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.

Oil and Water Don't Mix Or Do They

I see painting as an evocative magic, and there must always be a random factor in magic, one which must be constantly changed and renewed. (William S. Burroughs)

Recently I received an online newsletter from Caran d Ache with an interesting video using both wax and water soluble crayons.  These small sketches were made using white wax crayon with charcoal and water soluble pencils with water medium.  Trying to discover how they react to each other. Both I would call WIPS because I may go back to these. This mixture is worth more experimentation!

Here are 2 sketches trying out this technique! Both done on watercolor paper in my sketch pad.

9.5 x 7 "

Water Color Sketch Pad

9.5 x 7 "

Water Color Sketch Pad

Getting Ready 30 x 30 Challenge

Trying something new, writing using my tablet with the Blogger app. Tomorrow will check it out and see how it looks  and publishes.

Getting ready for the September challenge. After a difficult summer,not over yet. Having dental work, had a very nasty fall, and still recovering. So trying to get back into the creative "mode".

On a visit to a Dr's appointment in Tel Aviv found a really fun shop called Papier. So many papers, pads,sketchbooks, pencils, cards. A real heaven!!! I really didn't need  anything but who could resist buying something. So I bought a small  5 x 8"gray colored sketchbook. Since I also have a hard time using a new sketchbook it has remained unused till I had the brilliant idea to use it for the challenge. I will be sketching with graphite, charcoal,chalk,or crayons trying to use some of my own photo references and manipulations. Much harder than I thought but will try to stick with the plan. Still hard to sit long at the computer because of back pain, if this works I will be able to do this lounging in bed.

PS.Had to do a little post editing on the computer, spelling errors, resizing image etc. Conclusion blogging will be done on the computer... drawing I can do lying down.

Many Faces

Been quite awhile since my last post.  Holidays, health issues etc have kept me from posting although I continued to do some work,

This is a small wrapped canvas that my daughter had done some painting on.  Decided that it was a good candidate for my collage work. Tried to take off faces from newsprint using a medium but they were not clear so with water I rubbed them out.  Some ghost-like images did seem to appear so I did some crayon drawing plus paste more images of faces. Did a lot of wax crayon work with medium.

30 x 40 cm wrapped canvas

Newsprint Collage with crayon sketching

Workshop # 58 Potted Planter

Workshop # 58 Potted Planter

Fourth in the floral series.  May have been the first I started but worked simultaneously.  This was based on a crayon sketch of a potted planter that was done this past January on the 30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Seata.

Diluted oil washes with sketching and sanding for added texture. This is a WIP and I will update.

Early version

25 x 25 cm canvas on cardboard

Workshop # 57 More Daisies

Workshop  # 57 More Daisies

Third in the floral series... sun flower with daisies in a bottle.  Diluted oils and sketching sanding between layers for texture effects.

25 x 25 cm canvas on cardboard

Workshop # 56 Daisies in Bottle

Workshop # 56  Daisies in Bottle

This is the second of the floral series. Still experimenting with diluted oil washes and sketching.. Sanding between layers. All the florals were done more or less simultaneously.

25 x 25 cm canvas on cardboard

Workshop #55 Tulip in Bottle

Workshop  #55  Tulip in Bottle

This started out as a Challenge on DPW   hosted by Dianne Mannion beginning of April.  I downloaded the image and although I wanted to keep within the "rules" of the challenge it didn't turn out that way.  Didn't post it on the DPW page.

I have been experimenting with a wash technique that would incorporate sketching and diluted oils.  I also like to sand between layers which adds a bit of texture. May tweak this with some more pencil/crayon.  This is the first in a series of four florals.

 25 x 25 cm canvas on cardboard 

I am so fortunate to get  some great canvas strips from my workshop artist and friend Traudi.  She buys whole rolls of canvas and cut them to size... Huge!!! and brings me the side strips... I cut these to size and glue them on  pressed grey cardboard.  I will be experimenting with different size formats.   

Pages in My Sketchbook 2

Pages in My Sketchbook 2

Past week was not very productive.... but did a few... so here they are....

Double spread

15/3/15

20.5 x 27 cm handbook

Mechanical pencil

Lilly sleeping  Cloths and other stuff on the chair

Double spread

17/3/14

20.5 x 27 cm handbook

Graphite stick

Mish Mish posing on the bed

Pages in My Sketchbook 1

Pages in My Sketchbook 1

I love art stores and sketchbooks. Tend to buy sketchbooks even though  some still have many pages left.  Then I have a really HARD time braking them in,,,

Five years ago when visiting the states I bought a little like moleskin sketchbook. Since I have this problem of breaking in new sketchbooks it still has plenty of pages.  Recently listened to a podcast on Savvypainter with Richard Scott on advantages of sketching everyday.

Since I love sketching and drawing decided it was about time to commit to at least 20 minutes a day (or almost everyday) sketching. Actually I found the transition from sketching to painting difficult. I always tended to work in lines rather than shapes. I will be sketching from references as well as from life.

I will be grouping these sketches  3-4 sketches or by the week.  Will be going with the flow.  All these where one days sketching!!!

12/3/15

 Reference for this rooster on WDE, wetcanvas all media art event  March 6 hosted by Oty.

 2 page spread 27 x 20.5 cm. 20 minute sketch using a brown conte stick and chalk.  

12/3/15

Ball point sketch of Lilly sleeping. These were minute + sketches.

She moves around lot. Double spread ball point pen

12/3/15

Lilly looking out the window

Single sheet  A5

 12/3/15

Double spread. HB mechanical pencil

Lilly sleeping..

Shadows on the wall photo reference