So many things rambling around in my head

First of all, I need to apologize! I didn't realize that my link to Arlene Steinberg's website was broken. Some very astute person showed me that I added a comma at the end of her name instead of a period...woops! So Remember my colored-pencil path I seemed to REALLY want to follow down? I still and following it, very very very slowly. A lot of fear and apathy stands in my way.

In a previous post, I raved about my love for Arlene's work.

She used to post at Wet Canvas forum years ago, and just researching her body of work there is incredible in and of itself. So you should totally CLICK on that link above!!

You should also browse Wet Canvas Forums for any painting/drawing/artistic endeavor.

There are so many topics and forums and sub-topics. I've visited the Drawing, Watercolor, Acrylic, Colored Pencil forums and everyone is always SO helpful. THere are links to past articles for newbies, and the "old timers" on there that are amazing artists willingly show you their stuff. It has changed my life 100% completely.

On that note...I've worked only a teensy bit more on my giraffe because I am lazy? tired? Something. But I may have to actually MAIL THIS TO SOMEBODY, so i hope it will give me some motivations.

I also am starting on a watercolor project for my aunt. It has been yearssssss since i've opened them. I'm still in the planning phase, and trying to go slow so I don't get so overwhelmed and want to pitch it out the window like I usually feel like doing.

I think that I am getting my art steam train going again. Its just little wheezy puffs, but maybe is coursing its way in me. For anyone who still reads, I appreciate it. Very much. I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't, nor would I be upset. I did go from quite regular posting with artwork all over the place to decreasing my frequency of posting and taking a more narrow focus. Its hard when I can't separate what is an art funk, or depression, or that i work with toddlers all day, so i am tired. But even on weekends when I have unlimited hours to do work, I mostly don't. The past few weekends has been better, but still, not energizing. The last time I felt like that was in February when I was taking Flora Blowley's Bloom True course. Literally the second it ended, the wind when right out of my sails. Those damn half-finished paintings stare at me angrily every day on my walls, but i am so demoralized by them that I have given up.

Its that bewitching hour where you start rambling, and its never pleasant...

Zebra Colored Pencil-WIP #1

This is a couple of hours worth of work.

Doesn't look like much, right?

Colored Pencil is a S-L-O-W medium, especially for beginners!

I placed a layer of white in the white stripes for most of

the right zebra, and then started with a layer of 

Indigo Blue on the black stripes.

Blue, you say?

In order to achieve rich black in cp,

layering colors is the answer.

I will start with a layer of Indigo Blue,

then I will use Dark Green, Black Grape and then Tuscan Red.

These are all Prismacolor pencils.

HOPEFULLY this will work to create a nice black.

I am concentrating on finding all the variations in value

in each stripe, which is why it is going to take me about 10 years

to finish this!

Mega Update

Woops, it has been THREE months since i've updated my blog

Bad me!

I have no excuses except that I am a master of starting projects,

and then never finishing them.

I have a folder full of started projects!

I have a feeling it has to do with my fear of failing/not doing it right.

Anyway-I still have been creating.

I am going to attempt this incredibly difficult colored pencil drawing

of these adorable zebras. I loveeee me some zebras!

The picture is from the reference image library at Wet Canvas,

my amazing source of information on all things art related.

The pictures in the RIL are free from copyright.

I am trying to learn how to draw, but I knew 

that there was no way I could draw these zebras totally freehand.

What I did was drew a grid (1" x 1") on top of the reference picture,

and then drew that same size grid on my tracing paper.

I then just copied what I saw grid for grid until the zebras were finished.

It was a LONG process, but worth it because I love the outcome!

It has been drawn for weeks now. 

I am too scared to actually start the coloring.

Next up: Homemade Washi tape!

I saw it on Pinterest, an knew I had to try it.

I bought double-sided tape, patterned tissue paper and all natural wax paper.

(found at Whole Foods)

The process was very simple and also very tedious.

You stick the double-sided tape on the back of the tissue paper,

roll over the wax paper with a brayer (or your hands)

Then you just cut out the piece of tape with the wax paper as the adhesive backing!

With the lighter colored tissue papers it was a bit difficult to see the transition

between the tape and the rest of the tissue paper.

Repeat as desired.

I bought a pack of coordinated colors/patterns of tissue paper,

and I think it is a great idea! 

That way if you use it to wrap presents or on a project,

they will all match.

I only cut out a few strips of each, and left the rest to cut out as needed

The end result: So cute!

I also am going to start doing a variation of Project Life

Elise has been doing it on her blog, and I have been so captivated

by the simplicity of recording your life, and the adorable 

pocket pages and variations!

