An Offering WIP

 

An Offering WIP

oil on wood

  27 x 24

 For Surrealism, Stylization & Expression.  I loved the way Why? turned out I thought I would do another assignment on wood.  This is a multi-week assignment so this is just the first step.  Really thin just getting in some of the darks and lights.  I want the natural wood to be the mid tone of her skin.  Reference. 

Beautiful Dragon Like Honeybee, Scream

Beautiful Dragon Like Honeybee

wax

 ~ 3 inches

 For Sculpture 1.  Began in wax to be later cast in bronze.  This was super fun to do as the wax was much more forgiving then clay.  He has the body of a bee and the wings of a dragon.  

When I was a child my mother and I were in a drug store waiting for a prescription to be filled.  For whatever reason we were looking at a baby name meaning book.  I asked her what my name meant and she told me "beautiful dragon like honeybee."  Now that I am older I have researched my name and learned that it means "honey."  I dont know if what my mom told me is actually what the book said or if it is something she made up to appease her bored child.  She doesnt remember so I guess I will never really know.    

There is a second part to this project where we are going to make a larger piece.  I think for that I am going to make a flower for him to rest on.   

 

Scream WIP

clay

 ~12 inches tall

 My first project for Sculpture 1.  He is done. I work on the expression to make him look more terrified and you cant see it but I rounded out his back a bit more to give it more of a natural curve.  The last step of this was to give him a lobotomy and take his insides out.  It was tedious but slightly gratifying.

Previous step.  Photos of the hollowing out are below.    

To finish this I wait for it to let it dry and then paint it :)

Blue Vase WIP- day 2

 

 Blue Vase WIP

oil on canvas

 9 x 12

Done in art class with Lynn Gertenbach. Working more on it.  Some areas were frustrating but I pushed through.  It needs a little more work on the flowers and then I think it may be done. Previous step.

Skull, Roses, Portuguese Rooster

Skull  

mixed media on paper

 19 x 28

For Mixed Media Painting and Drawing.  I am trying to work more from life so all of my work today is from life, not photos.  This was fun to do.  I am quite proud of the result.  I feel like maybe I should loosen up a bit more.  I got a little tight with this one. The drippy lines through the skull were a happy accident :)

 

Roses

mixed media on paper

 18 x 24

For Mixed Media Painting and Drawing.   I used some printmaking paper that I had lying around.  I had fun creating the background but I think the paper is too thin.  This is not as successful as I would have hoped. The flowers are really hard to see. 

Portuguese Rooster

mixed media on paper

 18 x 24

For Mixed Media Painting and Drawing.  This one is done on the same print making paper as Roses. Also not as successful as I would have liked.  This one and Roses are just exercises though just experimenting with the media and finding out what works and what doesnt.

Why?, Turbo

Why?

oil on wood

  18 x 27

 For Surrealism, Stylization & Expression.  This is totally different then anything Ive created before.

It is done in a split complementary color scheme on a piece of found wood.  I believe the wood was once apart of a crate.  I really loved working on the wood.  The texture of the surface caused me to use more paint and to be more loose in my strokes.  I will surely use wood again.  I primed the surface with clear gesso before I painted on it. 
I imagine the figure is sitting, petting his dog, contemplating the meaning of life.  "Why?"

 Turbo  

mixed media on cardboard

 16 x 20

For Mixed Media Painting and Drawing. I asked my husband for something interesting to draw and this is what he handed me :) Charcoal, sanguine, and ink on cardboard.  This piece of cardboard is super wavy so it created an interesting challenge.

 

Scream WIP

Scream WIP

clay

 ~12 inches tall

 My first project for Sculpture 1.  Refining the features.  I feel like there is something off with it. I am just not sure what exactly.  Sculpture is quite a difficult medium.  I very much prefer painting.  It is nice to try something different but it is not my favorite thing.   Previous step.

Blue Vase WIP

 

 Blue Vase WIP

oil on canvas

 9 x 12

Done in art class with Lynn Gertenbach. Today she told us that the great Richard Schmid once said that after being asked how he became such a great artist he replied that it was 20 years of working from life.  This inspired us to set up a still life and paint from life.  Lynn has so many amazing things to use for still lifes but for this we wanted to keep it simple. 
I love the background and the vase and the flowers.  I think the lemons are coming along nicely but could still use some work.  I am struggling with the grapes.  I think the key to those is to keep them simple and not try to paint every detail on every grape. 

Chrysanthemum, Flapper, Red, Bubble Gum

Chrysanthemum  

mixed media on watercolor paper 

 22 x 15

For Mixed Media Painting and Drawing. Adding water media to our drawings.  It looks a bit different from the reference but I think I got the overall feel of the piece.  Reference.

