Real Estate & Sleep

 A new gadget 

Always looking

How many steps

How much sleep

Heart beat

Obsession! 

"In healthy adults, about 13 to 23 percent of your sleep is deep sleep. So if you sleep for 8 hours a night, that’s roughly 62 to 110 minutesTrusted Source of your sleep is deep sleep. So if you sleep for 8 hours a night, that’s roughly 62 to 110 minutes." Healthline.

What has that got to do with real estate? Nothing! Just been on my mind lately!

Also been thinking about real estate. Not the kind you buy, but the space you create on. Your substrate size. I would call myself a medium size painter. 5"x7" would probably be the smallest I would go. If I want smaller, say for cards, I have my trusty cutter. 

Last fall did an exercise on a full sheet of paper, roughly 27"x39" of a repetitive pattern with various pencils, graphite, charcoal, crayons, etc on newsprint. I chose the circle as my motif, loosely! Had it on my wall, mainly for inspiration, loved various sections. Masking tape isn't a good adhesive, and it kept falling off. Didn't want to chop it off, but I needed smaller real estate.

Then I viewed Helen Wells' video on one page sketchbook! 

Voila! 8 pages of smaller real estate, around 6.5"x10", that I can experiment with, fold in squares up, etc. In the photos you can see extra creases.

Full Sheet

Front

2-3

4-5

6-7

Back

Paper has tape stains, tears, etc, but I love it. Hope to start a new series of circle motifs . Click to enlarge files!

Trusted Source

 

Generosity

I have always found that artists, in general, are very generous. In times like these, it is especially true. Almost daily I find from some of the artists I follow free tutorials to help inspire our creative process and help us fill the void and keep us focused.

One artist and one of my favorites is Pauline Agnew. She has recovered from Coronavisus and has kindly given some great free tutorials.  Finding Inspiration is a sort of meditative charcoal drawing exercise.  I did 2 on tinted pastel paper. Pauline suggests using these to find windows of inspiration. Pauline also has a FB page for Artists in Residence and can be found on Instagram as well.
The first charcoal on grey tinted paper. 

Charcoal on gray tinted paper

19.750 x 13.750 "

detail

Detail

Detail

Detail

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! 

Drama Pose on Dark Background

Pose taken from the site Line of Action site. Another great resource for figures nude and dressed along with images for hands and feet, animals, and facial expressions. I actually love the clothed figures. 

Stopped at first critique. Caught the pose and gesture, no need to overwork.

Catch Me if You Can

13.5 x 19.5"

Oils on Gessoed paper

Background Acrylic

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

Figure on Paper

Another figure study

Lost in a Daydream

13'5 x 19.5 "

Oils on Heavy Gessoed Paper

Pencil and Charcoal Sketch

13.5 x 19.5 "

Gessoed Paper

Figures Paper Abstracts

Don't know if I stated this before but this season I will be working on a project or series for the first few months. I have chosen to continue my work with the figure, nude and clothed with backgrounds which may be in some cases be abstract or plain blocks of color. I really enjoyed the two courses that were given by Artist Pauline Agnew; Feeling the pose and From the Heart and feel I need more practice with the figures and want to make a body of work in this direction. So the figure will be my main focus.

Most of the poses that I use come from the Croquis Cafe site.

Passing the Time of Day

Oils on heavy gessoed paper

13.5 x 19.5 "

Charcoal Sketch

The Hardest Part is Waiting Day 28

Day 28  30 in 30

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

Second, of the photographs, I saw in the album in Eye of the Photography  A young boy waiting to get the institution uniform. Could feel his loneliness in the harsh photo, hope I succeeded as well.
Brayered background, drawing with charcoal and pencil. collage Gelli printed tissue paper, inktense pencils.

Be Gentle with This Boy He Will Rise

9 x 7"

Sketchpad Watercolor Paper

Acrylics  collage Tissue Paper Gelli Prints

 Charcoal Inktense Pencils

Click to enlarge

Hoping the next and last two will be lighter!

Hope They Will See the Light Day 27

Day 27  30 in 30

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

It's hard to see youths behind bars! Not a happy image but hope will come through the window.
Brayered color, charcoal, and pencil drawing, collage printed tissue paper, and inktense pencils.
I subscribe to the Eye of the Photography and found these haunting images of a detention center in Hungary.  Every day I get to view interesting photography albums.

