are a little less comfortable. We were lucky to find a really nice spot on the North Shore for the days before the conference, and that was great! I have spent my time taking lots of photos and thinking of future drawing and painting subjects. Today was the first day that I really had enough time to devote to some artwork. It is super hot in the city though, so I have to watch my materials closely for melting!

Shell sketch: North Shore of Oahu

Shell sketch: North Shore of Oahu

Re-discovering Ink

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Ink and water soluble crayon, 5" x 7"

Ink and water soluble crayon, 5″ x 7″

I had forgotten how much I actually liked ink. I think when I was young I may have sketched the drawing in pencil first and then gone over it in ink. Now I seem to have less fear and I can dive right in and put that ink right on the page. The lines now have loosened up for sure. Adding splashes of color with the water soluble crayon adds a spontaneity that I really enjoy. And, If I keep that color thin enough I can sneak in and add just a little over spots where I have drawn and then ink right over that too. I will keep working with this.

I started out with the micron ink pen just thinking of planning a painting, but the second piece I did really turned out well. I think that it’s a good medium for small planning sketches and also finished work. Next experiment is to use the ink drawing for a base for encaustic. We’ll see how that goes.

Planning sketch: ink pen

Planning sketch: ink pen