Rosy Bonnets

One of nature’s art subjects I enjoy drawing and painting…

Mushrooms!

Paper collage using Gelli-plate prints from old books:

When Pete Hillman recently posted a photo of Rosy Bonnet mushrooms…

I had to try drawing them in pencil and color pencils in my art journal:

Paper collage came next (first photo) and tomorrow, I hope to try watercolor!

I’m having fun exploring this mushroom in different art mediums…

Thanks Pete for the inspiration with your awesome photos!!

What art subjects from nature grab your attention?

Cheers! 🙂

A Value Study

I’m taking an online art class with Karine Swenson, hosted by Carla Sonheim…  (Yes, I know I’m addicted to online art classes!)  This one is a little different for me as it is learning to slow down, observe and draw a subject of my choosing.

I chose a pear.  Sounds PEAR-fectly easy, doesn’t it?

I have done several sketches of this golden fruit and it is not as easy as it apPEARS!

These are some scribbly pencil studies I did yesterday:

The one with the added shadows is my pick of the crop!

Onto a value study with Conte crayons.  The first one looks a little like a leaning tower of PEARZA! Lol!  🙂

It really helps to look at a photo of what you are trying to draw – as I could SEE where I needed to make some corrections:

A little more balanced now… I still need to draw it MANY more times, PEARhaps!

The value study is to help me understand my subject better before I paint it.  I think I will try to paint in watercolors and acrylic next week.

Karine said that one of her teachers told her, “the subject doesn’t have to be perfect, just believable.”  Good advice.

Happy Monday!

Cheers! 🙂

Drawing Apples

One of the assignments in the online class I recently did with Lendon Noe (see yesterday’s post for more information about the online class I took) was drawing apples.

I drew this apple in my sketchbook yesterday:

It felt really great to just DRAW without thinking about the outcome…

I used to do a lot of drawing in pencil when I was a child but then I let “other people’s opinions” stop me from doing what I loved.

This class helped me to ENJOY drawing again without thinking about the finished product.

One of our assignments was to draw apples – quickly – in any art medium – on a cheap pad of tracing paper.  It helped me to look at a REAL apple yet I think it REALly helped me to JUST DRAW…Without any thought of doing it RIGHT or WRONG!!

Below are my favorite apples I drew on tracing paper – some of the art mediums bled through to other pages which I think is kind of cool:

I hope my drawings encourage you to just DRAW and enjoy what you discover!

Cheers!  🙂

A Creature Feature – Part 1

Do you have a book or class that started you on your creative journey?

I discovered this book, “Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals” by Carla Sonheim in December of 2012:

I discovered that Carla taught online classes from this book and so it started me drawing again!  I drew as a child but then I got discouraged… has this ever happened to you?

I liked the idea of drawing from my imagination.  After all, no one can tell you it isn’t correct if it is an imaginary animal!

Yesterday, I decided to revisit this book and create several watercolor “Blobimals” as Carla calls them:

Yet, I think mine look more like creatures! 😃

I thought it might be fun for YOU to name my five creatures so I numbered them.

Next Monday, I will reveal the other creatures!

I look forward to hearing your names.

Cheers!  🙂

Sasquatch Man?

I used the cross-hatch technique to create shadows in the drawing of a man I found in a magazine.  I had a little trouble with the shadows in his neck so he ended up looking much hairier than his photo! 😉

 

I called him, “cross-hatch man” on Instagram but I think he could pass for “Sasquatch Man!”  Lol!

“Sasquatch” also known as Bigfoot in the Pacific Northwest is a large, hairy ape-like creature covered in hair.  It inhabits forests and is considered more of a folklore and hoax rather than a living animal due to lack of physical evidence.

Hope your Monday isn’t too “hairy!”

Cheers! 🙂

More FUNny Faces

I have been creating more FUNny faces from Lynn Whipple’s online class, “Making Faces.”

I find these silly, colorful faces very FUN to make!

Almost as wonderful as savoring dark chocolate with almonds:

Or soaking in the sun on a beautiful summer day:

Or eating a delicious meal at a favorite restaurant:

Or snuggling with my kitty:

Or laughing so hard that tears come to my eyes:

What makes you smile?!  🙂

I hope you share it with me!

Cheers!  🙂

P.S.  Thursday, I will show you how I cut up these faces and combine them together to create NEW faces.  I hope you will join me! 😊

My Always “Right” Half

One of the assignments in Lynn Whipple’s online class, “Making Faces” is to draw half of your own face.

Here I am – wrinkles and all after a long day working at the office:

Lucky for me, we got to order pizza for dinner!  YAY!  😉

This was a really fun assignment and I encourage you to give it a try!  This is how I did it:

1. Take a piece of inexpensive paper (then you won’t feel like you are wasting it).
2. Stand in front of the mirror with your piece of paper and a pencil.
3. Decide where the top of your head is on your paper and make a mark.
4. Mark in pencil where the following is on your paper (next to your face):  Eye, eyebrow, nose, ear, lips and chin.  Now, loosely draw these features with a light touch while holding the paper up to your face.
5. Once you get an idea where the lines need to be, make stronger lines, erase as needed.  Keep checking with your face in a mirror.

I found this exercise extremely helpful in understanding the layout of a face better.

Happy Drawing – Cheers!  🙂

Making Faces

I’m enjoying Lynn Whipple’s new online art class called, “Making Faces.”  Lynn brings such energy and playfulness to her classes!

This quick sketch I did yesterday with Tombow markers and soft pastels:

If you’d like to learn more about Lynn’s online class go to CarlaSonheim.com

One of the things I enjoy the most about taking online art classes through Carla Sonheim is the friendships I have made through the years.  I learn a ton from the teacher(s) but I also learn from my classmates!  It is an AWESOME experience!! 

Cheers!  🙂

P.S.  Lynn’s class gives me new inspiration for the “100 Day Project” that I’m doing on Instagram.  This is face number 56/100.

An Artistic Confession

I have a confession to make…

I’ve always wanted to be able to draw pretty faces ever since I was a young girl… BUT my faces always looked much like this drawing (eyes closed):

Until recently, drawing a face (or two or three!) EVERY DAY has really improved my drawing skills!  PRACTICE really does makes a difference!

PLUS, learning from other artists in books, YouTube videos, online classes… thank goodness there are SOOOO many great ways to learn to draw (faces) today!

I drew this face with pencil last week and I hope to paint it with watercolor:

She is my first face that I’ve drawn that I have REALLY liked loved!!  I am a little scared to paint in watercolor as I don’t want to mess her up.  I think I will scan my drawing first so I have a future reference.  🙂

My second face, I also created with pencil and used an Elegant Writer pen (with water) to create the black lines:

She reminds me of a flower, opening its petals to reveal its inner beauty – much like I hope my art does with continuous practice!

I know I have SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN but I feel like I’m starting to create some pretty faces…

Do you have a subject that YOU would like to learn how to draw better?!  I hope you give it a try!!  (And I’d love if you shared it with me!)

Cheers! 🙂

Flowers In Her Hair

In continuation of yesterday’s post, I discovered an exciting new way to complete my third collaged background from the fantastic, Australian artist, Toni Burt.  I discovered her YouTube videos and online classes from a friend on Instagram.

I started with the same background in my sketchbook but added some white and blue acrylic paint to mute it.  As you can see below:

After my paint dried, I covered my page with clear gesso to give it some “tooth” so I could draw my face on top.

I then went though the steps I learned in Toni’s class, “Flowers In Her Hair,” to create this beauty:

I hope you check out Toni’s classes at ToniBurt.com.au – I found the cost of her classes to be very reasonable for the amount of material she covers.

Cheers! 🌹