Bartoe Art

A New Name

2011-03-10T17:47:00.004-05:00

"My Neighbor's Fence"

colored pencil

14 x 20"

Still at it. Getting prepared and competing in the Art at the Arnold sidelined my progress a bit. But I have been working steadily on this drawing all week.

One of the great benefits of blogging is that you receive feedback from your readers. One reader, much more savvy than I, let me know that my original title "Poison Ivy" would not be a good idea as the ivy I am drawing is something else entirely. And since I have no idea what it is (I am not a gardener), I have changed the title to "My Neighbor's Fence". I am rather pleased with it, too, because it's such a great metaphor for having good neighbors (which we do).

So, thank you, readers for keeping me in line and for your feedback. I really appreciate it!

2011-03-08T11:28:00.003-05:00

"After the Fall"

Oil on canvas

16 x 20"

This past weekend, I was one of fifty artists chosen to participate in an art competition at the Arnold Fitness Classic in Columbus, Ohio. On Friday morning, we worked from live models who were also athletes competing in several of the events that weekend. Then Friday afternoon, were turned loose with our cameras to photograph whatever we liked.

Bright and early Saturday morning, the competition began with all 50 of us setting up and painting from whichever photograph most inspired us. Mine was the little girl you see above.

After seeing her fall (she wasn't hurt - but emotionally, devastated), I realized that most of the time, the winners of any sporting event are the ones photographed, highlighted and painted. But so many don't win; I wanted to show the emotion they might experience after months and years of practice have gone into a single moment when the outcome is not so glorious.

This paint out is an emotional event for the artists competing as well. We paint with each other and can see our competitors work progressing and can judge ours rather harshly in the process. Over 250,000 people attend the Arnold Classic and many, many of them stopped to watch us work, which also adds to the excitement/anxiety. All the while a clock is ticking: 8 hours to complete a painting or drawing which is judged the next morning.

Oh, I forgot to mention that at one point, I was in my zone, headphones on, brush in hand and suddenly I realized that there were a LOT of cameras all around me. I turned to find Arnold himself leaning over my shoulder and looking at my work. He wanted to know why the little girl was crying, so we had a heart to heart about my motivation. Pressure there, too.

So Arnold, media, crowds, peers and a time crunch all make for an exciting day. I loved every minute of it.

On Sunday, we arrived early again to find out the results. First, second and third places were awarded and, alas, I was not one of them. No bitterness; all of the winners' work was fabulous. Just disappointment and creeping self-doubt.

I guess my painting was apropos for what I, too, was feeling after my competition.

Continued Progress - Poison Ivy

2011-02-20T11:27:00.003-05:00

Whew. This represents about 4-5 hours worth of work. The fiddly bits on the right side with all the water spots and mold are a real challenge. One I am enjoying, though.

Poison Ivy - More Progress

2011-02-15T09:51:00.005-05:00

More work on the "poison ivy" piece.

I wanted to share how I am rendering the fence with all of the mold and character. Instead of using browns I have chosen to use chartreuse and various light green colors along with lavender and purples while throwing in some pinks and peaches for good measure.

The colors are mixing beautifully and giving me the effect I had hoped for. Check out my color mixing blog here if you are interested at all in learning more about mixing colored pencils. Remember, they are translucent and layer very well for color mixing.

"Poison Ivy"

14 x 22"

colored pencil on Stonehenge

More Work In Progress - colored pencil

2011-02-07T18:26:00.005-05:00

Boy, this one is slow going. To try to render the moldy wood realistically is a challenge. But, overall I think it's beginning to come together.

I haven't decided yet on a title. So, I'm just calling it poison ivy right now.

I am working exclusively in colored pencil for this one on Stonehenge paper. Rather large: 14 x 22".

New Digs; New Work

2011-02-03T15:37:00.006-05:00

Recently, I was accepted into an artist studio group, Junctionview, where an old warehouse was renovated with many art studios. I couldn't be happier. I have my own space away from the house where I only work on my art. It's fabulous for me.

I have an amazing studio at home; however, I just had the hardest time working there. There was always a load of laundry to do, a phone call to take, a visitor - you know the drill. I just wasn't good at working at home. Has anyone else had this problem. I can't believe I am the only one.

So here's a little bit of my current work in progress. It's a colored pencil drawing on Stonehenge paper which measures 14 x 22". It's very slow work and the piece is large for a colored pencil drawing (and for me), but I am very happy with it so far.

Backlit Roses WIP - 2

2010-06-15T16:51:00.003-04:00

More of my current colored pencil project. This one is very grainy and not burnished at all. Am rather liking it this way. We'll see what I come up with as it progresses.

Roses - WIP

2010-06-13T10:58:00.005-04:00

My next work in progress: 9 x 6 1/2" colored pencil drawing on Stonehenge. Got to thank my brother, Brian, once again for a fantastic reference photo.

I am really enjoying this one and can't wait to work on it. Maybe it's the complimentary orange/yellow/blue/purple colors.

Not sure yet of its title. I'll keep you posted.

Shadowplay at OneTrueMedia.com

2010-06-10T18:50:00.001-04:00

My video montage of my latest colored pencil drawing, "Shadowplay".

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Shadowplay WIP - Almost Finished

2010-06-09T10:17:00.003-04:00

This piece is almost finished. Just a few more tweaks and touches should bring it around.

Shadowplay WIP - Continues

2010-06-03T18:23:00.003-04:00

My goal with this piece was to create a work of realism but with an abstact-like composition. I have a few more planned with this idea in mind as well.

"Shadowplay"

colored pencil

7 1/2 x 9 1/2"

Shadowplay - WIP Continues

2010-06-02T11:29:00.002-04:00

Continuing my post from yesterday, my current colored pencil drawing in progress.

Shadowplay - New Work In Progress

2010-06-01T16:53:00.003-04:00

Finally, I have started a new colored pencil drawing. It has been a long time and I was beginning to think I had forgotten how to use my pencils. Only time will tell, but so far so good.

My brother, Brian, has been taking some incredible photographs which he generously has given me permission to use as reference photos so I hope to have several more of these done soon.

I am using Stonehenge paper and the drawing measures 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches.

Meeting Arnold

2010-03-08T08:53:00.005-05:00

"Number 9"

16 x 20" oil on canvas

What a great weekend! I can't remember when I've had this much fun with my art! Heady stuff, too. Lots of press, paparazzi, stars and attention.

We artists at "Art at the Arnold" painted our competition piece on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. In that time, we had crowds of people (over 150,000 people attend the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic) watching us and asking questions. Oh, yeah, and Sly Stallone stopped by and interrupted me for a bit.

Sunday was showtime. The judge had chosen the top twelve pieces for Arnold to view and I was so excited to see that I was included in this group! But we had to wait over an hour to see the Governator, and when he arrived it was with such an entourage (I don't know how people live like this) and greeted and spoke to each of us in the final dozen.

My patron/husband/photographer was kept behind security lines under threat of death or imprisonment and could not get a great shot but here I am talking to Mr. S himself.

No, I didn't win any prizes this year, but I truly hope they do it again and I am able to participate. I had the time of my life. And my 15 minutes of fame. Now I am off to put my head back on straight and get back to work. (Contented sigh......)

Arnold Art

2010-03-05T19:47:00.003-05:00

Graphite and chalk sketch

8 1/2 x 11"

Arnold Schwarzenegger (aka: the governator) is in Columbus this weekend. I hope to get the chance to meet him on Sunday.

Why is this even on my blog, you ask? Because every year, Arnold hosts a huge Sports and Fitness Expo here in our fair city http://www.arnoldsportsfestival.com/. This year, along with the bodybuilding competitions and various other sports, 50 artists from all over were selected to paint or draw the athletes. I was lucky enough to be chosen to participate.

So, today we had athlete/models to sketch and draw for several hours then we were turned loose throughout the convention with our digital cameras and sketchpads. Tomorrow we will show up bright and early (7:30 a.m.!) to begin to create a piece that we will frame and have ready for a show on Sunday. There are prizes awarded and Arnold himself is choosing a favorite.

Today was so much fun and such a pleasure to have these amazing athletes to model for us. (However, they had no idea that holding a pose for hours could be so physically challenging.)

So, now you know why the Terminator is on my blog.

I'm Back!

2010-03-03T12:56:00.002-05:00

For anyone who is still reading my blog after all this time, I am back! I have some new direction, motivation and purpose and will be sharing shortly.

200 Posts!

2009-05-04T20:17:00.004-04:00

"Ashley"

8 x 11"

graphite on Stonehenge paper

This is my 200th post since I started blogging in Feb, 2007. Blogging has been very good for me: I've made some fantastic connections with other artists around the world; I've sold some of my art; and I've been asked to teach some classes and workshops both about my work and about getting started on blogging.

But I've found that the most important thing that has come from blogging has proven to be a boost to my credibility as a working artist and one who is committed to her craft. I must say, that because of the positive feedback and interactions with other artists and readers, I have a much stronger feeling of confidence in my work. That is HUGE for anyone who works primarily alone day in and day out. You can only get so many "atta girls" from your family and friends; but those from you guys carry a lot of weight.

Thank you, readers! Wouldn't have made 200 without you.

A Daisy Today

2009-05-01T15:03:00.006-04:00

"Daisy"

ACEO - 2.5 x 3.5"

colored pencil drawing on wood veneer

This has been a very busy and productive week for me; however, none of the busy-ness included making art. Oh, there were a few jabs at the sketch book, some planning and some creative thinking, but no real time for drawing or painting.

I was only able to get this little ACEO done. I drew it with colored pencils directly onto a small sheet of wood veneer. This is another technique where you can frame the piece without glass. Just a spray of acrylic varnish and its all set.

But I wonder, does the lack of time to make art cause other artists to become as cranky as I have been this week?

April Virtual Sketch Date

2009-04-24T16:40:00.005-04:00

Rhododendron

watercolor and colored pencil

on Arches 140 hot pressed paper

I thoroughly enjoyed working on this month's Virtual Sketch Date drawing of a rhododendron from a reference photo provided by Jeanette Jobson. After getting the composition I wanted from cropping, I realized that what appealed to me about the image was that it reminded me of a stained glass window. While wanting to retain that, my goal was also to keep the flower as the focal point and not let the background overwhelm it.

This month, I also decided to work in mixed media with watercolor and colored pencil. Here's my progression:

Step 1 - watercolor wash

Step 2 - First layer of colored pencil. Establishing the dark areas.

Step 3: Second layer of cp. I work all over a drawing at once and build my layers of color. Here I'm still working on layering in the darks and establishing more realistic shapes.

In the final step (above), I've continues to build the color and then began muting some of the background with complimentary color in order to establish foreground and background.

Frequent Sketches

2009-04-23T21:56:00.005-04:00

Ooh, boy, I've been busy: cleaning out the studio, moving things around, reorganizing, taking inventory, and just generally doing some spring cleaning.

Because I'm not motivated to make commitments and changes in January when most people do (I just don't have the energy), I wait until spring. This year, not only am I making some much needed physical changes but I've made some much needed new commitments to myself and my work. Here are the biggies:

I've written out my mission statement and have it posted where I read it daily.
I have also posted my list of professional goals where I can read them daily along with their deadlines.
Each goal is broken down into workable steps with each date marked on a goal calendar.
To avoid the inevitable (for me) lag time between finishing a piece and starting a new one, I will strive to have more than one project going at a time. This is also very helpful when I am struggling or bored working on one particular drawing.
I will sketch. I am not committing to a daily schedule, but a frequent one. It's just impossible for me with a young son and so many other commitments to sketch daily. But I have promised myself to try to work on a simple sketch for 30 minutes or less. I plan to share many of these sketches here.
I have made a daily work schedule to block out large chunks of time to commit solely to my artwork. This schedule is then being shared with my family so they can be aware of when I am working.

Making these commitments and cleaning out that studio has given me a new boost toward my work and creativity.

Does anyone else feel the need to "spring clean" to recharge the batteries?

WIP - VSD for April

2009-04-21T13:46:00.005-04:00

April 09 VSD

Watercolor

4 x 6"

This month for the Virtual Sketch Date, I thought I'd try a mixed media piece: watercolor and colored pencil. I love the reference photo sent in by Jeanette Jobson and hope to do it justice. While I want to achieve a more saturated color, I also want to retain some translucence. Hence, the watercolor decision.

This is the first stage with just the watercolor wash; tomorrow I will begin adding colored pencil to the piece. I am working on 140 lb. hot pressed Arches Aquarelle watercolor paper as I like the smooth finish for my pencils.

First Place!

2009-04-08T17:42:00.005-04:00

Here I am basking in the glow of a blue ribbon! My series, "Aging Gracefully", was part of the wonderful "Drawn Together" show put together by the Columbus Colored Pencel Guild.

Here's what the juror, Jim Glover, had to say about this series:

"1st Place: Aging Gracefully/Tucker This series of drawings grew on me with second, third and fourth looks. Well conceived, it is delicately handled with soft edges and well-observed transitions in hue. The dandelions appear to be part of the scene, not cut out and pasted on, which takes great skill to accomplish. Nice job!"