I take a lot of photos with my phone using Instagram,

and I think this would be perfect to actually put those photos in print.

I doubt I will do it weekly, as my life is very boring,

but I have my 2 year olds that deserve their own spot in my

Project Life album.

I ordered the binder and a pack of page protectors from Amazon.

It should be here by early next week!

The monkey card you see above is a journaling card: 3x4

I searched "journaling card printable" on Pinterest

and came up with so many downloadable cards

that I thought my head would explode.

I think that my homemade tape will be a nice decorative element as well.

I still need to update you all on my Bloom True course I took with Flora Bowley

Sadly, my paintings are still unfinished, staring back at me every day.

I haven't picked up the paintbrush since shortly after the course ended.

I think I need structure to actually work on things.

I also was frustrated in adding layer after layer and feeling like I was getting nowhere.

BUT, her course is open for 6 months after it ends, 

so I do plan on going back in and reviewing everything to jumpstart

my passion for that course. 

Because it was amazing.

I think that is all for now :)

I hope I still have some readers left!

Free Coloring Pages

Coloring can be so mediative, calming

Perfect for those days when you feel like doing something,

but don't have the energy to do anything strenuous.

My local art store sells those Dover coloring books,

and they are awesome.

I've decided to scan them to my computer and put them

for download on my blog.

If you want to create something beautiful

just by adding color, it is perfect :)

This one is from Tibetian Designs

This is the one I am working on.

 

Colored Pencil Iris: Finished!

I am proud of myself.

It took a LOT of erasing to get this as accurate

as my skills would allow.

The original (in Arlene Steinberg's book)

is much better (obviously)...but you can definitely tell this is a flower.

I am into week 2 of Flora Bowley's Bloom True e-course.

L-O-V-E it!!! 

I didn't expect to like working on big canvases as much as I have.

Its still hard to "let go" and let intuition guide me...

but I am trusting the process and Flora.

 

More colored pencil work

Hi Folks! Its been awhile, huh? The holidays are never easy for me, and i've been sick for a lot of January. That is what I get for working with toddlers :)

I am working on a few projects at the moment. I decided that I should get back to basics by doing an art journal again. I am doing it differently though; I want to prep all the pages ahead of time and then go in and write my thoughts in later, and add in more decorations if I feel like it. I've done about 6 pages so far, I just need to take some pictures!

Flora Bowley's Bloom True online workshop starts TODAY. I am so excited/nervous. Her paintings is all about using your intuition, getting past your logical brain, your constant negative thoughts...etc. This is such perfect timing for this, but I almost never "let go" when I do art. I think about it (even if its just a paint color), and keep thinking re-working while I do it. I am nervous if I will be able to do it, but I'm going to try.

Lastly, I am working on another tutorial from Arlene Steinberg's "Masterful Color" book. This drawing was much harder than a pear and some grapes. I spent the entire superbowl yesterday sketching it! I realized once I put it on my computer that the top petal is too wide and too short, so it needs to be fixed. That being said, I am proud of my work! I have a hard time drawing, and I got to draw from her line drawing so it was easier...but I think it looks like a flower :)

The next step will be fixing the shape and then start adding some 

colored pencil a la Arlene style.

I think now that I am in a class I will be so much more inspired to 

actually do some artwork instead of putzing around,

doing half-finished projects.

That is what I am hoping, so hopefully this blog will be updated more :)

Following the work of Arlene Steinberg

Would you have believed that this painting is done in colored pencils?

I am pretty sure I would have found that hard to believe a year ago.

I have coveted Arlene Steinberg for a while.

Her colored pencil work astounds me. This is my favorite one of all.

I finally purchased her book, Masterful Color

and it was worth every penny.

I admit, I am an art book junkie. Some books don't have a long shelf life,

but this one is truly amazing. In terms of teaching technique,

it might be my favorite. She uses a complementary color

underpainting in her works. It befuddled me for a long time.

Make something green before red?!

I am now a believer--I have not been happy with my previous

attempts at "serious" colored pencil works.

I will gladly say that I am PROUD of this.

This was taken in poor lighting, and at an angle...so the grapes and pear are squashed.

First of all--I am not a very good at drawing. 

These are simple shapes, but I am still proud that you can tell what they are!

As you can see, this is the complementary coloring part.

The pear will be yellow...so all the shadows are purple.

The grapes will be red, so the shading is green.

Second step...start adding the local colors (sorry for the bad picture)

Step 3...keep layering (the secret in colored pencil work: LOTS AND LOTS of light layers)

the local colors. This piece used about 15 different pencils.

