copying blocks

I saw a painting like this in a catalog, so decided to do a colorful page in my journal, capturing the same feel.

The original was a large oil, in a variation of these colors and block placement.

Acrylic in the journal.

the jumble

Soft pencil plus fast sketch equals a smeary mess. Just like the scene this captures!

Pencil in the Cachet sketchbook.

losing my edges

I went back to read the section on edges in Richard's Schmid's book Alla Prima. Finally the lightbulb clicked on--that losing edges is the way to make an item blend with its background, instead of being a cut-out on top.

So I'm practicing. It's difficult to not put down what I see (edges), or to go back and blur them, after working so long to be accurate.

3B pencil in the journal.

doodling during the movie

Watching Coraline at home, keeping my hands busy.

Pencil in a Cachet sketchbook.

resolution--more painting

It's not a new resolution, just a recurring intention.

So I painted the bear, then added something to give it a bit of story. The goal is to push paint around and see what happens.

Acrylic on 140# Arches.

copying Master drawings

An article in the paper had this picture, a Dutch artist from the 1600s named Visscher.

4B Wolff's carbon pencil in the journal. The writing showing through on the scan and adds unplanned texture, especially to his face and beard.

Oh, well, I was never trying to compete, just learn.

wavy lines and woozy vision?

If this image is slightly blurry and wavy looking, you may have partied too hard last night.

Happy New Year! Happy 1/1/11!

Soft pencil, blended, on Strathmore drawing paper.

knitting a camera sock

My husband has long used a heavy, ribbed, sock leg as a slipcover for his digital camera. I finally knit myself one and love how it cushions my camera.

36 stitch k2/p2 tube out of a bulky yarn, knit tightly. I bound off the end, with a 3 needle bindoff, to create a stretched square bottom.

Shut off that flash

Chaucer is learning to squint when he sees the camera coming.

adding to the hat collection

These I'm keeping. After the Monday blizzard and today's wind chills, I need a hat in every coat pocket.

Plus some bright wrist warmers.

This still applies

We've been very busy with travel, family urgencies, and relocating elderly relatives to new situations. Not done yet, so for a Christmas post I'm recycling the card and post I made in December, 2005.


Celebrate the Light!

elf delivery!

A basket of 11 hats and (tied with gold ribbon) 3 pairs of wrist warmers, sent to the housing unit where families can pick what fits them. The knitting elf intends to rest awhile now!

caricatures

The guy in front of me stayed turned like this for over 2 hours, talking to his seat mate. I suspect he had a strong neck pain the next day.

Maybe their noses weren't this big, but they *were* distinctive.

Pencil in the journal.

on the phone

I sketched in pencil, then later idly decided to do lines with w/c.

In the journal.