Cougar Kitten Sketchbook Saturday and some randomness

prismacolor on sketchbook paper

Just a little cougar kitten sketch that I did back in June. :)

Do you ever feel so excited to paint that every minute away from your easel (table, desk, what have you) is kind of torturous? I kind of feel like that right now.

I think I'm starting to get the hang of these oil paints (at least a bit), I painted my first portrait with them the other day that I'll post on Monday, and I can't wait to paint another one!

And then I have all these watercolors drawn out and ready to paint, and of course a colored pencil portrait in the works, three new commissions of darling and beautiful animals to start. . . . Who wants to vote to add more hours into the day hmm?? :)

And I found this quote the other day by Julia Cameron that I thought I'd share (I already shared this on my Facebook page so sorry about that if you've already seen it) because it seemed to fit my feelings of trying oil paints for the first time:

"Remember by being willing to be a bad artist, you have a chance over time to be an artist, and perhaps, over time, a very good one."

I love that. There's nothing to be gained by an artist who doesn't take risks and try new things. Constantly exploring new subjects and media is what keeps me inspired and I know if I keep doing that I'll be able to express the deepest feelings of my heart. . . But perhaps badly at first. ;)

And I can't leave you guys without sharing this pic of me with a streak of pink oil paint that somehow ended up in my hair. At least it washed out. . . mostly. :) I've always wanted pink hair anyways.

Huzzah!!! :) For pink hair!!! :)

Of horses, haircuts, penguins and lemurs

"Stormy"

8 x 10 watercolor

A very early equine portrait, I think this was actually one of my first. But I still really like parts of this painting, especially the colors. They're very clean and true and I remember really striving for that. Isn't it fun (usually) to look back at your early works and see that it wasn't as bad as you thought it was?

Which brings me to Motivational Monday: 

I caved. *

Finally.

I put it off long enough.

One too many kind-hearted, good-intentioned, but-rather-misguided grandmotherly types told me how darling my little girl is.

That's right, LITTLE GIRL.

So, you see that clearly I had no other choice. *hangs head*

And so. . . I present to you. . . Samson's almost demise

There may have been some dissension in the ranks. A haircut was seriously going to cramp his style.

However, I don't think it's entirely because of the haircut. It may have something to do with those creepy little penguins on that smock.

See? No more penguins, no more tears.

Apparently the loss of his hair has not completely affected his charm (unlike poor Samson). He was still able to score that awesome sucker.  

Motivational Monday Tip Of The Day: It won't be as bad as you think it will be. Send in that prospectus for that major art competition, talk to the gallery owner about hosting your show, be brave, go forth and conquer! Huzzah!

And if you fail this time, try again. A few tears never hurt anybody.

Penguins on the other hand. . .  Well, I have no guarantees with penguins.

 

Cute and cuddly boys, cute and cuddly.

Lemurs, however, are entirely trustworthy.

 But that's a post for another day. 

*The post in which I finally cut my two year olds hair, to my utter dismay.

New Work In Progress

watercolor work in progress 15 x 20

This is a portrait I'm painting of the local leader of my church. He is one of the best men I know, always inspires me to try a little harder, and a good friend. This stage is the beginning layers of washes that will form the foundation of the rest of the painting. Achieving a likeness is what I'm most concerned about right now.

I'm feeling a little harried lately. My blog schedule has been hit or miss, and I'm just generally feeling like I need to recharge. So, I figured I would try to lighten things up today and post three random facts happening in  my life right now. These may or may not be related to art, just so you know. :)

