Portrait Sketch

About every other month, I like to draw something as accurately as I possibly can without the use of tracing, grid or transfer. Just good old fashioned eye-balling. I have many good photographers in the family and this photo was taken by my son, Mike. I love the lighting on her sweet, pensive expression. I worked an hour here, an hour there...taking breaks from my assignments and commissions. I could refine it more but I think I'll leave it the way it is.

Progress in Oil

Trying to paint on a linen board. It soaks up the paint way more than I'm used to. Not sure I like that. If anyone's wondering, that's a shadow coming across her face. Looking pretty harsh at the moment...none too subtle. The paint is not pliable at all on this surface. I keep repeating my motto....this is all about learning.

Here's the progress on the face and background.. Got the ribbon in too.

Grisaille Approach - Part Deux

Here's the first swipe of oil. I'm trying to use glazes and then work in opaques on the lit side of the picture. I like the fact that the values are already in place because of the under painting and show through the transparent shadowed areas.

Frankly, I don't know what I'm doing but it is fun and I'm not going to worry about making mistakes. This is about learning. At least, that's what I'm telling myself.

Fugitive Moments

Just one of the benefits of having 10 grandchildren living close by is the availability of adorable subject models. Although most of my time recently has been divided between teaching an after school fantasy art class, and the first phase of illustrations for a children's book, I have my little side projects. These consist mainly of fan art inspirations and personal images (I also have been working on my own assignments from a class I'm taking).

This is one of those personal projects. The model is Mia (she did so awesome) and her aunt Audrey took the pictures. (My thanks to both and to mother Bevany for getting her all ready).

This has been one of those images I can't shake from my head. It's about the brief time our children are within our influence and the importance of what we do with that time. I believe when children come to us, they are instilled with an innate desire to ascend. How fragile is their hold on that power to soar. They protect the thin barrier that houses that inertia but it is easily penetrated and punctured. How I wish I could take back the deflating comments I spoke in careless haste to my children. Once spoken, the damage is done. Some of that "vertical soul" is lost. I want to convey in this work, the need for building and uplifting words to help them rise to their potential. Like the popsicle, our time with them melts away and our children leave us with either the hard words we speak or the sweet taste of acceptance and encouragement. In truth, it's usually both.
Using the computer to help me decide the color scheme. I will also try out 2 other pictures to see which works best.

Intensified the colors in the balloons here.

Intensified the popsicle and laid down some white over the gray in the dress.

Twelve Days of Grandchildren - Miss Mia

The 9th time a grandma, my son, he gave to me...

MIA

She has the most beautiful blue eyes that look right through you. She likes to paint and amazes Grandma with her control of the brush. She can eat a whole apple down to the core. She is often a quiet observer. I don't think much gets past her. She is strong willed. She can't wait to play soccer like her older sister, Keigan. She likes to be read to. She loves her baby brother.