Pastels

Mary Silverwood is a pastel artist that has recently died.  I love her use of color in her landscapes.  This one is Sentinel.  I almost can feel the wind and smell the grasses and earth.  I hope to one day be able to use my pastels and have it turn out so well.

Changes

While on vacation I felt a little sadness creep in as I had the feeling this would be the last time we would stay in the Clear Lake area.  We have been coming up to this area for about 10 years over the Thanksgiving weekend to give my husband Tom and our son Tim a chance to hunt and still celebrate the holiday. 

 I used my time to capture a few of the items at the cottage we rent.  The fireplace doesn't work and standing in front of it is a trio of metal sculptured frogs playing in a band.  I always thought they were cute so I decided to draw them.  I was able to use their head as my one unit to place them on my format.  I find it easier to draw from real life than a picture. My main problem is being careful that my light source doesn't change while I am drawing.

Working on drawing the face in profile.  I will be drawing my son Tim's profile after Thanksgiving.  This will be the first Thanksgiving that Tim won't be able to go up north with us.  I plan on taking my little moleskin sketch book up with me to practice improving my drawing skills. 

I can't wait until I can go back to the museum to draw again and I am also looking forward to seeing the Rembrandt collection.  I wanted to go on my birthday yesterday, but Tom wanted to wait until the exhibit has been open for awhile.  Yesterday was its official opening date.

 I am posting this drawing of Tomato leaves drawn in negative spaces.  I found this so interesting to look at that I think it would make a great way to decorate gift bags.  I am also thinking about doing a few color drawings of negative city spaces to see how they turn out.

Lost Art

When I use to draw I mainly drew horses, buildings, trees and flowers.  I alway thought that drawing a person was just beyond me.  When I was at Western I drew a pen and ink drawing of a live oak tree.  I was planning on framing it as it turned out so nice.  My instructor had selected it along with 5 other artist's works to display in the showcase over the next month.  At the end of the month I went to get my picture only to find that of all the drawings that were displayed only mine had disappeared.  I tried to reproduce it, but at the time I was so angry I just couldn't.  Because of moving so many times, water damage etc all my other drawings are gone.  The only other drawing that may still exist from this time was a drawing of a horse I did in pastels I gave my neighbor in Westland.  

I don't know why I stopped drawing back then except that I started studing architecutre and was always drawing  buildings and roadways.  Back then I used an easel in art class but a drafting table at home.  I am excited today as I bought my first easel.  It only cost $25 and is very adaptable and portable.  This should make drawing easier.