Diver Drawing in Pike Position

I only started this Diver a month ago.



When I was all excited about watercolor and quite frustrated with my Ballerina due to my poor paper selection.



I’m learning that my watercolor application has it’s limits….had to continue on with colored pencils.



As much as I like the white background….I know I should start doing backgrounds.  Just applied a wash here of green & blue watercolors.



A close up view of the feet.



Some of that w/c pigment stains and is quite dark.  Trying to make this work for me.



Had to grab my graphite drawing b/c I was having a hard time figuring out those leg muscles.
And the other thing I need to figure out….is the suit.  I need to make it green, “it’s a team thing”.  Wish me luck

Mandela Memory

The nice thing about making these mandelas is….you don’t have to have a memory.



All you need is a compass to draw the circles and many markers!



I forgot how much I relax and enjoy coloring in these mandelas.  The hardest part is deciding on the design.



I have to purposefully bring in the purples and the maroons cuz those aren’t my “go to” colors.





Just plain fun!  I reinforced the black lines to help define the shapes better.  I can’t believe it’s been a year since I did my mandela series

• Circle Mandelas
• Mandela Mania
• Many More Mandelas

….not going to wait that long next time….Haha

Caricature….Girls in a Pool

I was approached last week to do a commissioned caricature sketch of these five beautiful ladies.



The only problem was….the lady holding the camera is only half in the shot.



But I was given creative license to modify her in.   I then found out a little more about each lady and proceeded to draw.



Two blondes, three brunettes with distinct dressing styles which I was able to portray in the colorful swimsuits.



This was done 95% in watercolor.  Watercolor lends itself to more adaptability and I’m finally figuring that out! 

Thank you Miss Lynn for letting me caricature you and your friends

If interested in your own sketch please go here.

My Creative Book Stash

They say….you can learn a lot about a person just by looking at the books she likes to read.  And that’s probably very true for me.



I’d have to put magazines in that book category too!  Any time I travel, I add to my magazine stash.  These are not cheap, but they are worth every penny in the inspiration and visual delight category.

• Where Woman Create
• Art Journaling & Artful Blogging (Stampington)
• Cloth Paper Scissors

Then there are the more esoteric reads:

• Artist’s Way
• the War of Art
• Art and Fear

And since I love textile design….I picked up a few to help me understand this field better:

• Print and Pattern 1 & 2
• A Field Guide to Fabric Design

And to help me figure out the body better:

• Face Parts
• The Big Book of the Human Anatomy
• Lifelike Drawing
• Creative Fashion Drawing
• How to Draw People
• Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces

Since watercolor frustrates me so, I thought I might gain some insight from these books:

• Watercolor Secrets
• The Watercolor Bible
• Watercolor Wisdom
• Atmospheric Watercolours

Then there are my magazine subscriptions and various zines!  So many people in the spotlight!! So much talent!



Funny that there are so many books titled “Secrets to….”.  The real secret is applying…..put pen/pencil/brush to paper and play!  But when you aren’t in a class with an instructor hovering over you, reading helps tons!  It just takes a bit more time.

I’m probably a half-ass reader.  I don’t read every word written about every technique covered.  But I do look at all the pictures.  And when I’m stuck or blocked or frustrated….picking up one of these books gets me back on course. 

Where there’s a will there’s a way!  Amen

Walk don’t Run….Ballerina

I finally realized why I was having so much trouble with this illustration board.  Well…..it’s a drawing illustration board that can handle light washes and I’ve been doing pretty heavy washes.  I forgot!  Ugh!



Since I needed to walk away from this ballerina myself…..I had to start another watercolor figure…..albeit on a different type of board.



I erased as best as I could some of the splotchy-ness of the watercolor and pencils.



Then I had to salvage what I could…if I could….of this ballerina in the only way I knew how and that was with good ‘ole colored pencils.  It was like coming home!! What a relief!



Sketching is just like sculpting with these pencils….I have not figured out how to sculpt with watercolor….don’t even know if there is a way?



Had to tone down some of that orangey-ness to her skin, so I brought in a light blue/green pencil.



It’s very hard to notice any progress once the figures get this large.  And for the record there is a bit, as seen from the early figure on the left (majority watercolor only) to the later shot (colored pencils over w/c) on the right. 

Alphabet by Watercolor

After a bit of research I thought it best if I get some decent watercolors and some decent w/c brushes.  I bought a bunch of transparent w/c from dick blick last week.  I’m under the impression that the more transparent they are the better they are…..Of course, I’m gonna have to figure all this stuff out by trial and error.



Since the tube color and the color in the palette can be very misleading.  I made a little grid so that I know what the colors will look like once applied.



I numbered each pallet circle to the number on the color grid.



Taped my watercolor paper to a board with painters tape.  And defined the edges of the letter with the tape as well.



Then it was experiment time.  I am purposely trying to create different water effects here.



Looks kind of like a patchwork quilt.



As is my habit….I outlined with black once done. 



I’ve been watercoloring on a flat surface….well, most people have a slight incline to their paper, so that the watercolors will blend with each other.  So, I’m trying out different easel inclines.



I got a little more daring with my watercolor application after the “A”.  The first one looks too washed out for my liking.  But at least I can see how they will dry.  The intensity of the color when wet to once dry is very different.  It dries much lighter than you’d think.  I’m also learning that a lot of the vibrancy has to do with layering. And it's the layering that is tricky.  

Keep Walkin’…..Ballerina

This is where we left off at this Ballerina’s last post!  And…..I’ve got a lot to learn!



This paper is not playing nicely.  I’ve probably done everything wrong in the making here….for instance:

• I like sharp pencils (apparently the board doesn’t…makes it flake later)
• I put detail in too early with colored pencils then went over it in watercolor
• I didn’t pre-wet any sections first….wet-on-wet watercolor makes for a more even application
• Watercolor doesn’t like to be tinkered with….I’ve been a-tinkering

Almost trashed this piece last weekend…then I thought “what the heck….just work it…so what if it’s got problems, get to know your watercolors your way”.  It was experiment and push the limits time, and I was finally ready!



I got rid of that w/c pencil stippling with brush watercolor….I upped the vibrancy in the slippers with Opera Pink!  This is my favorite pink!  It will not be ignored.



Took m’lady outside in natural light, so that I could see just what that pigment was doing.  I’ve decided from here out it is best if I don’t refer to the picture so much anymore….it confuses me.

Watercolor is it’s own animal!