Look at the difference!!!

Oh, I'm having so much fun painting Buddy!

Two more hours of painting!

Today I painted for approximately two more hours. I was a little distracted by a few things, like making sure I'd get my car back from being repaired, and the two sisters in class who never, ever stop talking. And the one has a voice that is annoying, you know the type, just a decibel louder it has to be. I mean, if she wants to chat with her sister, sit next to each other not across the room from one another!

Regardless, I painted my heart out today. I was going to attempt to paint the hair just about one strand at a time, but the teacher caught me in time to show me instead of using a round brush, to use the flat brush and lift at the end of the stroke. Let me tell you the stroke is kind of like sweeping a floor, you apply pressure then lift at the right time so it comes out clean. If you use too much thinner, the stroke bleeds, if you use too little paint, it "skips" across your canvas.

Painting is sometimes like bowling, you have to not only hit your mark, you have to "find" your mark, and today, well, today I was on my mark. I was so excited to paint and have the luxury of time to paint. I can't explain how happy I was. I was content. Only thing was I was thirsty too but the soda machine took my dollar...drat!

But look at the end result of today's work! And I'm not done yet. I'm trying to figure out what to do with the bottom where "Buddy" is lying down. It's like he's floating in space, I need to "ground him"...give him some weight. Research tonight!

It's still not done, believe it or not, I have to lighten it up and also, I have to refine it more. I intend to get every hair going at the right angle, curve or whatever.

But I'm so pleased with what I accomplished!

and I'm off...

Today I started my first day back at painting class and I was welcomed with open arms. Everyone was so glad to see me back, and that made me feel so good.

I decided to paint in oils a picture of Buddy. (What better subject to paint?) Since Buddy's a soft coated wheaten terrier, he's wheat in color, so I have to put a lot of blues, yellows, and browns underneath in the "underpainting". This is NOT a finished product. You'll be able to watch the progress of this one.

This year, as you know, I am destined to do 100 pieces of artwork. I'm including thumbnail sketches, but that's okay, even though it's cheating a little, it's still artwork. I'm ahead of the game that way.

I can't tell you how satisfied I was with what I got finished in just two hours. I was late for class cause I had to give blood today for a doctor's appointment tomorrow. Good thing I know when I am going to work on some artwork every day because between helping my Dad tomorrow at his place with the insurance claim, my doctor's appointment and taking my car in for repair...shucks, when would I find the time?

I'm also dealing with my husband back in town after being away for a month.

and I'm off on my art quest...

...and I'm off...

Today was the first day back into my painting class and I was welcomed with open arms! People were wondering how long it would take me to get back! They were happy to see me and one of my former students is in the class as well.

So today I'm on my quest to finish 100 pieces of artwork in a year. I'm ahead only because I've decided to count thumbnail sketches. Yeah, it's cheating a little, but I'm working and that's all that matters. I'm also into photography, beading, digital scrapbooking, and learning how to tweek my photos so GIVE ME A BREAK! Haha!

Anyway, I started working in oils today on a painting of my little Buddy. He's looking very cute, as he really looks. When people saw what I was working on they all had a collective, "AWWWW" in their response. So I'm posting the picture. It's not done, it's only two hours of work completed so far. I was late to class because I had to give blood today for a doctor's appointment tomorrow.

Remember, it's just an undercoating and I didn't do all phases of it, it's what artists call "roughed in" or the beginning of an underpainting. Buddy is a light wheat color so to pull that color out, I have to throw in blues, yellows, and a slew of other colors. His eyes are brown, so I added some orange and light green for highlights...but I'm not done with them yet for a long shot.

I'm beginning to like art all over again...I go in stretches...

Back to the drawing board...literally

Today I started my quest for a great year of doing art. I've been down this road before and some have been very fruitful, and others have teetered out. This time, I've prepared myself. I enrolled in THREE creative classes. One is wire wrapping, which was cancelled due to not having enough students, the second one is "Boot Camp" and today was the first class and I loved it, and realized how out of sync I am, and tomorrow is my painting class which I've taken before and in that particular class with that instuctor, I have done some of my finest work! So I'm off to a good start.

Tonight I went to Michaels and got a small drawing pad, a small sketchbook for thumbnails and the current teacher wants us to focus and a good way to focus is by working small. (Now why didn't I think of that?) Another thing is to focus on just A medium, not all of them, even though she said we can work in various mediums, I've chosen my favorite, CHARCOAL!!! It's very forgiving and I figure I'm putting enough pressure on myself, not to overdue it! I even purchased some motivational books to keep drawing every single day. And I think I found the time to do it. In the morning right after my Bible reading time! I have a definite time carved out for that, and I devote time to my art, even if it's just doing a few thumbnails! (Now why didn't I think of that?) Haha!

Back to the drawing board...literally.

The above painting was done years ago, it's called "Cowering".

Time Flies

I have been so busy lately. I have been planning the Spring Fest for the North Port Art Center!

I have a total of 40 vendors and about five or six food vendors. There's going to be arts, crafts, photography, pottery, jewelry, and informational booths. There's even going to be pony and horse rides! A fun time for all.

But it all takes a lot of planning and time and hard work. The organization skills I acquired from my Mother have come in handy. She never overlooked a detail and wow, am I ever glad I took after her for that!

Soon I have some foot surgery coming up, so I know I won't be blogging as much. I go in for the surgery the day after the festival! I may have more time to do artwork though so that's good! I try to look for the silver lining in everything.

Not enough time for art?

Sometimes, there just isn't enough time for creating artwork. Life gets in the way. However, I have found if you take a class, even if you have your own creative studio, when you take a class, it serves as a discipline to set aside three hours of time dedicated to creating. When you're at home in your studio, somehow when the phone rings, it's got to be answered, laundry keeps calling me, so does dusting, and oh, then there's food!

When I take a class, I'm away from all that and I am allowed to be creative. I give myself permmission to escape from household chores, friends calling and anything else that might be disturbing MY time to paint. I'm allowed to focus and use the right side of my brain.

So, carve a time away from it all, you're worth it!