Drawing a Day 20150215

Cupcake Again

Gouache and pencil on paper

Really enjoyed playing with that cupcake drawing the other day, but thought maybe I should be doing it in gouache because I was laying the colors on so thick. Thing is, I haven't done gouache in years. Some of my paint was 15 years old. I know the saying "It's a poor craftsman that blames his tools" and I'm not, but I was frustrated when some of my paints were rock hard. I'm having a hard time deciding whether I want to persue gouache more but it would be a bit of a financial investment because I can't use these paints as is. 

I did enjoy going in harshly with pencil at the end. It was empowering!

Drawing a Day 20150214

Me. (Drawing on paper).

Really not in the mood to draw today. But I did it.

Drawing a Day 20150213

Owl (Pencil on paper). No image today. Was working all night on freelance, so I didn't get to spend much time (12 min. total). Heard an owl outside and it inspired me to draw one. As I started to draw it, I began to recognize the elements that are so commonly stylized, so I started to loosely extract them. Interesting, but not something I'm excited to share.

Very excited to uncover my gouache and crossing my fingers they still work. Hopefully will play this weekend.

Drawing a Day 20150209

Deep

Pencil on paper

This was a quick one, and a nod to Thirty-Eight Self Portraits (Because I Wish I Were Smaller) -- one of my favorite pieces I have ever done. I'd like to get back into more work in that style. 

The photo from which I worked was horrible and lacked detail -- I had to make a lot of it up. It was taken tonight at about 10pm as I helped clear the snow.

Drawing a Day 20150208

Cracked

Pencil on paper

There was a class at SMFA I always wanted to take but I never did. I don't remember what it was but I do remember my friend Julie took it. I remember they had to draw things like cracks and spots on the sidewalk -- mundane things in everyday life, but pretty interesting and complicated when you draw them. 

Our house is almost 300 years old and with the original wide floor boards, we have a lot of cracks. Perfect to draw. 

Drawing a Day 20150205

Wanna Try Again (Tomorrow?!)

Pencil and watercolor on paper

Meh. But I posted because I do want to try again. This is very muddy and overworked. In this case, my two year old's drawing as a ground didn't work so well. I feel like I was also lazy and rushed in this one. I think I am getting sick so I am not totally there.

Drawing a Day 20150204

Self portrait. Need Work Shading (Pencil on Paper).

This was nothing but frustration today. It has inspired me to take an class or read a book on shading in portraiture. I keep going in circles on the same thing.

Drawing a Day 20150203

Today was a self-portrait as suggested by Anonymous in a comment two days ago. It's called This Isn't Me (Pencil on paper). It's been a while since I have done self portraits and so I am really shy about it. It didn't look like me at all.

I'll keep working on them.

This one was a first. I was too lazy to find a mirror. I opened Facetime on my computer and used the image staring back at me.

Drawing a Day 20150202

Ice Cream Truck

Pencil and watercolor on paper

This is rough. I am posting it for a couple of reasons. 

1. I had so much fun. 
2. I was lazy and didn't want to brave all the snow to get to the studio. I got creative and cut up one of my toddler's watercolor paintings and used it as a ground and I love that part of it. (I can't keep all of the work they do -- they are so prolific -- so I have to pick and choose. This way I am recycling and king of keeping it anyway.
3. I see parts of this drawing I really like and I want to expand on further. 

Drawing a Day 20150201

I drew birds. Pencil on paper. 

I'm not posting it. I have been doing a lot of thinking about this project. 

I love the privacy of art, the way you can keep it yours until (and if) you are ready to share. 

By posting every day, I was putting too much pressure on myself. I wasn't allowing myself to be bold, to push the boundaries, to experiment in areas I am not comfortable.

I have so little time to make art. The time is mine and it shouldn't be stressful. I want to be ok with spending only ten minutes some days if that's all the time or energy I have.

I promise I will post daily in this first month to hold myself accountable, but it won't always be a picture. 

Thanks for your support and understanding. 

Drawing a Day 20150131

Oh Dear

Pencil on paper

A friend wants a dear for a logo. Thought I'd finally play with it. Different than I have ever done. Needs work. 

I actually wanted to do a freer drawing (was looking at work by illustrators James Dean and Oliver Jeffers today and I just love their styles) but clearly that didn't happen. 

I also was limited by supplies today. I went to the studio to get new paper, etc. but K was working on my door. I didn't want to ask him to move even though he offered. He's been working so hard for me! (Nice new wall and door, huh?)

Drawing a Day 20150130

Ten Years

Pencil on paper

Not thrilled. Started this too late and I am too tired so I was super frustrated and frankly not wanting to draw. But I did rally through, and got my creative brain working, and that's important. 

Might have to reexamine the rules and allow myself a day off once a week?

Drawing a Day 20150128

Goodwill

Pencil and watercolor on paper

I wanted to play today. I have been really into using white in my past few drawings and so I found a blue piece of paper and played with using white for the negative space to make the image pop. I had fun! Not sure I love it, but I had fun and that's what counts.

Tiny Pieces

Yesterday was a very productive day at the studio. I put all my anxieties aside and just created. I worked on some sketches of Ernie, and one of my face (being an artist makes you quite vain in a way, because the best and easiest model you have is yourself in the mirror)...

I also made two tiny pieces...Spray Bottle is 3x5" on a piece of board that has been collaged and sanded. The image is watercolor, gouache, pencil, and ink.

Screen Filler is about 5.5" square on a piece of wood. It's done in ink and gouache. Yes, I just rediscovered my water based paints and I am loving them.

I think I am going to start working on a series of containers. I seem to have this obsession. I don't know why.