Catching up

The August mandala was completed and my dear friend, Sunshine, suggested that I try it in different colors. So the September mandala is also shown. I had decided not to add the outline, but seeing the piece on the computer is making me second guess that decision. Sometimes it's scary to make the final addition!

Figure drawing has begun again and I am encouraged that this piece actually looks somewhat like the model.

April drawings

My mandala for April continued to teach me about calmness, design and color. 

I have been attending figure drawing session and maybe someday I'll be right on! Max is the first model.

                                                          Zach is another great model.

Golly, I just got his right arm to short. Oh well, I'll have to try again.

Figure Drawing

Figure drawing sessions have started again for the 2015-16 year. This was my attempt using a Derwent sketching pencil and a water brush. The journey continues.

Discovery and Diane

Discovery is the title of this quilt piece  (21x19"). The reason for the title is that I have learned there is more that I can accomplish. What a discovery! The fabric is cotton sateen that I hand dyed. Next, I quilted it using some designs which I had not previously attempted. Last, I painted the black. This is a very brave move after having completed the quilt.

My figure drawing session was lucky to have Diane pose for us. She has modeled for about 25 years and was able to hold the last pose for one hour! This piece did not last that long.

A Study of Figures

Until May 10th, there is a figure drawing show at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center. 

Here are two pieces that I submitted.

This was thread drawn on fabric. I'm happy to be moving in this direction. Trying something new!

Using the same image, I did a fabric collage figure. I was going to use the same method on the background, but realized that I had this glorious cotton fabric that I had dyed. Each piece is 11 x 14".

Tonight I was trying to be motivated to draw and realized that my husband was sleeping in his chair and was, therefore, a perfect model. Golly, he even recognized himself after his nap!

Mixed bag projects

Yes, I have been doing lots of activities, but apparently I haven't posted them. 

Figure drawing continues on Friday mornings. I'm chuckling as it seems that for 

the final long poses (20 to 40 minutes), the model usually has her back to me. 

As warm-ups we do two minutes poses. Below are examples.

This fabric piece has my hand dyed fabric which is the orange and turquoise, machine stitched on a purchased silk. I then stitched the beads and hand quilted the piece.

This close up may make it easier to see the details.

I'm making adorable dresses for my 3 year twin grandchildren and have begun working on another red, white and blue quilt as a gift to a veteran. I'll post them when I'm done. Of course, there are always zentangles being created as well! 

Figure drawing

Figure drawing sessions have resumed after the Christmas break. The Sacramento Fine Arts Center has space for our weekly 3 hour gathering. Many of the artists are really good and I am always learning from them. Here are a few of my pieces from two different sessions.

Oh, here is zentangle that I did in my new Stillman & Birn sketchbook. I've heard so many nice comments about the product that I had to try it. It's relatively smooth even though it says that it has a rough finish. i.e. it nicely handles both watercolor and pen.

Zentangle and figure drawing

This week I did another zentangle mandala. I cut a snowflake from tissue paper, traced it with a pencil and then connected points with my ink pen. This approach means that if I traced it a second time, I would most likely have a different design. I've used ink and colored pencil.

Figure drawing still draws my interest. One of my big hang ups is making the head to skinny. Oh well, I'll keep trying.

Trying to do it all

 Figure drawing has started again and I'm beginning to grasp the art of drawing after three years. I'm lucky to have people who are willing to mentor struggling artists!

For the grand kids I found this panel (one solid piece of fabric with the design printed) and spent hours quilting it with love. Really, it was educational for me as I do not know the capitals of each state. Hope that they have hours of fun.

Recently, my husband and I took a mini vacation. We included a visit to Railtown, California State Historic Park in Jamestown, CA.

This old engine has been in hundreds of movies and television shows, including Petticoat Junction and Wild Wild West. The people restoring this old trains have a real passion for their work.

The last picture is an update of our garage wall. I don't work when it's 100 degrees and since I know that there is no deadline for this project, I work on it "whenever".

Hope that you enjoyed looking into this mixed bag.

Figure drawing and twin talk

Really, I have been doing some drawing as well as travel, gardening and enjoying life. Friday I was able to attend the figure drawing gathering. These are two of the pieces from that session.





It's fun to start feeling good about my drawings. Think that the top face could use a bit more chin. Yet, the pieces are getting better in proportion and they look like real women!

I had traveled to Ohio to see the grandkids. My grandson is doing better with his asthma, but the family must now be more alert to any breathing problems and diligent with medicine. He was camera shy for this visit. The picture of the twins is not a great photo, but it means so much. This captured one of the rare times that I could hear "twin talk". They were having quite a discussion about a book. The bond that is forming between these sisters is so delightful.



Spring is here and it feels so good. May everyone have a glorious Easter (even if you must stay inside!).

A request. Would one of you computer savvy people please help me to post the sideshow of my mandalas. I created the movie in Picasa and as you can see I labeled the "gadget", but I can't seem to add the pictures. Thanks.

Moleskin and figure drawing

Seems that I'm doing a lot, but have little to verify that fact! I glanced at my zentangle moleskin that has been sorely neglected. So, I happened to be in the local art store and found some acrylic templates. That is what I used for this circle design. I'm not sure if it is done, but this is its current look.

