Hoot Hoot Hoot

Look who peeked out on one of my small-works using acrylics and neocolor I crayons. My soul mate hooty the Owl! Love using up small pieces of cut canvas, and leftover paints!

I've Come a Calling

8.5 x 9 "

Cut Canvas Acrylics and Crayons

Just a Touch of This or That

8.75 x 9.25 "

Cut Canvas Acrylics and Crayons

Available Here

The sound of Falling Water

8.75 x 8.75 "

Cut Canvas Acrylics and Crayons

Available Here

A Rush of Red Cascade

8.75 x 9 "

Cut Canvas Acrylics and Crayons

Available Here

Small and Bright

Week 8 on PYHAS was all about landscapes. A lesson with Sherry Woodward.  A lesson in acrylics, layering, color-mixing, and abstraction. PHYAS2019 has my mind in a whirl! Sometimes I don't remember what I posted and where I learned what. It's a rollercoaster ride! But FUN! So here are a few that were put aside. One I did post you can find here.

I did deviate from the lesson and tweaked with my favorite neocolor I wax crayons!

All Paths Lead to the Monastery

8.5 x 9 " 

Acrylics on cut canvas with Caran d'Ache wax crayons

Available At Artfinder

In the Dark the City Lights Glow

8.5 x 9 " 

Acrylics on cut canvas with Caran d'Ache wax crayons

Available at Artfinder

Let's Go Downtown

8.5 x 9 " 

Acrylics on cut canvas with Caran d'Ache wax crayons

Available at Artfinder

Finished my Man

Have finally finished my "man" portrait. Week nine with Muriel Stegers at PYHAS 2019. It sat at my table for a while waiting for the final part, facing the fear and going a bit abstract. I had some leftover acrylic paint from the portrait study I had started and took a wide 3" brush and just did whish wash over sections. Hey had to start somewhere! Then I added more scribbles and marks with my  Neocolor I crayons. Now that wasn't so hard!

This is one lesson I will do again! Maybe try with a reference!

Let's Go Out for a Beer!

11.6 x 16.5

Acrylic Paper 300 gm

Acrylics

WIP Here

Going Crazy with Color Mixing

I sometimes get obsessive with color mixing. The main reason being that I am not a good colorist so I have always loved learning about how to make good color palettes and choices. So I really had a ball with this weeks lesson on PYHAS by Sabra Awlad Issa. Wow, what packed lesson, color mixing, foreshortened portrait, values. This was a real challenge! She is an excellent and modest teacher. A real treat! 

The lesson was in acrylics but I was too stressed with the color mixing and worrying about them drying so tried doing some crayon work which also had its problems so I dived into my oils. What a difference that made. The portrait is not done but I am happy with the progress.

WIP

13.75 x 19.5 "

Oils on gessoed paper

WIP

13.75 x 19.5 "

Oils on gessoed paper

Values

First layer in acrylics ugh

Second Layer with oil/wax crayons

Now, how many colors can you mix with just the primaries? We all have heard that we can mix an infinite amount, but we all tend to buy lots of colors. My usual palette starts off with two of each of the primaries plus chromatic black, a mix from ultramarine blue and raw umber, and white. But in Sabra's lesson, she used cadmium red, ultramarine blue, and cadmium yellow to mix a whole range of what she calls "dirty colors". I just love muted/muddy colors and I almost always add a speck of medium gray to my colors. Her basic color is a mix of all three to get a dirty brown. Then she mixes each primary with a bit of that brown and continues to mix these "mixes" together etc. With the addition of white and the range gets more infinite. Of course, the ratios matter as well. So when you feel in need of some occupational therapy any red/blue/yellow and go to town.... what fun. I did mention that I am an obsessive color mixer!

Three different browns depending on the ratios

Oils

I suggest less blue!

The basic Mixes

This Brown seems to make greenish hue with the yellow

Bottom right mixed red +yellow + brown to get a dirty orange.+ added more yellow

to get a lighter orange and to each added white

Yummy

My acrylic Mixes

Yellow Mixes

Middle row mixed yellow with medium gray

bottom  medium gray with yellow

Made a value chart with my chromatic black

red red+brown added white Blue blue+brown added white

Bottom red + gray + white Blue + gray + white

Mixing the mixes 

Bottom right used Indian Yellow with the Brown + White

Red Mix + Indian Yellow mix + white

Have Fun!

Two Little Boys and Hope For the Future

My weekly trip to Jerusalem has changed this year and I now travel to Neve Shalom where my daughter has moved into their new home. Uri,10, just got this very complicated board game of Dragons & Dungeons which is not for my head, invited his friend Walid from across the street to play with him. Just two young kids playing on the floor together. No big deal! Well, I think it's a BIG deal because Walid is Arabic and Uri is Jewish! One small step for more understanding and a better future!

My daughter's home is just below that Dome in the image from the site., facing the Trappist Monastery!

I certainly have been lacking at blogging of late.  PYHAS has kept me busy weekly. Some I have posted my Instagram account.