1. The other day I decided I would try to paint a still life. This involved me setting up some apples on my dining room table where the light was pouring in from outside. I left my apples sitting there for a while and went to do some laundry, when I came back my two year old was sitting at the table taking a bite out of each apple. "Mmm," he said. *munch, munch, munch* "apple. . . good." This led me to the conclusion that I should probably not leave potential art references and my two year old unattended. Who knew that apples would hold such appeal? I mean sure, if it had been cookies. . . but apples?
2. I won a gift certificate to an art supply store in a recent art competition and I am seriously considering spending it on oil painting supplies. I have never, ever painted with oils and am suddenly feeling inspired to give it a try. What do you think? Should I go for it?
3. This week me and my two older boys have hung fake cobwebs, skeletons, spiders, ghosts and pumpkins all over our house to make it really 'haunted' looking. My eight year old keeps asking me when I'm going to let him buy fake blood, or other 'real, scary' decorations (like tombstones, zombies, or flesh eating rats). I can not convince him that it ain't gonna happen. Like ever. I know, I'm so mean right? ;)

So. . . what's new with you guys? :)

Spooky WIP Wednesday and a sketch

spooky watercolor work in progress

still untitled, but I'm working on it :)

     This has got to be one of the funnest pieces I've ever painted. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and I'm kind of surprised that I haven't included it in a painting yet. I can just see all the possibilities now for holiday-kid-themed paintings. It's going to be fun :)

     And the skeleton costume wasn't as tricky as I thought it was going to be, it was basically just negative painting which is easy when your mind is thinking 'shape' instead of 'preconceived notion of what bones should look like.'

     Of course this is far from finished, but it's coming along.

     And this week is crazy-hectic-busy for me so I did not get my sketchbook post up for yesterday, but I'm making up for it today.

     I was very interested in the shape of the antlers of this elk (??, hold on I'll go check. . . yep, it's an elk), and the rim of light along the edge. It was just a fun quick sketch. However, I had problems getting a good photo of the sketch so here you have a grand photo of ze whole sketchbook.

     And last but not least, just a quick reminder that time is running out if you would like to enter to win my portrait giveaway. It ends next week, September 30, so go click on the banner at the top of my blog if you haven't entered yet and fill out the form! Also, instead of sending me an email at the end of the contest you can just fill out the form under the banner, it has a place for you to tally up all your points (which I'm hoping will be easier for you guys). Thanks everyone! And good luck!!

     Oh, and really this is the very last thing, I forgot to include in my artist's statement from Monday's post one Very Important Reason Why I Paint. If I don't get to paint I get cranky. And that's just not good for anyone at my house. Do you think I should share that information with galleries? ;)

     Have a great day everybody! If I haven't been to visit your blog lately please forgive me, I'm running around here like a crazy woman lately, I'll be there soon :)

Motivational Monday, some progress, and some randomness

Making some progress with this colored pencil piece, slooooowly. Basic skin tones laid in here, deep rich shadows are next! And his forehead, ear. . . and hair :)

     No, I could not just leave this alone, like some of you suggested in my earlier post (which was a very good suggestion by the way). I had to finish it. I did really like where it was, but I'm really getting irritated with my stack of unfinished projects.

     Seriously, today I sorted through some paintings that were finished, but still stretched to their board, and paintings that were at varying stages of completion. My tower of unfinished work threatened to topple over on me. It was scary. Note to self: finish what you start!!

     So, I am :) even if it takes me forever.

And just for fun, here is a photo of my current work space. Because we're all visual people here and we like photos, especially behind the scenes ones. Oh wait, is that just me? :)

      My two oldest kids are back in school, and my youngest naps when they're gone so I can work at my desk now, instead of the kitchen table! Huzzah! I feel so professional :) And for those of you who have sharp eyes, why yes that is a nearly completed manuscript of my Young Adult novel sitting on that desk. I am so close to being finished with it, so close!

     And last but not least, since it is Motivational Monday I have a fantastic quote to leave you with. I read this in a magazine yesterday and I thought it was perfect! But just now I had to spend 15 minutes looking for it again because I forgot which magazine it was in. Why, oh why didn't I just write it down in my handy dandy idea notebook? Because I can't find it, it's gone missing at the moment.

     No, I'm not blushing. . . well, maybe a little bit. :)

"Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best."  - Henry Van Dyke

     It's a good one isn't it?

     So, that's what's happening with me. What about you guys? What's going on with you?