Figure drawing sessions are every Friday morning and this weeks model was Brooke. There are so many talented artists in this group. Luckily I sit next to a woman who is willing to share her observations. I'm slowly learning how to use pastel pencils.

May all who live on the East coast be safe. Gorgeous weather here in California which seems strange when you see the destruction getting worse each hour on the other side of the country.

Figures

I won't bore you with the house and computer demise problems that we've experienced over the last month. Let's move to a more pleasant subject of art! Figure drawing sessions have again started and this piece really has made me feel that I'm making progress. It's done with pastel pencils.

I dropped in for a watercolor class as I wanted to learn the instructors technique for painting and outline. First she takes a pencil and meanders down the page. Then she ponders and pulls out the image. This is what I produced.

It's a silly piece, but was so much fun to create. I see a future for this technique as it combines watercolor and zentangles.

A True Mixed Bag

This post is truly a mixed bag. I did purchase some paper that is recommended for pastel, as I decided not to wait until September. (Why did I think that I had to wait?) The piece is a 40 minute figure drawing that I did in Friday's class.



Onward to a quilt block. I have wanted to do a kaleidoscope piece for a long time and finally found the courage as I have a art quilt that I'm making. This idea comes from Paula Nadelstern's fantastic pieces which are highlighted in two books that I have by her: Kaleidoscope Quilts and Kaleidoscope Quilts The Workbook. While reading her text, she is generous about not perfect seams, they may come with practice. After I finished this piece, I realized that it's to big for the specific project that I'm working on. Yes, it will be used in another quilt.



Last is a real off the wall piece. One day when we were golfing with our friends, I picked up a broken tee and said that there must be an art piece waiting to happen. We have a larger piece in mind, but I had to see how it would work. I first painted the 6x6" canvas with acrylic paint (several layers, of course) and then glued the tees. When I was finished I coated the tees with a medium gloss as an extra coat of glue. This piece was finished inside my cool house, as it was 105 degrees yesterday.



Oh gee! there are so many more projects to try!!

Figure drawing

There are only two more weeks of figure drawing before we break for the summer. I will miss the sessions on Friday mornings.
Again, I tend to use pastel pencils and next year I am treating myself to better paper.






After a weekend with winds up to 25 mph, all is quiet and temperatures will be in the 90's this week. Maybe I'll find something "cool" to draw.

Be Still Oh Inner Critic

There are times when we must overlook the inner critic. I continue to go to figure drawing sessions and am learning to still the critic. This piece was done with a charcoal pencil on paper that had "tooth". I can pick at details, BUT I guess that I like it because there is hope.

I've made another quilt for Quilts of Honor. You may recognize the pattern from a previous posting. This piece is 58"x58" and will be given to a deserving veteran.

And--just to remind you that Spring is really here. This picture of apple blossoms was taken at a friends house.

Odds and ends

I made the quilt that is pictured below, to be auctioned at a fundraiser for a soccer club. Yes, someone won the quilt, but the winning bid barely covered my costs. It may be a while before I consider making another one. Oh well, that happens.

Since is was intrigued by the design, I used it on an 8" x 8" dot piece. I continue to learn about using the dots as the best certainly background colors work better an others. The learning continues.

Yes, I continue to go to the figure drawing sessions. Someone suggested contrast so I added the yellow. OK, sometimes I get carried away.

The more I do art, the more I seem to "need" to immerse myself in the process. This feeling may be the same for you!

Watercolor Lesson & Figure Drawing

Continuing with my lessons in Painting Realistic Water Colors by Dawn McLeod Heim, I finished project #4 which is the rose and wine glass. It was suggested that you prepare 15 different colors (I did 14). This was quite a stretch for me. Also, she does not tell you where each color is to be placed, but you are supposed to be advanced and can refer to the color photograph. Basically I'm moved out of my comfort zone. However, I did finish this piece and have started on the next lesson.

Today I went to my figure drawing session.This was a 25 minute drawing done with pastel pencil. As I sit down to draw, I wonder how "with it" I'll be each day. I was comfortable in my space and found that I was holding the pencil in a more relaxed way and I was observing negative spaces. Certainly room from improvement, but I only have 9,950 more drawings until I can accurately capture the image!!

Figure drawing

After a summer break, figure drawing sessions are again being held on Friday mornings. We start with 2 minutes poses and work up to the longest pose of 35 to 45 minutes. There is sooo much talent in the class. I enjoy seeing the different media that people use from charcoal, to pastels to watercolor. I'm like the kid in the candy store. I want to try everything. However, I seem to settle on pastel pencils for the longer poses.

This was a 35 minute drawing. I am beginning to get some of the concepts and proportions correct and then--I know that I have so much more to conquer. That's OK, it's fun to keep trying.

Figure drawing

OK, I continue to sew for my grandbabies, but the opportunity for attending figure sessions is one that I don't want to miss.

This first drawing was a 20 minute pose. For these two pieces I used pastel pencils. I continue to learn about the figure as well as the many tools.



This yellow reclining figure was a 30 minute pose. There are hints that I'm getting the idea. However, when I finished, I realized that her head was to small and I added more hair. Ahhh, nice idea, but still off. Yet, I pleased that I learning about shading. Each Friday morning for three hours I get to join some really talented artists. We do work in silence, but many, when asked, will share their knowledge at breaks.