Oil Painting Thumbnail

With a long drive, as the day came to a close, I had time to think of an idea for an oil painting. I'd like to use mostly dark, warm browns like Rembrandt seemed to use. I want to use light in the 2 places where there is subject matter, but make the wall real. I want to do this because the wall is real in life.

Baby Calvin

One week old and part of the 365 days of making art! Calvin is my newest and third grandson. He is a real cutie and seems to have a really peaceful disposition. I just loved holding him, rocking him and walking with him. I had just a little time at the end of this busy day for a sketch.

Framing Art

My least favorite part of art-making is framing:-) It's part of the whole process and it brings real closure on the piece(although, I have been known to take art out of a frame to work on it some more). So, for now, here is some closure on a portrait of Katie. Happy Birthday, Katie.

I also started a watercolor trying to use the principles of composition I have been studying this spring. I will try to lay down some of the color tomorrow. I will call this a study on composition. It is loading sideways, but it is too late to try to redo it. I will snap a photo with paint tomorrow.

Imagine this scene! A famous artist spends weeks, probably months, carefully constructing with his brushes a beautiful painting on a canvas. Little by little the image takes shape, the colours of the background and then the detail of the foreground emerge. Then, when it is finished, and the picture is finally unveiled for all to see, people are amazed at its beauty. Who gets the praise? The picture or the artist?

Accordian Books

I have been enjoying reading about accordion books...no they are not musical instruments, but books that are one, long piece of heavy paper folded accordian style. I am going to try to create my own children's book for this idea. My ideas will have to percolate for a few days. Here is a blog where I saw the idea: http://margemalwitz.blogspot.com/ The concept could be used with children or adults. I really want to try it! Marge is amazing.

I am looking forward to the long weekend and getting some sleep here and there. It is supposed to rain with what they call "sun breaks" around here. What to draw tonight???? Stay tuned!

Well, after going into Seattle and seeing Fiddler on the Roof, I drew a really quick sketch.
Lots of great dancing and singing.

Art Show / Young Authors

We had a really fun, creative time at school tonight as we enjoyed the art created and books written by the students during this past year. It was a wonderful, community- making event. It's one of the nicest evenings at school.

I sketched on a portrait during the dinner hour, but the drawing paper began breaking down in one spot, so I had to let it go. I had to say good-bye to that piece and try again. Here is a butterfly I made when making art with a student after school.
It is on my bulletin board.

Happy Birthday Katie

Here is my daughter, Katie. Happy Birthday my dear daughter on June 2nd! You are an amazing woman. Fantastic wife and mother of three sons. She has a lovely voice and is skilled in loving many. She is beautiful artwork of God.

The artist is not a special kind of person. Every person is a special kind of artist. Eric Gill

Little Lives

Some thoughts on the birth of my new grandson and his family. How precious a new little one is, and my grandson all swaddled in his little newborn blanket, is the epitome of precious. Babies always make me think of Psalm 139. This portion from the Message speaks of my heart when I look at my daughter and son-in-law as they hold their new little one.

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother's womb.
I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I'd even lived one day.

I'm going to start a portrait of my daughter, Katie. Portraits are hard, but important art to at least try. I am going to try to use browns instead of blacks. Here are the first lines. I like the browns.

Enslaved Children

I decided to go back to being a voice, at least once in a while, to those children who don't have a voice. Shedding light in dark places is part of loving God's artwork - these children. Let's not forget them.

3 Grandsons Asleep

Well, it's been a wonderful weekend with my 2 older grandsons. The whole family enjoyed welcoming Calvin Joshua Husby to the family. 8 pounds 8 ounces and 20 inches long. Very blonde hair.

I have been so busy with the two older boys and doing some things around Katie and Eric's house before I go. I can't wait to come back for the long memorial day weekend.

I am heading for home soon, and I'll probably do a quick sketch before I call it a night. I will have to post it tomorrow when I have my camera. I'll try to sketch the baby tonight....

Blessings to all, especially Micah, Caleb and Calvin....who are supposed to be fast asleep.

My New Grandson

Calvin Joshua Husby has arrived! Here is my daughter and my brand new grandson shortly after his birth this evening. I've been pre-occupied with my two older grandsons, etc to really make art today, although Micah and I did put together a birdhouse with Popsicle sticks.

Since I don't have my camera. you'll have to trust me:-) I am thrilled that the new baby has arrived healthy and happy. Thankful, for all God's blessings, and Calvin in particular. God is an amazing artist, and I worship Him for giving us Calvin.

I hope to celebrate 200 days of making art on Monday instead of this weekend!

"...and never hurry through the world, but walk slowly, and bow often."--Mary Oliver

I know where the sun goes at night! (Micah) Where?(Me) It goes behind the moon to hide, and give the moon a little shine!" (Micah) Why does it hide behind the moon?(Me) Cuz that's the only thing in the sky big enough to hide behind. (Micah)

Day 199!

I am really beyond tired, and I will have to go to sleep soon. I can't imagine making art tonight, but I will do something. I found two different sketch pads to use for the summer. They are smaller and one can fit in a bag or purse of some sort.