All the work in the show was of drawings (joy!) in any media and there are some incredible works in this show. I am extremely flattered to have been in the show AND to have won first place.

The show is at the beautiful High Road Gallery in Worthington, Ohio and runs through April 26. Hope you can see it.

Bolivian Lady Final

2009-03-26T19:08:00.004-04:00

Bolivian Lady

colored pencil

14 x 18"

Well, it's finally finished! This piece took a very long time to complete but it was a labor of love being that I just recently returned from Bolivia.

This is one of my submissions to the CPSA International Show in Atlanta this year. Last year I did not get any of my work accepted which was a huge disappointment, but I must admit it encouraged me to work that much harder this year. I really like shows that are difficult to get into, because when you do, you know you have truly achieved something. (And I would be lying if I said I didn't care about achieving that goal this year!)

Good luck to all of you who are entering. Hope to see you in Atlanta.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Back from South America

2009-03-22T11:04:00.004-04:00

"Elizabeth"

8 x 10" oil painting on canvas

WIP

I just returned from Cochabamba and LaPaz, Bolivia, and am still mentally processing the trip. Even though this was the second time I had travelled to Bolivia to do work on an orphanage project, it's still a difficult mental voyage as well. Such poverty and beauty in the same setting can never make sense.

Our group worked hard this year on projects such as sanding, painting, staining, laying sewer pipe, laying tile and a lot of back breaking clean-up. We all tapped into old and new skills to reach our goals.

One of our best days was when we were able to invite the local village families to come to the orphanage home and receive some gifts from us. At the same time we completed a simple census to count the children in the area. My job was to photograph each an every child, which I was happy to do. We counted and I photographed 112 children ranging from teenagers to a newborn 4 days old and still without a name.

Every day, while we worked, many of these children would come to the orphanage site and hang out to watch the gringos work, many of them white women, at that! Unheard of of in their world and, to watch their faces, was also extremely funny to most of them. But we made time for all of them, played with them, hugged them, held them and they stole our hearts.

These children live in such extreme poverty that a used pair of shoes is equal to the best Christmas present. They were so happy with their new gifts; what a joy to be a giver of goods!

My painting in progress above is of a little girl named Elizabeth who wore her traditional clothing every day and who easily won us all over.

I guess my way of processing and reliving my journeys to Bolivia are best done through my art. I'm sure you will see more work inspired by my trip to the southern hemisphere.

New Directions?

2009-02-27T15:45:00.004-05:00

"On the Vine"

oil painting

5 x 7"

Last weekend, my husband gave me a wonderful gift of time alone. I checked into a local hotel for two days and a night to be silent and think. I took along my laptop, many books, notebooks, some sketching and a couple of pairs of sweatpants. It was delicious.

During that time, I planned my goals for the upcoming year, broke them down into projects, wrote my mission statement, planned some directions for my work and just generally was able to focus on my work.

One of the goals I've decided upon is to go back to oil painting - not exclusively, I WILL continue with my colored pencil drawings - but as an addition to. Every Friday, barring schedule interruptions, I plan to paint. Painting and drawing for me are very, very different. I am very slow and methodical in the way I draw - it can take months for one drawing. However, the way I learned to paint was in school and from life; therefore, my style is very quick and loose. I like both ways of working.

Today was my first "painting" day and I was amazed that I could still ride that horse - albeit a bit rusty, but I wasn't too disappointed in what I produced. But I'll let you tell me what you think.

I decided to paint from a reference photo I was currently using for a colored pencil drawing on which I had spent a couple of hours. The painting took the same amount of time. The drawing isn't done; the painting is signed. You can see the results below.

It seems to me that it can be good for my growth as an artist to allow myself to explore, create and enjoy the process. I hope that doing both painting and drawing will complement each other and allow me to grow as an artist.

Bolivian Lady WIP - 3rd Post

2009-02-21T22:25:00.007-05:00

Bolivian Lady - Stage 7

Bolivian Lady - Stage 8

Bolivian Lady - Stage 9

Ooooh, I wish I were one of those artists who could work across a drawing from left to right and finish a section at a time, knowing I had nailed the values, contrast and color right from the start. But alas, I work all over the page building and glazing layer upon layer of color until I know the piece is finished.

This explains how, in this post, the changes you see are very, very subtle (look closely at the background and the lady's left shoulder). I usually have a vague idea of my background and develop that along with the piece - this one is begging to be darker and will be - but it can determine, and change, my focal subject in subtle ways as well.

Since I work from light to dark, I have always struggled to get my darkest darks right away. I usually seem to slowly coax them out along with the background.

I am hoping to have this piece done by next week, but I also r-e-a-l-l-y need a break from it and plan to work on the Virtual Sketch Date drawing, too, which I will post before next weekend.

Bolivian Lady - WIP, second post

2009-02-12T12:56:00.004-05:00

Bolivian Lady

Stage 4

Bolivian Lady

Stage 5

Bolivian Lady

Stage 6

I have a love/hate relationship with this piece now - it is taking a l-o-n-g time to progress (which I hate) but I can zone out and get a bit meditative as well (which I love). I also listen to books on tape while I draw or paint so I think I'm going to get through at least 3 books with this one!

New WIP - Bolivian Lady

2009-02-06T13:19:00.007-05:00

Bolivian Lady

Stage 1

Bolivian Lady

Stage 2

Bolivian Lady

Stage 3

This piece is very large for me - it measures 18 x 14". It's pure colored pencil on white Stonehenge paper. If you, too, work in colored pencil, you have an idea of how work intensive this piece is and has been, especially with the background.

As much work as it is, I have enjoyed it- almost feel guilty at times. (Does anyone else feel guilty about loving their work, too?)

I am working from a reference photo I took last year while in Bolivia. I was fascinated by how the women dressed and how they carried everything in their wraps. The Bolivian women are some of the hardest working people I have ever seen. In this piece I hope to capture some of that work-filled life in her face along with her feminity and beauty.

I've been meaning to start one of these large pieces from Bolivia since last year. Maybe because I have my second trip booked for this spring, I felt compelled to begin this drawing. I'm not sure, but it is motivating me to get ready to travel again.

Let me know what you think. Love your comments and suggestions.

Art for Orphans

2009-01-28T11:08:00.004-05:00

"Market Day"

2.5 x 3.5" ACEO

colored pencil drawing

Another ACEO drawing to be sold to the highest bidder in order to raise funds for an orphanage in Bolivia.

This is drawn from my own photo taken last year at a festival when a group of us journied to Cochabamba, Bolivia. I love the hats and the colorful wraps the women wear. They carry EVERYTHING in the wrap, even their children. I think it should catch on here. I have one of these cloths, maybe I'll give it a try.

Art for Orphans

2009-01-22T10:39:00.008-05:00

"My Own Crayons"

ACEO 2.5 x 3.5"colored pencil on Stonehenge paper

I will donate 50% of this sale to the K'illallaray Orphanage Project

SOLD

Once again, I am offering an ACEO on eBay to benefit the fund to help build the orphanage home for children in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

And, once again, I have made a commitment to travel to Bolivia to help with the building and to build good relations between the "gringos" and the native people.

The drawing above was taken from a reference photo taken last year of one of the orphans. We had just given them all their own crayons and coloring books; many of them thought we would take them back when we left. This beautiful little girl had just had a bath, found a warm spot of sun, and began her coloring project. I just had to share this in a drawing. She touched my heart.

If you're interested in finding out more info, check the website here or my original post here. Thanks for your help.

January 09 Virtual Sketch Date

2009-01-20T17:29:00.006-05:00

"Clemetine"

5 x 7"

pastel and colored pencil on Ampersand pastel board

Spent much of the day watching the innauguration with my young son reminding him that he was seeing history being made.

But I found time to finish this month's VSD (Virtual Sketch Date). As in my past VSD posts, I decided to try something a little different that the way I usually work. This month I did a pastel underpainting and finished with colored pencil on a tan-toned Ampersand pastel board.

Check out the other entries this month; many of them are wonderful. You can see many of the members' drawings on a Flickr page here.

Back from Hiatus

2009-01-13T17:34:00.004-05:00

OK, I've taken enough time off from posting. I spent a hectic, fun-filled holiday season with family and friends and didn't do much drawing. After finishing a couple of commissions prior to the holidays, I think I was a little burnt out and needed some time to regroup.

For the next couple of months, I plan on doing some "businessy"-type stuff. You know, rewrite my mission statement, artist statement, list of goals, bio, inventory my work, update mailing lists, etc., etc. All the un-fun things we must do but put off. Well, my time is now.

I still plan to draw and work on some sketching. May even take a class or two. Just need to get my head on straight about direction and organization. I seem to work better overall when my house and head are in order. I like to start the year off that way when I can.

Let me know what you do to keep your art business in order. Any special tips, tricks, time-savers you want to share, I'd love to hear about right now. Leave me a comment or two.

In the mean time, enjoy a few of the commissions I finished before Christmas. These are on 8 x 10" black gessoed canvas and are done with colored pencil.

December Virtual Sketch Date

2008-12-11T23:11:00.005-05:00

"Winter Valley"

5 x 7"

colored pencil on pastel board

This month's VSD is a little early due to the holidays but I was able to eke out a little time to do this one and I'm glad I did.

I don't usually do many landscapes and when I saw the reference photo, I balked a bit. But I decided to plunge in and, as I usually do for the VSD, I decided to try to vary my style a bit. This one, I thought, should be rather pastel-like and loosely drawn.

My main inspiration for this style of colored pencil drawing I can directly attribute to a friend and a wonderful artist, Linda Wesner. I had the privilege of pariticipating in a small class and demo Linda gave at one of our local colored pencil guild meetings where she generously demonstrated her style and technique. Take some time and check her work here. She has won many awards and her work has consistently been selected for the CPSA International Exhibitions.

Linda's current body of work is inspired by "vanishing landscapes", rapidly disappearing rural areas due to suburban development. Intriguing, beautiful and contemplative.

Linda has also been a bit of a mentor and always treated me as an equal (as if) and encouraged my work. Thank you, Linda.

Boy, it's great to have artist friends.

Colored Pencil Color Mixing

2008-12-06T09:59:00.005-05:00

In putting together a recent colored pencil class, I wanted to teach a bit of color theory and color mixing to my students. It's important, especially with a translucent medium like colored pencil, to work with not only the colors you have in front of you, but to learn to mix them. Unlike painters, we CP artists are rather spoiled in that we have such a wealth of premixed colors to choose from in our collections. However, there are always those instances where we do not have the exact color we need and have to mix (or layer) to achieve what we need.

Not only is it important to learn mixing but to learn a bit about color theory and how colors can work in a drawing. My absolute favorite writer/artist is Bet Borgeson whose books not only teach you about the basics of colored pencil but she also teaches the reader about some basic art concepts: form, volume, space, color theory, and composition. I highly recommend investing in at least one of these three books by Ms. Borgeson: "Colored Pencil for the Serious Beginner" (my favorite), "Basic Colored Pencil Technique", and "The Colored Pencil - Key Concepts for Handling the Medium". Ms. Borgeson also has a website which gives you a quick overview on color theory which is both very clear and easy to incorporate into your work.

But to get you started, I will share my color wheel and mixing chart with you. You have freedom to use this for your own personal use; however, please do not use these in a class without my permission (you're an artist, you know the drill.) Because copy paper is not much fun for CP artists, you might want to print the charts out on a piece of 8.5 x 11" drawing paper (cut your own!) Have fun and leave me some feedback if you have questions or suggestions of your own.

My finished CP color wheel. The pencils I used are listed; feel free to use your own colors! Now, color your own wheel!

My CP colored pencil mixing chart; again, use your own colors if you want.

Now here's your own chart. Notice how the intensity of a pure color increases by layering. Learn and have fun!

WIP - Final Portrait Series

2008-12-03T14:17:00.003-05:00

Portrait

12 x 14"

colored pencil on Bristol vellum

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Finally finished with this one. I never keep track of the hours I've invested in a drawing (tried but am terribly poor at keeping count), but I know this one has taken a long time. I've enjoyed every minute of it, though.

I have another commission on my table right now (actually a series of 3) which I hope to show you soon but can't until delivery as they're a gift.

If you are a colored pencil artist, you should know that the CPSA has released the prospectus and exhibition information for the 17th annual Internationl Exhibition in Atlanta next year. The deadline is March 31, 2009. Check out their website here. Remember, you have nothing to lose if you submit an entry into the show, but won't win anything if you don't.

Portrait WIP - 2nd Round

2008-11-23T21:49:00.002-05:00

colored pencil

12 x 14"

Here's my second post of the current portrait commission I have on the drawing board.

This is one of those pieces which is labor intensive, but one of my favorites to do. She is an exceptionally lovely young woman and it's a pleasure to honor her (and her parents) with this portrait.

It's always a huge responsibility and an honor when someone hires you to do a portrait of their child.

November Virtual Sketch Date

2008-11-21T19:35:00.003-05:00

"Light Play"

colored pencil on Ampersand pastel board

5 x 7"

Here's my drawing for the November VSD. And I just have to say, I love participating in this monthly draw-fest. It's so much fun to interpret the reference photo in my own way and then check in on the other artists to see what they've done. I'm always amazed at how we all see things so differently and yet, each artist makes such wonderful work.