 

Flapper 

mixed media on paper

 18 x 24

Another one for Mixed Media.  My first attempt at playing with the water media.  I love the red against the green and the flappers hair.  This one was very fun to do. Reference.

 

Red 

mixed media on paper

 18 x 24

For Mixed Media. More playing with the media.  I love all of the red! Reference.

 

Bubble Gum 

mixed media on paper

 18 x 24

Another one for Mixed Media. This one was a struggle.  I so badly just wanted to paint the bubble that I rushed this and didnt check my proportions in the beginning.  So by the time I was getting toward the end and noticed the mess up it was already to late and I was done. Reference.

 

 

I am kinda bummed I missed the Figure Drawing Workshop tonight but I think I did something a bit more fun.  To celebrate Valentine's Day and 7 years of being together my husband and I went to Fabio from Top Chef's restaurant.  The food was super yummy and not outrageously expensive.  We will for sure be going back.    

Knifed, Scream WIP

Scream WIP

clay

 ~12 inches tall

 My first project for Sculpture 1. Adding the features.  The light and dark clay is because I ran out of gray so I switched to white.  Right now I feel like he is yawning instead of screaming.  Hopefully my instructor will have some tips for me.  Previous step.

Knifed

oil on canvas

 9 x 12

 For Surrealism, Stylization & Expression.  Done completely with a palette knife.  It wasnt my favorite techniques but I think with a bit more practice I may come to like it.  

Update on Brooklyn Bridge: I sold it today.  It was hard to see it go but in the end it was never really mine.  The buyer loved it as did his wife who cried when he surprised her with it as a gift for Valentine's Day.  

Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge

oil on canvas 

 36 x 48

Finished.  I love it.  This is the first large scale piece that I have actually finished.  I hope they like it :)
Previous step.

This is a commission for one of my husbands co-workers.  His wife is from Brooklyn.  He wants to give this to her for Valentine's day.  Reference. 

Brooklyn Bridge WIP- Day 5

Brooklyn Bridge WIP

oil on canvas 

 36 x 48

I am out of my funk.  I havent worked on this the past few days because I wasnt really sure what I wanted to do next.  I woke up early this morning (6:30) determined to work through it and get this painting as close to finished as possible.  I love the way it is looking and it feels so good.  Much better then the ugly stage.  

I think I am pretty much done with the foreground.  I need to work out the background and make sure not to get too caught up in the details. It is the background and to keep the feeling of perspective I need to keep the city pushed back.  No sharp contrasts. No bright colors.  I need to show the atmosphere between the fore and backgrounds. 

Previous step. 

This is a commission for one of my husbands co-workers.  His wife is from Brooklyn.  He wants to give this to her for Valentine's day.   Reference. 

Drawings- Hair, KA-POW!, Pizazz, Figure Workshop

Hair

mixed media on paper 

 18 x 24

For Mixed Media Painting and Drawing.  Exploring different pencil-like media.  Trying to get us to get used to using different media within a piece. Super happy with this.  I love the face. I really really want to come in a do a cool background in watercolor.  Maybe another time. 

KA-POW!

mixed media on paper

 18 x 24

Another one for Mixed Media.  Like the above piece, playing with the different conte, charcoal, pastels, to get a feel for how they work together.  

 

 

Pizazz 

mixed media on paper

 18 x 24 

For Mixed Media.  Same as the two above, more exploring. 

 

 Today I also went to a Figure Drawing Workshop I found in my area and hand a chance to apply my new mixed media techniques to the drawing I did from the model.  Below are some of my better attempts. 

P.s. My second time ever working from a professional model.  Next week we are doing a long pose (3 hours) I think I may bring my paints and see what happens :)

 

Dreads & Scream WIP

Dreads 

oil on canvas 

 16 x 20  

For Surrealism, Stylization & Expression.  I soo enjoyed doing this.  After having class after class stressing perfect proportion and such it felt good to just enjoy putting the paint on the canvas.  It was very cathartic for me.  

In hindsight I probably should have cropped her mid skirt or made the figure smaller.  I love the red boots she is wearing.  Model from school.

Here are some blind contour skecthes I did to prep for this painting:

 

Scream WIP

clay

 ~12 inches tall

 My first project for Sculpture 1.  The initial block in- full scale. Not as far along as I would have liked because, of course, I ran out of clay.  I checked every Micheal's in the area and none of them have the clay I need.  And no local art stores carry the clay I need.  At least all of the newspaper is covered. I just was not able to really begin putting in the features.

