These two go together

Day Seven

Two antlers. 

I have just finished Day 8 (below) and as always, I get into my head thinking about stuff like;

why did I do this?

how did I feel while sketching?

why did I feel relaxed, rushed, in the zone, antsy, frustrated or even agitated?

Just stuff like that and a whole bunch more that I don't need to share. 

Day Eight

I put her on a pedestal to get the perspective that I wanted to sketch.

First of all, I enjoy both of these subjects. 

Now, I'm struck with how neither had many lines to follow other than the outline. Also, while the antlers had a small amount of color tone difference, the doll head color was the same all over.

So, to find the lines with both of them I first had to use the shadows to smudge in pencil. 

It's all about values.

I guess that's no different than any other day: however, yesterday and today it seemed different. 

-----------

So when I figure out how to do it these two go together.

Clues to the Buggy Project

Day Five

After putting off this challenge a couple of days, I went for it.

I tried to photograph the buggy from my sketching perspective.

I tried is all I can say.

RE:  The Buggy Project

In my head, I'm always way ahead of real time. 

Sometimes, "in my head" is a real problem too.

I'm not sure when I'll get around to the Buggy Project but My Little Dog approves so far.

Or maybe he is thinking, "what's the big deal?"

I know I made a mistake of letting him think I needed up close and personal help from him. 

could be a clue to The Buggy Project

A Couple of days before I started my morning sketching and in the comfort of the late night chair zone, I sketched the buggy from the one "in my head".

The one in my head sure was a lot easier than the one in real life.

Day Six

I walked around the Garden Palace looking for sketching inspiration. 

That I had a hard time finding something says more than you know. 

So I chose a pine cone from the basket.

I must get the One Hundred Faces on the wall because they are a huge distraction on the desk. 

After this pine cone affair, I think my truth is being reaffirmed. 

Have you any idea what it is?

Day two three and four

Morning Art Practice

Day 2

Day 3

I continue to read The Zen of Seeing.

But.....

..... today I was extremely distracted by No 66....

...and this guy.

His name is Stupid Kitty but sometimes I call him My Little Dog.

In other words my mind was in the wandering mode.

Day 4

Today

Today was day four and I finished reading The Zen of Seeing. 

I enjoyed some parts more than others. 

If nothing else, Franck's illustration drawings are wonderful.

So far, I have been mostly using pencils.

However, soon I will switch to a dip pen and ink and I can not stop thinking about color on the page so I'm sure watercolor will find its way too. 

The thing is, at the moment neither ink, pen, nor watercolors are available at the Garden Palace.

If I don't take it over there then I can be tempted.

Day One

I did it.

Day One of my new morning art practice. 

I'm reading The Zen of Seeing and then trying to relax to sketch something or anything.

I'm doing this over at the Garden Palace.

My stage in the forest

My Stage doodled on a scrap

My Stage
pencil and dip pen in big moleskin

Something sparked a memory. I can't even remember what but I couldn't get it out of my mind.

When I was middle school age and living out in the country(rural), I had friends that lived across-the-way. The brother, was my age and his sister, Thorn was a couple years older.

We played at their house as I have no memory of them coming to my house. (just thought of that)  Anyway, one of our favorite things to do was write, and act in our own plays. We longed for an audience but that didn't stop us.

Our set was staged between two trees that made the proscenium opening and held the curtain. As best I remember, we used sheets or blankets from their house for the curtain.

I wish I could remember the subject of our plays.
There's no tellin.

I was thinking this would be a study for a larger painting but i think I got it out of my system with this pen and ink in my big moleskin
♥

First painting of 2014

Flower Girl in Moleskin 

Close Up of Face

Sure enough, I shut down and disappeared again.
Can't explain why I do it.
But really I have shared so many things in the unpublished blog posts that pop up in my head.

This is my first painting for 2014. I do like her and did enjoy painting her.