Check it out if you haven't yet here. You'll see links to work from all the participating artists on Sunday, November 23.

And, hey, if you can draw, you ought to give it a try. Be fearless!

New WIP - Commissioned Portrait

2008-11-19T18:42:00.002-05:00

Thought I'd share a progression of a current commissioned portrait on my table. I started this before the cruise and am now working hard to finish up.

The young woman is the daughter of a high school friend of mine; she has hired me to do portraits of her children at their graduation from high school. (Appropriate, no?) This is her youngest child and, alas, I'll just have to wait until she has grandchildren for the next round.

I am working this on Strathmore Bristol Vellum in colored pencil. It measures12 x 14".

Cruise Recap

2008-11-17T20:35:00.007-05:00

Our ship, the Carnival Pride

Here's some news and a few pics from my class on the Mexican Riviera Colored Pencil Workshop cruise. Thanks to Ann Kullberg who organized the entire workshop, I was invited to be one of the workshop instructors with Ann, of course, and Gemma Gylling. It was a wonderful trip with a wonderful group of workshop attendees. (I think I've made some new arty friends!)

In my workshop we focused on drawing marbles on two layers of Dura-lar Mylar. With this technique you can render an intense, glowing depth of field which works particularly well for glass objects. Below is my sample drawing.

This technique can be a little tricky and complicated since you have to work on both sides of the surface and ,therefore, draw backward from your reference photo several times. I wasn't sure how the class would handle this or react to it, but I was so pleased as they all came away with some wonderful pieces!

And, because I, too, thought of this trip as a little bit vacation, I took some time out on our balcony to enjoy a little refreshment afterwards. In the big comfy robe they provided. With warm sun. Ahhh. (See even if you're an introvert, like me, you can put yourself out there in the world; you just need a little R & R after!)

Bon Voyage

2008-11-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

"Reclining Nude"

6 x 8"

colored pencil on canvas

I am currently sitting in a hotel room waiting to board the ship for the Colored Pencil Cruise (as I call it). And being one of the instructors, I am a little nervous. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally looking forward to it; the sun, the fun, the time away; but I'm still a little nervous.

Having been an instructor and business owner for over 15 years (owned a Jazzercise franchise), I know that being a wee bit nervous is not necessarily a bad thing. It tends to keep you sharp, alert and aware of every word that comes out of your mouth. I've found it can energize me, the class and the students.

Wish me bon voyage and to break a leg (what do you wish a workshop instructor!?) I'm hoping to blog a bit about my experience and show you some of the things I see and the people I meet.

October Virtual Sketch Date

2008-10-24T19:16:00.006-04:00

"3 Pears"

4 1/2 x 6"

Neocolor II and colored pencil

Here is my offering for this month's collaborative sketch date known as VSD (Virtual Sketch Date). Check it out and all the wonderful artists who participate.

This month I decided to exaggerate the reference photo and use a more chromatic pallet using MiTeints red paper, Neocolor II watersoluable crayons and colored pencil to finish the detail.

Self-Aware and a Little How-To

2008-10-10T09:55:00.008-04:00

"Self Aware"

6 x 8"

Colored pencil on canvas

This series has received such good accolades and, needless to say, I am thrilled.

Here's the story:

I have always loved figurative drawing/painting, even in art school when, shocked and a little embarrassed, I had to draw my first nude. However, I soon got over it and realized how wonderful it is to capture the human form in all its nuance and detail.

Several years ago, I asked some friends, who happened to be over 40, to pose for me. I realized that a "woman in her prime" is more comfortable in her skin and self-aware of who she is. I wanted to try to capture that in some of my work. Since that first grouping of pieces, I realized that I love doing this and seem to have a knack for making the women who pose for me to feel comfortable and to actually enjoy the process. I believe there is a great deal of trust involved on their part. But, I also think it's because I grew up with two sisters, spent a great deal of time in locker rooms as an athlete, and am comfortable in my own skin as well.

In response to some readers who wanted to know what I'm using for a support, I used a pre-stretched, pre-primed canvas. I applied two layers of black gesso (which has a matte finish and is great for taking colored pencil.) The canvas is not a fine linen; however, in some places I used solvent to "paint" the pencil wax into the canvas. In other areas, I let the canvas texture show through.

I really enjoyed working on the canvas and plan to do several more "colored pencil paintings" this way.

Oh, BTW, I have a rule for the women who pose for me: they have to be over 40. Unless, of course, they're a paying customer.

Swim Out

2008-10-10T09:53:00.015-04:00

"Sorrow"

colored pencil on canvas

4 x 6"

When you step out of your comfort zone and experiment, good things can happen.

Obviously, I like to play with my pencils on different supports. From those experiences, I have had some wonderful opportunities come my way.

First, due to working on Mylar Duralar, I had a piece (Green Lucidity) accepted into the CPSA Explore This 4 show two in 2007. From that, Ann Kullberg asked me to write an article for her on-line publication, From My Perspective, on just how I did it. (Scaaarrry and way out of my comfort zone.) But from THAT, she invited me to teach my Mylar technique on her colored pencil workshop cruise in November.

And, after experimenting on canvas and hanging a show of a series of twelve small female figurative works like the one above, I have garnered a commission for a woman who wants a small series of these for her significant other. Sweet.

See how that works. It's so important that as artists, we don't get stuck in a rut. Don't be afraid to step out and take some risks. Remember, risk takers do reap rewards.

Here's one of my favorite quotes: "My ship will come in much sooner when I swim out to meet it." Swim, little artist, swim!

More New Work

2008-10-10T09:51:00.013-04:00

"Morning Stretch"

6 x 8"

colored pencil on canvas

Here is another of my new figurative works on canvas. And for those who left all those wonderful comments on my last post - thank you. My self esteem is greatly improved and, with all my recent BIG LIFE DECISIONS, I really appreciate the boost.

This week I also had a wonderful opportunity to travel to Tennessee to make a presentation to a group of people this week concerning a the orphanage in Bolivia which is near and dear to my heart. We were able show them images of our trip last year and how we are building (physicallly and monetarily) a family home orphanage. They are interested in helping raise funds. Keep that in your thoughts for us that their decision is in our favor (and the orphans).

But, I am not fond of public speaking. Even though I seem to choose career paths that constantly call for it: advertising, owning a Jazzercise francise, and now art. However, making that presentation was a good leap for me; I did very well. Not nervous at all. (I think when you believe deeply about the topic you're discussing, you can just open your mouth and go.) This, too, was good for my self-esteem. All indications seem to point to the fact that my recent decisions may be good ones.

I have also been asked to sit on the Board of Directors of Global Gallery, a fair trade organization and the driving force behind the Bolivian orphanage. Again, another affirmation!

Now I'm getting revved up to teach on a cruise with Ann Kullberg and Gemma Gylling early next month. I so look up to these ladies; they set the bar rather high! So, if you want to get away and escape any of the frenzy surrounding the election, check out the cruise and consider joining us.

Never fear, I am voting early.

New Work - New Support - New Directions

2008-09-29T17:05:00.013-04:00

"Kneeling Figure"

6 x 8"

colored pencil on canvas

I am so excited to show you my latest work. I did 12 (yes 12!) small figurative drawings with colored pencils on canvas. After priming the canvas with black gesso, it was a dream to apply the colored pencil. Some burnishing and solvents were used, but very little.

For this series, two of my closest female friends generously (and bravely) posed for me. I've been wanting to do a series like this for a long time. The premise of the work is to showcase how incredibly beautifully and vibrant women over 40 truly are. Both of my models soundly meet that criteria. My hope is that they are flattered by the work; I am truly pleased with the poses they gave me to work from.

This series is hanging, at this time, at Studios on High Gallery in Columbus, Ohio, an artists' coop that has existed for over 22 years. I have been a proud member there for over 3 of those years; however, I recently made an agonizing decision to leave because I have some personal and professional goals that don't afford me the time or money to stay.

I am going to take the next 6 months or so to regroup, explore some new media, new techniques, new marketing strategies, BLOG MORE REGULARLY, and begin teaching. I am also planning on returning to Bolivia to work on the orphanage there and to ramp up some fund-raising efforts for it as well.

One of the most exciting things I'm doing right now is mentoring a promising young artist who is currently in 10th grade where she attends an inner city school which has no art classes. My heart broke for her and I just had to help. She is a wonderful girl and hungry for more art in her life. I feel a very strong need to provide just that.

It's always amazing to me how we are put just where we need to be, meeting just who we need to meet, and given just the right tools to do what needs to be done. Very humbling indeed.

September Virtual Sketch Date

2008-09-27T14:33:00.006-04:00

Virtual Sketch Date - September, 2008

colored pencil, Neocolor II, watercolor pencils on pastel board

5 x 7"

Ok, I know, long time between posts. And I have plans to fix this soon. But in the mean time, the Virtual Sketch Date is keeping me honest. Be sure to check out all the other entries, too.

Virtual Sketch Date

2008-08-30T10:22:00.004-04:00

"Kale"

colored pencil sketch

5 x 8" moleskin journal

This is my first entry into the Virtual Sketch Date project where a group of artists ban together once a month to draw from the same reference photo. Each artist interprets the sketch in their own way and in their own medium and then posts the result on their blog. I have watched this for a couple of months and am fascinated by what each artist creates.

The VSD project was the brainchild of Rose Welty and this month's photo reference was contributed by Sherrie Roberts.

Enjoy!

Last of the Dandelions - Finally!

2008-08-20T21:02:00.005-04:00

Dandelion Series - Stage 4

colored pencil on Ampersand pastel board

6 x 6"

It's finished! Actually, this series has been done for a while, but I hadn't photographed it. No excuses, just crazy busy (a good thing), loads of projects, a son home for the summer and an incredibly wonderful social life (lots of fantastic friends who I never see enough of). Not to mention, scootering around whenever I get a chance!

Here at the end of summer, I can get a bit frantic trying to fit everything in. I love summer; there's never enough of it. So, especially in August, I try to absorb as much of the waning season as possible hoping that somehow I can store it up for a long grey winter. (Central Ohio has one of the greyest winters in the U.S. Sigh.)

Next week school starts again and my young son starts fifth grade, so I will be back in "work mode" more often and will post several new works, projects and updates. I'm looking forward to it.

Dandelion Series - Stage 3

2008-07-30T22:42:00.005-04:00

Dandelion Series - Stage 3

colored pencil on Ampersand pastel board

6 x 6"

Here's the third of my Dandelion series and I'm having fun with them. (You artists out there know what I'm talking about when you're having fun with a project.) Loooove this Ampersand pastel board. Great stuff. Would like to do most of my new work on it. After I get through my next few projects on my "to do" list, I'd like to experiment with the board a bit and try mixing the colored pencils with some other media: pastel, watercolor, watercolor pencils, ink. I'm just going to play and see what I can come up with. I'll let you know.

In the mean time, check out the "Color On!" blog by Cindy Haase. She has some incredible work on pastel board with underpaintings done with pastel pencils, Neocolor II and Inktense. She graciously shares her work in progress and tips on "how to".

Now here's my new toy:

What fun! Plus, I'm also becoming a little greener, leaving a smaller carbon footprint at 100 mpg! I'm using this baby to run errands around my suburban hood (and terrorizing the neighbors as well). Now, I'm just looking for a gang to join....

Dandelion Series - Stage 2

2008-07-25T10:22:00.009-04:00

Dandelion Series: Stage 2

colored pencil on Ampersand pastel board

6 x 6"

This is the second of four in my dandelion series. And, yes, when I took this photograph, there was actually an ant on the flower.

For those of you who work with colored pencils and have never used it before, I encourage you to try the pastel board as a support. Here's some of what it offers:

Lots of layering.
Solvent use.
Dry brush burnishing.
No worrys of bending or tearing.
Acid-free and non-yellowing.
Great for mixed media techniques.
Framing without glass.

Here are some of my favorite artists who do wonderful work on pastel board:

Kathrine Tyrrell: http://makingamark.blogspot.com/2006/12/ampersand-pastelbord.html

Nicole Caulfield: http://www.nicolecaulfieldfineart.blogspot.com/

Ranjini: http://www.vividpencils.com/stilllife_page2.htm

Maggie Stiefvater: http://greywarenart.blogspot.com/search?q=pastel+board

"Where can I get these great Ampersand pastel boards?", you ask. Here's a link to the Ampersand web-site with the "where to buy" information: http://www.ampersandart.com/

If you do try it, I would love to hear your thoughts about it and see your work. Ooh, and if you find some new as-yet-untried technique, please share!

A Series of Weeds

2008-07-21T22:34:00.004-04:00

Dandelion Series: Stage 1

colored pencil on Ampersand pastel board

6 x 6"

This is the first of my dandelion series. I have three more on the table. They show the life of a dandelion from infancy, youth, middle and old age.

I know, I know, they're weeds. But I don't care. Here's why I like them:

I've always thought they were beautiful. Just simple, bright and promise summer is on the way.
They're the first bouquet most kids give their moms. And as a mom, the most cherished bouquet you'll ever get.
These babies are survivors, too. Who can't identify or root for the underdog? No matter how much they're dug, pulled, sprayed, or stomped, they come back.
The metamorphosis they go through will never cease to amaze me. I still pick the fluffy ones and make wishes. (You can blame me for the sprouts in your yard.)

