a study and a poured piece

This week I have two pieces.... one is graphite, it's a study for an eventual painting. The working title for it is "Sittin' on the Dock by the Bay." The second piece is a poured painting... a strong graphic pattern subdued by the soft colors.... I haven't titled it yet.

colored pencil drawing

This week I have been dealing with some issues that have taken away from art making time but they've been important issues so I'm not minding that. I did finally get a drawing done on Friday... the image was on wetcanvas, an internet art site that I visit alot. The challenge was to do a figure with as little detail as possible and still have it recognizable. Well, I certainly flunked the challenge... there's way more detail than there may have been but I was in love with the guy's sweater and detail just kept creeping in.... here is the poleman done in my sketchbook.

Oil painting

Well, I missed a week. Actually, I was busy clearing clutter from my studio so I could find a space to work. That done, we had house guests... enjoyable guests so it wasn't a burden. We did some artist things like visit the Art Museum one day and a friend's studio the next. Once they were on their way I did a couple quickie things while I continue to work on a couple of major pieces. The wetcanvas web site had a challenge... work on a different surface... so I did. I hadn't worked in oil for a very long time so I tried two little 6"x6 pieces... both on wrapped canvas (the type that doesn't require a frame.) The first is with Shiva Paint Sticks and a brush, the second is watersoluable oils done with a palette knife. Both of them were great fun... I just may try a few more oils.

A Bunch of Buoys

This started out to be a quick sketch to determine values for a painting... I got carried away. The subject is something I came upon by accident while I was in Petoskey. Walking in sandles in sand is not a fun thing so I went through the boat house to get to the other end of the beach.... what treasures I found in there.... lots of material for drawing and painting during the winter months.

Watercolor Sketches

This past week I was fortunate to be Artist In Residence at the Terrace Inn which is located in Bayview, Michigan, a Methodist Chau·tau·qua just a bit north of Petoskey... a great area but the weather didn't cooperate this year.... it was cold and rainy until the last two days. However, the Terrace Inn was full of interesting guests and the food there is outstanding. If you're in the area do visit. They serve lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. While I was there I worked on some pourings but those aren't done... I also did some watercolor sketches which I may turn into note cards for next year.... I took lots of photos too.... so I can have some Bayview paintings when I go next year.

Colored Pencil this week

I've been clearing clutter from my studio which means I haven't been making art... it was a total disaster. However, I promised myself, at least one piece a week so Friday I did a something I haven't done in a very long time... colored pencil... a turtle that was one of the images from the wet canvas weekend drawing event... I'm quite pleased with how it came out. I like turtles... they are a good reminder.... if you're going to get anywhere you've got to stick your neck out.

Another chine collé print

I'm still experimenting and still thrilled to see the result when I pull up those felts... even when the result isn't as good as I would have liked. This week I did several prints but only one chine collé and it's going to hang in my studio. I didn't cut the grey quite right so the chine collé part is a little off. I also decided, after seeing the finished piece, that I should have used a lighter color for the grey. I'm pleased enough to hang it in my studio but not enough to put it out there to sell. I still have much to learn about printmaking.