Using Bleach on Drawing Paper

 

Recently, I set a drawing challenge for myself. My sketchbooks are woefully blank, untouched canvases pile up here and there, and nice sheets of drawing paper collect dust. My challenge is simply to draw, on paper, every day. I've been puttering around on my iPad, starting many things, finishing none. I've been disconnecting with my inner artist. I feel I may be able to connect again with a simple pencil, a pen, and/or a paintbrush.

Below is where I began. It is done in my sketchbook with real pencils!!! For reference, I used a photo I had taken just a few weeks ago.

As I was working on shadows and highlights, I was reminded of a college assignment, where we were shown how to use bleach on colored paper. The bleach, brushed onto the paper, creates highlights that just pop off the page. Here's this golden oldie:

So, I put on some protective gear, and went down to my dark, and abandoned studio. Dodging bats and gigantic spiders, I found my stash of nice drawing papers. I blew off a cloud of dust, chose a color, and got to work. Below are a couple of the steps that led to the finished piece at the top. You can clearly see where I painted the bleach, and how nicely it strips away the color from the paper. The rest is done using Prismacolor pencils.

I have one more piece up my sleeve, using the bleaching technique. I'll share it with you next Wednesday. See you then! 

Oh, Those Tuscan Hills

This piece is mostly a digitally enhanced photo with a cat on top. It just seems so  . . .  zen. 

I took the photo in the hills of Tuscany, in 2013. Sometimes it seems like a dream that I was actually there.

Here's the untouched photo:

Below is my son standing at the bathroom window of the villa we stayed in. No screens here, folks! Just fresh Italian air and scenery pouring in, and maybe the occasional bird. If this wouldn't inspire you to eat more fiber, just to have the excuse to sit here more often, I don't know what would.

This last image is the first version I did. The cat is more cartoonish and the photo is more fiddled with. I just decided the photo really didn't need as much additional work, and maybe a realistic cat would enjoy the landscape more than a cartoon one.

Have a beautiful week! See you here next Wednesday!

Spring Cleaning . . . My Brain

 

Don't you just love how you feel when you've given your home, your space, or maybe just your junk drawer a good cleaning?

I've recently dusted ceiling fan blades, and tops of doorjambs. I've washed windows, hosed off screens, scrubbed the tub, and laundered winter blankets.

Now I can open my windows, and let the fresh air swoop in, bringing with it fresh dust and debris from the great outdoors! It's a never ending cycle, right?

Same with my brain.

On April 7, I started the Oprah/Chopra 21 day meditation challenge. Meditation is a wonderful way to start (or end, or pause in the middle of) the day, scrub out the old stuff and let the fresh air in. It takes practice. In fact that's all it is. A practice. Like cleaning your house, your brain is only going to fill back up with debris, but we can learn to acknowledge it, let it go, and move on. Move into and along with the present moment. 

As always, I'm looking for the artist within myself. What direction do I want my artwork to take? I think a lot of people, myself included, struggled with this last year. My blog has a whopping 6 posts in all of 2020, compared to 20 posts in 2019 and 45 in 2018! Time to get myself going again! Time to get myself unstuck.

Hope to see you back here next Wednesday! Have a great week!

A Belated Happy Valentine's Day

 

Tux’s Valentine's Day  poem

Icing smudges his hat.

Batter drips down his nose.

He is covered in flour,

From his head to his toes.

There are so many treats,

Yet the baker’s not done.

The shelves runneth over,

But he’s having fun!

He’s made cupcakes, and candies,

And cookies galore,

All decked out in sprinkles,

And sugared decor.

There are cherries on tops,

Chocolate curls piled high.

He’s made so many cakes!

There are pies to the sky!

Have a look. Take your pick.

Choose your favorite design

That asks the big question,

“Will you be mine?”

     This is the post I promised last week. The artwork was done in time for Valentine's Day but the poem was written a few weeks later. I almost saved this until next February but I just need to feel like I'm catching up on things. The model for the adorable baker is my grandson! 

January - Better Late than Never

     Hard to believe, since I haven't posted in 6 1/2 months, but I'm still pursuing creative endeavors, albeit at a slower pace. I could've, would've, should've posted this in January, when it was actually completed. It's shameful to keep the world waiting. So sorry, World.

     So, now that it's spring, and the weather is becoming more glorious every day, let's celebrate snow! Come on, People! Snow is a beautiful miracle no matter when it falls.

     This piece is another re-do. I love my re-dos. When a person sees obvious improvement (at least I see it) in their work, they want to show off. They want to say (at least I do) "Forget about the old stuff I did. Look at what I can do now!" 

     I enjoy seeing before and after pics from other artists too. It inspires me to keep going forward, even if, as in my case, like a turtle. Slow and steady.

     Below is the piece from January of 2017.

     Next week I'll share . . . drumroll . . . a Valentine's post that I could've, would've should've posted in February.

     

My new love

     I have been fascinated with miniatures as long as I can remember and have wanted a dollhouse since I was about 10 years old. Well, I guess good things really do come to those who wait. A couple of weeks ago, I was given a dollhouse that had been in the family of a close friend for 70 years! It was built by my friend's grandfather Lloyd Whittington, in 1950, for his daughter Marty. (Marty is the little girl in the frame at the left of the photo.)

Here's the house: 

It opens from each end and already has electricity.

As soon as I found out I was getting the house, I gathered my polymer clays and started playing around. 

As we're coming into autumn, I thought a jack-o-lantern for the front porch would be festive!

Next came the bushel of apples:

I worked on some more fruit, bread, books, etc., practicing and learning as I go along. 

My favorite (so far) is the plate of blueberry pancakes:

My husband and I are going to tackle the house renovations together this winter. 

(Don't tell anyone, but his eyes light up a little at the prospect.)

Everything pictured here has been made by me except for the desk and swivel chair. 

They were made by my own grandfather many years ago when he saw my interest in miniatures.

As a side note, I have been painting. Really. Up until my new love came along. 

I'm still in the honeymoon phase with the minis, so I'm focusing on them. 

Soon, I'm sure, there will be room for both. 

I think.