Those are my reasons for paying homage to them in this series. Hope you like.

On the Cover!

2008-07-11T10:59:00.002-04:00

Short North Visitors Guide

My recent colored pencil drawing, "Short North Arches", was chosen as the cover art for the official Short North Visitors Guide. (The Short North is a beautiful urban renewal area in Columbus, Ohio, full of galleries, restaurants, pubs and some unique and one-of-a-kind shopping.)

Five years ago, I used to day dream about being an artist (in my mind and others), showing my work somewhere and most especially in the Short North. Well, those daydreams and others have come true (not without some scary, jump-into-the-void moments, though).

This guide had an initial printing of 60,000 copies which are distributed to our local Convention Center, local hotels, local shops, and the airport! Some little exposure for me, huh? What's even better, though, are the kudos I am getting from my peers and friends in the Short North. (That's the real cherry here.)

Now, gotta go and daydream some more......

Blogging - Another Reason To

2008-06-15T15:53:00.003-04:00

"Swan Song"

coloredd pencil on Ampersand Pastel Board

8 x 10"

Here is another in a what I hope to be a series of dandelion drawings. I have always loved them; yes, I am aware they are weeds and we all chase them out of our yards. But every little girl (and not a few little boys) know the first bouquet of beautiful flowers they ever held, received or gave were probably these little yellow gems. And as you can tell, I have quite a fondness for the aging process these flowers go through as well.

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When I started reading blogs, my original intent was to peek in on other colored pencil artists to see what they were doing - sort of a voyeuristic venture on my part. However, I soon learned that many of these wonderful people were not only putting their work on-line for others to view, but they were sharing real knowledge! Useful stuff; stuff I could use right away and not have to stumble upon on my own. Which techniques work, which pencils don't, which books are worth buying and why, how to save money on framing....the list goes on.

Then I started my own blog and I soon discovered more. Not only do these artists share with the rest of us, they encourage, cheer, critique (positively and with my best interest in mind), and understand when there is a problem.

This is the best reason for me to blog. And for those of you who have been in my corner, thank you. You know who you are.

When We're Fragile

2008-06-11T12:12:00.005-04:00

Yes, I know, I know: Long time, no see. No excuses. Just an explanation:

First, I have been working, making new art and finishing old pieces that are lingering in my studio. I currently have 6(!) works in progress within view. (I read books the same way - several novels, audio books, short stories at the same time.)

Second, I have been ruminating on some big decisions regarding my work. Here are just some:

Should I branch out and show some other work NOT done in colored pencil?
Is it time to switch media to more oil (i.e., more money)?
Should I stay in my art coop or is it time to move on?
Should I attempt to show my work at other galleries?
While wanting to teach colored pencil and drawing classes, how will it negatively eat away at my studio time (which is SO precious).
What other avenues are available to me as an artist?

Those are just a few things mulling over in my head - constantly. Yes, I could probably do all of the above; but I want to do whatever I choose very, very well. (Oh, the curse of the Virgo perfectionist!) And, how will I do all of these things while juggling many, many other family responsibilities. (Unlike Maggie Stiefvater, whom I admire SO much, I am not the Queen of the World or Super Girl; I know my mortal limitations.)

So you see, I have been pondering some big changes and that brings up number 3.

Third, whenever I am faced with big changes (the biggest for me is leaving the co-op), I can spiral into the abyss of depression. Long family history topped with the fragile ego of a creative spirit is a legacy I have dealt with for all of my adult life. It is a fact of my life, albeit a sometimes shameful one (why do we continue to perpetuate this!), and I know will probably never just disappear. So, once in a while I "go under" and eventually emerge.

So here I am emerging.

This drawing I just completed last night and it suits my current mood perfectly: intact but fragile. Here is "Fragile Hold", colored pencil on 8 x 10 Ampersand pastel board.

New Work - Layering Mylar

2008-05-08T15:02:00.006-04:00

"Sun Ripened"

Colored pencil on Dura-lar Mylar layered over watercolor paper

8 x 10"

This piece was done on two layers: The top layer is a colored pencil drawing on Dura-lar Mylar; the second layer is a watercolor pencil painting on hot press watercolor paper.

On the watercolor paper layer, I started layering colors which would be complimentary to the colors which would be used for the front layer of the final image. After some experimenting, I used a magenta for the shadow and various blues and greens for the tomato. After wetting the initial layer, I realized that the magenta color wouldn't give me the dark value I needed so I added an indigo blue. (I used Faber-Castel wc pencils.)

As you can see in the first image, I began layering color on both sides of the surface, where I keep layering color on the reverse side to compliment and deepen the final color on the front. For example, with the tomato, the reds and oranges were kept to the front; the greens, blues and yellows on the reverse.

It's rather hard to see from this image, but when you combine the finished layers, a greater sense of depth is achieved and thus I was able to capture the illusion of translucent layers of flesh of the tomato.

While I am pleased with the color and the effect of the layering process, I am not sure about the composition. It seems that the shadow has become an overwhelming element in the piece and therefore, I am thinking strongly of cropping this baby. However, after all the work I have in it, I'll let it rest for a few days before I take it to the chopping block. And, too, the beauty of being an artist today is you can see your work cropped with a photo program before you ever send it to surgery. I'll keep you posted.

Slightly Slacking

2008-05-06T18:17:00.005-04:00

Sketching from Life

Project on Wetcanvas

May 2008, Week 1: Flowers

My solution: lilacs from my yard in my 5 x 7" moleskin sketchbook

It may seem that I have been slacking, and, in Blog-World, I have. But, I have been very, very busy in:

Art world -

Started and finished a new piece on layered Mylar (I'll show you, I promise), with plans for a few more.
Got word that "Sticky Situation" was accepted into the July National Exhibition in Southport, North Carolina at Franklin Square Gallery. Beautiful gallery; beautiful part of the country.
Came up with some new ideas for a new series of work. (You'll see it as it develops).

Home world -

Son home from Army training! (More on that later, too.)
Constantly reminding children (especially grown ones) that Sunday is Mother's Day. (I'll let you know if they remember.)

Social world (AKA "Spending-Time-With-Other-Adults" World) -

Gala fundraising event (had to dress up),
Focus group for a fair trade organization (didn't have to dress up)
The Police (Sting is STILL hot!) Concert (just wore my favorite jeans). (Yes, yes, more there, too.)

Rhonda world - (Where I live in a quiet, well-organized house, with a highly paid and competent staff who tend to my every need. Right....)

New camera! New computer! (My argument that these are tools for my trade really worked!)
Training! I have made the commitment to run the Columbus Half Marathon in October. Yes, it's hard on the body; great for the mind. Keeps me sane and very good for my disposition.

BUT one the biggest excuses I have for not blogging recently is that I, too, was flagged as a spammer (as if!) and put on hold for a couple of days. (NOT good for my disposition.) Looks like the folks at Blogger are working out some of the bugs on this matter, as I didn't have to be down as long as some other blogging art friends. Whew. Still, mighty annoying. I barely have time for all the stuff I do now - how the hell would I find time to spam? Let alone learn how to? Jeesh. (Has this happened to anyone else in the last week or so? Anyone know WHY this happens? Is there a rampant sabateur out there lurking and ready to flag wee art bloggers?)

Oh, maybe I just needed to take a week or so off from posting. Sometimes time off from something, even something you enjoy, can refresh and clear the cobwebs from the attic, so to speak. Then again maybe pushing away from the keyboard gave me some time to just go do stuff so I can come back to tell you all about it. Mmmm.

Art for Orphans

2008-04-29T02:17:00.006-04:00

"The Fisherman"

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

50% of Sale donated to the Bolivian Orphanage Fund

If interested in purchasing, please contact me.

This image is from one taken in Bolivia, where we passed this lake at least twice on some of our journeys. On this particular day, the fishermen (there were many), the sky (which is SO blue), the mountains, and the water all just combined for a strong sense of calm in one extraordinary view.

While I'm sure many of these Bolivian man were fishing to feed their families, it seemed that they were also enjoying themselves. One can only hope.

Big News!

2008-04-28T08:01:00.004-04:00

Welll......................

Now, I can tell all of you because she has posted it to her site (until then, I kept thinking I had been dreaming!), but I have been invited to teach a colored pencil workshop with Ann Kullberg and Gemma Gylling on a Mexican Riviera cruise this fall!

When I returned from Bolivia, and had to wade through all 500 e-mails (350 of which were in my junk box), there was a message from Ann Kullberg asking me if I wanted to teach with her on a cruise..... Mmmmm..... Let me think about that..... for half a second! I am a blonde, but not stupid (most days). What an opportunity! Of course I said yes!

Ann has asked me to teach students how to use colored pencils to draw on three layers of Mylar (I use Duralar) to create the illusion of depth in a drawing. She had seen my use of this technique with my marble drawings, one of which, Blue Lucidity, was accepted in the CPSA Explore This!4 show in 2007.

Ann Kullberg, who is noted for her portrait drawing ability, will be teaching students how to paint smooth, glowing skin tones, beautiful expressive eyes, and realistic looking hair. Gemma Gylling, whose animal portraits are fantastic, will be teaching techniques on drawing believable, touchable fur and (this you need in any pet portrait) how to really get the expressiveness of the eyes in your pet portraits.

Needless to say, I am honored and thrilled to be included in the company of such wonderful artists. Yes, I'll be teaching, but I plan on doing a bit of learning from these gals while I'm there, too. No matter how long you've been an artist (or writer, doctor, teacher, dog groomer), I believe you can always learn something new at every opportunity. These ladies, I'm sure, have a lot of knowledge which I plan on soaking up while I'm soaking up sun and fun on this trip!

And for those of you who set goals for yourselves, I have to share, too, that my one "reach big" goal for 2008 was to be invited to teach at a workshop. Scary, huh?

Shadow Play - Some Color Theory

2008-04-23T23:54:00.005-04:00

Here is my latest contribution in the "Sketching from Life" project on Wetcanvas. The subject was cutlery or utensils, so I decided to use this juicer-thingy partly because I just thought it would be fun to draw but more so because it was white. I set this little tool right on top of a white table and went to work. I haven't done a white on white drawing for a long time; but after enjoying this one so much, I'll probably do a few more and sooner.

I thought I'd share what I do while drawing with colored pencils to create shadows and to keep them as a glowing, lively part of the picture: I rarely use black or grey -- almost never for shadows.

In most of my drawings, I shy away from using greys and black and if so, only in the last phases of the drawing. For my taste, I prefer achieve a believable shadow by layering various complimentary colors to tonally achieve a grey, but becuase it is mixed with the eye, it becomes much more vibrant and believable. When I first discovered this, mostly from studying the Impressionist painters, it was an "ah-ha" moment and I saw a breakthrough in much of my own work.

Here are a couple of examples of where I might have chosen to use grey, but instead used various colors and their complements to create a more lively grey.

For the "Aviators", I combined lavendars, blues, pale pinks and warm yellows to illustrate the folds in the musician's jacket. This was an outdoor setting and therefore, the change in value range in the shadows was rather subtle; thus the use of mostly pastel or lighter values for my pencil choices.

Here, too, in "Early Autumn Meditation", I chose similar hues, but with more chroma or deeper values. The model was indoors, with natural lighting, but deeper shadows were needed, therefore, I chose pencils with deeper values. Under the chair, I used Indigo Blue and Dark Green (Prismacolor) to intensify and darken that shadow.

All three of these drawings (either from life or the reference photos I shot) were done in natural light, which can make a huge difference when learning to render shadows without greys; you can just see the colors in the shadows much more easily. That is because natural light contains all of the colors in the spectrum.

But eventually, no matter what light is present, with practice and more knowledge of color and color theory, you can apply this technique to any drawing you do. You'll be able to reference an "ok" or even poor photo and create some amazing drawings. (The reference photos I shoot are usually not very good; I just know how to draw them better!)

I can honestly say that my color theory class in art school was one of the hardest classes I have ever taken, and one of the most worthwhile. If you are interested on further study, read, read, read and then look at a lot of drawings and paintings (especially Impressionists such as Monet, Degas, Mary Cassatt, and if you really want to have fun, Seurat) on the internet, in books, museums, abd galleries.

Here are a few places to start:

A thread on Wetcanvas discussing Munsell color theory.
Fun and interactive site which briefly explains and demonstrates color theory (Iowa State educational site.)
Color theory in a nutshell - great for printing and keeping!
Color theory - some facts and thoughts on Watercolor.com, simple and easy to read with some excellent examples.
Another Wetcanvas site, ArtSchool and loads of info on color.

A Cochabamba Concert

2008-04-23T21:44:00.006-04:00

"The Shepardess"

Art for Orphans -

50% of sale will go to benefit the Bolivian Orphanage Project

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

Overview: In March, I had a fabulous opportunity to journey to Cochabamba, Bolivia, to work on building an orphanage. While there, I made many new friends: the Americans whom I had travelled with, and many Bolivian people who, because of the great need to raise and shelter the epidemic numbers of abandoned and orphaned children, conceived and began the orphanage project.