Making some progress

work in progress

watercolor 10 x 14

Making some progress here with this pretty pink flower. It's so fun to use such bright colors and go a little crazy with them :) I need to unify it more, soften some edges, and add details and darks, but I think it's coming along pretty well. I'm still debating on how I want to paint the background. I think I want to include some of the foliage, we'll see. Isn't it funny how you can plan and plan for a painting and it still takes on a life of its own? That's something I love about painting, its full of surprises.

Now, on to the question of the week. This is just going to be a fun one, no stress here okay? Let's play Desert Island. If you were stuck on a desert island (that by some break in the rules of logic had a DVD player) what five movies would you want to have with you? Keep in mind that these are the movies you will be watching for the rest. of. your. life. So make them count :)

Mine are:

1. 
   
   The Two Towers from The Lord of The Rings Trilogy (I love a good fight between good and evil, and that Aragorn is such an awesome hero)
2. 
   
   Pride and Prejudice, the one with Keira Knightley and Matthew McFayden, because really it's the best love story EVER. :)
3. 
   
   Ocean's 12, because Matt Damon is hilarious and dead pan, and I just love it.
4. 
   
   The Count of Monte Cristo, sword fighting, chivalry, pure awesomeness!
5. 
   
   Notting Hill, I am so seriously sentimental with this one. It always reminds me of my husband :) And I love Spike.

Okay, your turn :)

Trying Something New

work in progress

      I'm taking a break with the painting of my son, it just wasn't working. I think I killed it, too much fussy painting. Ah well, live and learn.

      So here we have a new project :) I don't paint very many flowers, I think I've only painted one before actually, but I was at my mom's a few weeks ago (and she is a MASTER gardener, let me just tell you) and we were walking around her garden. I saw this tree peony and absolutely loved the way the light fell on it. And, it's pink! My favorite! I am unashamed that I have fallen victim to gender sterotypes because pink is my favorite color ever :)

      Also, here's a very rough sketch I did before I started painting, focusing mostly on shapes and hoping to have some interesting line work too. Because there are so many different shapes in flowers I needed to have a map of where the darks and lights were, otherwise I get confused and it doesn not make me happy when I am confused. That's the purpose of this little sketch, my own little shape map.

      And can I just say how much fun it has been to paint so far? Because it has, a lot. I needed a fun painting, I was letting myself get too stressed out about paintings not working. I think I have trashed about three in the last few months. Not good, but part of the whole experience for me, I've come to accept that. Sometimes a painting works and sometimes they don't, no big deal. Right? Right :) 

      Wednesday's question has come and gone I'm afraid, but I still think we can have some good blogging fun :) Here's a picture of my youngest when we went to the park yesterday, he just discovered how to blow those dandelion puffs and he saw these clover flowers, which he thought were the puffies. So he spent a lot of time picking them and trying to blow them, it was so cute. It took him a little while to figure out they were not blowing away :)

 

I think I'm going to have to paint that.

      Now it's your turn, that was my random little bit of news for today, what's yours? Tell me something totally random, like what you had for lunch today, or what's the worst movie you've seen lately, or what song do you listen to the most? Please share, it'll be fun, just wait and see.

      Here's something random about me (actually I think you guys know a whole lot of random stuff about me), I am terrified of moths, that's right, I said moths. I don't know what it is about them, but they totally freak me out *shudders* 

      See how not scary that was? The randomness, not the moths. Okay, your turn :)

Answers!

     Thanks so much everyone for your comments and those great questions you asked me! I would honestly love to know the same about each of you :) Here goes:

Suzanne Berry asked: "How old were you when you realized you had a gift and how did it make you feel?"

my answer: I honestly have never felt that I have a gift. I do believe that we are children of God and that he gives us talents and expects us to use them to bless the lives of others and our own life, but I have always had a hard time with the idea that I have a gift. I think it's because I have chronic low self-esteem :P, and there are so many truly gifted artists out there that leave me 'breathless with envy' that just do absolutely amazing work. And this is not just me trying to be humble, I really feel this way.

