Don't Look Back

Finally got off the couch, and into the studio!  I've been benched by fear lately. Wasn't sure what I wanted to create, so I did nothing.  I started thinking about dragonflies today, so I thought I would try a journal piece using that idea.  After I did the page, I went to my Pinterest "True Words" file and found the perfect quote for me to use.  Sometimes, I have to remember that I am going forward!!

An Apology

I was wondering why I never get any comments anymore -- well, duh!  I totally forgot that I went to "comment moderation", so I could delete the crazy spam comments that I get every day!  So, now I'll have to go to the design page often to see if I have comments to approve. 

Thank you so much for your support and understanding!  I do love it when you comment!

Major Milestone

Bill and I have been in Kansas City for the past few days - last night was High School Graduation for our first born grandchild, Colin.  We've had a great time visiting.  We lived here for many years before moving to Florida in 2002.  They've had a rough spring (SNOW IN MAY!), but the day turned out to be gorgeous!  So now, between us, we'll have a grandchild graduating every year for the next 5 years!  Does that make me look old?  Nahh - just proud!

Journal page

This is the other  journal page that I started a couple of weeks ago.  After taking Regina Lord's online class about painting faces, I feel so much more confidant that I can do this!  Yes, there is still a lot of room for improvement, so I will work on that.  But, I'm so glad that I took this course!

More Faces



 



Last night I was on a tear!  Got started sketching, and just couldn't stop!  So, here are my 2 profiles:

 

Then came the half-turned face:

And, finally, I worked with expressions!  It's really a fun course!

 



Today's Face

I used a magazine photo as the muse -- of course, it doesn't look anything like it, but I'm still having fun with this course.  Added some neocolor and gelato to it, but the water kinda smudged the pencil, and the paper isn't really for wet medium, but I just wanted to see some color on her!

Next up:  Profiles and Half-Turned! 

More practice

 

 

 

Well, drawing faces is a lot harder than I thought!  I always seem to get something "off" - like the shape of the chin - or the size of the eyes.  But, I'm determined to keep on trying!  I'm one of those folks that assume that if I can't nail it on the first try -- I'm done!  I don't have a lot of confidence in myself, I guess. 

 

Today, I watched Regina draw a profile, so that is my next objective!  And, I bought a brand new sketchbook just for drawing faces in (you know I love any excuse to purchase more "equipment")!  So, while I know that these first sketches are very simple, and not very good -- I'm looking forward to the day when I actually get it!  I do think it will happen.

 

New On Line Course

I humbly realized that I don't know the first thing about painting faces!  So, I just happened to click on the Creative Kismet blog, and guess what!?  Regina is having a 4 week e-course on painting faces!

I quickly sent my $$ and signed up.  Today, I watched a couple of her beginning videos, and followed along, and this is my first try!  I'm sure I can improve, but I feel really good about it all!  It's the eyes, man -- just can't seem to get it -- but I'll keep working on it.  Stay tuned......

Strange Day

 

So, today started off really good -- I looked at the calendar, and saw that I didn't have to leave the house for any reason!  Also, I'm all caught up on coasters, bowls and cards, so I didn't have to spend the day sewing.

 

Yay!  Studio Time!  But, when I went in there, all I could do is stand around -- absolutely nothing came into my mind to paint.  So, most of the day, I came and went - until finally, I read Donna Downey's blog post.  Like me, she's always said that she doesn't do faces.  But (like me), lately she's been thinking that maybe she wants to learn to paint faces.  So, she tried.

 

Isn't that what it's all about?  Trying.  So, I decided to make a couple of art journal pages using faces.  This is what the journal started like.  I used a couple of my gelli printed deli sheets for the backgrounds, and then cut out the faces from a book and collaged it all down.

 

 

 

I decided to keep it simple - mainly trying to get the face in.  Finally got the first one done this evening.  I'll work on the other one tomorrow.

 

 

I'm still alive!

So, after over a week of thinking that I would never feel better - today I finally feel like I'm coming back to life!

The first thing I HAD to do today, was get started on  sewing on the dreaded buttons on the fabric bracelets that I have to send down to Mount Dora this week!  I say "dreaded" because I am a complete klutz when it comes to any kind of hand sewing!  I have these fat, short fingers that I somehow can't control.  I stab myself with the needle, drop the button, and just generally have a rotten time doing it!  But, I can't NOT do it, since these things have been selling like hotcakes - and I really do like getting those checks each month!

I'm hoping that once I get this latest box in the mail, I can get into the studio and create something!  My mind is reeling with all the ideas I have!