The majority of my work is in artists quality coloured pencils, however I also have series of works in oils, acrylics and pen.
I have created this art journal to document my journey, whether it be art, design, promotion or business. I look forward to sharing my experiences, techniques and inspirations with others and hope that it can in turn help others on their journey, or maybe might just help to fill in a bit of free internet browsing time :)
Here is an update :) All is going not too bad, i wasnt too careful when i did the neocolors on the cloth so i have realised i have colour where i wanted it to be white, but no much i can do about that i can live with that for now.
Just have to spray a few coats of fixative and make some adjustments here and there. Then i should be done, i hope.
So here is my work on my newest piece. I thought i would be nice and do a WIP as i go along for everyone.
This piece is 8X10" or 20X25cms piece and i have been using Neocolor II for the underpainting with coloured pencil over the top.
Neocolors and i actually go back a loooooong way. My aunty who is an artist came out to visit us when i was about 10 she had some of these with her and i remember being fascinated with the way she mixed water with crayon !! she ended up leaving me her set of 12 and this is the same set i have used to do the underpainting of this piece. I actually saw someone using them in my life drawing class the other day and thought hmmm i must get those out. Then when i opened my monthly issue of > FMP by > Ann Kulberg and read the Step bystep demo from > Ranjini Venkatachari (i am a huge fan of Ranjini's work and have been for sometime she does amazing work) i knew this was a sign i was meant to get these out.
Pic 1 is just the Neocolors
Pic 2 is when i started to mix the colours with a damp brush on the background
Pic 3 is blending the colours all over and some coloured pencil on the background
Pic 4 is coloured pencil on the background and starting the pear
Pic 5 is continuing on with coloured pencil on the pear
I am really enjoying this process its been great. I am working on Stonehenge i thought perhaps i needed Arches to hold the water but the good old Stonehenge is really holding it for me.
On this piece i am also using a new battery operated sharpener (which i picked up at office works for about $12-) my electric one is great but it just doesn't seem to get the point sharp enough this one does a fantastic job.
I found that i really used the Neocolors just like watercolours blending and adding more colours washing bits out as needed. I also just wet the brush on the tip of the crayon for a stronger colour rather than drawing onto the paper.
I also have used a bit of Zest-It here and there on the background and the pear i found i could knock a few colours back where i had gone too strong and just helped with filling in those ridges.
Anyway thats it for now will post more soon.
As my dear friend Marion said to me today "Nothing like the fear of failure to help you get your butt in gear" which in thinking about her comment is so very true.
Next month we are off to the country to have a weekend with the in-laws. They live in horse and wine country. The MIL has been talking about some new markets they have up there for a a while now and has booked us in for a stall... while she is selling cakes and biscuits i will be selling/displaying art and my mirrors. So now i have a deadline for something it actually feels like i am working in overtime to get some things done to show. I am also not milling around on what i am working on and just getting on with it!!!
Judging from reading other artist's experiences from art fairs to be honest i am not expecting to sell a whole lot at the market itself. But the town is horse town i think one of the most well known in Australia and i think i would do well for the exposure of having a few pieces there for some possible commissions or just to even get feedback on artwork to see what people like and dislike. I am toying with the idea of getting some prints done but i am not sure on that one just yet.
So the past few days my but has been in gear thinking about and planning all that ... i have started a new piece which i hopefully will show you tomorrow which i am quite happy with so far using Neocolours II and coloured pencils. I am really enjoying actually doing a finished piece as its been a while if it all goes to plan.
Anywho, not really fantastic news but i am excited about so i thought i would let you all in on my thoughts.
weekly smudge! - things that have interested me during the week
This week will be a short one. Firstly on my current theme of TREES i have to highlight this artist Elizabeth Reed Smith. What is unique about Elizabeth's work is rather what she doesn't include rather than what she does, she uses alot of white and the outline of the trees on a dramatic background rather than drawing the trees themselves. I would like to give this type of thing a try one time.
check her work out at: http://elizabethsmithprints.com/
Raphael Sanzio (1483-1520)
In the lifedrawing workshop i attended on the weekend the teacher gave us a bunch of handouts on various artists and techniques. She highlighted he various styles of old master works and what was good about them. One of the ones she highlighted was Raphael Sanzio who is a well known a master of line and tone as an ability to make his drawings deceivingly simple.
His paintings are well known but i was interested in his drawings ... here are a few i have found online they are just beautiful check them out:
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hi/hi_raph.htm