I went to B and N for Mary Oliver poetry. I was not disappointed, and broke down and bought The Truro Bear and Other Adventures. I was happy to see my well-loved poem about the grasshopper inside the thin edition.

I found another little treasure:
Black Snake
I startled a young black snake; he
flew over the grass and hid his face

under a leaf, The rest of him in plain sight.
Little brother, often I've done the same - Mary Oliver, The Truro Bear

I love the beauty of her words.

Well, let's see what I can draw........

Making funny faces - Think of the human face as a circle with an imaginary triangle linking the eyes with the center of the mouth. Try changing the dimensions of the triangle, flattening or elongating the circle. There are endless possibilities! I can't believe my friend Aaron can do so much with his sketching on a laptop. I need to get a pen!

OK, Back on Track

OK, well, I have decided I am too close to 200 posts to stop posting drawings now....just 2 days away!

My encouragement came in the form of a poem which I have posted below. I have stumbled upon Mary Oliver; sorry for being so slow to all you poets out there:-) I can just picture myself in the grass enjoying the moment of seeing the grasshopper, feeling the grass and enjoying the worship of God's creation just by lying down in the midst of it.

I am continuing the sketch from yesterday.


The Summer Day

by Mary Oliver

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

from New and Selected Poems, 1992
Beacon Press, Boston, MA

Copyright 1992 by Mary Oliver.
All rights reserved.

Grandfather and Grandson

I am working on a new portrait. It is of a grandfather and his grandson. I am working on layers, the eraser and leaving spaces open in order to focus on eyes. I still have decisions to make with the grandson's eyes. It will come, I pray.

Discipline and Endurance

I am in the discipline and endurance phase of drawing every day. I actually want to quit posting drawings even though I have made art today. I didn't make art because I thought I had to get something on the blog. Maybe I am outgrowing the whole blog idea??? Maybe it has just been scaffolding for me to launch out and make art because now my inner discipline and passion are working together. I pray before drawing like breathing in and out. I'll just have to think and pray about whether I want to keep the blog going.

Here is a picture of more work done on Aliana and Erica.

Aliana and Erica Study

I am hoping all this drawing of noses and lips and eyes will help in making better and better portraits faster and faster. I am trying hard to work more and more quickly so I can make portraits on the run, in town, at a coffee shop, at the bus terminal, the market, wherever.

This is a study of Erica kissing her newborn baby, Aliana. Isn't her name beautiful? What beauty God has made in a little baby. Especially when asleep!

Word Written On Hearts

I sketched during the sermon today in church. I prayed and asked for God to help me as I responded as an artist. I have seen artists use calligraphy in oil paintings... usually in Hebrew or Aramaic or Greek. I thought since the passage preached on reminded us the Word is written on our hearts, I'd try sketching it. What a concept of beauty. Beautiful hearts. Art expressing it with the Word.

It would be fun to turn this into a painting of some sort. Another day.

Sparky day 2

I sketched during my salon appointment and did some more on the background this evening. It was fun to use the eraser almost as much as the pencil. Now, I have an example of this technique to show my students. The portrait is more ready for final touches.

I get to see my subject matter in person tomorrow during church. Sparky waits for her master in the car during the morning service. I hope to make a few areas more 3-D and make the face look convincingly like Sparky.

Desires

About 190 days ago, a friend gave me permission to ask God to give me the desires of my heart. I was shocked. It was a paradigm shift for me, and I felt I was coming back to life after a long walk of less than. One of my important desires is to make art to love Him, honor Him, enjoy Him. and, well, be who I am, who He made me to be.

I am amazed to be continuing in making art and am now heading toward teaching art full time. It is almost mind-boggling to me that art is becoming such a huge part of the ebb and flow of my life -for real! I am excited for the new position, and I pray all I have been practicing will help in a good transition.

Tonight, I begin drawing a friend's dog's portrait. I pray for greater skill. Sparky...it's a start, but sleep calls.

Day 190 of the 365 Days of Art

...but who is counting? I feel like I am in the middle of the half marathon I ran twice in my lifetime. Once, I kept up 8 minute miles throughout and broke 2 hours. Really cool experience, and it was great because I was able to do it with a friend. We trained for months to get the time we wanted to achieve.

Maybe there are parallels here. I keep drawing and painting. Maybe, someday there with be painting or drawing "marathons" for me. I'll prepare because I do want to make art full-time someday. I wonder if that day will come. In the meantime, I train.

A Portrait

This one is for a student. I'm thinking it might be nice to sketch each student, but I don't know if I can get it done before school ends. It is certainly not photography to do portraits well.

This student asks to see what I have drawn each day. I hope this will be a nice surprize for her!

Draw, draw, draw

Sometimes, I wonder why I am doing all this drawing. I keep struggling with art for art's sake, art for God's sake, art to make money, art to feel God's presence in me, art to bring joy to others, art to encourage others, art for no reason at all, art because it is in me and has to come out. When I get to heaven, I think I might get to make art without guilt or conflicted thinking or any reason at all. Until then, I guess I will just be a part of the conversation and creative process...just because....I am created in God's image. Day 188...I think I will have a little party when I hit day 200.

This is a quick sketch of Aliana. I'll try again over the next few days.

