Drawing a Day - 9

Ah, it's the little things that keep me sane. Like doing these doodles of Justin when I have a spare couple of minutes. They're much more fun than working on the giant painting.

I did paint online yesterday, but I did not twitter. I am glad I got some of the painting done, however I did it. I got the book laid in, and one of the hands looks really good. I also played a bit with lace and her neck, but that's all going to get covered up. Next time I should have the hands, book and rose all done, and then I'll post a picture on the blog. 

I also started something yesterday, but completely trashed it. It's been awhile since I've done that. Not really so much for the bad painting (thought that didn't help my decision) but because it would not have worked. My client would like it to be sealed onto his car, and what I thought would work would have been a disaster. There is a reason we should all take chem! Yay for science! I forgot a couple little facts. Ah well. I'm preparing my substrate better tonight, and hopefully get the drawing done. I will not paint until my foundation is good. 

I hope to have this done before the weekend is over, and then work on the Adams image. 

If I can get these two things done, I think stress will be a lot lower. I'll twitter when I'm working online next time!

Ja

Drawing a Day - 6, 7, 8

So, I've been working on some large pieces for some people, and I have not done much that I could post. So I did these, and as I don't have my camera with me, I scanned these images and tried my best to save them in photoshop. I've really got to practice that, or just go get my camera.  Justin is good for posing a couple of minutes at a time, and I'm getting better at speed so he doesn't have to sit there and read so much.

The first one was hard because I had not done sketches from life in awhile. I've mostly been working from photographs and imagination and it took a minute for even that to pop off the page. And he looks so old and terrible. Perhaps that's just because that's how I was feeling while drawing. Sorry Justin!

The second one turned out pretty well. We were at Books-A-Million and Justin was reading my newest find, Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan. Shaun Tan is an amazing artist, and his books are a wonderful mix of painting, writing and design. On his website http://www.shauntan.net/ I love his paintings. A couple remind me of Wayne Theibaud (in design, not so much subject, but there is that first landscape that gives me fits every time I see it! The color! The abstraction!) Go, read his books, visit his site. <3

In any event, the picture I did of Justin turned out better than I would have thought. His head was moving all over the place, looking at the illustrations, but I managed to get it down. At least he looked younger.

The last one isn't too bad. It's Justin's favorite and I slapped it together at the iHop. Over a fruit crepe and ice cream sunday. I liked his expression, but I'm still picking them all apart. I only posted because I know I've been neglecting my little blog here. I really need to clean up this sucker a bit.

In other news, I will probably be painting online later today. Still working on Mrs. Adams, but I've got something else I've got to work on as well. It won't be as interesting to watch, so I suppose I will spare you all. XD No use running everyone away. 

I am also going back to school in Physics. I think that will be fun, as it's something I've always been interested in. Oddly enough, more people are saying "What are you going to do with that?!" than they did with the art degree. I will never understand people. I am a bit nervous about it. I haven't looked at physics since highschool, apart from pop science books that, while fun to read, aren't exactly as informative as they should be. I'm going to be brushing up on my math as well. Ah! My Calculus! I have forsaken you and you are such a cruel mistress!!

I'm also working on something that will keep me from having to work at what I hate. Anyway, I'm not going to let so much time pass again before I post. And maybe next time it will be informative!

ja!

Sketchbook

Faux Fauve

Crap watercolors and crap colored pencils

Yes, I decided to use some art supplies my boyfriend had lying around (ooh, you know they're bad now!) to doodle while we went to go get coffee. So here is another image of my boyfriend on the computer done with a (modified) fauve palette. I didn't have yellow ochre (obviously) and there was nothing remotely resembling alizarin crimson. But it was a fun little study, and I kind of liked it.

Justin is pretty good about staying still while doing video games. Heh. Roseart pencils are ok, as long as you're not expecting great results. I haven't worked like this in awhile though, so this was fun. I mean getting all nitpicky with my drawings. I should do it more. I think it turns out saleable if I do it with real art supplies. I mean, not that my goal is to do sellable art. I just want my art to sell. *thinks* I hope that makes sense. :P

Painting a Day - 30

Justin
9.5 x 8.5
Watercolor on Cardstock

Yeah, I'm house sitting, and I haven't felt like pulling out the oils. And I'm on another computer without photoshop, so keep in mind, the colors in this are NOTHING like the colors in the actual work. The piece looks completely washed out. :( Oh well, I'll fix it later. And put up the other random pieces I'm doing.

