Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Streaks of Rain

Have you every noticed something ordinary, and suddenly realized it was beautiful?



Sometimes there is no time for the things that we want to do.  In those moments we can choose to try to convince ourselves that what we are doing is what we want to do.  I have been able to do this with much success many, many times.  It's not that hard considering there are many things that I love doing.  But the things I love most, that also need most, get highest priority.  Alas, no time for drawing.  I did start another portrait in the past couple weeks.  Drawing and music help me defeat discouragement that sometimes tries to  seep into my life.  It's like a present I can give myself, when I need a little lift.  I figured out that I have to have somewhere to upload my music to before I can put it on my blog.  It may be awhile, as I am not too tech savvy and it is low on my priority list.  Someday though, it will be there. 

    

Saturday, July 21, 2012

A Portrait for June and July

It has been a busy summer for me.  This whole week, each night as I climbed into bed, I would think, "I wish I had had time to draw today."  Today I finished up a portrait that I started last month.  I got a new photo program, but I have had little time to play with it yet either.  I have recently been thinking about the things that we value over the course of our lifetimes.   Some things are important for a season, a day, or even a moment, while other things have more lasting value.   I am grateful for the things in my life that matter most to me, and for the joy that they bring into my life.   

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Paper Perils


This was a drawing I did this year while experimenting on different paper.  The paper is 14x17 Strathmore 400 Drawing paper.   I decided I prefer the plate finish bristol to a more textured surface.  While I feel okay with how this one turned out, the paper and my charcoal performed so differently on the different surface that I had to adapt many of my usual techniques to get a result that I wanted.  I don't see that as entirely bad.  I think it's good to be able to adapt, and I would eventually like to get to where I could feel happy working on either surface.  But, I really love the way the smooth bristol works with me.   

I also struggle with getting accurate photographs of my drawings.  While this and the other images in my gallery are pretty close, they are not quite the same as looking at the actual work.  For instance, the way her leg looks on the left side, looks pretty blocky here, but on the paper it looks better.  Oh well, it's just something else I can keep trying to learn to do better. 

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Little Expressions

I love the expressions that little people make.  You can't pose them into it, you just have to try to capture them in the moment.  It's like trying to catch a butterfly that keeps fluttering away every time you get near.  Sometimes no matter how fast you click your camera you miss the fleeting moment when the light was perfect and the expression exquisite.  Hence, I take a lot of pictures, searching for those perfect moments, and once in a while, I catch one.

This is my most recent drawing.  I think it is done.  It didn't take too long to draw, but once I get to the finished stage I like to keep it up where I can see it for a week or so, just to make sure.

Here I go!

I'm still trying to get everything organized and up on the blog.  Last summer I decided to invest some of my time to drawing, and made a goal to finish at least one portrait each month.  So far, so good.  It has been fun to try to come up with new challenges.  Every person is unique, and it's interesting and exciting for me to seek out those subtleties.