Brooklyn Bridge WIP- Day 4

Brooklyn Bridge WIP

oil on canvas 

 36 x 48

Welcome to the ugly phase.  In my experience every painting goes through an ugly phase and as an artist it is my job to bring it out.  I began adding in the lights.  As I did this I realized I may have made the darks a bit too dark so I will need to fix them. I added the water and am happy with the way it looks.  I still need to work on the city in the background more.  Lets see if I get this done tomorrow... 

Previous step.

This is a commission for one of my husbands co-workers.  His wife is from Brooklyn.  He wants to give this to her for Valentine's day.  I am giving my self until Monday to finish it so that it can be dry in time.  Reference. 

Expressive Portrait Maquette

Expressive Portrait Maquette 

clay

 ~4 inches tall

 My first project for Sculpture 1.  We are to do an expressive portrait or a morph.  I am choosing the expressive portrait.  This is a quick tiny model to get an idea down for what my bigger one is going to look like. My inspiration is Edvard Munch's The Scream.

 

I tired adding the hands and arms but it didnt look right.  I think I would need to include more then just the head and shoulders for it to work with the arms. 

Brooklyn Bridge WIP- Day 3

Brooklyn Bridge WIP

oil on canvas 

 36 x 48

Did the sky.  Pretty happy with the results.  I may go back in and add a bit more white to the clouds.  

I am not as far along with it as I would have hoped but it will work.  I think I went a bit too dark on areas of the bridge but I can fix that.  I hope to finish it on Sunday. 

It took me awhile to get into working on this piece but once I did I was totally in the zone and loving it... and then I had to get ready for work. No fun.  Hopefully I can just get right bavk into that zone quickly on Sunday and bang this piece out.   

Previous step.

This is a commission for one of my husbands co-workers.  His wife is from Brooklyn.  He wants to give this to her for Valentine's day.  I am giving my self until Monday to finish it so that it can be dry in time.  Reference. 

Brooklyn Bridge WIP- Day 2

Brooklyn Bridge WIP

oil on canvas 

 36 x 48

 Working on the sky.  I need to add clouds.  I also have an idea for how I am going to do the bricks on the bridge.  I want to get the sky done first though.  I am funny when I paint.  I like to think and plot out my next move.  Last night I did the under-painting and then thought about how I was going to do the sky.  Now I have done the sky and so need to plot how I am going to do the clouds.  I hope to have this 80-90% done tomorrow. 

Previous step.

This is a commission for one of my husbands co-workers.  His wife is from Brooklyn.  He wants to give this to her for Valentine's day.  I am giving my self until Monday to finish it so that it can be dry in time.  Reference. 

Brooklyn Bridge WIP

Brooklyn Bridge

oil on canvas 

 36 x 48

 A commission for one of my husbands co-workers.  His wife is from Brooklyn.  He wants to give this to her for Valentine's day.  I am giving my self until Monday to finish it so that it can be dry in time.  Reference. 

More Sketches

Butterfly for Rachel

pen on paper

 8 x 5.5

Pandas for Megan

pen on paper

 8 x6

This past week I went on vacation to NorCal and besides having an awesome (yet painful) time learning to snowboard I met up with a bunch of my family.  My second cousin has 3 beautiful kids and once they heard I was an artist they asked if I could draw them something.  The 5 year old asked for a butterfly and the 8 year old asked for pandas.  Reference found online on a Driod phone.

 Sleepy Husband 

pen on paper

5 x 7 

More from my daily sketch journal (the rest of the sketches I post for today will be from my daily sketch journal).  My husband was in Japan for 3 weeks.  This was done the night he got home.  He had traveled for 36 hours that day and was exhausted.  It made him a great model :) 

 Leaf

pen on paper

5 x 7 

I swept a lot of leaves at work on this day and so decided I should sketch one of these many leaves.  I think I may one day use this as reference for a watercolor painting. 

 I Forgot

pen on paper

5 x 7 

Two my girlfriends and I went to San Diego for the VH1 Divas concert back in December and when we arrived at our destination I realized I forgot to pack a few things.  Namely a toothbrush, toothpaste, and pajamas.  Desperate times call for desperate measures so the above sketched socks became my toothbrush for that evening until I could get one the next day.  The sock is a continuous line semi blind contour drawing. 

So this is the last of my sketches I will be sharing for a bit because.... I am back to school!! And I am actually super super excited for this semester.  I am taking Sculpture 1, Mixed Media Painting and Drawing, and Surrealism, Stylization and Expression.  It is going to be a fun and expressive.  An awesome amazing quote from this first week "We are only using the model as an excuse to paint."  SAY WHAT?!?! You mean I dont need to get every proportion and value and line perfect? You mean I may actually enjoy drawing the figure?  I predict this is going to be a very very good semester.