key

Finished key in Prisma colored pencils on colored Canson paper.

Landscape part III

An in progress landscape painting that has two other versions. My initial color sketch turned out better than the large piece that came from it. Unsatisfied, I decided to try painting it again but on canvas this time. I'm between liking it and feeling particularly unimpressed with it. A sail boat will finish up the piece on the left side.

I clearly need to work on my camera skills. 

Today's accomplishment

The finished apple in colored pencil.

Artist Trading Cards

The Hartford Art School is having an Artist Trading Card event planned by the alumni committee this saturday from 1 to 5 and I've been thinking of participating. I haven't officially registered yet, but I have been doing some pieces for it. I have four planned, but only two actually being executed at the moment. The pieces are 2.5x3.5. Tiny, which is awesome for me as I like to work small. The first piece is an attempted likeness of my sister from a photo I took last year. "So close and yet so far," to quote my sister. Obviously I didn't quite succeed. The second is an apple from life in colored pencil that I started today. It's off to a good start.

What are your thoughts?

What it has become...

Remember that blank canvas from months ago? I had painted it shades of blue a few months later and just last month and last week (I think), this sort of just emerged. My camera skills are seriously lacking, but that will get better with time. When I started this painting, I at first started painting with a small brush, then I remembered someone saying along the lines of, 'always paint with a bigger paint brush than initially intended.' I feel like I heard that from several sources, but I took that advice, and painting this was faster, easier and a lot more satisfying. It didn't feel so clumped together, but free and considerably more cloud-esque. It feels a little grey at the moment, but I intend to go back into it. What do you think?

The finished result

The final piece for my friend krista for an art trade between the two of us. I really like how these three turned out. They are the same and yet different. I find the first pear to be more realistic than the other two, but it may also just be the lighting and how one views it. I am really happy with all the color that I was able to utilize and a reintroduction to my Prisma colored pencils. I'm planning on doing more little drawings. Now to think up of themes and the right motivation...

A Michael Buble sunday

A timid sunday. While listening to Michael Buble, I drew up and colored my second of a three set pear piece for my friend Krista. It seems I have a soft touch and any effort to go dark is thwarted by my own hands. Yep. I cannot get my hands to put more pressure on those colored pencils. I can only build up the values with different colors on top of each other. I am still quite satisfied with the way they are turning out though.  

Pear trial

Testing out my prisma colored pencils before I do my final pieces on drawing paper. It is actually possible for me to finish a piece in one day. Of course, I'm still feeling out the colors, shading, warm versus cool and so on. I find that I may need to push the values just a bit more in the shadow area. I will most likely draw up another one tomorrow. These pears are for my friend Krista whom I am doing an art trade with. I am actually pretty motivated to draw these and hope they turn out just as she imagined them!

Today's special...

12 sketches of pears that I drew up before work yesterday while watching my Pirates of the Caribbean movies. These are ideas for an art trade that I am doing for a friend. 

wine label pieces

Final two pieces that I submitted to a local wine label contest. I had drawn up three images but I ended up only submitting two. I rather like the oil piece since it shows better contrast, while the other one I achieved the soft look, but it doesn't seem to stand out as much as I would have liked.

currently...

Wow, I have been gone for well over two months! Yikes! I won't bombard you with the on goings of my life, but here are snapshots of some pieces I'm doing for a local wine label contest.

what's next

My next project. Tentative title being 'the expansive sky.' We will see where that goes. Before I even touch this, I really must start on a commission that I've been putting off for months. I personally can't pinpoint the reason why I haven't started it.

Finally done...?

This commissioned piece is finally done...at least I think so. I've gone back into this piece several times. Changing a little here, and a little there. I like some parts of it, but not everything. I just need to get better at painting. Maybe I should try something really loose next...hhhhmmm is that even possible with my personality?

Oh yes, and that is my new easel! My desk is easel free and open for my brushes, palette, paints and so on! Woo hoo!! Got it on sale at Jerry's too.

the end result

The end result of the auction piece that I painted for my sister for her charity. She left with it still wet as I was too exhausted last night to finish it. I'm in the middle about this piece. I like it, but at the same time not loving it. Hopefully whoever bids on it loves it and will take good care of it.

snow day

About 18 inches of snow fell in little Connecticut today! At least in my area. After helping the shoveling and a little playing about in the snow, I decided to check up on some artist blogs and came across Audrey Kawasaki's. I felt intrigued to try out the technique of a simple drawing and cutting out the white spaces. This is a Japanese maple leaf in colored pencil, outlined with a .01 micron pen. Cutting out the white areas was a lot harder than I thought. Those curves really get you! I'll probably give this to my little sister.

I'm still alive

This is a piece that I'm doing for my little sister for her charity auction to help fund future missionary trips. It's from a photo that I took when my family and I vacationed in Prince Edward Island, Canada. This is what I have so far. A small shed will be added on the left, advertising strawberries. Every piece I do is a new experiment for me. Once it dries, which I believe will be tomorrow, I'll be adding some blues and purples into the mix. I almost don't want to add the shed.

My ultimate goal is to have the viewer imagine the slight breeze running across the grass and the feeling of freedom that one gets when looking at a cloudless sky. I hope to relay that as I continue from here.

What I'm up to

Oops. I haven't updated in quite a few weeks. I could run on about my excuses, but I'd rather not. This is a landscape piece that I'm working on currently. I'm painting from a reference photo, but also a small color sketch. I had hoped to have been done with it this past Friday, but that didn't happen. The water is too bright right now, but I'm working on the problem. My next commission is a portrait.

Finished Leaf

This is the finished leaf. It was completed on wednesday. Now to get more ideas for my sketchbook project and start my other pieces.

Leaf commission

Apart from my sketchbook project I have two commissions I am currently working on. This is a leaf that will join four other leaves that I did the summer before my senior year. It is in oils on MDF board and quite small. I hope to get it done before the week is over. I have made my client wait long enough. My other commission is that of a landscape/seascape and I have yet to really figure out how best to tackle it. However, I hope to find the solution before the week is up and start painting it before the weekend. I will post all the leaves once they are all done.

Sketchbook Project

I recently decided to participate in the sketchbook project hosted and run by Art House Co-op. It costs $25 to participate, but I rather think it's well worth it. Each participant chooses a theme, mine is secret codes, then has until January to fill it up and send it back to Art House where it will join many other sketchbooks and go on a tour of the country before finally becoming part of the permanent collection of The Brooklyn Art Library. It is a great challenge and the sketchbooks will be displayed in museums and galleries all over the country. I urge all and anyone to join in! The themes can be very loosely interpreted and it's a great way to open up ones imagination. This is only open until Oct. 31st so hurry and sign up!

I've only just recently started, but I'm hoping to fill it with as much of my imagination as possible. Hopefully I can break out of the box and tap into all those ideas that I know I have, but can't currently grasp. Wish me luck!