...just in case I don't get to make any more art later today...we have folks visiting us...here is CED #184...tried to work in some darker values, the last one seemed very light to me...
And I might just draw with Graphitones from now to the end of time. Seriously. Love'em.
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![]() So...its the first day of a new month, new theme...and it is...drum roll please... 'ROUND' My automatic thought was to work with a halo, inspired by Byzantine iconography...a style that really appeals to me. Where else could this go? Embellishing? Why, yes- that thought crossed my mind. A return to my beading/drawing/painting combos....another thought I had. Incorporating circles in the composition...working on circular canvases and surfaces...yes and yes. For tonight, going to start simple, one Graphitone pencil, a cup of water and my paint brush. CED #183. ![]() Mixin' it up Well...June is over as of twenty three minutes ago. We had a good run, me and June...June and I. Today was busy, but I made time for my last CED, #182...and then had a VERY productive art night with Jessie, Sof and Jen. (thanks for the inspiration, ladies!) It was such a cool feeling, everyone off in their respective areas...Jess standing in front of her giant canvas, attacking it, standing back, talking fast and passionately about what ideas she had for the background, etc...Jen at the laptop, working on her writing...Sof working on her presentation materials, which of course included her artistic touch. .. as for me, I painted my last Orion Slave girl. Now they are complete. I may do some touch ups, but for the most part...done. And I decided not to submit them to the show that I had in mind since I can't make the reception...will save these for something else. In the mean time, I guess I will just hang out with them, looking at the glitter and the sparkle. One thing that I tried to incorporate with these was some flexibility in arrangement. I used the hair as a design element to connect the three pieces, you may not be able to tell from the photographs I took, but you can actually put them in any order and they line up. Just for fun, I made a collage of how they look in different arrangements (left) You can't really tell from the photographs, but they are so sparkly, hints of fine glitter and small crystals all over...I like how they turned out, but I sure am glad they are done. I was starting to feel like a slave to my Orion Slave paintings! ![]() First attempt, self portrait After finishing up the Orion Slave girls I moved on to my next project...re-doing my June self portrait, which I had kind of already completed. I posted a graphite/watercolor drawing earlier this month (June 22nd) that I had completed based on one of my 'angel pics' from our recent trip to San Diego. I liked the concept, but was not 100% on how the finished piece came out. I think I will revisit this image, and I will also revisit the idea of using some digital magic to play around with the idea of the 'picture inside of the picture'...but I just wasn't satisfied with this as my June self portait. ![]() June Self Portrait So...around 10pm (?) I started a new piece. My concept was to draw myself looking into a mirror, and the image of me in the mirror to show a little of Bettie's sassiness that I have been drawing and painting all month. I also wanted to work with the materials that I used all month; graphite and watercolor. So I did. Jumped up on Jessie's bathroom counter with my camera, started taking pics, had Jen help take pics...and just started the piece. Now that I have gotten over the idea that my self portraits will not all be the same size (last month I went larger and with a different shape in my monochromatic portrait) I was more comfortable with a piece on 18x24 Bristol. I was a little nervous that I would not be able to complete this larger size, but I did. I used the techniques that I worked with all month, and the work just happened. The homage to Bettie in the piece is the red lips, other than that it is a fairly straightforward portrait. And now... I am pretty exhausted, but I did take a peek at the theme for July...it's 'round'. I don't know what I am going to do. No idea. I guess I will sleep on it, maybe something will come to me. In the meantime, here are some pics from our 'art night'. ![]() Not to brag...but I got a 'best techer' painting. I feel pretty rad. Camp.Is.Over. I am hanging up my pony beads. It was a fun week, it was an exhausting week. The kids left with bags filled with art. For more info on that...see my Teachin' Blog, but wait til tomorrow to check that...I need some downtime tonight! Matt, aka 'Mr. Clay' it was fun teaching with you! Did another 'Soak and Sketch' this evening...my, how time flies when you are drawing in the tub. I believe I left with waterlogged feet. But I also had a completed drawing, CED #181, so that was a successful soak! This weekend...either scrap the June self portrait I did already and start over or learn to love it...finish one more CED...my weekly cleaning of the mess I have made this week...artin' with Jess...and getting ready for some out of town visitors! ![]() 'Calgon take me away', says Bettie! Perhaps this is an overshare, but I have been taking alot of baths lately, trying to soak my leg. It has been a chore, which sounds silly, but I can't relax because all I can think about is stuff I need to be doing. I am literally counting the minutes til I can get out of my obligatory Epsom salt soak. ...ummmm....