Sad-Happy

I'm working on my postcard for Norway.

And simultaneously working on my new class, A Diary of Faces.

Chris Flynn, this is for you.

Your comment, "...a different expression every day...learn how to capture feelings and emotions or how to draw older people" is what inspired me to attempt this portrait of Barbra Ihlen Larssen by Norwegian artist Christian Krohg (1852-1925).

But what I wanted to share today is the WIP or stopping point yesterday when I needed to move to the chair zone for a break. 

I was struck with the sad face I had painted.

She was not sad in the reference photo.

She was not smiling big but had a little twinkle about her. 

So that was my mission in finishing. 

I tried to give that little twinkle back to her. 

Sad and Happy may not be the best description for this comparison; however, I think they each show a different feeling or emotion.

♥

Back to Smoot and Keys mode

The Professor Doctor's sympathy didn't set too well with Vanzie.


For the whole story from beginning to this point, click on my "Postcard Challenge 2012" tab.

Postcard WIP

I'm back to the postcard journal and this work in progress by me is from the work of Romanian artist Nicolae Grigorescu.


I can't catch up or keep up and so I have reconciled with just keeping whatever pace I can manage.  If I was faster, I probably wouldn't show my WIPs.
♥

Deep Love

Deep Love
12 x 12 

"I have learned to know deep love"

Momentum Motivation and Mojo

Do you loose it?  Sometimes I guess we all do.


Here is how it works for me.  When I feel the momentum of some "great" inspiration start to slip away (usually just because of not enough time), then the motivation goes and goes and goes until finally I'm wondering about my Mojo.


I don't know why this comes to mind this morning. It has little to do with anything.  Because there are two things I want to tell you about......no three things.

1. I'm going to discontinue "open registration" of my first online class, "Faces: All Norah'S".  This DOES NOT mean the classroom will be closed and students will no longer have access.  It just means that I think the class has run it course and even though new students come in monthly, it just isn't fun for me because they are all so quiet when it is a small group.


SO, If you want to register for the class, "Faces: All Norah'S", now is the time.  I will leave the registration open through this month and close it after May 31st.  Don't worry about access to the class because once you are there, you have as long as you wish to enjoy the videos.


2. I'm working on a new class and all I know to tell you about it at this point is the name of the class will be "A Diary of Faces".  How about you tell me what a class with that title means to you.


3. I want to share with you a new online class site that I think many of you will be interested in. Ann Passmore has set up a Ning network called Image Artistry.  Ann is very knowledgeable and skillful with Photoshop Elements and that is what her classes are about. And get this!  She is offering a beginner session free:  Join up for a FREE first workshop from the 20 May for six weeks to get started with Photoshop Elements.  Although it's to get beginners up to speed you might be surprised at what you learn and the Challenges should be fun!


All you need to do is go to Image Artistry and sign up to join her network and then you can join her free group.  


You might also like to visit Ann's Blog by the same name, Image Artistry to get a look at some of the things Ann does with PElements.  I think you will like it. 


That's what is on my mind today.
♥

Workshop with Liz Hill

watercolor, charcoal, acrylic, collage, crayon
30 x 22

WOW! What an excursion! 
My journey down the road last weekend turned out to be quiet a detour.  Not unexpected. I chose to go a little ways down a new path so to speak. Inspired by Liz Hill's beautiful figures and recognizing a long desire to paint from live models, I jumped at the chance to take a figurative workshop with Liz at the Dragonfly Gallery. Oh, what a warm place to create.  


I have to tell you, I didn't go by myself.  As hard as I tried to leave "her" here in the home studio, "she" perched on my shoulder and babbled in my ear all the way down the road. You know, saying things like, "what do you think you are doing....etc etc".
Determined. I was. So on arrival, I quietly sent her under the table.

We enjoyed a different model each day and on day three, after the 3 and 5 minute warm up sketches, we all did a piece with multiple poses.  I switched to a full size sheet but still didn't manage to get legs and feet. So much to learn and so much fun.  Now, where in the world will I find live models....
I'm hooked.....
♥

Back burner break butt kicker

Here is evidence I'm getting ready for a weekend adventure.
A little ways down the road.  And it might feel like a vacation!