And did I mention I hate large dogs? Ok, so I don't really hate them, but I am definitely not a dog person, so house sitting with a dog is kinda... blegh. And I don't sleep well in new places, and my foot hurts. And I sound like I'm complaining. I'm just tired. I'm actually really liking it here! Lot's of time to work on writing, reading and small art pieces like this one. Yay!

I'd paint the dog if he wasn't so... dog like. Yeah. Right now he's eating a squeaky toy. Except it doesn't squeak any more. Because he's mostly eaten it. That can't be good. Oh well. I might doodle him later. When I'm not mad at him for chewing on my foot. My very hurt foot. Oh well, now he has a very hurt head. :P Not my fault I spazzed in pain. He now knows the foot is off limits. And that it tastes like Cayenne Pepper.

Justin and a Rant

Justin
Pen
1.5x3


Justin
Pen, Pencil, Colored Pencil on textured paper
5x7

So... I doodle Justin a lot. At least when I'm with him. Um. I can't find the other picture I did, watercolor wise. I've had these for awhile and decided to upload them. I've been working so much I haven't had a chance to do anything. So...

Done in a couple of minutes, obviously. Sorry I haven't had much time for anything else. I've had a really, really bad couple of weeks. Like, 4 weeks. Working at Hobby Lobby makes me realize I hate people.

To all shoppers at Hobby Lobby: Do not act like tards if there are 7 people in line at the frame counter and only one framer. Do not take out your frustrations on the framer. We hate it JUST as much as YOU. In fact, probably more. We didn't make the schedule and if we had it wouldn't be that terrible. Do not ask if there are more people working. If there were, they'd already be out there helping. Do not sigh, tap your foot, mutter angrily under your breath... It won't make me or any other framer go any faster. In fact, it might make the other people go slower. It doesn't phase me in the least. Do not threaten to go to Michaels. I don't give a shit where you shop and if you'd like to go there, just GO. Damn. Do not say "I'm just here for a pickup." because chances are if it's that busy we haven't had a chance to frame jack. We work on frames the day they are due, which is why they are due after five. If the jackasses in management only scheduled one person for the day, guess what hasn't been worked on... that's right! Your frame!

It's not my fault. Do you see the 7 people? Do you see the lines? When do you think I'd have the time to be back there putting your picture together?

I'm sorry. I really am.

If you had a problem (and we do such a bulk of frames that it's almost impossible to not make some mistakes) don't come to the frame counter, yell loudly, make snotty comments to the other customers and then yell at the manager before saying "I'm going to Michaels." No one really knows what the problem is/was. No one can help you. And I really hope you feel better because nothing has been changed, and no one really cares. Next time ask to talk to a manager. Or call corp. Duh.

Drawing a Day - 3

Justin Reading
Pen and Paper
Square-ish

Yep... given more than five minutes I can do pretty well. Of course this isn't much more than that. Dude wouldn't quit squirming and I had to basically give it up ^_^

Drawing a Day - 1,2

Blind Contour Drawing
Pen and Paper
Square

It's fun to do these 30 sec things without looking at the paper. I love 'em! though I don't just do the contour as you can see... adding shading without looking is hard! I haven't had time to paint or do anything except these quick things on my lunch break. And I got locked out of my house so I did two works at books a million. Drawing, of course. I'll upload those in a second!

Painting a Day - 8

Portrait - Justin Reading Philosophy
5"x7"
Oil on Shellacked Mat Board

Mom was out enjoying the fireworks, so I tried a harder subject. I know I promised something uber special, and while I like this, I was hoping for me, my mom, and my grandma to all paint together. But it didn't happen. Rats.

So Justin was here and it hit me that I have yet to paint him... ever. So I told him to sit down, read his new book, and try not to move so much.

So about a hour into it he started fidgeting and I wrapped it up, threw in a... well... I guess I could call that a background, and decided it looks just like him. I really had to work fast on this one. But I love the painterly style I get. Hopefully mom and I will start painting together again soon.

Ja!

P.S. Tune in tomorrow where I review a book. Kinda.