Radiance

'Radiance'

pastel on toned paper 11 x 14

I did this piece today just for you. So I hope you like it. :)

I had nothing to post since I'm working on two large paintings that have a lot of detail and they are taking me FOR-E-VER. And I'm still trying to get the colored pencil piece from this post finished and it's slow going too.

But it's good. I don't mean to say that slow is bad. It's therapeutic and meditative and all that. Except for impatient people like me. I have to tell myself every time I put brush to paper "DON'T rush this!" 

That has been one of the most important things for me to learn with the way I like to paint. I don't have to paint fast. There's no hurry. I like to have glowing color and accurate facial features. And for me to do that I have to take my time. It's fine. I've come to grips with this reality. Mostly. :)

I had a few questions from the previous post that I did not get to answer (life is hectic! But what else is new?) I read all of your comments and they really mean a lot to me. Thanks for taking the time to tell me what you think! You guys rock in an all out glorious way.

These are the questions that I can remember. If I forgot yours ask me again okay? I'm having a blonde day.

Where've you been? Here! I promise. Just busy. I'm glad you guys missed me though. And I mean that in a good way. Also in addition to my painting, mommy, wife, and church jobs I've decided to do NaNoWriMo.

What the heck is NaNoWriMo you ask? It's National Novel Writing Month. The idea is you write an entire novel, start to finish, 50,000 words (which ends up being a book about the size of 'The Great Gatsby') in 30 days.

Yes, I agree with you.

I am crazy.

But, it's a lot of fun and I'm totally in love with my story so far. There's a little widget on the side of my blog that shows my progress to the 50,000 word deadline. You can cheer me on if you want! I love cheerleaders!

Do you prefer bristol to regular cartridge paper? Yes, I do. Most of the time. Bristol is very smooth and is great for drawings with lots of detail. I really love it for colored pencil pieces. But it's not so great for work where you want texture and lots of nice line work. At least in my opinion. So when I use charcoal or pastel I don't use bristol. I like a paper that has some tooth or a really great sanded surface.

And, last but not least, tonight is the opening reception for the Carriage House Gallery Holiday Invitational Exhibit. It runs from tonight until December 30. And there are two artist receptions. One is tonight from 6 - 9 and the other one is December 3 from 6 - 9.

If you feel like taking in some art in Ogden stop by and see me! It'll be fun.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Sketchbook. . . Wednesday and some photos

 

snuggly wolf sketch :)

graphite on bristol

     First of all a great big thank you to all of you who have helped me get the word out about my contest. I really appreciate it and now consider each one of you the ultimate in awesomeness :) If I could I would bake you all chocolate chip cookies. In fact, if you're ever in Utah stop on by! 

     Now, it's back to business folks. I'm a day late with my sketchbook post, but here it is.

     I went to the library and got a bunch of books about wolves and have been studying them and sketching from them, to help me with the wolf painting I have in mind that is probably going to be one of my next works in progress. It's been fun and I just had to share this one of a wolf snuggled up against the back of another wolf. I kind of like the idea of wolves as cuddle beasts instead of slavering attack beasts.

And here are some pictures from my art show that opened on Friday. It was very small, but still pretty fun.

Here I am next to one of my favorite paintings of my baby boy.

     Posing with my model baby (okay he's two, kind of not a baby anymore). And yes I know he needs a haircut, but I just can't bring myself to do it. He's my last one. I think. I'm pretty sure. We'll see :)

    And here's handsome hubby next to his portrait. Smiling. Because I asked him to :) Sometimes he needs a little coaching in that department, he's prone to looking. . . intimidating?? Is that the word I'm going for? Maybe more like serious. No wait, I got it, 'intense.' That's it ;)

    So. . . what's up with you guys? Anybody have any good news to share?

New Portrait Started and Gallery Showing

untitled watercolor 10 x 14

     Here is the new portrait I've been working on. It's still pretty light and I've spent most of my time on his eyes so far. I just can't get too involved in a portrait if I don't have the eyes in pretty quick. I need to know I've got it. I'm thinking about leaving the background white for this one. I think it might make a nice change. We'll see, I can be pretty undecisive at this stage :)

     I wanted to paint this image because of the lighting of course, and I love that far away, focused on something else gaze he has. I usually prefer portraits that aren't head on looking at you. But sometimes that really works and makes a powerful painting. I'm excited about this one so far, I want to just get it finished right now! Have I mentioned how I'm not all that patient?

     I also forgot to mention that I have paintings in a few galleries right now, so if you're in Utah and feel like taking in some art stop by and see them :)

• The Eccles Art Center, Ogden
• Michael Berry Gallery, Salt Lake City
• Sandy Watercolor Guild, Sandy

     And I got a prospectus in the mail today from the Springville Museum of Art, it's probably the most prestigious art museum in Utah (at least to me :)) and I've entered their shows twice but so far have not made it in (last time they had over 1,000 entries!). But since I'm a glutton for punishment I'm going to enter again this year, and hope that it will be my lucky year, now I've got to think of something spectacular to paint. . . This could be fun.

     So, I leave you with a few questions blogger buddies what do you think about white backgrounds? And have any great ideas for a title to this piece? I think it'd be a lot of fun to hear some suggestions :)