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
♥

My Wrap-up of San Miguel

Sketch

I don't know about you but I seem to never finish my retreat art while on the retreat. 

For me it's not about coming home with finished art pieces.

I enjoy myself and take in as much as I can.

I fully enjoyed making this charcoal sketch for the inside of my triptych while in San Miguel.

And I'm happy I didn't rush the process because I am truly learning to love the charcoal sketching process.

When I got home, I finished it with paint. 

I have a personal challenge when traveling to retreats.

For one thing, I travel very light knowing I have to be able to manage my own luggage.

So, one thing I do is take only the supplies that are called for, with one exception. 

It is very tempting to take all my go-to supplies and tools.

You know, things you think you can't create without. 

I know you know what I mean. 

So, I allow myself to choose one thing that wasn't on the list. 

I purposely choose something that I don't use everyday.  

My tube of Golden Iridescent Gold (Fine) is what I took on this trip.
What you need to know is there was not one single tube of paint on the supply list. 
Of course I was sure that was an oversight and quickly shot an email to Rebecca to confirm.  
Nope, bring none!
A special colorlicious Mexican paint would be provided.
Katie provided us with the above image.
And I'm sorry to say, I don't know who the artist is.
I glued the image and then did a paint over. This I did finish in Mexico using liberal amounts of the Iridescent Gold mixed with every color.

I also finished my pouch that all the new art pieces fit in.

We each brought a piece of canvas that we used as a work surface while painting.
We cleaned our brushes and used up left-over paint on the canvas.
Then on the last day we each created a pouch.
We all shared many of the little scraps and they became a symbolic bond that connected each of us and the memories we made together.

favorite door

Many doors and portals await one in San Miguel.

This was one of my favorites.

couldn't pass up the selfie

I love these pictures.
My happiness shows.
♥

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.

♥

Sisters tutorial continued

You might like to go to this post, Do You Remember the Sisters? for the beginning of this tutorial series. Then, The Cello Sketch for the next installment. Or just scroll down.

I was very anxious to see how the technique with permanent marker and alcohol would work on canvas.

But first, I wanted texture or rather I didn't want much canvas texture. I used Golden's Light Molding Paste #03575 to prep the canvas, as well as, multiple coats of acrylic, and gesso. 

After I did my quick Sharpie permanent ink sketch (above), I heard that little voice that said, "this is not going to work" and "why did you need to try it anyway?"

I knew immediately (when the light bulb when on) that since I had prepped the canvas with acrylic products, the alcohol would start to dissolve those products instead of moving the ink around on top as it did on the cellophane. 

That is exactly what happened. 

As if that wasn't bad enough, I knew the Sharpie marker would bleed back to the top. However, I thought I was in control of where and how much would come through.
That was the part I was excited about. 

Anyway, fighting failure, I painted layers and layers of paint and gesso, I eventually painted black gesso over it and left it for several days before I once again painted a layer of grey acrylic just to see if the sharpie marks were coming back.

They didn't!
Why?

By this time, I knew I wanted to use the girls from the cello sketch because I loved their personality. 

And since this was inspired by the "sisters" from long ago, I decided to use the transfer technique just as I did the series long ago.

I scanned the cellophane sketch, printed and cut apart the faces. Above pic shows the beginning of another preliminary on paper. This was to get the placement and scale using only three of the girls.  

Once I decided which three girls, I had to flip the images horizontally and print a copy of the size I needed.

I used my laser printer but ink jet works just fine too. I brushed the print with Golden Regular Gel (Semi-Gloss) #3040 and placed the faces in position ink side down. Then I use a stiff edge like a credit card and squeegee over them to make good contact with the canvas.  After is sets for a little while, I use a slightly damp cloth and rub over the print. That is the stage above where the image begins to show through. 

Using my finger, I gently rub off the paper layers....slowly.....but surely until...

...all the paper is gone. If a little paper fuzzy remains, I lightly sand over it before sealing the transfer with Golden Matte Medium #3530. In the photo above I have started painting with white paint.

One more thing, before sealing, I like to work the edges of the transfer a bit with the damp cloth and my finger to blend the hump of medium with the canvas. This is not necessary. I just don't like seeing the edge. 

Work-In-Progress

.....to be continued.

♥

The Cello Sketch

 I don't usually perfect the preliminary sketch...

but

I was on a long phone call and this was sitting right in front of me...

Also, nearby was my little bottle of alcohol and a cotton swab.

My sketch was made with a Sharpie permanent marker on the cellophane wrapper.

 I was delighted with how the alcohol moved around the ink...

much like you would manipulate charcoal on canvas.

I kept playing ...

just because I could!

.....to be continued

I'm off to paint now. 

♥