Lost and Found and Other News

Lily was lost! Or I should say taken and then dumped! Luckily there are "good" people around. One took her in and had a chip reader come and read her chip. She was quite far from our town on the other side of a very busy main road #461( Road to Tel Aviv) which she would NEVER cross on her own.

Finished the course and awaiting a new one end of August with Pauline. Didn't get much work done that last week. Combining background with the figure is tricky and not in my comfort zone. Have a few more figures in the process and may go back in this one.

WIP

Conte + Neocolor Crayons I

13.75 x 19.75 "

Gessoed Paper

Started this figure on cut canvas for the workshop but this month we are having structured lessons so working at home.  First 3 stages... going slow! Oils and cold wax + palette knife!

WIP I

20 x28 "

Cut Canvas Wrapped on cardboard

II

III

Have to lighten this!

It's All About the Figure

The third week we started on the full figure! Mainly in black and white, lots of sketches, sketches, and more sketches! The name of the game is PRACTICE! Like everything else, we like to do! First I want to share some good reference links. The first Croquis Cafe, an endless site for everything to do with figure drawing. The second Royal Academy Life Drawing Class.

We got five stills to do gesture sketches in ink and watercolor pencil. I am slowly getting over my fear of INK. It's still intimidating, but the more I practice the better I feel. These are timed 10 minute sketches to keep from "noodling"!

12.5 x 9.5"

Ink

9.75 x 13.75

Ink

12.5 x 9.5"

Ink

15.75 x  13"

Ink

9.75 x 13.5

Ink

Next, we did some upsidedown drawing. This is a great exercise because it helps to eliminate the left brain telling us what we are drawing.  She gave us two examples from Egon Schiele.  Worked with graphite wash pencil and added some crayons as well. Adding water gives a painterly look. Loved doing these!

9 x 11.75

Watercolor graphite + Neocolor I crayons

9 x 11.75

Watercolor graphite 

Did two of these turning the paper!

Here some links for references. Egon Schiele work on Instagram, and a figure drawing board of Pauline's on Pinterest.

Finally a pastel painting of a figure.

9.75 x  13.75"

Pastel Pencils + Pastels

Tinted Paper

9.75 x  13.75"

Pastel Pencils + Pastels

Tinted Paper

Tomorrow we start putting it all together!

Which Road to Take

"Side roads" was the topic I chose for this month's art concept challenge.
What is a road?   A path,  a direction, a destination,? How do we choose which road to take? Where will it lead me, what will I find? Will it be easy or difficult? Will I succeed or fail?
Lots of questions and not too many answers? I recall on some of the road trips that I took in the US sitting on the bed and mapping out the next days trip. Most often we chose the scenic route.

My art journey is also like a road. Should I take the highway, faster and more secure, or take the challenge of the scenic route with all its surprises?

I choose the scenic route!

I Choose the Scenic Route

Transfer prints on paper

Crayons

Liquid Pen

19.5" x 13"

I started out with sketching with a new app on my tablet. Transferred these using gel medium on my substrate. Finished with crayons and liquid pen.

Quotes:

"If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there."
Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Goosey Goosey Gander where shall I wander
Nursery Rhymes

So many roads. So many detours. So many choices. So many mistakes.
 Sarah Jessica Parker

Take the back roads instead of the highways
Minnie Pearl

One always wonders about roads not taken
Christopher

Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you about your destination
Drake

Day 28 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 28  September 30 x 30 2017


Start 7  Cut 4 Bottom Right

Start # 7

23 x 33 cm 240grm

Caran D'ache Neocolor I

wax crayons

Off to the Hula Valley

6" x 4.6" 

Caran D'ache Neocolor I

wax crayons

Day 27 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 27  September 30 x 30 2017

Start 7  Cut 3  Bottom Left

Start # 7

23 x 33 cm 240grm

Caran D'ache Neocolor I

wax crayons

Love at First Site

4.6" x 6"

Caran D'ache Neocolor I

wax crayons

Jen Walls had an interesting post about change. We in our workshop group are having to make changes this year and have a new teacher/mentor. Sometimes change is difficult, hopefully, this will be an easy one. My heart and prayers are with Heleni who has helped me develop my creative work.

Day 26 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 26  September 30 x 30 2017

Start 7  Cut 2  Top Right

Start # 7

23 x 33 cm 240grm

Caran D'ache Neocolor I

wax crayons

With this cut, I did add an element. That yellow blob. Is that enough I ask?

 WIP

4.6" x 6"

Caran D'ache Neocolor I

wax crayons

Day 25 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 25  September 30 x 30 2017

Start 7 Cut 1 Top Left

Start #5

23 x 33 cm 240grm

Caran D"ache Neocolor I

wax crayons

I was hoping not to use these but sometimes life gets in the way. The start was made quite a while ago and was left mainly because I didn't like it. What I should have done is to mess it up before cutting. Lesson learned. So didn't really make it different than what was there and they are all too sugar coated! Saccharin!!! UGH! Well, I will either make cards or just cover them. Have to use oils or oil pastels. Have to do something!

