These two go together

Day Seven

Two antlers. 

I have just finished Day 8 (below) and as always, I get into my head thinking about stuff like;

why did I do this?

how did I feel while sketching?

why did I feel relaxed, rushed, in the zone, antsy, frustrated or even agitated?

Just stuff like that and a whole bunch more that I don't need to share. 

Day Eight

I put her on a pedestal to get the perspective that I wanted to sketch.

First of all, I enjoy both of these subjects. 

Now, I'm struck with how neither had many lines to follow other than the outline. Also, while the antlers had a small amount of color tone difference, the doll head color was the same all over.

So, to find the lines with both of them I first had to use the shadows to smudge in pencil. 

It's all about values.

I guess that's no different than any other day: however, yesterday and today it seemed different. 

-----------

So when I figure out how to do it these two go together.

Clues to the Buggy Project

Day Five

After putting off this challenge a couple of days, I went for it.

I tried to photograph the buggy from my sketching perspective.

I tried is all I can say.

RE:  The Buggy Project

In my head, I'm always way ahead of real time. 

Sometimes, "in my head" is a real problem too.

I'm not sure when I'll get around to the Buggy Project but My Little Dog approves so far.

Or maybe he is thinking, "what's the big deal?"

I know I made a mistake of letting him think I needed up close and personal help from him. 

could be a clue to The Buggy Project

A Couple of days before I started my morning sketching and in the comfort of the late night chair zone, I sketched the buggy from the one "in my head".

The one in my head sure was a lot easier than the one in real life.

Day Six

I walked around the Garden Palace looking for sketching inspiration. 

That I had a hard time finding something says more than you know. 

So I chose a pine cone from the basket.

I must get the One Hundred Faces on the wall because they are a huge distraction on the desk. 

After this pine cone affair, I think my truth is being reaffirmed. 

Have you any idea what it is?

Day two three and four

Morning Art Practice

Day 2

Day 3

I continue to read The Zen of Seeing.

But.....

..... today I was extremely distracted by No 66....

...and this guy.

His name is Stupid Kitty but sometimes I call him My Little Dog.

In other words my mind was in the wandering mode.

Day 4

Today

Today was day four and I finished reading The Zen of Seeing. 

I enjoyed some parts more than others. 

If nothing else, Franck's illustration drawings are wonderful.

So far, I have been mostly using pencils.

However, soon I will switch to a dip pen and ink and I can not stop thinking about color on the page so I'm sure watercolor will find its way too. 

The thing is, at the moment neither ink, pen, nor watercolors are available at the Garden Palace.

If I don't take it over there then I can be tempted.

Day One

I did it.

Day One of my new morning art practice. 

I'm reading The Zen of Seeing and then trying to relax to sketch something or anything.

I'm doing this over at the Garden Palace.

My First Nude

go to the tab/page for Postcard Challenge to see all cards
in chronological order and full size

Well well, the story is getting juicy. And I'm still crazy about this project.  Just want to tell you that all of the artist mentioned are real. Even the unknown, Sharon Tomlinson :0)  If you Google their names, you will discover all sorts of interesting art history.


I'm now working on week 9, Switzerland and making huge progress on the pages that hold the cards. I'm very anxious to share those pages as soon as I get photos.
♥    

Peek at next card in progress

I recently read that long ago, artist painted an under layer of green and that if you study the piece you may be able to still see some of the green even in the face.  





So that is why I started this one with green all over. 

I started today's morning art after I was all dressed and ready for this dang-desk-in-town. I knew I would not want to stop.


Note the time on that little clock. I snapped this and ran out the door. 



I almost finished but am happy that I got to this good "sit and stare" stage. So that is what I'll do here at the desk.

I am enjoying this postcard project immensely while I am getting some good painting practice because working in a journal frees me up to go fast and not be so obsessive about the piece. 


I'm also learning a bit of art history. That's good. 
♥

Conversational Saga continues

click on   Postcard Challenge 2012   page tab for large view of postcards in chronological order  

Just in case you haven't figured out, I am using my art in this conversational saga between Vanzie S. Smoot and Professor Dr. Tad Keys.  Almost one year ago, I finished a Morning Art series in which I painted from start to finish this painting.  The background was inspired by another artist and the portrait was inspired by Eva Gonzales (1849-1883) who was born in Paris, France and studied under Edouard Manet.

This is one of my very most favorite paintings.
I guess that is why I have been hanging onto it.
I'm now ready to list it in my shop when time permits.
Or if you are interested, email me for details.
12 x 12 x  1.5 gallery wrapped.  $300.

You can watch the 14 video series by clicking on the Morning Art Videos Tab.  

If you only want to see a "start to finish series in review", watch the conclusion video.  The review starts at about the 8:57 minute mark.  I think it is pretty cool to see the progression of this painting. 
♥

What a great idea

The book is, The Bailiff Yerney And His Rights by Ivan Cankar

the idea
in art,
is
theme
becomes 
more dramatic
in its simplicity
and
yet
intensify the
final
story


at least
it
might


I'm still finding the story in this book.  For now, I don't wish to illustrate it and when I think about how to illustrate, I feel like I am forcing it. It is strange. 


But don't you like this idea! "a theme is more dramatic in its simplicity". This seems to apply to my work in progress as the simple discovery of the birds truly made the story in the piece of art more dramatic. Actually, it became more dramatic to me in a personal way that I may not be able to share.