Have you had your brushes in the paint yet?
♥

Infusion of Judy Wise in San Miguel

Our first art marks in San Miguel de Allende

 We lined up at the Jardin Principal 

to sketch Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel

 Judy instructed us to start with the outline....

I chose a page in my Moleskine that already had some background....

after the outline, I moved to a bench behind my new art Amigos

 and switched to my tiny Moleskine

Thank you Judy for the infusion to sketch again.

♥

Catrina in my journal

Catrina Face
Big Moleskine

I'm showing up this morning with a bee in my bonet.
Playing with a new palette
and
new subject.
I'll save the details for a new post.
♥

Art Journaling

I've been straightening, purging, and general piddling in my studio.

I'm sure I don't have to say that I have been disinterested in paints or painting this year.

So with a suggestion from a friend, I pulled out my giant Moleskin and tried to "get out of your own head".

It was great advise, but first I had to sit around and think about what that means.

I don't think I figured that out; however, I tried and I enjoyed the freedom of playing in my journal.

♥

Gift Idea for your favorite Artist

 I made this little travel watercolor kit for my Orvieto excursion.

 I have been planning to share with you f.o.r.e.v.e.r.

Today is the day.

 Tis the season; therefore, I suggest you buy one of the fragrances like Red Hot Cinnamon or Orange Cream Cakes. Then remove the fragrance cubes and bag them separately to accompany the gift.

You will need 6 tubes of watercolor. I don't necessarily recommend this brand as it doesn't have a lot of pigment like other brands.

But it will work and this is the 6 colors I chose.

Remove the label.
Choose 6 colors.
Squeeze the watercolors into the little tubs.
Leave sitting open until they dry.

In the front of my journal, I made a color study using each of the six colors to show how they mixed with each other.
Then I doodled and played with the colors.

Here is the kit all ready to go in a little zipper bag that I already had.

Add a pen, pencil, aqua brush and a small supply of tissue to blot with.

And you will have a very Artful gift.

I think it will be a bit hit!

♥

New and Old and Random Business

New Business

Sorry for the poor photo quality.

I'm still limping along without my good camera.

I'm finding the large journal very hard to get good pics of.  I'm hoping it is the camera.

I used a lot of collage papers on both pages and the dried seaweed is also collage.

Old Business

The winner of Friday's First Print Giveaway is: 

Cathy Bueti said...

Sharonn I love this print!! So beautiful!! and I am a big fan of Project Runway too, haven't seen last nights episode yet but I know what you mean about the designers this season. Still hoping one of them jumps out at me to root for! lol
 I think this would look lovely on fabric!

Thanks to everyone who played my giveaway game.  I ♥ and appreciate all of you!

Random Business

 (1)  If you guessed that I was the third one over in the fifth line down in the Class of '62.......that's me!

My high school sweetheart was in the class of '61 so he's not in the pic.  He was Mr LHS of that year as well as the president of his class and one hot center on the football team. 

And I Got Him!!!! 

The dinner was lovely even though not many there from our age groups.  It was fun to catch up with those who were there.

(2)  Have you noticed what blogger is doing now when you click on a picture?   I don't necessarily like it simply because it opens all the pictures in the post instead of just the one you want to see. That's all well and good if I'm here at this desk-in-town. The desk at home is on slower than fast and faster than slow internet and I'm too impatient to wait for all the pictures to load.

Well, I just don't like that. 

I think I should tell them so.

Meeting adjourned.

New Art Supply

Moleskin Journal 5 x 8 page 

My friend Zorana brought along a little inspiration clipped from who-knows-what.  She said it had been floating on here art desk for quiet some time.   I know how that is and you probably do also.  Well since it floated along with her to Texas from California, we decided to use to as our first inspiration piece when we started painting.  The above journal page is my interpretation of the inspiration and Zorana is sharing her's on her blog.

She tells the story best on how we ended up with the same new supplies to try out together.   Gouache is basically an opaque watercolor.  Zorana paints faster than I do and I could have diddled with this little painting for another couple of hours.  But we had more fun things to paint.  Will show another next.
♥ Sharon