Summer Lilly in Color - Update

Here she is, all finished. We gave the original to my Mother-in-Law for Christmas this year. After Christmas I took her in to get it matted and framed. I love how it turned out. It is always fun to see your art all dressed up and ready to display. I don't think I will ever get over the giddy feeling that comes with seeing a piece completely finished (frame and all) for the first time.

The mat is actually a Mauve Taupe, similar to this primrose, but the lighting in this picture makes it look brown.

Do you know who invented the color mauve?

Summer Lilly in Color

I decided to try this study again, in color this time. I haven't worked with colored pencil much in the last ten years which has made this adventure even more challenging. I am finding I have to give myself more time to adjust to the medium. Especially since I am used to being able to manipulate color simply by mixing in a little blue or yellow and working them together on my pallet. It's a whole new game when your colors are limited to what's in your hand and how well you can blend them on the page. As you can tell I have quite a bit left on her hair and then I'll move onto her shirt. I am still trying to decide what to do with the background. Should I leave it white or attempt to bring in some depth? Do I stay true to the photograph or do I invoke my artistic freedom? Sometimes there are just too many choices.


Medium: Colored Pencil on Watercolor Paper

Apples and Bannanas

For as much effort as moving takes it is exciting when you discover items you haven't seen in years, and have most likely forgotten about. For the last four months we have been in the process of moving out of, and renovating, our home. We have gotten rid of quite a lot of stuff and have rediscovered even more stuff we had forgotten we had. In one box I ran across some oil painting studies from my college painting classes. It was fun to reunite with them. I had forgotten some of the techniques I had been taught and through this discovery I was reminded how important these simple studies are to developing your own techniques and style.

Recently, I have been collecting portrait pictures to practice with, mainly using charcoal, however after discovering these studies I have decided I want to take this practice to more levels than just charcoal. I feel as if I have rediscovered an aspect of painting I had forgotten. One that supports my desire to push beyond known limits, to expand my understanding and connection to the medium. I love the freedom and flexibility art offers.

This is one example of a technique I had forgotten about. We had painted the canvas as dark as we could and then took a cloth, or dry brush, and wiped away the paint to create the picture.


Medium: Oil on Canvas Board

Faces

Here is one of the first faces, or portraits, I remember drawing. I didn't really get into drawing portraits until after high school. This particular one was drawn in 2001. It seemed to be the start of portraiture for me. Even though I had started drawing babies much sooner, it wasn't until 2001 that I started branching out to toddler and adult portraits. I happen to love the quirkiness of this sketch.

Medium: Graphite on Drawing Paper

Innocence

 

Here's another sketch from some time ago, most likely late high school or early college. I love drawing children because of their softer features. They also have the best expressions. 

Medium: Graphite on Paper

Midnight Sketch

Here's a sketch I did last night when I couldn't fall asleep. It is of my youngest daughter. I am struggling with the resemblance so I think I am going to revisit this one. There are quite a few things I would like to try differently, as well as improve upon and this will be a good study to work with. Hopefully I will find some time in the next couple of weeks to get back to this and try again.

Medium: Charcoal on Paper

Precious Moments

Here is a new piece I did for a friend of mine. It's a picture of her sister and nephew. It's a sweet moment that takes me back to when my girls were babies. It warms my heart with happy memories, as I hope it will for her and her family.

Medium: Charcoal on Smooth White Bristol