In a very short time, I became very enamored of the people, the culture, the land, and the children and came home with the need to do more; hence, "Art for Orphans".

One evening, after working all day at the orphanage site, our new friends and hosts, Felix and Flora, invited us to a "concert" by some local musicians. Needless to say, we were all eager and excited to see and hear any local entertainment - and the real deal, no tourist stuff here.

We were escorted into an open courtyard in a small apartment/home/business place (some confusion on my part here, as it could have been all three). The black "ceiling" in the picture is actually open sky since the weather in Cochabamba is very temperate and lovely (think San Diego-ish).

Before the show, Felix explained the traditional clothing the performers were wearing and what each piece either represented or its purpose. (I believe the small bag is for Coca leaves.) But the colors, oh they are so rich and vibrant and are not adequately reproduced in these photos; but the Bolivian people, even in their daily clothes, do not shy away from color. Also, the men who are wearing fringe on their hats to cover their eyes are traditionally the single men. (I like to think it's so they can peek out at single women without being caught making eye contact - but that's just my idea.)

The performance was wonderful, strange and mesmerizing! They used a collection of flutes (the large items on the table that look like chair legs are actually flutes), pan flutes, drums and stringed instruments. The young woman also sang in a high, quavering and somewhat eerie voice. But it all worked so wonderfully together!

Our translator and leader, Connie, told us that the performers were very excited and nervous to be playing for Americans and that they had been rehearsing for months! That almost made me cry. To be so honored just because of where you were born and to have that fact alone carry such pretige was pretty overwhelming for me. Though I had never taken that fact for granted before, it was enlightening to experience it first hand. It made me realize what a huge responsibility that honor carries with it and that I should always do my best to use it well.

Here are some of the other audience members from that evening's performance. I'm not sure, but I believe they live in the building.

They, too, like the performers were very gracious and greeted us with kisses and then gave us the best seats in the house. But that's just typical Bolivian hospitality.

A Child's Observation

2008-04-17T09:08:00.009-04:00

Sketching from Life Prokect on http://www.wetcanvas.com/

Week 3 - Something from your refrigerator

45 minute colored pencil sketch

Recently, my young son was invited to a birthday party for one of his friends - who's father happens to work for Ohio State University and is one of the football coaches. The party was at the training center on campus.

Now, if you've ever been to a military base or Fort Knox, you have some idea of how hard it is to get into the OSU football training facility. Very few people ever get the chance. And around here (in Columbus), its equivalent to a shrine or holy place.

After two hours, we returned to the shrine and waited for it to open (we could not get in), and as he emerged he looked very, very tired. I, thinking he'd had an awful experience, was concerned; but no, he had just spent two hours training with the football team, hanging out in their locker room and rec room (read XBox 360 and any video game imaginable), trying on equipment and just hanging out with all the guys! My husband and I (both avid fans) turned around and shook him and said "Please, please tell us more!"

Because we also pressed upon him that he was indeed one of the few chosen to ever get inside, he began to share his experiences. (We were kneeling at his feet by then.) Then he told us that he got to go into Coach Tressel's office. (Gasp, the inner sanctum!) We both whispered "What was it like?"

He said it looked like an office for a god.

We nodded, comforted and satisfied.

Change is Good Occasionally

2008-04-16T21:03:00.005-04:00

"Black & White"

ACEO Original Graphite Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

Today's drawing might seem like a bit of a departure, but it's definitely not a new medium for me; graphite was my first love and medium of choice.

I began to move away from using graphite as a fine art medium after art school, I suppose because it wasn't exciting or sexy enough. Color seemed to be very important at the time. It still is, don't get me wrong, but lately whenever I see a well-rendered charcoal or graphite drawing, it just seems to stop me in my tracks.

Here are two samples of what I'm taling about:

Marsha Robinett and her blog The Extraordinary Pencil: http://theextraordinarypencil.blogspot.com/ Marsha's banner reads "Where art allows you to see the color of life through your mind's eye." I look at a LOT of art on the internet and I see loads of really great stuff, but Marsha's drawings stop me and make me lean in every time.

The other day I ran across an artist I never had studies before, Frederick, Lord Leighton (1830 - 1896) http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/lordleightonsdrawings/general/default.asp. He was a painter, of course, but his drawings and studies for his paintings, again, made me stop and look closer.

So, here's what I've decided to do:

- Each week I'll post a graphite drawing or ACEO. (Gotta tell you, I am really getting a lot out of doing these frequent drawings and posts for this blog - it's pushing me to keep learning, growing and trying new things!)

- Each week I'll post a link or other info on some artists who do graphite or charcoal drawings (of course, one's I like!)

I'm really looking forward to digging into this. Who knows, this might lead to blogging about studying some masters of drawing (ala, Greywaren). Couldn't hurt, right?

If you know of any past or present artists who are worthy of us all looking at their work, please let me know.

Art for Orphans - "Young Mother"

2008-04-14T20:59:00.004-04:00

"Young Mother"

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

50% of the purchase price will be donated to

the K'illallaray Orphanage

Here is a video of some of the children who visited us on a daily basis while we were working on the orphanage. Since we had brought lots of coloring books and crayons with us, we decided to give our new friends a few. They gladly used them but when it came time for us to leave, they thought they had to give everything back! I had to (in my VERY bad Spanish) let them know that I was too old to keep them, and that they were for children only. That convinced them. (No surpise here.) They were happy and so were we.

The next day, being a school day, I saw Gonzolo (the little guy in the yellow shirt) who told me that one of the older boys had taken his book. He looked so sad; and so I promised he'd get a new one. The next day he got the best coloring book/sticker book we had: Diego! His whole face lit up; he was very, very happy and this time, did not refuse our gift.

Unbelievably that adorable little guy is eight years old.

We now have a blog with much more information about the K'illallaray orphanage. There is also an easy donation button. Please check it out: http://boliviaorphanage.blogspot.com/ Then forward it on.

Drawing on Black

2008-04-11T21:22:00.026-04:00

"Salt Cellar"

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

To purchase, please send me a message.

The last two ACEO drawings I have posted were both done on black paper which can be tricky to use as a colored pencil support. So, I thought I'd share with you a few things I've learned to create a more successful drawing:

Test your color choices first before you begin your drawing. You will find that many of the colors you normally use on a white or light support can change characteristics on black. Some take on a cooler cast; some can even appear slightly tinged with green; some blues can almost pop off the page and others disappear.

Usually when I work on black, I will do a grisaille underpainting with a very light color (white, grey, cream, beige, etc) to start the drawing, then will add darker hues later. As you can see in my example, several of the colors (especially red!) will almost disappear into the black paper without the lighter color underneath.

Practice a bit, try an easy subject to start with and be willing to learn how your pencils work on a dark or black support. You'll find that you can create some very interesting and dynamic drawings on black.

Remember, too, that whenever you're using a new support, medium, or technique, be willing to jump in and try. Don't fear the disasters; they happen to everyone - you just may not see them!

Busy as a Boy

2008-04-09T23:11:00.007-04:00

"Pearls on Black"

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

Today was a wonderful, busy day. There can be great pleasure that comes from having grandchildren and today I had a bunch of it. Both of my grandsons (3 1/2 and almost 2) were here with me today since their parents had been left in the lurch without a sitter.

Even though my youngest is only 10, it's so easy to forget how BUSY toddlers can be. Here's what we accomplished today:

Playing with the dogs, throwing lots of things for them to fetch.
Puzzles
Reading
Building with Legos
Snacks
Baking brownies
Coloring
Fixing, eating and CLEANING UP from lunch
Playing with about a million matchbox cars (I've been through two boys already)
Eating ICE CREAM (They ALWAYS get ice cream when they come to my house.)
More building
Diapers (THIS I do not miss)
Outdoor play: wagons, balls, roller skates, scooters, dogs, and a little water and mud.

THAT was just until 1:00 p.m. Exhausting and wonderful. I want to be the warm, fuzzy in their lives - no matter what. We worked on that today, I think.

One of the other highlights of my day, though, was when I just had to call my son-in-law (who thinks I'm a bit of a left-wing-hippie-kinda-person) to tell him that his two sons were dancing to Abba's "Dancing Queen" (it was on the radio, I DO not own it). He threatened to leave work, pick them up and to never let me see them again. Oh, that was rich.

Sketching from Life

2008-04-08T18:31:00.005-04:00

Weekly Sketches from Life

page from my sketchbook

45 minute sketch

A while ago, I made a confession that I had not been (gasp!) keeping a sketchbook regularly. I made that confession public, in part, to motivate me to be the person I want to be and begin keeping one. I bought one - ok several. (Those suckers are as addictive to shop for as shoes!) I DID take one to Bolivia and did do some fun sketches there; but I haven't been so great about using it daily.

So, while blog-reading the other day , I find out that there is a new monthly thread on Wetcanvas where everyone participating will be doing WEEKLY (less pressure for me) sketches in colored pencil! Voila! They even give me ideas! Love that.

(If you are an artist, crafter, hobbyist or are interested in any of those things, check out www.Wetcanvas.com. Great site by artists, for artists.)

For the month of April, all of the SUGGESTED topics are "In the Kitchen" and this week's is "something from your pantry". Yes, I ate it afterwards but I still feel good about myself because I sketched it first.

K'illallaray

2008-04-08T00:23:00.014-04:00

"The Laundress"

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

The ACEO drawing today is, as promised, a reference, tribute and fund-raiser for the orphanage to be named K'illallaray in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Fifty percent of the selling price of this ACEO will be donated directly to the project.

Today, I thought I'd share a few of my photos from the trip (I took over 1700!).

K'illallaray in progess. A view, which, here in the U.S., which would be worth millions.

You can see the "laundress" in one of these photos. The water is a direct run-off from the mountains in the distance.
We did work pretty hard helping to clear an area for a small playground behind the building, moving an abundance of rocks from there to inside the building to be used as a sub-floor. We moved ton of these rocks! But, it was so cool to use what was right there as part of the building; can't imagine doing this for a new-build here.
Some of the local girls hang out with us, laughing at our attempts to speak to them. Connie, our leader, is bi-lingual, but the rest of us have limited abilities with Spanish. The girls think we are hilarious and just a touch stupid!

Lunch is brought to us at the work-site while we wash up in buckets of water brought up from the stream. Flora, one of the founders of the orphanage project and a fair trade advocate in Cochabamba, had prepared chorizo which she made into sandwiches for us while we watched, adding peppers, onions and avacado. She made sure the local kids had their share, too.

We take our few tools to one of the local houses to store for the night. And, yes, the sky really is that blue.

Back from Bolivia

2008-04-01T20:02:00.008-04:00

"After Her Bath"

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

(50% of sale goes to Bolivian orphanage fund)

I've been back from Bolivia for about a week now. But I'm still sorting though everything I experienced and it's been hard. Lot's to digest and to figure out. I know there's more I have to do.

From the start, I knew this trip would not be a vacation, but a working journey. It was that, physical labor including pickaxes and shovels and altitude. But, being fairly strong, I did fine; I was prepared for that. I was prepared to see some things that would be difficult to see, and I did. I knew I would see and meet needy children, and I did.

That being said, I was not prepared for the emotional side of this kind of work. It's very hard to describe and to share, too. There were moments when I felt sheer joy and others when I felt extremely sad; and sometimes both emotional extremes at once.

Such was the case when we visited an already established local orphanage in Cochabamba close to where we stayed. We walked over hoping to meet the director and give some gifts to the kids. We ended up spending several hours playing, bathing and, most of all, touching the children. They so wanted to be held and touched. It was hard to leave. Joy and sorrow.

The child in today's ACEO drawing is a little girl of about 2 from that orphanage. She was fresh from her bath and just beautiful.

I know that I am fortunate in so many ways. For those to whom much is given, much is expected. I buy into this 100%. Therefore, I will be donating 50% of any work inspired by or depicting the people or places I saw in Bolivia to raising more funds to finish Phase I of the orphanage we worked on. I will be posting a "Bolivian" piece at least once a week.

A piece of my heart stayed behind in Bolivia. I'm going back as often as I can.

Taking a Walk-About

2008-03-11T22:46:00.005-04:00

"Blowing Bubbles"

colored pencil on mat board

12 x 15"

This will be my last post until after Easter, March 24, as I will be flying down to Bolivia tomorrow for a bit of charity work. This has been in the works since December, at least for me, and I am thrilled to have this chance to maybe make a wee contribution somewhere in the world outside of my own comfort zone and country.

When my son left for boot camp after Thanksgiving, I had a strong feeling that I needed to DO something...something worthwhile. Not being sure what, I began to look around for some indication of what it was. But the feeling was very strong.

Of course, opportunity always knocks when you are open to it.

In early December, my friend, who runs Global Gallery in the Short North Arts District in Columbus (it's actually next to the gallery where I belong), asked me if I was interested in joining her group to help build an orphanage in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The hair stood up on the back of my neck and without asking her another question, I said "Why, yes, yes I would." Apparently, the number of orphans in Bolivia is steadily increasing and the current government funded facilities are extremely overloaded. Global Gallery, while doing amazing work as a fair market shop for 3rd world artisans and manufacturers, has also been raising money and making sizable donations to build this private orphanage. Of course, I wanted to help.

