turning leftovers into a new entree

I had cut up an abstract w/c failure into pieces so that the 300# paper wouldn't be a loss.

Glazing it with acrylics turned it into a postable piece. I added no shapes or detail. Only glazes of nickel azo gold and phthalo blue,

I'm getting hooked on the versatility of acrylics.

acrylic glazing

Practicing with acrylics. Being able to layer lights on darks is such a switch in technique!

I call these drawings because I recently learned that in the museum world, anything on paper is categorized as a drawing, and any work on canvas is called a painting. The substrate totally determines the category, not the medium used.

On 140# paper.

acrylic is so sturdy!

Layers, slop, drips, rubbing. I'm loving the indestructability of plastic paint.

But I have a niggly concern about using acrylics. Thoughts of oil companies, waste water contamination, and buying unnecessary plastic.

Environmental awareness is painful! But I love these results.

On 300# Arches.

Layer Love

I'm taking an online class on painting with acrylics, creating layers and depth, especially for journal pages.

Julie Pritchard, instructor, has a blog here.

Great fun! This is on 140# w/c paper.

the subtle woodland flowers

In a dim place under the deck, shaded by bushes and its own leaves, this jack in the pulpit is speaking calmly.

Graphite and colored pencil on drawing paper.

switching to acrylics

An abstract with a bit of tissue paper collaged on. Now I see a flower.

W/c on paper for acrylics, with the tiny crossweave texture.

imagining the sea

I like that unpainted spaces can become white capped waves.

W/c on 90# paper.

glazing practice

Done in one sitting, but trying to learn how to do the subtle shading on a face.

All my imaginary people used to be bald. But hair is actually easier.

imagining scenery

I started idly trying out a pen on this thick cotten paper, torn out of a journal from India. Kept adding things and came out with this.

It's like painting on a heavy paper towel, not recommended. Not good for writing on, either!

back to posting

I've been doing a lot of painting, drawing workshop sessions, and my daily sketching. But posting, not so much.

Practicing my glazing on the ever-convenient pear theme.

glazing practice

I drew the backpack with pencil, then did w/c lines, then glazes of the various planes of light.

On Aquabee Superdeluxe.

theatre set

Last night we went to see a production of "A Moon for the Misbegotten." Before it started, I sketched the stage.

Tech pen and a bit of w/c added later, on Hand Book artist paper. Rippled paper came out looking like a canvas sky, though the stage sky was quite flat!

what's facing me

I parked the car and had time to draw a quick scene. It happened to be this stone culvert alongside the road.

So be it. I draw what I see.

Rollerball pen and w/c on sketchbook paper.

still using old technology

In the college library when the circulation manager leaves her office to walk through our large building, including 3 floors of stacks, she takes this walkie-talkie so we can call if we need her.

That way we don't need to tie up library phone lines or use her cell phone.

Tech pen, w/c in a little sketchbook.