The finished product! 

As you may see...I messed up on the shadows with the grapes.

Oh well, this was purely to learn.

Arlene does very specific tutorials in her book, 

so I can't take too much credit...but I learned a lot about her technique

from this one.

The best part? There are at least 4 or 5 left in her book,

and this is of course, the easiest one.

If you are at all interested in colored pencil as a medium,

check her out.

Also, I promise not to be so MIA. I've ignored my little blog.

This fall has introduced a lot of change in my life,

and the holidays are not so fun for me.

But the new year is soon...and I have to hope 2012 

will treat me better than 2011.

Which reminds me!!! Check out what online class I signed up for!

(OMG I AM SO EXCITED)

Brave Intuitive You by Flora Bowley

She even wrote a book that is coming out next spring!

This painting is just a small example of her amazing work.

I am so so excited. (In case you couldn't tell by all the !!!)

I am also so so scared. 

I know enough now that "learning" someone else's technique

is no guarantee that yours will look anything like theirs.

AND, her entire course and painting method is intuitive.

I do NOT do intuitive art work.

My brain shuts down when I try to just "go with the flow"

So, I am afraid of failing spectacularly.

But the price of admission will be worth it to watch her paint.

I am soooo intrigued!

Ballpoint Pen Mandala

This one was worked in spurts, 

sometimes going a week without touching it.

I painted the background with watercolors,

and did the mandala in two different ballpoint pens.

I feel like I may never ever feel very creative again.

Some of the spark is back, but it is sloowww,

and it is not linear.

Work is FINALLY going well, after over a year of 

crises. You know what happens when external

problems are over? You are stuck with yourself.

I'm not liking it very much, but the one saving grace

are the 2 year olds I work with every day.

They are frustrating at times, but oh so charming

and cute and loving.

I'm hanging in there, and keep on hoping maybe

I will consistently do some art.

Colored Pencil and Mandalas

There is a lot on mandalas on the internet,

about peace, meditation, healing.

I am not sure how much to believe, but I do know that

I can lose myself in creating the repeating patterns.

My interests are so off the wall. One week I want to do ballpoint pen art.

Another, colored pencil.

My acrylics gather dust, and then suddenly I will use them.

This painting is not finished.

It needs something, but I don't know what.

This picture doesn't do it justice--the colors glow off the page.

It just feels good to be putting color to the page again.

A blue bottle...started in orange

I've been studying lots of color theory lately.

The thing with colored pencils is, is that they are semi-transparent.

Like watercolors, you can layer colors and they all effect each other.

Something I've read a lot about for colored pencil paintings

is that by doing an underpainting in the complementary color(s)

first, it adds more depth to the final piece.

So...that is what I am trying to do!

Can you guess what color I aim for this bottle to be when I'm finished?

Colored pencil obsession

 

A bit of a blurry picture--sucks to live in a basement. 

I have been poring over books and forums (namely WetCanvas) on colored pencil.

The things that these artists can do!!

Bonnie Sheckter

This picture is on Ann Kulenberg's site. This is done in

C O L O R E D   P E N C I L

Blows my mind

There are some amazing colored pencil artists.

Just check out the website for Colored Pencil Society of America.

I am immersed in increasing my drawing skills,

learning color (yep, i've had fun making color wheels!)

and learning the versatility of colored pencils.

They are semi-transparent, therefore layering can become

a rich and beautiful result. 

Recent drawings

Slowly, over the past month or two,

I have been easing back into art-making.

watercolor

ballpoint pen for marble, markers for border

I'm even exploring an idea, inspired by a quote from Law and Order:

"An eye for an eye leaves the whole word blind."

Sketch

 

Beginning of colored pencil painting

The art of breakfast

I have come out of hibernation.

I am s l o w l y doing different art projects.

I can not tell you how GOOD it feels to 

want to rush home from work so you can draw, paint, dream.

I still need to photograph the few things I have done, 

and then I will post them.

Until then...if you do not know the artwork of

Danny Gregory, you absolutely must 

watch his drawing video, The Art of Breakfast

**Obviously if you do know and love Danny,

you clearly know you must see this video too**

It is beautifully shot (by his son), a piece of art in its own right.

To see Danny in his element is inspiring.

I hope to be posting much more often.

Feeling a little experimental...

I don't want to get my hopes up

that I am ready to dive into art making again,

but I managed to finish another journal page over the past few days,

and that is an accomplishment for me.

Inspired by Ray LaMontagne.