After finally talking to my friend, I had an idea to load up a suitcase and bring some basic art supplies to the kids at the orphanage (they are already housing a few) and for the local village kids. What fun now! My friend informed me that most of the kids have very, very little and a box of crayons would be such a gift. As an artist who grew up with crayons in my fists, and still enjoys coloring, it's hard to imagine a child without those simple basic things!

But there's more: my little guy gabbed onto this and took it upon himself to write a speech about this which he read in front of the entire school! (He's in fourth grade. Can you hear the pride in my voice?) They collected a box of kid-friendly art supplies and raised $700 to boot! (His teacher is phenomenal and really ran with this!) The kids made and sold chocolate suckers for Valentine's Day.) My guess is that the kids at his school had a hard time imagining what a life devoid of crayons must be like.

This will not be a pleasure trip - no sirree! Our packing list is short and limited. We have been told that we should expect to be dirty a lot. Hair and makeup are not in the equation. (But, doesn't that sound like a relief?!)

However, I plan to be open to whatever this experience brings; I have a sense that I'm in for some directional changes (or corrections) in my life. And that's a very good thing. I am going where I'm needed right now; I believe that completely. My husband is a great dad and will take good care of the fort and the residents while I'm gone - the two- and four-legged alike.

Of course, as soon as I'm back and rested for a day or two, expect to see and read a lot about this trip. I'm taking a small sketch book, a camera with several memory cards and a diary, so of course, I'm hoping some new art emerges as well.

If you'd like to help, you can donate directly to Global Gallery, there's a link on their website.

Adios! (I expect that my two years of high school Spanish will just leap back into my brain upon landing in Bolivia, too! Wish me luck on that, I may be drawing a lot just to communicate.)

Layers of Fun

2008-03-10T21:57:00.006-04:00

“Blue Lucidity”
Colored pencil drawing on 3 layers of Duralar drafting film
10 ½ x 8”

(Backed by Stonehenge white vellum)

I am currently a member of a Studios on High Gallery in the Short North Arts District in Columbus, Ohio, where we work weekly and demonstrate our art. During one such demonstration, while working on velum, both the front and back, a couple came into the gallery and stood watching for a bit, as our customers do. They then suggested, as they were both architects and use the product, that I try Duralar film. Of course, I ran out the next day and bought some (it is usually carried in most art stores in their drafting supply section.)

So then, what to try? While shopping at a flea market, I ran across a woman selling marbles which were perfect for a new project on film. Since I knew I wanted to try to draw something transparent, I bought the entire box and now have a fabulous-o collection (as my son tells me).

Marbles are such simple objects and yet the way the light plays through them and casts such interesting shadows and reflections, I knew I wanted to try to capture that by drawing on the drafting film. But after trying to draw on the front and back only of the film, I wasn’t getting what I had hoped; the film is colored pencil friendly, but only allows a couple of layers at most. Because I usually draw with many, many layers, I then decided to try layering the FILM instead.

On sheet 1 (the top sheet), I applied my first two to three layers using lighter shades of yellows, greens, lavenders and blues. Then I flipped the sheet over and applied some darker blues, purples and greens (indigo blue, dark green, peacock green, black grape and imperial violet). This alone could have been my finished drawing, but I wanted the viewer to feel as if they were looking at a three-dimensional object; to really “see” into the marbles.
On sheet 2 (the second layer), I wanted to highlight my focal marble by using orange/red, which complemented the blue/green of the marble and created the depth I wanted. For the marble just to its left, I decided to use more blues to create its depth and to push it back behind the focal marble a bit. I used various shades of blue, gray and orange in the others to accent their swirls and reflections. Again, the color was also applied to the back of sheet 2.
On sheet 3 (the bottom layer), I decided to created the background. I layered on both front and back shades of orange and blue to create a luminous and interesting grey and also to complement the marbles and pull the composition together.
Knowing that I would be backing all three layers with Stonehenge white paper, I wanted the white highlights to really stand out and the background to really recede. So my final application was to apply white to the marble highlights on the front of sheet 1.

All three complete layers:

Keep in mind that the colors of each layer become a bit muted by the opacity of the film; it’s as if you have added a layer of white.

Assembling the pieces:

Here, I am holding the assembled layers in front of my studio window. (It's my "poor gal's light-box", but I do have an awesome view!) This step helped me to see clearly my pencil strokes and a true view of my assembled layers.

The process was not as labor intensive as many people may think. The drafting film pushes you to be selective in your choice of layers to apply, since it only allows a few. It was such a joy to be able to achieve my goal with this extremely colored pencil friendly support. I think the possibilities are many and I plan to keep “playing” with it!

"Green Glass"

colored pencil on 3 layers of Duralar Mylar film

8 x 10.5"

Is This Normal?

2008-03-05T22:24:00.024-05:00

"The Beret"

graphite on bristol vellum

5.5 x 7"

Last week, my son graduated from his Army basic training in South Carolina. The Army was kind enough to let us have him for two days, then they took him back. But while I had him near, I hugged him - A LOT.

Before he left for his next duty station, he changed into "civies" in our hotel room where he inadvertently left one of his berets behind. (I called before he got too far down the road; but not to worry he has plenty.) So, joy, I get to keep a little piece of him around for a while.

Now, I need to tell you what I did next: I smelled his beret. I didn't plan it; I just did it. And yes, it smelled like him. It was just a way of conjuring him up again.

My husband and younger son told me that what I had just done was weird. At first, I did not think so; but on further thinking about it, maybe it was. I've put the question to one of my sisters and she assured me that I am normal and that she might have done the same thing. But then I thought, well maybe it's just a weird family thing.

But here's what I really think (and maybe some of you could put me straight here): mom's smell their children's heads all the time. It's one of the first things we do after they're born and, when they're grown men, you can still kiss the tops of their heads without them felling too smothered. Moms always know their own child's "head-smell". I think I could line up hats from all of my kids and pick out which belonged to each kid. Maybe it's a throw back to our more primitive selves where we probably had to pick our cubs out of the pack by their smell.

Ah well, I have his beret here next to me even though he's far away. And, weird or not, as any mother missing her cub, I will continue give his beret a little sniff once in a while.

On the Road

2008-02-29T17:43:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to share that I am currently in Columbia, South Carolina, having just spent a couple of days with my son as he graduated from Army basic training.

Needless to say, it was a joy to see him, and I am very, very proud. I'll have a picture or two for you when I get home, but, alas, am working on a laptop (not mine!) and don't have all the bells, whistles and photo editing program I'm used to for a decent post.

I'll have some new drawings for you to see, too, early next week as I share some son-type reports (forgive me here as I just told him goodbye -- again -- and I'll never get used to that which can cause me to be a little weepy and emotional).

Oh, well, I'll soldier on and say what they teach all good Army moms to say: "Hoo-rah"!

May I Introduce To You....

2008-02-21T10:10:00.008-05:00

"Fan of Chocolate"

ACEO Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

Today I am adding to my blog three new links to three very good pencil artists:

"Color On" by Cindy Haase - Wonderful drawings and, speaking to my passion right now, experiments within the medium! Yum! Be sure to check out her works with Neocolor underpaintings, works with Inktense (of which I have owned a set for a long time and never quite knew what to do with them), and, my personal favs, her circular stroke drawings. Just great stuff!

"Drawing a Fine Line" by Paula Pertile - A successful children's' book illustrator who also makes these incredible little drawings available to you and me on e-bay. Her latest subject matter is so simple and elegant and fun: objects tangled up in yarn. Yet, most of them are done in black, brown or sepia. Paula also takes the time to write about her comparisons of various papers and pencils and how they react with each other. Brilliant.

"The Extraordinary Pencil" by Marsha Robinett - Marsha's blog and website (one to check for a how-to on setting up one's website!) is full of art information, tutorials, materials, blogging how-to's and tons more. Her works are all in black and white using carbon, charcoal and graphite; take a moment to look at her Still Life drawings. Makes me want to do more black and white work.

"The Fork and Spoon Club"

carbon on paper 6 x 9"

by Marsha Robinette

Other artist/friends ask me why I take the time to blog and read other blogs. I must look at them like they are crazy. To me, having access to these wonderful artists and all they can and do share with you is like being a kid in a candy store. I have to limit my time there. Thanks to all who blog and share!

Chocolate Labs and Chocolate

2008-02-20T12:34:00.006-05:00

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

'Heart of Gold"

2.5 x 3.5"

Contact me if you are interested in this little piece!

Valentine's Day has come and gone. Here's what happened:

My husband gave me a small box of chocolates.

Buddy ate them.

My youngest son's birthday was last Friday. We gave him a large chocolate heart for his birthday.

Buddy ate it.

Same son also received several pieces of candy with his Valentine cards at the school party, many of them were chocolate.

Buddy ate them.

Here's how Buddy looks after he gets caught. (Ignore the look in his eyes. He is a good actor and can express loads of remorse; however, he doesn't really mean it. He would, given the chance, do it again.)

When Good Dogs Go Bad

NOTE: Before you leave comments about the fact the chocolate is incredibly bad for dogs, rest assured that I am truly aware of this. I have explained this time and again to Buddy; he has chosen to ignore me. I know, too, that we have been enabling this little addict all along and have recently had an intervention with him. We will not be bringing his drug of choice into the house any longer; instead we will eat our chocolate elsewhere. We love Buddy so much and will do everything in our power to help him. Buddy is going to rehab soon.

Happy Anniversary!

2008-02-18T23:34:00.012-05:00

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

"Super K"

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

I have been SO busy working lately that I failed to notice that I had missed my one-year anniversary of blogging! My first post was Feb 6, 2007; you can reflect back on it here.

It is not yet complete, but I am working on my goals for 2008 and I do have some good ones this year. I'll share a small one with you now which I think is appropriate for my anniverary post. But first I have a confession to make:

I do not keep sketch books.

There, I've said it. Oh, sure, I've bought many - all shapes, covers style, and sizes. Started several. Just never seem to keep one going. Oh, the shame of it all!

Now, to fix it. (Dr. Phil says you cannot fix what you don't acknowledge...)

Why now, you ask? Well, because I finally think I can do it this time and because I discovered a rather simple, focused way to start.

As many of you, I read other artists blogs almost daily and for so many reasons, but most of all to feel connected to like-minded individuals and to find inspiration in their words and drawings (i.e., they kick butt in the motivation deprtment). One of my favorite new blogs is "Making a Mark", by Katherine Tyrrell. This week she had a wonderful post which included a reference to another blog "Laurelines" (this is how wonderful this blog thing is and how the addiction starts) who keeps a sketchbook on one theme at a time! Voila! Ureka! Now I have somewhere to start. I can DO that. It had always seemed like such a daunting thing before - you know, if you feel like you should, you don't want to? Well now I want to.

So here's my plan: I will start with interiors. That's it, just rooms. (It's still too cold to go outside - that's the next book anyway). But, I'm excited to do this because one of my favorite art professors, Neil Riley, paints some amazing interior scenes. Woo, boy! I think I set my sights really high with that comparison, but you get the idea. We've all gotta start somewhere, so why not aim high?

Ok, here's my other goal (and this one's really scary): I will show you some of my sketches. You won't see all of them, after all, I'll need some privacy to achieve my new goal, but I WILL share from time to time. I promise. (Yikes, what have I done?!)

Working on My Style

2008-02-06T22:08:00.000-05:00

One of my goals for 2008 is to work on a direction and a cohesiveness to my work - in essence, my style. As I have only been a working artist for a few years, I am still trying to figure a LOT of this art stuff out as I go along. Thanks to this amazing tool called the internet, I have instant access to other gifted artists who are generously sharing their knowledge with fledglings like me.

I am always amazed that each year when I make a commitment to my goals (i.e., write them down and revisit often), stuff starts to happen; opportunities, information and key people appear before me! Since I read Maggie Stiefvater's blog regularly, it was no suprise then that Maggie is currently writing about, you guessed it, Style: Maggie on Style Part I and Maggie on Style Part II.

Another wonderful artist/blogger/teacher, Katherine Tyrrell, who I also read regularly on Making a Mark, (if you are a colored pencil artist or generally like to draw, go directly to her blog!) recently posted a comment stating that she bagan to identify her style when she began to organize her work for posting purposes.

Ahhh, now I had somewhere to start. So I decided to dig out some really distinct styles of work, all using colored pencil, from the past 3 to 4 years. As you can see, I have been all over the place! But, when I made the decision to "BE an ARTIST" I also decided to not play it safe and instead, to experiment and take some risks. My good friend and artist, Linda Wesner, took a look at some of my work and said "Good for you; you're playing in your sandbox!"

I am very, very comfortable rendering fairly strong realistic work, which I am not unhappy with. And yet....

Obviously, my work can be very, very different, so here's my plan:

To look again, this time very closely, at my work and to analyze it based on: (a) what has sold; (b) what pleases me as a finished piece; and (c) which ones I enjoyed creating.

To try to find some common denominators within all of my work.

To take those commonalities and bring them together in some more experiemental pieces.

And then, start the process all over again and, eventually, begin to see my distinct style emerge!

