2013 Review…by Body.Mind.Spirit

Happy New Years!!  It’s time for me to review what I’ve done art-wise and to figure out what direction to continue with.  Similar to my…

• 2012 Review
• 2011 Review
• 2010 Review

The above drawing was done in 2009 when life started to get easier for me…..read more time for me to indulge in whatever….whenever!!

BODY

Since I’m drawn to the Body….pun intended, haha!….I thought I’d show you what I’ve drawn body-wise this year.

• Hand Jeans- absolutely wanted to give up on this, what saved me was the piece had so many different elements….
  • when I was stuck on the jeans-  I did the arm
  • when the hand frustrated me- I worked the belt
  • when the design overwhelmed me- I did the buckle

• The Fly- must’ve been missing my kid!! This one is a worker!  So….I had to work the water which was way more than I’ve done before.  Would’ve preferred no water!

• Blonde Beauty- a Pinterest Pin that inspired me.

• Manicure- lovin’ that nail art

• This one was the Biggest-Surprise-of-All.  I liked it!  And it looks like I learned a thing or two about drawing with watercolor and colored pencils in the last year.

• Ballet in Watercolor- stayed in watercolor the entire time and realized how very far I have to go!

• Oscar Poses- all watercolor again!! 

• Walk On Ballerina- in progress

BODY CARICATURE




Sometimes I overthink….imagine that!!  When that happens it’s best for me to find something fun to do.  These are FUN to do!!



BODY  ILLUSTRATION



So many different illustrations styles, very fun to see the variety.  So many interpretations!  I liked doing these and they can be done rather quickly.



MIND

• Swirly Alphabet- the building blocks of thought!

 

• Review- two blog posts.  Marker Review and Print and Pattern 2 book review.

 

• Mandelas- these are kind of like crossword puzzles in art. Did three last year and I want to do more!

• en Plein Air- tried some on-the-spot painting.  I have no clue what I’m doing

• Blog  Banners- blogging keeps me mindful
• January thru April

• May thru August

• September thru December

 

• Purchased this Wacom Intuos digital drawing tablet this year- I have not taken the time to be comfortable with it.  I lean toward my older simpler tablet that lacks the extra functionality of this bigger model. I’m a bit intimidated!! 

 

• Interviewed at jennibelliestudio- if you want to know what I think…..good luck…I don’t even know what I think sometimes

SPIRIT

• Moo Cards- these take guts for me to give out!

• Facebook Contest- this made me get out of my comfort zone.  Had to self-promote.

• In the Spirit of Friendship- my bloggie-bud Janet at jkbees.blogspot.com let me color her Pixie girls in.  Janet draws the prettiest portraits!

• Glass Bottles- I am so uninspired to do finish this glass-photo-realism…but what I found was, I am very inspired to draw the picture-in-picture of my table with the glass bottle picture in progress…..Gotta find what talks to you!!

• Warhol- in the Spirit of Andy Warhol.  I did my daughter and myself.  Have 2 more to do.  It is best to keep the face detail to a minimum.

• Fruits of the Spirit Rocks- need this gentle reminder

 

• In the Spirit of Play- marker time with Freehand Florals and WaterCircles

 

• In the Spirit of Christmas- my Ugly Sweater caricature!  Love each and every one of these guys!  Family!!

• In the Spirit of the Happy Home- uncluttered and updated a few rooms.

Well, there you have it.  I want to Thank all of you for supporting me thru your comments, your questions, your likes, and your etsy purchases.  It’s nice to know someone is listening! 

Happy New Year 2014!!

Walk On….ballerina style

I was wanting to color-sketch big and when I came across this ballerina “done with practice for the day”, I thought she’d be the perfect candidate. 



Did the watercolor wash first.  Then started in on the slippers…you know the easy stuff!



If you’ve been following me on instagram then this scene won’t be so new to you.



This will give you a perspective as to the size.  30 x 40 inches.  It’s the same brand of illustration board as I used for the Horse.  But I’m having much trouble with the paper.  It seems to not like the watercolor so much.  It’s bumping up on me and it’s flaking off.  I don’t remember that being an issue with the horse! Ugh! 



Stayed with watercolor and w/c pencils as long as humanly possible!  But, the board seems happier when I use colored pencils.



Onto the hands….I seem to “get” the hands when I do them in watercolor.  Watercolor is so pliable, it just adapts better to all those cracks and crevices.



This back is going to be fun!  One minute it’s watercolor time the next it’s colored pencil time.  But they seem to work well with each other….so I’m happy!




The w/c pencils used so far.  All lined up….ready to go!



I just love this ladies attitude!! She’s so confident and cute!  I hope I can do her justice

Warhol….Watered Down

I enjoyed doing the first Warhol style drawing, so I thought I do another.



I wanted to use a different color pallet….jewel tones.  Teals, blues, purples, pinks. 



The initial pink was Way-Too-Strong, so I went in and took a lot of the watercolor pigment off (watered it down).  Which ended up being the plan for the entire picture.



Apply the watercolor strong initially, then take it off.  I liked how the pigment remained dark at the borders.



I ended up putting a lot more detail into the face….which may not have been the best choice.



But it was an interesting choice.




This picture kind of grows on me, if I don’t expect it to look like the original.

Ugly Christmas Sweaters

IF I sent out Christmas cards…..I think this would be the one.



In honor of those Ugly Christmas Sweater days!



I don’t know when I stopped wearing my ugly Christmas sweaters, but I did rack up a few.



I did this all in watercolor by brush. 



We are all missing our eyes here….we appear a little zoombie-ish.



Merry Christmas everyone!