Production Design for Animation

Bird picture loaded properly after second attempt! I was trying to incorporate marble paper and painting and computer animation all in one. I think I am going to try to do marbling on canvas and see how it goes. I like the look of the pattern behind the bird. I used the book, "Dream Worlds" for my idea. At this point, I am basically trying to copy to try to get ideas and new vocabulary down. The author says to draw, draw, draw all the time. 365 days:-)

Sabbath Rest

I have taken a day off from making art.....well, I got up from my weekend of mostly rest and prayed. I asked the Lord to help me draw. My grandson was given a little wooden boat by his dad's parents - Nana and Poppa. I saw the pictures when I awoke. I did this quick sketch, with God's help.

Composition

I am studying composition, and I marvel at the holes in my own education. I think I have done as well as I have, because of the natural ability God gave me. The idea of having a real plan in placement of objects on a picture plane is actually making sense for the first time. I have been reading through some online tutorials such as: http://www.explore-drawing-and-painting.com/picture-composition.html to fill in some gaps in my own education. I think all my teachers either thought I'd already had "composition 101" or just skipped it in their teaching when I had them...just that year. Or, maybe I wasn't listening very well?

Today, I teach composition and practice it. I'll post what I come up with soon. Basically, the picture plane needs a focal point and there are certain areas where that focal point should/must be in a good painting. ...I worked on the pot in this painting. I was aiming at having the focal point at the bottom third area of the whole painting. And to the right.

I also did some marbling with my student. Below is the demo I did.

It Is Sunny!

Today, one of my first graders brought me this bouquet. It was just what my heart needed. I was filled with beauty. A couple of faculty members said the flowers look just like me. More love and grace. Thank you, Lord. Mother's day weekend is starting so full of grace.

Another day, and the sun is finally shining in the great Northwest. Everything is better with sunshine splashing on it. After dinner, I hope to try the pretty pink flowers again. I think they might be better with mostly water and very little paint. Still trying for a better composition.
Lord, please help me.

I think I will try drawing them tomorrow to study the shape a bit more. I was trying to be a little painterly with this.

Pretty in Pink

I am tired on a deep level tonight. I need restoration of soul. It is because I miss the sun and its warmth. What to do? Cold, gray most of the day today. Again. Then, the sun peeks out just at the close of the afternoon. I decide to go to an arboratum of sorts, a beautiful garden store with rows and rows of flowers and waterfall fountains. I enjoy the warmth, the oxygen, the bright colors and sounds of songbirds flitting through the greens and florals. It's almost humid.

I decide to buy a songbird CD; I am listening to it now. I walk and walk and walk. Quickly at first, then I lolligag along and stare at pinks and blues I love. And yellows really, really yellow.
I breathe a series of long, contented breaths. A clerk wants to know if I need help. Hmmm, let's not go there. No thanks, I say with a faint smile, and mean it.

I buy a small shocking pink flowery plant. I don't memorize names of flowers. I memorize colors. I take in the deep pink and smile. I'm better.

I am going to try to paint some shocking pink flowers. And listen to my songbirds.

Tonight, I end up spending more time on the pot.... I hope to try again tomorrow. Maybe focus on the flowers....came a few minutes later. I prayed and asked God to help me draw a bloom.

Art 365 Days

I decided to launch a new and improved website that will include other artists of faith. Why? Well, I tried to join a website of artists who make daily art. They had a note posted on the site saying they were not letting any new artists in their group. No matter. I'll start my own group of artists who make art each day. I'd like it to be a place where artists of faith who make art every day can network and encourage each other. I am still working on it, but it is started - http://www.art365days.com

I am drawing a different butterfly with sharpies as I tuck in for the night. I'll try to post a picture soon.

Glasses

I didn't get to continue with my butterfly study; I went to my small group tonight. While there, I worked on trying to draw glasses on eyes. So much to relearn or learn. Always practicing, hopefully improving. Lord, please help me to grow in the gifts and talents you have given me.

I am looking forward to painting tomorrow after work. No evening responsibilities for the next two nights. Yippee!

Butterflies

I have decided to try different medium for the same subject matter. I'd like to try to replicate these two guys in a variety of ways in different medium over the next few days. I'd like to end with a composition that is all out of my head.

Today it was colored sharpies. I "sharpied" them yellow first:-) Start with yellow and go from there, I say.

Well, it was a hard day today...with cold, wet rain yet again. So, I decided on butterflies. Today, certain teachers were complimented in chapel. I was not one of them. It was really fine, but it still hurt a little. I decided to feel my feelings instead of shoving them. I shared my feelings with one safe person, and it didn't hurt as much after talking it out. So, butterflies today because they are free, seemingly, and so full of grace, seemingly. Lord, please fill me with your love and grace.

birds

No picture from last night, but I did sketch a bird. I will find my camera at school and post it here:-)

OK....here is my birdie from last night. He looks like a bandit:-)

Mother and baby

I am with my daughter and two grandsons as we wait for the arrival of grandson number three. The baby has dropped, but seems happy enough to just remain in the lower position. Katie is having some back pain. I drew a little one in Katie's honor. I liked studying the lips.