Last week we had fun with abstract landscapes and scratching tools and the use of alcohol! Didn't succeed with the alcohol. Will try again.

The Silence is Broken with the Sounds of Bells

8.5 x 9 " 

Acrylics on cut canvas with Caran d'Ache wax crayons

Can be purchased at Artfinder

It's So Sad to be Alone

Decided to post first thing and not to procrastinate. So far the sun is shining but it's cold and forecasts are for a stormy one day storm. That's all they talk about in the news, so today I will not be making my weekly visit to Neve Shalom. The grandkids will be staying with friends in Jerusalem in hopes that there will be snow.

These are the last of the group of figure studies. I will be continuing this series, prepared two formats.
Am busy with PYHAS with a new lesson every week, a few paintings for my family that I am struggling with, and other projects.

Sometimes a reference really catches you. You feel drawn into the story. That is what the reference did for me. I made 3 different versions. An elderly woman sitting alone in what seems a bare and cold room. A table and a radiator and not much more.

Feeling Lonely and Cold Like a Penny Waiting for Change

19.5 x 13.5 "

Gessoed paper with Acrylic Background

Charcoal and Wax Crayons

You come into the world alone and you go out of the world alone, yet it seems to me you are more alone while living than even going and coming. (Emily Carr)

13,5 x 19.5 "

Gessoed paper with Acrylic Background

Charcoal and Wax Crayons

Having a Hard Time

Portrait of a Lonely Woman

13,5 x 19.5 "

Gessoed paper with Acrylic Background

Charcoal and Wax Crayons

Sunning by the Window

Love doing figures trying to mesh them in the background to make them less of a "study" and more interesting. I find the process difficult mainly because although I tend to work spontaneously and fast when I stop the "block" sets in and it's hard to continue as it's usually a thought process rather than intuition. Something I will have to work on more.

Taking a Sunbath by the Window

20 x 13.75 "

Gessoed Paper with acrylic background

Charcoal and Crayons

Finishing Up...Until

Have been trying to finish up some of my figure work, well that is until I decide to fiddle some more. Been experimenting more with using my wax/oil crayons from Caran d'Ache, neocolor I. Like some of the effects with rubbing wax, or turps.

On the Stool by the Window

Gessoed paper Acrylic Background

Crayons and Charcoal

13.75 x 19 "

Tried some wallpaper effect, see top left, but the greens didn't seem to work. Previous version!

Seated on the Stool WIP

Well since I am at the computer I will try to catch up on some of the work I have been doing. Actually, last week and this week more than half the workshop was devoted to critiquing on our home project. Each time half the class. The project was "neighbors" and I was amazed at the level of work produced. I will be posting mine in another post. along with some of my fellow artists work.

Another pose from Croquis Cafe. 

Seated Figure WIP

Gessoed paper Acrylic Background

Crayons and Charcoal

13.75 x 19 "

This is the second stage with more color and added mirror/window. Have already tried to break this up with more color to get it out of the "study stage", but at 8:00 PM it's too dark to photograph!

Reclining Figure

Has it really been a month since my last post! Time seems to go fast and although I have been busy with holidays and such have also been doing some painting as well, seems like photographing, editing, and posting have been put to the back burner.  Hope to catch up!

Still working on figures on painted backgrounds. Pose from Croquis Cafe. 

Reclining Figure WIP  I

Gessoed paper Acrylic Background

13.75 x 19 "

Charcoal and Wax Crayons

Reclining Figure WIP  II

Gessoed paper Acrylic Background

13.75 x 19 "

Charcoal and Wax Crayons

The main critique with these is that they are too much like posed studies. Nothing wrong with studies but I did want them more than that. The added window effect did help some but I have to go further. Not to fear the ruining of a fairly good study! 

Studies on Dark Background

Studies on Dark Background

Started a series on formats that I painted with burnt sienna on gessoed paper.  Most of these papers I retrieved when a neighbor emptied out a studio from the house he bought. The house was the home of an artist, painter and sculptor Archie TalronThe paper was already pretty old before it was chucked out on the street. Retrieved as much as I could, sketch pads, heavy paper, charcoal paper etc. Repaired several edges with masking tape.

Brought this to my workshop to add more color with oils. Reuven stated the painting has already made its statement and any more work was not necessary.

Sometimes We Have to Liston 

13.5 x 19.5"

Charcoal Pencil Neocolor I Crayons Medium

More Transfer Experiments

I seem to be wandering all about. Did experiments in Gelli Plate transfers that didn't finish. Workshop figure studies to post and continue. This morning couldn' sleep so did some experiments in mono-printing on my Gelli plate. Hey there Carol, FOCUS!

OK, photographed the transfers so I can post. Seems every time I look and photograph there is something to tweak. Have to stop somewhere, they are really just experiments. Really was feeling the technique and if something worked it was just luck!

You can find the WIP here

Windows to my Soul

8 x 10 "

Heavy Textured Paper

Acrylics Collage Watercolor Neocolor I crayons 

Gel transfers references should be high contrasted. The first step with dark colors and second with lighter. These are fun to do, can be addictive. Lots of trial and error. I worked on the print with my wax crayons and decided to make use of the map as a frame.