I moved the postcard challenge to the back burner for a break. Iceland, the next prompt is a butt kicker.  Can't find an artist that makes me swoon. 

When I need to clear out all the chit-chatter, I stitch. I needed to stitch.
♥ 

This is what play looks like

I pretty much played all day yesterday with this page. Evidence here.
I thought painting a head/bust only instead of a whole story would be faster. Not so. I just zoned out and enjoyed every moment. 
I keep forgetting to give the reference art link.  The week was Singapore and after a Google research, I chose the self portrait of Georgette Chen.  Each page is painted by me using the reference.

cause I need to play too

Things are stacking up over here. 

Like
just stuff.
I feel the need for a list.
Like
the sheets must be washed this weekend
and the clothes too
the desk needs to be uncluttered
and the work table too
the carpet needs to be blessed
and the others floors too
the fridge needs to be purged 
and my closet too
art supplies need to be organized
and my shoes too
and then,
the gardens;
however,
I shall put Singapore first on the list
cause I need to play too
♥ 

Art Nouveau

I really do like the Art Nouveau style and this one drew me in. The napkin for the postcard pocket had creamy berries that made me think of the white monkey heads on her dress. I know, I know, they are flowers but......  


To see the spread together, go to the Postcard Challenge tab....or just click here.

I didn't make any headway this week with catching up on the challenge and since my book is not going to hold all 52 weeks worth, I'm thinking I will skip #12 Israel.

♥

One Thousand Times

I have faced this screen One Thousands times. That's 1000 blog post since May 2006!  I knew it was coming up and I gave some thought to how or if I should celebrate.  The celebration part hasn't materialized yet but I decided my 1000th post would be one of the things that gives me the most joy. And that is sharing and showing and telling.  So yesterday, before I got too far into this page in my Postcard Journal, I started taking photos. 


For this page I'm painting a "fake" of "The Bride" 1893 by Johan Thorn Prikker (1869-1932) who was from the Netherlands.  I'm not sure what Professor Doctor Tad Keys will have to say about it, but here is what I can tell you. 

I am painting on the book page and before this first photo, I used gesso with sage green paint to cover the big dark alphabet that was on the page.  I do not always use gesso but I knew this sketch was going to be very detailed and could not handle any visual/mental interference.

I used vine charcoal on the larger shapes and then used a pencil for the small detail.  

I tried to "read" the layers that I could see and it seemed the whole page had a green cast.  In other words, every color had some green in it. That is why I started with the green under painting. Once I was happy with the sketch, I went over the charcoal lines with pencil and then wiped away the charcoal dust.  I was at the desk here in town with limited supplies; therefore, I used a Sharpie Fine Point and went over the heavy lines. Now I regret that I could not wait to get home for a finer pen.

Here I have painted the funny flower shapes that looks like heads or skulls to me. I used titanium white and the purpose was to save the shapes/sketch.

Very subtle changes here.  In the first one I started adding a green glaze over the dress area with Jenkins Green fluid acrylic. I also used titanium white with matte medium over the dress. In the third shot, I started adding very light layers of color within the other shapes and painted the white flowers again. At this stage, if feels a lot like coloring book or paint-by-number.  But remember, I am trying to fake this. 

Little by little more layers of color. Notice the dark outlines are being faded out in some areas.

more color definition 

Today, I brought a black Vellum Writer and used the fine point to outline some of the shapes in the background.  The thinner line in the background gives some depth.

It is hard to tell what I have done but I just kept gradually adding layers of color.

Here I started working the background in the top. But notice, I have painted the tulip stems away in the bottom left.

more layers of color

I painted the white monkey heads back in, the white lines around the bride, the black line detail and signed it.

I could take this a bit further but I'm happy with it and will see what Professor Dr Tad Keys has to say.
I hope you enjoyed this One Thousandth post.
♥

Easter Greetings

Greetings. 
This is all I managed this week. 
Hope you are all enjoying a great weekend. 
♥