(sheepish laugh) Well, tonight I thought I would place the drawing board across the tub so I could make art while I took care of my leg...and...it fit perfectly. My bad leg is submerged and I had a surface to...draw...and to paint, in peace. Why did I not think of this sooner? Now if I can only figure out a way to do cardio and draw/paint at the same time...(hopeful gaze, vision of myself all skinny, making awesome art with a glitter sunshine smiling down upon me) ...Wait. One thing at a time. For now, CED #180 is all done, completed in the tub! ![]() I am SO HAPPY to report that the AC was fixed pretty much first thing this morning...hooray! I was looking at the tables later in the day and saw this comment (left) scrawled on the table...made me laugh. It was a fun, art-filled day. I will update my teaching blog tonight with some notes about the projects we have been making... Not sure if I am going to paint later or not. In the meantime, I did complete my CED #179, so that's done. (below) ![]() One thing that I would like to note, sad news. A guy I went to high school with, Lance Bullock, went missing about two weeks ago. Everyone has been posting, reposting, sharing to get the word on Facebook since he went missing to try and find him. Well, they did. It is amazing how death puts things into perspective. I can honestly tell you that I had not seen Lance since high school. But he was my classmate, and he was a really great person. Certainly he did not deserve to have his life ended so early. Why would someone do this? I know that his family and friends are hurting right now, and I can only express my extreme sorrow for their loss. My heart goes out to the family, and to the community back home that is sharing their grief right now. ![]() ...not that any of my titles are witty, mind you, I just could not think of one today. Here are some ones that did not make the cut;
Alright, so that is why I don't have a cool title. Enjoy the slideshow below; ![]() ![]() I told myself all day...'yeah, you should be sitting down, but you will make up for it when camp is over and you and go home and elevate your leg.' See, before I went to sleep last night I had what I thought was a brilliant idea, inspired by one of the masters, Michelangelo. 'Why, I will just suspend my painting between two chairs and lie on my back and paint. Just like Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel.' Oh geez, what was I thinking? Michelangelo- how did you do this? My arms started to ache after an hour...I guess that was the worst of it. No paint in my eyes, I had some glasses to protect 'em. But reaching for my colors, especially trying to mix pigments, and ward off the cats...sigh. Seemed like a good idea at the time. But, you know- I sure did finish that painting. I did give up after a while and go back to alternating between weird sitting and standing positions with my leg propped up...but I finished the painting. One more to go, that is what I will work on tomorrow. The only thing is the last girl needs to most work...but I will finish it. I have to, got a deadline. ![]() CED #177, all done! Backtracking a bit...the first day of camp went well. As expected, being around all those energetic 5-7 year old artists sapped most of my energy. My hat off to all of my friends who teach elementary school...that used to be me. Wow, how did I ever keep up with all those little people? During my lunch I was able to start my CED #177, and I finished it up this evening. Starting to include a little more of the figure, not just the face. Also, bought some new graphite pencils that double as wash when I add water. Having fun figuring out how to use those. ...and received some exciting news about a chance to represent ANE in July at two events in Palm Beach Gardens...Teresa, thanks for including the Tipsy Art girls! ![]() Bettie says... (nervous laugh) ...my leg is went numb tonight when I was painting...trying not to freak out...just wanted to write that because, well, I guess it is freaking me out... Sigh. Aside from my weird leg-issue...I made time for some art. Finished up CED 176, then focused on one of my Orion Slave Girls. When I have been painting these slave girls I usually work on all of them in one sitting, spending a little time on each one. This has been helpful for the most part, the background is pretty consistent, and for the most part the hair connects the paintings regardless of what order they are placed in (this has a few areas that I need to fix, but for the most part they connect). Tonight I just focused. Bought some pigment at Michael's (thanks for the inspiration, Jessie!), got out my really fine glitter (yep, ECU Textile ladies, 'Tinkerbell' is back!) and brought out my crystals for some embellishing. I may go back in a add some more hair to form the connections with the other two canvases, and I need to paint the sides of the canvas...but for the most part this one is complete. Side note...I did find a show that I want to submit these paintings to. The deadline is the 26th so looks like tomorrow after art camp I will be busy painting. |
AuthorArtist and Art Teacher
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