Now for Something Completely Different

I have been working on a few different things, mostly involving painted paper or paint on canvas or sometimes a little of both.  Ironically some of these experiments were to get away from the fiddliness of working with patchwork.  Gluing is still a lot faster than sewing. :) 

Summer Carnival, painted paper on canvas.  I use Golden gel medium to attach the paper cutouts to the canvas.

Detail.  Here you can see the different mark making tools I use to make the painted paper.  These include Print Gocco (the fish), linoleum prints (the red dots in the upper left area are a frog), and carved stamps (the white star-like forms and the white stars).

Autumn Lotus

This is one of those things where I got a crazy idea to cut a bunch of lotus stencils out of a sheet of painted paper.  I am unsure whether this is in process or it is complete.

Koi Spring

This technique was so cool that I decided to try it on a larger scale.  My fingers weren’t too happy with me, but it was worth the effort.

Detail, you can see the dots from the sequin waste I used as a stencil and the detail of the red koi shapes I painted onto the original paper.   This piece is definitely still in process.  Stay tuned for updates.

Into the Void  Acrylic on canvas with graphite drawings added.  I am unsure whether this is complete or whether I want to go back into it with some india ink or liquid acrylic to emphasize the lines.

A detail showing the graphite drawing in more detail.  I like the way the paint washes blur the lines of the drawing.

The texture in this piece comes from some rice paper that I had initially adhered to the canvas, again using the Golden gel medium.

And today, after a several week hiatus due to mom duties (hockey and school), I was able to get back into the studio and begin a new painting.

In the Between, acrylic on canvas, and still very much in process, though it was nice to get back into the studio and just play with paint and color.

30 Days of Drawing: Day Fifteen

I have this wonderful Fabriano journal filled with colored paper.  It’s around 8” x 6” and is perfect for quick studies like this one.

I also worked on this large piece from my 14” x 17” Canson XL Mixed Media pad.

I’m really enjoying blending the colors on these pieces.

It’s nice to have such a large space to work in, and since I am doing these to play I am not stressing over how realistic the finished image is.  It’s letting me explore different ways of laying down the color and apply the layers. 

There’s still time if you want to join us!

30 Days of Drawing: Day Fourteen

I just love the handles on these old kitchen utensils.  From the top: potato masher, spatula and sieve.  Or as I call them , Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear.  Image size 12” x 15”

Detail.  I used mostly Prismacolor pencils, with a few Derwent Inktense and Graphitint pencils for the details.  The background is Grumbacher Acrylic in Payne’s Gray and Martha Stewart craft paint in Cloud, satin finish.

I promised a peek at the really big drawing. 

This is on Strathmore 400 series drawing paper, and measures approximately 60” x 36”.  I have to stand on a stool to reach the top of the drawing.  I’m using graphite sticks in 3B and 6B.  It started with just random marks but has evolved into this image.  The working title is “Eclipse”.

See you tomorrow!

30 Days of Drawing: Day Thirteen

Today I chose to go a little larger and also on a white background.  It was more difficult to build up a good layer of color as the texture of this paper was very defined.  I also was challenged by recreating the metal of the beads and buttons on this necklace.  I’m pleased with how the turquoise bead turned out as well as the black bead in the lower right corner.  Overall the drawing worked for me.  I do think that I may pre-color the paper before attempting another drawing on it, at least if I go for another color drawing.

30 Days of Drawing: Day Twelve

Yes, I did draw on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (also known as Days Nine, Ten and Eleven)  I just haven’t scanned them yet.  I need to find a more effective way to draw over the weekends.

I picked up some darker red pencils on Friday (I had to take my daughter to the airport, and since we were near the art supply store anyway….), so this morning  I took them out for a test run.

I tried to avoid using the black pencil for the black beads.  I think it turned out well.  I enjoyed drawing the big cinnabar bead on the upper right. 

Another red handle.  Eventually I will draw the entire tool, but for right now I am enjoying the weathered look of these old utensils.

Something else is literally on the drawing board, I will post pictures of it when I post days 9, 10 and 11.  Stay tuned!

30 Days of Drawing, Day Eight: Draw Hard

When I was little, my grandpa worked at the General Motors Tech Center.  He would bring home tons of Prismacolor pencils for me to play with.  I think he’d be pleased to see that I am still drawing all these years later.

Today I finally got back into the studio for a little while, so I went a little hog wild.

You might recognize this necklace from the past two days of pencil and pen and ink drawings.  The bone beads with the incised detail were a pain, but I’m overall pleased with how they turned out.  I really love the lampwork beads and the detail in them.

I wasn’t ready to go back downstairs, so I did another drawing, this time based on a small sieve my friend picked up for me at a yard sale.  I just love old tools.  I wanted to detail the handle of the piece.

Here’s a different version of the same tool, from a large drawing I was working on last month.

I’m not sure what tomorrow is going to bring, but I know it will be fun!  There’s still time to play along, head over to Traci’s journal and add your name to the caravan.

30 Days of Drawing: Day Seven

 

Uni Ball Vision Needle in my Moleskine journal, worked on while waiting for my oldest son to finish class.  This is the same necklace I drew last night, just in different media.  I am hoping to get into the studio tomorrow and do a color drawing (or two or three….)