How Sad and Solitary They Must Feel

9 x 7"

Sketchpad Watercolor Paper

Acrylics  collage Tissue Paper Gelli Prints

 Charcoal Inktense Pencils

Click to enlarge

Summer Sadna the Best

Incredible! These past two months of extended workshop classes were just that, incredible! I learned more in these months than in the 10 months of our regular workshop classes. Conclusion, we need more directional instruction.

July was Oils, for me back to the basics, for others an introduction.  August, mixed media month, using unconventional materials, collage, and assemblage, was a mind opener, even for me as I use collage and various mediums a lot.

I loved the mid time critiques that sometimes overflowed to the end of class! 

Critique Line-Up

This week we were to work in collage. But, before we start we were to write down our intentions or concept. 

 Collage

Homework - write a short text on a free subject that interests you (identity, family, nature, or something more specific like a portrait, car, etc.) that has an idea of duality or more, Then write why it will be the exact subject and right for you to create it in collage

The purpose of writing - to refine and clarify the thought

Remember thoughts are words

When I think of collage I generally think in abstract terms, usually color, shapes, and forms, lines, and textures. Sometimes I start with painting shapes and colors and then adding collage pieces and sometimes I start with pasting collage pieces and then painting. I don't generally start with a specific concept, but had this thought of Jail as maybe a starting idea.
What is a jail?
Physically and mentally? Do we make our own jails?  Can we break out of them?
What color is jail? Black, no light no hope desperate? A feeling of great loneliness!
I often find myself in this place.

"Loneliness is a complex and usually unpleasant emotional response to isolation. Loneliness typically includes anxious feelings about a lack of connection or communication with other beings, both in the present and extending into the future. As such, loneliness can be felt even when surrounded by other people."

Word associations:
Out of control, prison, jail, confinement, gaol, penitentiary, lockup, dungeon, solitary confinement,
imprison, incarcerate,  put away, immure, prohibit, ban, forbid, arrest, bar, mental block

WIP

19.75 x 13.75 "

Gessoed paper with Sienna layer

For this, I have to put on my "Dotty" hat

The next group I made starts in acrylic paint on watercolor paper to start my collage

Behind the Veil

13.75 x 13.75 "

Acrylic Collage Wax Crayons

Am I Dreaming

13.75 x 13.75 "

Acrylic Collage Wax Crayons

Next week our last session and Brachot* for the New Year! Continuing with our concepts using everything under the sun, mixing mediums like acrylic and oils, paints and crayons or pencil. Anything goes. Best to start to work at home.  I will be continuing with the starts I made


*  Bracha is a blessing or benediction recited at specific times during services and rituals. ... A Bracha can also be said when someone experiences something that makes them feel like uttering a blessing, such as seeing a beautiful mountain range or celebrating the birth of a child.

Still Around and Kicking

Can't believe that my last post was at the beginning of the month and here I am the last week! So much happened that kept me away from blogging, although I wrote many in my head.

Still doctoring my sprained ankle which is much better. Have had a checkup and still have to wear my air-cast till the middle of July but have started going back to the pool. Since the best position was lying down with my ankle up, could do much computer work. Blogger on the tablet is not the same.

My daughter's cat Mishmish was found after being missing for a month. Posted her photo on the community google group. A Miracle! Lots of good people out there!
Yes, I am cat-sitting two cats while my daughter + family are having a grand tour of the far east!

Mishmish

A few days before going missing!

This week was the last lesson of our workshop. That is the workshop that is run through the regular channels of community activities. We were in for 3 whole months of "vacation". Luckily we organized with Reuven, our mentor, that we will be able to continue meeting in a different location during the months of July and August. YAY!!!!So only September we will be on vacation, which has all the holidays. The first month will be devoted to learning from the ground up "oils". Although I work in oils I never really got instructions from the ground up. Learned by doing, which has its place, and tutorials from the web. It will be an introduction to oils for those who work in acrylic. The second month we will delve in on "mixed media".We will also be a smaller group.