 WIP

4.6" x 6"

Caran D'ache Neocolor I

wax crayons

Day 14 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 14 September 30 x 30 2017

4th Start   Cut 2  Top Right

Start #4

23 x 33 cm

Ink Intense Pencils

Water

Pencil

These collage pieces look like cotton balls.

But cotton balls aren't gray!

Well, here they are gray!

Is that a problem, I have a license!

Going Cotton Picking

WIP

Heavy Paper

Ink Intense watercolor pencils

Watercolor crayons 

Pencil

Water medium

Caran d'Ache Neocolor I

Collage

Day 13 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 13  September 30 x 30 2017

4th Start   Cut 1   Top Left

Start #4

23 x 33 cm

Ink Intense Pencils

Water

Pencil

Sometimes things don't turn out the way we think!

Found some small collage pattern pieces, they reminded me of Morocco

Well tearing them to small sizes,

They turned out to look like birds!

So what!

So they Turned out Birds

WIP

4.25 x 6.25'

Heavy Paper

Ink Intense watercolor pencils

Watercolor crayons 

Pencil

Water medium

Caran d'Ache Neocolor I

Collage

Callin this WIP. thinking of veiling. thoughts anyone!

Day 12 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 12  September 30 x 30 2017

3rd start #4

My Love of Pink and Orange

Abstract Landscape

5.75 x 4

Heavy Paper

Ink Intense watercolor pencils

Watercolor crayons 

Pencil

Water medium

Caran d'Ache Neocolor I

Oil Medium

Day 11 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 11 September 30 x 30 2017

3rd start #3

Dreams of Autumn

Abstract Landscape

5.75 x 4

Heavy Paper

Ink Intense watercolor pencils

Watercolor crayons 

Pencil

Water medium

Caran d'Ache Neocolor I

Oil Medium

Day 10 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 10  September 30 x 30 2017

3rd start #2

Orange Sky in the Evening

Abstract Landscape

5.75 x 4

Heavy Paper

Ink Intense watercolor pencils

Watercolor crayons 

Pencil

Water medium

Caran d'Ache Neocolor I

Oil Medium

Day 9 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 9  September 30 x 30 2017

Third start  #1

I Still Have Mountains to Climb

Abstract Landscape

5.75 x 4

Heavy Paper

Ink Intense watercolor pencils

Watercolor crayons 

Pencil

Water medium

Caran d'Ache Neocolor I

Oil Medium

Day 8 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 8 September 30 x 30 2017

Start #2 Section 4

Abstract Landscape

5.75 x 4

Heavy Paper

Ink Intense watercolor pencils

Watercolor crayons 

Pencil

Water medium

Caran d'Ache Neocolor I

Oil Medium

Collage

Day 6 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 6 September 30 x 30 2017

Start #2 Section 2

Abstract Landscape

5.75 x 4

Heavy Paper

Ink Intense watercolor pencils

Watercolor crayons 

Pencil

Water medium

Caran d'Ache Neocolor I

Oil Medium

Collage

Day 5 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 5 September 30 x 30 2017

Start # 2 First section

In these next sections, I used more of my wax crayons, Caran d'Ache Neocolor I.

Abstract Landscape

5.75 x 4

Heavy Paper

Ink Intense watercolor pencils

Watercolor crayons 

Pencil

Water medium

Caran d'Ache Neocolor I

Oil Medium

Collage

Day 4 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 4  September 30 x 30 2017

The fourth section of first 8 x 12 start!

Abstract Landscape

5.75 x 4

Heavy Paper

Ink Intense watercolor pencils

Watercolor crayons 

Pencil

Water medium

Day 3 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 3  September 30 x 30 2017

The third section from my first 8 x 12 " start!

Abstract Landscape

5.75 x 4

Heavy Paper

Ink Intense watercolor pencils

Watercolor crayons 

Pencil

Water medium

Day 2 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 2 September 30 x 30 2017

The second section cut from 8 x 12 " start!

Abstract Landscape

5.75 x 4

Heavy Paper

Ink Intense watercolor pencils

Watercolor crayons 

Pencil

Water medium

Day 1 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 1 September 30 x 30 2017

Abstract Landscape

5.75 x 4

Heavy Paper

Ink Intense watercolor pencils

Watercolor crayons 

Pencil

Water medium

I was really debating whether to do the September challenge.  I have had a difficult time getting back into the creative mode since the passing of my sister this past May. Then I realized that this is the very reason that I should take part. I usually use these challenges to learn new things, to try to get out of the "box" so to speak, Another factor in my decision was that my art workshop will not be starting until November so there is no excuse to take part;

Some of my work will be small 4 x 6 postcard size that I will use to make greeting cards. some may be exercises in Gelli prints, a technique I am learning.

I have been experimenting with cutting up some of my work into postcard size to use as greeting cards. Decided to make starts on some heavy paper around 8 x 12 " and cut them into the smaller sections to work with. While doing these starts I want to make the sections different. I will be using a variety of mediums, some dry, some wet, collage, and pencil or charcoal.

Visit Leslie's Blog to see all the beautiful work being done on this challenge!