Being unhappy with her face, I worked both yesterday and today during my Morning Art, but alas, I'm not finished. I had to make matters worse before making them better. If this happens to you, my advise is to just keep going. I will surely be ready to show tomorrow. Going into a weekend with something on my easel...is a good thing. 


In the meantime, this little book is just full of words for me. 
TGIF
♥

Faces in Truth

Monday Morning Art found me back at my desk. Back in my routine with a little determination; as well as, your words swirling in my head. First, I just glued down some papers and then I thought to myself how boring that was.  


It is crazy what I did next because the reason I glue down papers is I don't like to paint on canvas. Well, I heard one of you say "challenge" or "do something different" and so without thinking I turned and picked up a piece of fabric. I moved fast and found a few more pieces. I didn't cut them or change their shapes. I just glued them down with a tiny bit of confidence that I would know what was next.


Of course "next" was a face and the first one I saw Tuesday morning was on a faces collage. So, I started.

 Today, again during Morning Art I was anxious to paint. But the excitement really churned when I saw the birds (those little demons!). For me, there is a certain level of excitement when you think it is going to be good. 

And then there is a whole new feeling that surges through your soul when the story begins to reveal itself and you know it is going to be good. I have to say, I was surprised that the story was revealed little by little much like in my Faces in Collage class technique.

You know I will be back tomorrow to share the whole finished story.

I'm just wondering if any of you know that feeling that I'm talking about.

I hope so.

♥

Collage Obsessed Now

It's official. 

I am totally fasinated with collage. 

But I still don't like: 

collecting papers

storing papers

the mess of papers

Going now to clean the mess of papers.

♥

Good Morning,
She is still on my easel. During this morning's art period, I was ready to start painting her face. I don't know why but I have been avoiding the face. She is still a work in progress but it does help to console me if I can bring her in picture form with me for the day to this desk in town.  Isn't is odd that one can see the little things that need changing when looking at the screen.

I wish I were at home with her and still painting.
♥

Morning WIProgress

This morning I had a clear head and motivation to start again.  I find it very easy to get clogged and distracted to the point of stopping if I let myself think about the whole finished painting before it is finished.  It is a trap.  I warn you, don't do it.  Of course, I also had a life distraction this week and sat on a jury trial.  But all in all when I feel this clog happening, I just stop and tell myself the time is not right for me to continue.  I don't feel a "flow" happening. So, after a very short break, today I show more work in progress from my morning art period.  

The way I start again when there are so many different ideas that I have floating around in my head about the possible outcome, is to start back with something that I am sure I want to add to the painting and put all other ideas out of my mind.  This one thing then unclogs and lets the inspiration start to flow with reason.

In other words, I think the composition has to build.  The story has to be revealed little by little.  How can I know exactly what will be in all areas of this canvas from the beginning?  When you start to read a story, you don't know the ending until you get there.

Enough for today.
Sharon

MorningART series conclusion

I have been burning the candle at both ends while stirring too many pots on the front burners.  However, I didn't get burned by the candles nor the boiling pots. I just exhausted myself.

I finished my MorningART series of this painting in 14 videos.  All are on my You Tube channel but probably easier to watch from the first video to the last right here on my Morning ART page.

If you only want to see a "start to finish series in review", watch the conclusion video.  The review starts at about the 8:57 minute mark.  I think it is pretty cool to see the progression of this painting.

By the way, my stove only has one front  burner. And that's a fact.
♥ Sharon

Morning ART

For today's MorningART, I made these bezels.  Now that I know how to actually make a piece of jewelry, I am excited to make more Of Towers & Turrets. (session 2 starts Friday)  I haven't poured the resin yet but the image that I used is from this collage sheet.

The current MorningART videos continue and 7th in the series was posted today.
Enjoy,
♥ Sharon

We Have Babies

 They are fresh.

Not sure if the 5th egg will hatch.

Maybe this is too soon for your viewing but I think it is a beautiful thing. 

Go ahead, click on the picture.

♥Sharon

3rd in series of Morning Art videos is posted

Good Morning World

I am feeling so full of some kind of cosmic energy today.  I can't explain it. It is just when you feel like you need to be doing three or four different things all at one time and you actually do manage to pull it off.

I rose early this morning feeling so rested and ready.  First thing I did was edit a new Morning Art segment.  I uploaded it which takes a couple of hours on my faster that slow and slower than fast net connection.

While that was happening:

I edited a couple more Morning Art segments.
Took down the Christmas stockings and put them away.
(Yea me! The tree is next)
Walked a mile on My Path.
Discovered that I uploaded the wrong Morning Art file. Deleted it and started again.
Showered and made ready for office. Made my lunch.
Videoed another segment of Morning Art which means I painted.
Grabbed my lunch.
Jumped in the car.
Start engine.
Radio is on classical which always makes me take a deep breath and totally release and let go and move into the day ahead. 

 Tree Castle Apron 

a mixed media face painting and fabric collage class

starts in 2 days

PS....in case you missed it, I added a little 3 minute video at the top of my page here of actual class footage. Take a look-see.

Morning ART Video

Morning ART March 17th
Enjoy,
♥ Sharon

Huge Studio Heat Gun

 I have a huge heat gun in my studio. 

Set on delicate,

Start.

 Go take my shower.

Ka-Bam! 

It is dry and ready to start a "Morning Face"

and 

Morning Art. 

Morning ART Videos.....coming soon. 

♥ Sharon