I don't know if this will work for me; I will keep you posted. My thinking may be contrary to what many people think, but I do see my art as work, work I love, but work nonetheless. And like any successful work, it takes planning, thought and constantly honing your craft.

In the meantime, I'll be in my sandbox, and happily so.

Landscapes:

Portraits:

Figurative drawings:

Florals:

Fat Tuesday

2008-02-05T13:25:00.001-05:00

"Siesta"

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

Grisaille under-drawing for "Siesta"

As a nation, we have not shown our best side to most of the world lately; but the news I heard today really "took the cake", "was a Whopper", and almost made me "bust a gut" (bad puns; you'll see why soon). I think, no matter your political slant, most people would agree on the fact that the new proposed law in Mississippi to make it illegal for restaurants to feed obese people is silly and, doggone it, just plain embarrassing.

To Everyone Else on this Planet: Most American's with half a brain want to apologize for a few of our cousins who legislate (rule?) Mississippi. They just aren't the sharpest knives in our country's drawers.

BUT, if this idea should EVER become law, here's what to expect:

Every time you enter a restaurant, you will trip over stacks of shoes, purses, coats and other garmets shed as people weigh themselves on the scale by the front door.

There will be mandatory weigh scales on American highways - not just for trucks anymore. Your vehicle will be tagged as to whether you can enter a drive-thru without breaking the law. Should you break this rule, you will be arrrested and sent to a fat-farm. Your vehicle will be sold to help pay for the "obese" law.

Individual restaurant seating (i.e., in face-front rows) to prevent skinny people from passing food to their fat loved ones and friends. (Remember your assigned seats in homeroom?) Monitors will move between the rows with rulers to whack the hands of anyone caught cheating.

No carry out or delivery ever again. You'll have to be seen, inspected and watched as you eat.

Little brown youth uniforms will be worn by all fast food employees given the task of policing this law. They will have whistles. (Did you see "The Sound of Music"?)

Just imagine the the fat politician, the chain smoking restaurant manager, or the teenage kid behind the counter, who can't make change, getting to decide who's fit to feed or not?! Please! Just what we all need, another reason to pass judgement on another human being.

There is currently a "Letter to America", falsely attributed to John Cleese (but I still like to imagine hearing him read this anyway because I have loved him since discovering Monty Python as a kid) that since Americans have been acting really crazy lately, we have lost our right to our independence.

Based on today's news, as a nation maybe we DO need an intervention and a good talking to. God Save the Queen!

New Family Member

2008-02-04T17:55:00.001-05:00

"Blonde & Beautiful"

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

This is a drawing of our newest family member, Mandy, a 5-year-old (or close to it) yellow labrador retriever who we "found" at the pound, the same place we "found" Buddy, our chocolate lab. She is a gem: loving, kind, gentle, plays well with other (i.e., Buddy), obeys commands and is in all ways a complete lady. Mandy had been at the shelter since August, where she was taken after being snagged as a runaway. I can't help but feel she was just waiting for us to find her.

My husband, who had told me for years that one dog was enough, just recently decided the two was okay. What changed his mind? Well, he'd read an article in the paper about how overcrowded animal shelters have become due to the economy and particularly the fact that people are losing their homes due to eviction and foreclosure. The shelter calls them "Foreclosure Dogs".

My dogs (yeah, two!) are just that, my dogs, they are not my kids. They are nonetheless, loved and well cared for. I have a huge soft spot for lost or rejected dogs and always let people know that my big beautiful, well-bahaved pets are from the shelter. There are some wonderful companions there just waiting for someone to find them. Just walk through an animal shelter once and see if you don't fall in love with at least one of them; or many, many more.

Each time I have been there, I cry, then realize that it probably wouldn't be a good idea to back my small VW Bug up to the back door and fill it with as many dogs as it would hold....

But these two love riding in my Bug and fit very, very well.

Buddy & Mandy

My Soldier

2008-01-28T20:37:00.000-05:00

9 x 12" Oil painting on canvas

"Ian Swimming"

This painting was done a few years ago after I ran across a picture I had taken of Ian (my oldest son) when he was about 4. I pulled the painting out of storage and have it sitting in my studio where I can look at it a lot - not because I think I'm such an incredible painter (I'm fair to pretty okay) - but because I miss him and want to remember when he belonged to me and when I saw him every day.

He called me from boot camp on Sunday afternoon; it had been three weeks since I had talked to him. He sounded older, stronger, more confident and, dare I admit, happy. When I asked him if he was surviving boot camp and all that it requires, he replied that it was "pretty easy"(!) and that he really likes it(!)

This is a kid who loves a challenge and was a wrestler for many, many years. Maybe that sport got him ready for the physical part of the training; but what could ever get him ready for the mental part of it? I just don't know.

As reluctant and apprehensive as I was (and am!) about Ian enlisting, it is far better to know that he his happy with his decision. Maybe some people are born to be warriors; Ian may be one of them.

Our family will be travelling to Columbia, SC, to see him graduate from training at the end of February. I expect to find that my son will have changed a great deal, or so I have been told by people who know. And even though he doesn't belong to me anymore and I don't get to see him every day, I have the pride in knowing that I raised one fine young man.

Finishing the Dandelion

2008-01-20T20:19:00.000-05:00

Finally beginning to feel like my self again...thank goodness. I am not a patient patient! Thanks to all of you who have sent me notes and get well wishes. Very much appreciated.

While finishining the recent dandelion drawing, I thought I might show you how I have been finishing my drawings on pastel board. (Many people are experimenting with this support right now and there are no right ways to do it; this is just what I'm trying right now.)

The drawing below is the final drawing stage before burnishing (blending). As you can see, even though I have applied many, many layers of Prismacolor colored pencil to the board, the grain shows through. While you have the option to call your drawing "done" here and it well could be, I have decided to push it and play a little more. What the heck, right?

Drawing before burnishing.

To burnish colored pencil on pastel board, you have several options, as you do on paper, but I choose to drybrush using cheap hog bristle brushes which I have trimmed down to about 1/4 inch. I also clean and dry the brushes frequently with solvent when the color builds up in the brushes. It's very helpful to me to use a drafting brush and clean off the particles kicked up by the burnishing as I go.

And here is the finished piece. Because I worked until the sun went down and wasn't able to get the photo quality I wanted, I still hope you can see the change in color saturation and intensity after burnishing.

Don't be afraid to try new, experimental techniques with your colored pencil drawings. If you are harboring that fear of the unknown, get over it! Sometimes when I want to work "outside the box", I'll do what I call a "small draw"; you won't have as much time, effort, or money invested but you can still play. The Ampersand pastel board can be purchased as small as 5 x 7" and relatively inexpensively. So, go on and play a little!

Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go. - (T. S. Eliot)

Jackass X-Treme Game Contestant

2008-01-14T21:53:00.000-05:00

New Work in Progress

8 x 10" colored pencil on Ampersand pastel board

Last week was supposed to be a great jumping off point for me to begin working on my new goals for 2008. I was ready for my son to go back to school and to begin to regain some ground which is always lost professionally during the holidays. Well, twas not to be.

Instead, I participated in my own form of X-treme gaming: pot diving. What?!, you say. Well, I tripped and fell face-first into a clay flowerpot. Big flowerpot; broke it to bits, too. We're still not sure how this happened as I do not remember much and the doctor says I have a very nice thing called accident amnesia. He says, trust him, it's a really, really good thing. I do.

After being knocked unconscious and my husband calling the ambulance (the fire truck came, too, lucky me), I was whisked off to the hospital because not only was I bleeding a lot, but both arms were numb. Many tests and five stitches later, I was cleared to go home.

Nice, huh?

While healing up nicely from my facial wounds, my neck, shoulders, arms and hands aren't faring so well - they all work fine, just hurt like hell. (I have a very high tolerance for pain having delivered three babies without anesthesia and running a marathon, so you know I mean it when I say it really, really hurts.) The doctor thinks it may be nerve damage - gad - and therefore could take some time to heal.

Here I must add that I am extremely happy and lucky that I was not hurt more severely. Doc also says it could have been SO much worse. I am counting my blessings.

Though I am very, very grateful that I live in a time of wonder drugs and extraordinary pain medicine, I can totally understand now why drug addicts do not do a lot. (I never did drugs in high school or college like some other people I knew back then; but now I have first hand knowledge of what all the fuss was about, along with an understanding of why drug addicts aren't highly functioning members of society.) I am able to get a little work done during the phase where the drugs just begin to kick in and dull the pain, but right before they make me totally blotto. So bear with me, I may be a little behind for a while, but I'll try to post something here for you to see as often as I can until I'm 100 percent.

I have had to laugh at the whole ordeal because it is truly a funny and absurd way to hurt oneself. I have convinced my young son that I am a ninja warrior now because only ninjas can break clay pots with their faces (don't think he really believes me). My older kids have tried to get me to watch some godawful show called "Jackass" which I could never watch all the way through and hated immediately, but I now feel totally qualified to participate. I have also compiled a list of X-treme game ideas for those of us who don't care about our limbs, digits, backs or faces:

Pot diving (explained above)
Tree sliding: competitors race to climb a very tall tree and then slide down all while wearing a bathing suit.
Horseshoe catching: first made popular as a drinking game at family reunions in the south.
Blindfolded Woodworking: competitors finishing this event with all their digits, wins.
Uphill mowing: same as above.
Over the handle bar dismount: For bicycle enthusiasts who are new to hand braking.
SSSS: Slippery Stair Sock Slide. (Most people have participated in this event without ever entering a competition.)
Swinging from the rain gutter gymnastic event (no safety net or reachable ladder nearby): Competitor who can hold on the longest, wins.
Screw-driver-in-the-socket endurance event: Competitor who can let go first, wins.
Broketoe Steeplechase: Night run through a dark house. Competitors who can complete the course without swearing out loud wins.

I think I'll just sit out next year's competition.

My First Article - Ever!

2008-01-09T21:38:00.000-05:00

"Blue Lucidity"

10.5 x 8"

colored pencil on three layers of Mylar

"Green Glass"

10.5 x 8"

colored pencil on three layers of Mylar

At the beginning of every year I make a list. I hate New Year's resolutions; they just seem like more "rules" for me to follow and I hate those. No, it's a list of personal and professional goals for the upcoming year. Somehow, if I write them down, they begin to become a little more real, a little more attainable. Maybe I just see them as more than dreams because I've committed them to paper and so made them separate from my imagination.

One of my goals for last year was to be in a magazine. Just that; no specifics. Guess what? It happened. This month I have an article in "From My Perspective", an e-zine, where I give step by step instructions on how I drew "Green Glass".

Ann Kullberg, a very talented colored pencil artist, book author and magazine publisher contacted me about showing "Blue Lucidity" in her magazine. But when I told her that it was on three separate layers of Dura-Lar Mylar, she asked if I would do the step-by-step article. How scared was I?! But, what the heck, you have to jump and give any great opportunity a try.

I have to thank Ann for the wonderful platform for me to jump from and her encouragement about my artwork and my writing (the last thing most artists want to do!) . Thanks so much, Ann!

Her magazine and web-site also offer video instruction classes, drawing how-to kits, the e-zine subscription (get it now so you can see my article!), and HUGE discounts on Prismacolor pencil sets.

I am always amazed at how many of my goals I actually achieve at the end of each year. Currently, I am pre-thinking (that's really daydreaming) my list for 2008. When I really get ready to write it all down, I go to a quiet coffee shop, order my huge Mocha coffee, and commit these dreams to paper. Then the magic starts.

Returning to Work - Finally!

2007-12-28T14:01:00.000-05:00

Glowing Cathedral

8 x 10" colored pencil on Ampersand pastel board

Glowing Cathedral - WIP progession

Change the World a Little Today

2007-12-17T21:51:00.000-05:00

Next Three Stages of a Work In Progess

"Glowing Cathedral"

8 x 10" colored pencil on Ampersand Pastelboard

Today, Bloggers have united to talk about good deeds we have done and promoted on our blogs, so I will, once again, share my Kiva experiences with you.

Check out their website for more info here. Feel free to check the background information, the press coverage and validity as well. I think you'll be impressed.

"If you give a man a fish, he eats for the day. If you teach a man to fish, he can feed himself and his family." This is a philosophy I buy wholeheartedly and have always wondered how most of us could "teach a man to fish". Here's the opportunity to do just that.

The micro loan you make (I have done as little as $25) could change one person's life forever; many of these third-world entrepreneurs are asking for less than $1000. They live a life I can only imagine. But, I so respect and admire resourcefulness and feel it should be championed. You can check out my lender page here; of this I am proud.

(If you really want to feel like Santa this year, a Kiva gift certificate makes a wonderful gift for that person who literally "has everything".)

I also want to share that I have just applied for my passport as I will be going to Bolivia in March to work directly with some local artisans and merchants and to physically help to build an orphanage. My job, before I go, is to collect as many new and gently used art and school supplies as I can before I go; I hope to ship a ton! (Artists, you know you have a lot of "good intention" art goodies laying around that will never be used - by you! Let me know if you decide to part with them.) As an artist and an overly blessed American, I think its the least I could do. I'll keep you posted on this news, you can bet!