"London isn't waiting for me

There too I'll be alone"

Chava Alberstein

9.5  x  13 "

Gelli print on a map of London

Crayons

Print off press

Magazine page with added crayons

Magazine page after placing on the plate

Gelli Printing Transfers

Wow, October already! September challenges finished. New year, new start. Workshop tomorrow YAY!

During September I did some experimenting with transfers with Gelli printing. Really tricky need just the right contrast image and paint combinations. But, whatever the outcome, there is always something to work with.

Brayered the reference with some colors and used sections as collage pieces. Added watercolor and wax crayons. Love how the crayons lay on the acrylic. After photographing I see more interesting shapes I may develop.

WIP

8 x 10 "

Heavy Textured Paper

Acrylics Collage Watercolor Neocolor I crayons 

Print from transfer

Reference Photo

Not enough contrast

No real relationship between the reference!

PS Instagram down to 190! I am following JUST 25-26! Maybe a few more that aren't following me.

Got that down from more than 2000 YIKES

Flown the Coop Day 30

Day 30  30 in 30

Mixed media on watercolor paper. Continuation of the main concept of "jail" from a previous post.

Dealing with Instagram.. down to 657.... following... most of the time when I open my feed I do get my artist friends first...

Another jumble of shapes and colors.... actually enjoying the freedom of not having to please anyone and just go for it. Brayed background, collage pieces, inktense pencils, neocolor crayons, and Posca pen. Everything but the kitchen sink! Last day of the challenge.... I've flown the coop!

You Can't Catch Me Cause I've Flown the Coop

9 x 7"

Sketchpad Watercolor Paper

Acrylics  collage Tissue Paper Gelli Prints

  Inktense Pencils NeocolorI Crayons  Posca Pen

Click to enlarge

We Are With You Day29

Day 29  30 in 30

Mixed media on watercolor paper. Continuation of the main concept of "jail" from a previous post.

My experience with Instagram really pulled the rug from under me.. Today, however, I am more relaxed about the situation.

A sort of mixed up piece, a jumble of shapes and colors trying to get out! Veiled it with white and the wetness revealed the figures that were hidden. Win some lose some! A bit tired from the challenge, holidays etc...

Being Flexible and Adaptable You Will Remain True to Your Purpose

9 x 7"

Sketchpad Watercolor Paper

Acrylics  collage Tissue Paper Gelli Prints

  Inktense Pencils NeocolorI Crayons

Click to enlarge

Lost in a Forest Day 22

Day 22  30 in 30

Mixed media on watercolor paper. Continuation of the main theme of "jail" from a previous post.

 On this, I put down fence marks with my wax crayons and added brayer marks! Some collaging with torn tissue paper prints and doodling with Inktense pencils.

Not Able to See the Wood from the Trees

9 x 7"

Sketchpad Watercolor Paper

Acrylics  Collage Inktense Pencils Neocolor I Crayons

Suffering Child Day 19

Day 19  30 in 30

Mixed media on watercolor paper. Continuation of the main theme of "jail" from a previous post.

I was haunted by a photo I saw in an album of l'oeil de la photographie of Ghetto images from early 1940's. Printed one of a young girl and tore it into several collage pieces, Added some color with Derwent inktense pencils and neocolor I crayons,  Decided to add a bit of hope in the form of flower and bird transfers. Will be using some of the wire fence scraps for another image. 

Oh The Cry of the Suffering Chidren

9 x 7"

Sketchpad Watercolor Paper

Acrylics  Crayons  Collage Inktense Pencils 

Photo Transfers

First Layer

Help Me Find the Stairwell Day 18

Day 18  30 in 30

Mixed media on watercolor paper. Continuation of the main theme of "jail" from a previous post.

Have to Find the Stairwell

9 x 7"

Sketchpad Watercolor Paper

Acrylics  Crayons  Stencil  collage Inktense Pencils

I Fell Down the Rabbit Hole Day 17

Day 17  30 in 30

Mixed media on watercolor paper. Continuation of the main theme of "jail" from a previous post.

Sometimes our mental "jails" can be pleasant, although lonely! I am having fun with these small doodles. They seem to take on a life of there own and I am just the tool!

Seems I Fell Down the Rabbit Hole

7 x 9"

Sketchpad Watercolor Paper

Acrylics  Crayons  Stencil  collage Inktense Pencils

WIP

Sometimes I like to photograph my work. Seems I can observe it better and see what it wants or needs,

Figure on the Wall Day 16

Day 16  30 in 30

Mixed media on watercolor paper. Continuation of the main theme of "jail" from a previous post.

This started out as a figure sketch on an acrylic background. Didn't like it so veiled her and did more brayer work. She was determined to appear, so I let her stay. Added collage pieces, but still a bit on the kitsch side. Our workshop mentor, Reuven,  says there is a place for kitsch in art so can't argue with that!

My Offering for the Wall

7 x 9"

Sketchpad Watercolor Paper

Acrylics  Crayons  Stencil  collage