Wide Fields of Your Imagination

Matte Board

31.5 x 24 "

Oils + Cold Wax

Was thinking of developing this in color over the monochromatic layer but Reuven said it stands on its own.

Last week I started my e-course with Pauline Agnew, From the Heart - Painting the Face and Figure with Feeling!  I will show some of the first-weeks exercises.  Can't believe it's the end of the second week. Each exercise is a world of its own and should be done many times to really feel the effect. Not only does Pauline show us through her demos, but she also prepares excellent slide shows of various artists and explaining how important it is to learn from the masters.

Exercise I

With eyes closed draw your face while tracing your face with your non-dominant hand! Then taking a colored pencil draw your face with eyes closed by memory! This is a great warmup! As you can see mine is all over the place! Pauline says that's good.

Face Scan

Exercise II

Looking at a portrait sketch by John Singer Sargent make a drawing paying attention to the lines and ways he described his subject. Another great exercise. We are always told to learn by copying, and until you really do it you realize how true this is. I will certainly do more of his sketches as well as others!

My Sargent Sketch

Exercise III

An ink drawing from a photograph! Never did ink before. Was really freaked out! Pauline's critique was that I should have done one more layer of stronger ink.

Ink Sketch

Excercise IV

Remember the face scan, exercise I.  Do a charcoal sketch over that from another of Sargent's work!

Charcoal Sketch I

The critique was to try to define left side of the face in the shadow more

Revised Sketch

Lost some of the vibrance and paper had lost its tooth

Pauline agreed that it faded but we learn by doing

The difference in background color due to one photographed outdoors and one indoors.

Didn't spend time on photo editing!

All for today, off to the pool, I've earned it!

Gift Buddha New Start

What a surprise was waiting for me on my table at workshop. One a big 7 x 11.5" handmade sketchbook from heavy watercolor paper, filled with owls and owls and more owls. The background for this was that last week I made a small one-page sketchbook that I learned from Kiala Givehand as part of the Sketchbook revival that I took part in. Sadly they have taken it down already. She also has a great number of youtube videos, but couldn't find the specific one she had on the revival session. I did find one similar but she doesn't show the hidden pages. Anywho I showed Traudi how to make it and she taught her granddaughter while making me the OWL book. Traudi also gave me another sketchbook like the one she previously gave me, she decided she wasn't going to use it and since mine is almost filled, it should be mine! Thank YOU Traudi, I so wish I could share some of her work but alas she hasn't a blog or Instagram etc. Maybe someday! And now you ask, why OWLS.
Well, we were discussing our project and I mentioned that I took an online quiz and OWL is my soul animal.

Cover

 1-2

3-4

5-6

Hidden Pages

lifting pages 1 -2

Full Spread

Back Cover

We all have some down days where our mind takes over with thoughts and we can't seem to get rid of them. With me, I take a nap which is like an escape sleep. After a shower decided to get it out on paper. In the sketchbook revival, I learned that scribbling and writing on the page has great power.

It really helped and this Buddha was the result! I also remembered the HUGE Buddha at the RISD Museum that I often visited. It was so calming and peaceful!

15 x 13"

Pencil HB on Light Sketchbook Page

 Well, hope you've come this far. This week at Workshop we had our guest mentor Ariel Asseo.

Since his specialty is in realistic figure painting I decided to do two figures. Not happy at all with this WIP. But in the spirit that I show what going on on my easel.  Have to fix the drawing mistakes particularly the left arm and decide on a color palette. It was the end of the session so I used oil sticks instead of getting out my paints. 

WIP

Charcoal  Oil Sticks 

Colored Matte Board

21.5 x 27.5

Workshop A Day of Sketching

This week we really had a treat. A new instructor Ariella Goldman, was going to bring a model and instruct us in drawing the human figure. Well the model got sick and there was no time to contact another so Ariella brought a head and child's dummy to sketch from, and we took turns posing.  We had basic instruction on the measurement of a human figure, and tips on measuring. It was the morning of my fall and I almost didn't go, but glad I did. I am going to have to find more opportunities to do figure work.

I started using a 2B pencil but quickly changed to a charcoal stick.
All were sketched on newsprint 35 x 50 cm.