New WIP - Cathedral

2007-12-10T22:42:00.000-05:00

8 x 10"

colored pencil on Ampersand pastelboard

of the Columbus Greek Orthodox Cathedral

The above piece I have not as yet named but it is a landmark on the south side of the Short North Arts District, The Greek Orthodox Cathedral. It is a beautiful building both inside and out; the congregation has been so generous in sharing their wonderful church with us, its neighbors, for various community events, fundraisers and their own Greek Festival.

The bricks used to construct this church are a very light and warm tan during the day, but when lit at night, they glow. Whoever designed the lighting was a genious.

I really like the way the orange plays off the blues and purples in this piece. And, once again, I have fallen in love with this pastelboard; I may never go back to paper! (Oh, yes, I will....)

Your Shopping Woes Solved!

2007-12-05T23:37:00.000-05:00

Hoo boy, I've spent hours today setting up my new store through Cafepress.com; I think it's looking good if I do say so myself. Since most of you are currently banging your heads against desks, walls and steering wheels trying to figure out what fabulous holiday gifts to buy for your friends and loved ones, I suggest you start at MY STORE!

And just to nudge you further, here's a really, really cute picture of my sister (check her out in "Reverie" below) and me a long, long time ago (when apparently people let their children run around in their underwear). I am the one on the right who is proudly wearing my roller skates and carrying my doctor bag (which had candy in it, if I recall.) So, now that you know I was once incredibly adorable, you might feel all warm and fuzzy toward me and check out my store!

My children think the whole world was in black and white when I was little. Wonder why?

"Reverie"

drawing of my younger sister

An Open Spot on My Calendar

2007-12-04T01:27:00.000-05:00

"Calibogue Sound Sunset"

Colored Pencil on Ampersand Pastel Board

8 x 10"

Because it is now getting dark just about the time I am waking up and because it is flipping cold out already and because I usually detest being even slightly chilly, I almost hated to finish this drawing. It was at least keeping my mind in a warm place for a while.

I snapped my reference photo for this in July while in Hilton Head. If I recall correctly, it was about 9:30 p.m. and still around 90 degrees. I most assuredly had spent an entire day in the sun.

If you, too, are generally averse to short days and goose bumps, I hope this piece warms you up a bit. However, if you are lucky enough to already be living somewhere fabulous and temperate all year long, please do not send me a note to tell me about it unless it includes an invitation to be your houseguest for a month or two. You can make my flight reservations for right after the Holidays.

The American Way

2007-11-28T19:21:00.000-05:00

Seashell #3

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

I know I promised you that I would name the "leaves" drawing from title suggestions received from readers, but they were all so good that I couldn't decide on my own. So, I'd like all of you to vote for the best title. (Actually, I was just dying to try the poll option available on Blogger.)

You don't have to register to vote or declare a party affiliation. You don't have to listen to a debate. You don't have to TiVo all of your television viewing for the next year so that you can fast forward through all of the campaign commercials. And you don't have to choose an animal, a color, or an idiot. All you gotta do is click on the one name you like and push the "Vote" button; I think you can do it more than once, too. Kinda fun and you will remain totally anonymous. Besides, I'll use what you choose. Think of this as an American Idol kind of thing!

So, get in here and do your civic duty. Just look to your right and click!

Negativity Can Be Fun

2007-11-24T08:28:00.000-05:00

"Snowy Pine"

Colored Pencil on Ampersand Pastel Board

8 x 10"

This piece was a challenge and a lot of fun (my favorite combination when doing a drawing) because I chose to do it on a dark green Ampersand pastel board. So, all of the lightest lights you see are drawn in. Essentially, the whole drawing is of negative space.

While working on this piece not only was I happy with the challenge, but I was also reminded that no matter how much I dread the winter coming on, there is a beauty in it. I will look closely for it this year.

Difficult Day

2007-11-20T10:28:00.000-05:00

As I write this, my son is on his way to boot camp. Godspeed, Ian. I love you.

Upcoming Show

2007-11-17T20:11:00.000-05:00

"Seashell #2"

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

The post tonight will be brief because I have been busy entertaining good friends and watching a certain football game today where the OSU Buckeyes kicked some Wolverine butt! Again!

There is so much is going on with my work right now and I have loads to do to get it all to happen. Great stuff, though. Some I can't tell you, yet.

One thing I have to prepare for is the upcoming Gallery Walk next Saturday in Gahanna, the little burb where we live. It's going to be held during the Holiday Lights celebration, which should bring in a good crowd. The Gahanna Creekside renovation is nearing completion and might be fun to see, too. At any rate, the lights throughout the area and the along the creek are beautiful. The parade is held after dark where all of the floats are decorated and lit with holiday lights. I am usually not a huge fan of parades (too many politicians and queens of all sorts), but this one is very creative and a lot of fun.

My booth will be next to Bicycle One where I will display and, hopefully, sell some of my originals and prints. I also plan to do a drawing demonstartion (unless it's so cold I can't hold a pencil). If you're in the area, stop in to see me or at least to bring me a hot chocolate.

Memory Key

2007-11-15T23:59:00.000-05:00

"Seashell #1"

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

Yesterday, I did my run wearing shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt; today I ran inside on the treadmill. Yesterday: 68 degress; today: 35. Low, low, dark, dark cloud cover. Ohio. Winter. Sigh.

So, to clear the dreariness that was descending, I decided that I will do some small seashell drawings for my next ACEO offereings. I have a nice little seashell collection (doesn't everyone?) which even includes some my parents brought back from their Florida honeymoon, back when Floriday still had seashells. The drawings are from my collection.

While at the ocean every summer, I lay there knowing that in a few short months, it will be dark and cold at home. So I consciously store away as much of the memory of warmth, sun, sand, ocean breeze, drinks with umbrellas, the beach smells and my joy at being there.

These little seashells help me to tap into some of those memories and help me to shake off some of the cold. Ahhh.

Breaking the Rules

2007-11-15T01:08:00.000-05:00

Commission - Not for Sale

5 x 7" Colored Pencil Drawing on Bristol

Well, I've done it. I've broken my own "rules" - to do this commission:

Never use another person's photo for a commission.
I never do a portrait of a child under the age of 2.
I never do a portrait commission less than a 9 x 12" size.

So why did I do it?

The clients have been very, very good friends for about 20 years and have always been very, very supportive of my work. This is a Christmas gift for their friends.
The photo was exceptional quality and I could work on the composition and lighting.
It was too tempting to do this drawing because these twins are beautiful.

Note to self: Break the rules more often.

In Need of a Title

2007-11-13T12:25:00.000-05:00

New Work

11 x 14"

Colored Pencil on Ampersand Pastel Board

Here's the finished piece I started a week ago specifically to do as a demo at the Inn at Honey Run. It seems I have flown through this piece maybe because I love the color (red is my It color) or because of the surface, which I have grown to love so much I have ordered a ton more. I am pleased with it and glad it's finished so I can move on to the commission that's been on my table for too long!

But here's what I'd like you to do for me: help me give this piece a title. I am having "titler's block" (is that real?) and everything I have come up with thus far just seems silly and/or trite. So, send me your title suggestions (which I will take without any compensation whatsoever to you, your heirs, or your estate) and I will post the best ones next week.

Have fun, be creative and don't worry about being trite or silly. It's got to be better than anything coming out of my brain today!

2007-11-07T22:29:00.000-05:00

New Work in Progress

11 x 14"

Colored Pencil on Ampersand Pastel Board

Usually I can handle most of the crises I have encountered in my life with some semblence of dignity and calm. However, there are two major traumas which I cannot handle without becoming an embarrassment to my gender by setting us all back about 100 years; I tend to swoon, cry and throw myself across the closest divan. Those situations are 1) when my auto will not start or just stops and 2) when my computer behaves badly. This week it was situation number 2. I have been stomping my little feet, pulling my hair and whining a lot, but still no internet connection. None. Helpless as a baby I have been.

After tiring of all of my tantrums, hero husband called all of the computer nerds and geeks he could find. Turns out the problem was with our internet carrier; those dastardly cable guys. Should have known.

So, back up, at least for now. I can put away the corset, fan and parasol until I need them again.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

2007-11-02T09:44:00.000-04:00

"Old Friends"

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

Wonderful, busy week and weekend for moi. Busy with art, family and friends, and oh, doesn't that make me happy.

Wednesday was, of course, full of Halloween fun with my son's school party and, even better, trick or treating with the grandsons. They are a joy. I was able to give them all the candy they wanted and then sent them home, to their parents delight.

This weekend finds me working Gallery Hop in the Short North at our gallery, Studios on High. Always interesting, fun and exhausting. Then up, bright and early (only downside to the whole weekend), and off to the Inn at Honey Run in Amish Country. Several of the gallery artists have been invited to demo and be their guests for the night. I am really looking forward to this as I have heard it is a most beautiful place, especially this time of year.

I have some other really wonderful projects in the works which I hope to tell you about as soon as they're complete.

Whew! Hope it continues.

No Pain, No Gain

2007-10-29T23:03:00.000-04:00

"The Last Dance"

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

Because I have recently begun working out at the gym with my girlfriend and workout partner, we decided to attend a new class tonight. The class is called "Super Butts and Guts" - should have been a clue.

The class lasted for a painful hour: the first half of the class, the "butts" segment, was designed to make it almost impossible to walk anytime soon without a limp and next to impossible to lower oneself gracefully onto a toilet seat; and the second half, the "guts" part, was planned to keep all participants from sitting upright from a prone position or from coughing without a spasm.

At one point, my friend and I looked at each other and decided that the feeling was reminiscent of labor pains (which I wanted to share with the only man in the class, but he already looked about ready to cry, so I left him alone). I also decided that, if offered, I would have accepted an epidural to finish the class without saying "Oh, my God" over and over again.

Anyway, my friend and I decided that, as in childbirth, the outcome is always worth the pain. (It's better be.) We plan on going back next week.

Short North Arches Finally Finished!

2007-10-28T16:40:00.001-04:00

Short North Arches

16 x 20"

Colored Pencil Drawing on Ampersand Pastel Board

I drew this piece right onto the surface of an Ampersand pastel board. After laying down the initial few layers of color, I realized I wasn't going to get the color saturation I wanted, so I used Gamsol to dissolve the wax and "paint" the color deeper into the board. I was then able to go back over the work with more layers of color.

Because I have admired her work for a long time, I asked Nicole Caulfield to share with me how she finishes her work in order to frame it without glass and she generously did just that. Nicole first sprays her work with Lascaux fixitive and then Krylon Kamar Varnish. I ran out and bought both products and am very, very pleased with the results. Thanks, Nicole!

Once I frame this puppy, I plan to show it at Studios on High Gallery in time for the holidays. I'll let you know if it sells! (Or, if you're interested, drop me a note!)

Take it With You

2007-10-23T22:15:00.000-04:00

After the Dance 2

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

When I made the decision to do a daily (or pretty darn near daily) drawing, I knew that the art card size would be perfect for a colored pencil drawing. Since most of my drawings are strong on realism, I can spend quite a bit of time on one piece. But the art card size (2.5 x 3.5") lets me finish a drawing I'm happy with in about an hour.

I also soon realized that working on a drawing this size is perfect to do while waiting somewhere. In my case: orthodontist office, piano lesson, math tutoring, soccer practice, etc. So, I came up with a very small "kit" that I carry with me all the time.

Pretty simple since I start most of my drawings with a grisaille underpainting, I only pack gray and black pencils. I also toss in a small sharpener, an eraser, Bristol board paper precut to the standard 2.5 x 3.5" size and a selection of reference photos to work from. I keep the paper and photos in a small zip lock to keep them clean. It all fits in one of the newer Prismacolor tins.

Having this kit in my usually way-too-big purse keeps me drawing all the time since I have no excuses. Now if Cameron could just drive himself to all of those appointments, I could draw in the car, too.

Nah, I get carsick.

What's in a Name

2007-10-22T22:15:00.000-04:00

An Autumn Couple

ACEO Original Colored Pencil Drawing

2.5 x 3.5"

SOLD

I have been thinking that the name "Fall" for this season should be officially changed to "Go" season or at least "Run Yourself Ragged" season. It is by far the busiest time of the year, especially for women, and triple that if you're a mom. Here's some of my reasons why:

School starts. Papers, papers, papers to fill out. Dates to keep track of. More papers to fill out and sign. Fees to be paid. Unnecessary stuff to be sold. Parties to plan for and be prepared to help out/attend/chaperone. Teacher meetings. Fund raisers. I have been doing this for 25 years (yes, 25 years straight!) and I will not miss this part at all when it's all over. No sirreee.)
Football. In our town, you do not plan anything on a Saturday in the fall, unless you check the Buckeye schedule first.
Soccer. When our son plays on a Saturday, it's the only occassion the Buckeye schedule comes in second.
Art shows and art fairs. They keep me hopping and I love 'em.
Commissions. Everyone wants theirs before the holidays and preferably before the framer gets too backed up.
The Holidays. We all know what kind of work that brings. Gads.

So once we change the name of this season, let's change "Winter" to "Take a Long Rest" season or "Tropical Vacation" season.