Student Art Work

Student self portraits using a grid.

I started a pencil portrait commission of a family today. I will not be able to post it for privacy of the subjects and also because it is a secret for the recipients, so I will post some samples of my students' art. This class recently completed a project where they were to paint a self portrait using a grid, like the artist Chuck Close. (I would love to see that exhibition!) I wanted the students to learn to draw using a grid and to be creative in the way they painted the individual squares in the grid. As Chuck Close uses simple shapes in the squares to create the images.

These two students chose to pose in their reference photo together and match up their paintings as they were in the photo. The students really grumbled about this project in the beginning, but in the end, most of them were surprised and proud at what they accomplished! These two gave me permission to post their pictures here. (The cute guy may look like his mother...ME!) I may post some more later if the others want their pictures posted. They really got creative!

Could be a Tree...

"Tree of Colors"

Prismacolors on Colourfix

A week ago, I posted a small part of this drawing. I'm sure it was probably obviously a part of a tree...and yes I seem to be doing trees alot lately. So here is the whole piece. I finally had time to work on it yesterday. Its not quite finished though. I need to go back and punch up some of the colors in the background. Right now it looks a little more pastel than I wanted. So I'm going to finish this and try to move on to something besides trees. Maybe even do a still life...or a portrait...so much to chose from, so little time!

A Friend's Story

My close friend in high school has gone through a parents worst nightmare, for the last 2 1/5 years. Beth Holloway (Twitty) was on the Oprah show today. Natalee went missing in Aruba in 2005 and her family is still searching for answers. They may never find the answers, but I pray that someday Beth and Dave will. Beth has written a book that tells her story, from her point of view from the moment she got a call on her cell phone with the news that Natalee was missing. I could hardly put the book down. Although I watched all of the news shows that even mentioned the case as it happened (I was practically glued to the television that summer) and I got regular updates from family about the events, the book was very touching to read. If you have followed the story of Natalee Holloway and like to read this kind of book, I highly recommend it. The name of the book is "Loving Natalee" by Beth Holloway.

The Lone Cherry

" The Lone Cherry"
Prismacolor on Ersta Paper

Last summer I took a workshop at the annual CPSA convention under Linda Lucas Hardy. She uses an artist sandpaper for many of her beautiful colored pencil paintings. Part of the day, we worked on these cherries. I loved working on this paper and was pretty pleased with the results of my cherry. I plan to do some more cherries sometime, so my cherry will not be so lonely anymore. Hardy used to use Ersta paper, but now uses an archival version of this paper from the same company. The new paper is called Uart . This paper comes in different grits.

This week has been busy at work, so I don't have an update on the previous post yet, but I hope to have one this weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

What is it?

What is it?

Well it may be obvious, but this is a small portion of the colored pencil drawing that I am currently working on. To me it looks kindof abstract. The negative spaces and lines are what appealed to me with this piece. I started this a couple of months ago, but because of other commissions and my day job, I haven't finished this yet, but I have been working on this some this week. This is colored pencil on blue colorfix. I don't want to show the whole piece yet, but as soon as I get it finished I will post the whole piece. This image is about a quarter of the whole piece, which is on a whole sheet of colorfix.

Time to Relax!...a little.

Now that the rush of getting ready for Christmas, traveling to visit relatives, and having relatives over for Christmas day is over, I finally have a little time to relax...a little bit. There is plenty to do around here. I have to put away the decorations that were so carefully put out only a few weeks ago. I also need to get organized for the new year. But I am taking a few days to just relax and take it in. That is what Radar, the Papillion in the photo, is good at...just taking it all in. Here he is perched on the back of my mom's couch, in the sunshine, just watching everyone...so he doesn't miss a thing!

I did spend some time yesterday organizing my art studio clutter. I actually filled a trashbag with old items that I never use. I should probably get rid of a lot more, but...you never know when I might need a few hundred envelopes, or three jars of paintbrushes, or half a dozen plastic tubs to put water in for painting! Or some of the old Artists Magazines from the last 5 years. Why do I keep them? Honestly, I don't know. Sometimes I do take a years worth of old magazines to work and let my students look through them, but I don't think they get as much out of them. Maybe I could donate them to a local doctor's office and inspire someone to paint or draw. Well, I better get back to my...relaxing.

Latest Pen and Ink Portrait

Home Portrait

Pen and Ink

18" x 8"

As I mentioned earlier, I had two pen and ink home commissions to finish before Christmas. Well I finished Wednesday and delivered them Thursday. I had to get them delivered Thursday, as I was going out of town this weekend. This one also had to be framed, so I ordered a frame online, so the frame was delivered and ready to put the drawing into it. I ordered the frame from pictureframes.com and was very pleased with the results. All I had to do was put in the size of the drawing, pick out a frame, pick out a mat color, choose the backing material, and order. That is great for when you are in a rush. The frame was delivered within a week.

Now all of the pre holiday rush is almost over, I hope to work on some colored pencils pieces soon. I need something to enter into the CPSA competition, so I need to get busy with the colored pencils.