His voice and lyrics tap into the pain

and loneliness in a way no other musician has.

Is that sun ever going to break on through the clouds?

Shine down on all its glory onto me,

here upon the ground,

cuz I can't hear a sound except my own sad story

I get so tired staring at the wall

Weight so heavy and that mountain so tall

Is there no one who would catch me if I fall?

Its more than I could take

Wish I could fake it,

Pretend like i dont' know whats going on

Something's wrong; trying to hold on just a little longer.

Can you hear me?

Can you see me?

Changes

This is my brain/life right now.

I don't have many words.

Sketchbook Project 2012

Hi folks,

I've had a rough few months, but maybe see a tiny light poking

through the murky darkness I've been in.

What shocked me into realizing how much I was

spiraling was almost losing my job.

I've been at this company for 6.5 years.

I like everyone I work with, and it is a very good company

to work for overall.

I got written up TWICE in one week.

I have never been written up.

I cried and cried in my boss's office.

I thought that I was going to be out of a job,

and it scared the shit out of me.

My boss asked if I was suicidal (eep!!!)

She came and met with my therapist.

My boss is amazing.

She somehow believed in me when I couldn't.

She was willing to fight for me, stick with me,

when I could have been fired a long time ago.

I owe my life to her--and I mean that pretty literally.

So, for those who have been kind and sweet and

waited patiently for me to return, I thank you.

From the bottom of my heart.

I am oh so slowly starting to feel like doing art again.

Little things, in small increments.

Therapy has been a catalyst in inspiring me.

Listening to U2's "Running to Stand Still,"

(the entire song speaks to me)

I was inspired to paint this.

I brought it into therapy, and it took until the last 2 minutes

to show it. 

You know, its scary to show these vulnerable parts of you,

even if it is in painting form.

I explained that the river is the journey I'm on.

Its bumpy, and sort of dark.

The dark cloud pouring rain is how I feel most of the time.

And yet, at the bottom is this curious little bit.

Hearts. Hope. Light.

I originally was only going to do a small heart,

but ended up with three.

My therapist loved it.

She noticed how the hearts are connected,

that they may be smaller than the cloud,

but they still are a big part of the painting.

That the rain(tears) change once it hits the river.

Its funny how other people see what you do so differently.

My Nonni said that it is a bit "scary," but also       

  hopeful, like going from the unconscious to the conscious.

And, now onto the title of my post!

I gave up on my 2011 sketchbook, but I learned a lot.

I learned that I needed to pick a solid theme,

one where I knew I could keep a running idea throughout it.

"In Flight" didn't really work for me.

It was too broad, and I just did a hodgepodge of drawings.

Art House just announced the 2012 Sketchbook Project!!!

I now can pick out of any of the topics.

I now have a better idea of what I want/can do.

I now have more time to accomplish the project.

So, I signed up.

I'm proud of myself. I didn't deem myself a failure

because I didn't finish last year's.

I took it as a learning experience.

I am willing to try again.

If I don't finish it, then I don't.

But, I am starting 4 months earlier than before,

and I have a topic that I think suits me perfectly:

Fears and Tears

#1: I immediately thought of Tears for Fears, you know, the band

#2: This couldn't speak to what I am going through more perfectly.

I have so many fears, and the tears, well they come along with the territory.

What a great adjunct to therapy this will be.

I hope so at least.

30 Days of Play Winner!

Corner of Creative Chaos

You are the WINNER!!!!!

I will let Spooky know and have her contact you

Send me your e-mail address

to dawnraymond04atgmail.com

30 Days of Play

Hello friends.

Still in the trenches,

but I got a lovely offer from

Spooky to give away a spot

in her new Workshop!

Click here to read all about it.

The workshop opens this friday!!!

Please leave a comment if you would like to win a spot

in her Creative Sparks workshop.

I will pull a winner on Thursday evening.

Only getting worse...

Hey guys,

just a quick update since its almost been a month.

I am so tired of trying.

I got written up at work today, for substandard performance.

It is one step away from being fired.

How did this get like this?

How am I such a bad employee?

I'm so exhausted from crying,

and can't even turn to artwork when I feel like this.

My paints literally have dust on them.

So please, send me some good vibes.

My little man asleep in bubble wrap.

Thank You

I'm still in the dredges of crap, and haven't done much of anything,

BUT, thank you everyone who posts comments.

I don't always (ok...rarely) reply back,

but its not because I don't care.

Its because I'm lazy!!

(Its true)

I read all of the comments, and they make me smile.

So, know you ARE appreciated.

<3