       But I also feel that I have talent (in my mind talent and gifts are two different things), and I think I am realizing it more and more as I practice and study through the years. It makes me feel very grateful, humble and joyful that something that brings me so much happiness and fulfilment makes other people smile.

Michelle Teacress asked: Is there any one person who taught you what you know or did you discover things by trial and error?

my answer: Most of what I've learned has come through trial and error. I did have a high school art teacher, Mr. Crowther, who taught me how to make completely flat, perfect watercolor washes, using his technique of 'carrying the bead'. That lesson was invaluable, I swear we practiced it every stinking day for two years! Love ya Mr. Crowther! :)

      But I've learned the most through studying paintings that I really love, reading a lot of books about art technique, and then practice, practice, practice.

Jane Minter asked: What will be the title of your first book?

my answer: Thanks Jane for asking this question because I have seriously been stumped for a title! You got me thinking about how I would answer it and I had an idea! The book I'm writing right now (a young adult novel) is going to be called "Incinerate." Heeee! I'm excited.

Meera asked: How much planning do you do before you start a painting?

my answer:  Hmmm. . . That depends on how complicated the subject is :) For a basic portrait, just head and shoulders, probably thirty minutes or so. Most of that time is spent figuring out how I want the composition to look through sketches. Color choice is more intuitive for me, kind of a seat of my pants kind of thing, so I don't spend too much time planning that.

she also asked: How much time do you set aside as studio time every day?

my answer: I kind of just take whatever I can get :) With three kids and a husband and who knows what else comes up every day, I have to be flexible. Some days I don't get more than thirty minutes, others I have a couple of hours, and I get even more if I feel like staying up really late. But I do try to paint every day, except for Sundays, those are off days, unless I'm painting a gift for someone.

Kim asked: "Which artists are currently your favorites? The ones that make you sigh with wonder and inspire you? You know. . . if you got to browse in a book shop and purchase a few good coffee table art books who would they be of?

my answer: Oh jeez, it's hard to narrow it down! Right now the artists that are my favorites are Arne Westerman, Lesley Harrison, Dawn Emerson, Burton Silverman, Steve Hanks, Ali Cavanaugh, and Robert Barrett. And I have always been seriously in love with the work of Edgar Degas and Vermeer. :)

Nureeya asked: Were you educated at a university about art or did you learn to paint by yourself?

my answer: By myself :)

Carrie asked: Do you have a favorite painting that you have painted?

my answer: I think this is one of my favorites, it was the first portrait I painted when I thought "That's it, I've found how I want to paint." And the funny thing is that I had it in an art exhibit after I painted it and marked it for sale (because I was so sure no one would actually buy it!) and it sold! I was so sad! I actually asked the gallery owner if I had to sell it *blushing* they looked at me a little funny and said  'yes.' :) I seriously almost started crying.

"Just Right" watercolor

'Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything.' Wyatt Earp

Carrie also asked: Do you have a favorite artist that you draw inspiration from?

my answer: Right now the number one artist that is inspiring me is Ali Cavanaugh. She's amazing!


And the winner for most creative question (he, he) is Sandra! Here's her question:

You are dressed for a very, very important function - it's the launch of your new book.  As well as photographers, many other very important people will be there so it's important to make a good impression.  You are wearing a stunning and very expensive cocktail dress with very classy accessories, and even if you say so yourself, you look simply fabulous! Just as you are about to climb in your taxi, your small child hands you a necklace to wear which he has made especially for you. It's made of giant sized dried pasta tubes, foil milk bottle tops and popcorn, all threaded on to a piece of fluorescent string! You know that your child will see the photographs in the magazine of you at the launch, so what do you do? Do you wear the necklace or not?

my answer: Absolutely and without any doubt, yes. I would rather look like a fool to the world than a failure to my child. Great question Sandra!


Thanks again everyone for the great questions it was so fun! I hope you all have a great long weekend!