Images from a Haunted Gallery

Happy Halloween!

Ocelot in juried show!

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

Great news: my colored pencil ocelot "Up Close" made it into the NVAL Small Painting Show! :D  I was so excited I danced around the living room.  Very grown-up of me. :) 
What makes this so special to me is the fact that my piece is rendered in colored pencil, a medium which the art world tends to ignore.  I actually had past instructors that didn't consider pencil a "professional medium."  Seriously?  Colored pencil is done in layers, just like paint.  And with CP, it's really hard to erase a mistake.  I have seen amazing CP work that deserves the same level of respect that is given to paintings.  So I hope having my CP piece displayed in this juried show will raise awareness about the merits of colored pencil artists.
And to all you creatives out there: if you do what you love then you will do great things. 

Happy Flying!    

Red Masquerade

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

Since Halloween is only a few days away, I thought I would share this still life I photographed.  Originally I was going to leave it in color, but then I started having fun with Photoshop.  This flowery basket is also part of my costume this year.  I love a good masquerade :)

Happy Flying!

Small & Simple Things

Happy Flying!

A foreign ambassador in my backyard

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

Last year I took this photo of a fiery winged butterfly that was flitting around my backyard.  It wasn't until recently that I realized this little beauty was a foreign ambassador.  The comma butterfly is native to parts of Europe, Asia, and north Africa, not here in the United States.  I feel very blessed to have been part of this little miracle.

Happy Flying!

A frame by any other name...

 

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

 

Choosing the right frame for my artwork is my favorite part of the framing process. :)  When selecting a frame, I first ask myself: Does this frame work with the colors of my drawing and matboard?  My artwork is usually full of earth tones, so I go for the natural wood frames.

 



 

Once I have a style picked out, I then ask myself that all important question: Does this frame enhance my artwork or overpower it?  You want the viewer to spend more time studying your art than the frame it is in.  There is nothing more embarrassing for an artist than to have a viewer come up to his or her work and only say "What a lovely frame."  Now there is nothing wrong with admiring a frame.  I do it all the time.  But when the style of  your frame has more impact than your artwork, it's time to rethink your choice.

Here is how my ocelot turned out when framed--alas the colors didn't come out very well in the photo :(    

Since my work has a consistent theme, I can stock up on frames ahead of time.  I love the "buy one, get one for a penny" sales at places like Aaron Brothers and other local frame shops.  I usually buy several different types that I feel will fit my needs.  Then when I finish a piece, all I have to do is go to a closet and pick out a frame from my stash.  Yep, I'm a frame hoarder! :)  I also purchase sheets of the UV protected glass ahead of time as well.
I like to ask other artists where they get their frames, and here are some of their answers: online, local frame shops, garage sales, handmade by a friend. 
Now I put the same question to you: Where do you get your frames?

Happy Flying!

   



Flaming Oak Tree

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

Every fall, this tree on our lawn becomes wreathed in flaming leaves.  It's one of the many reasons why I enjoy this time of year.

Happy Flying!     

Choosing the right color of matboard

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

About a year ago, I started cutting my own mats for my artwork.  I wanted to be able to order small, single sheets of matboard in colors specific to individual pieces of art.  My pictures normally fit in 11x14 inch frames so I really didn't need a 32x40 inch sheet of a color I might not use again.  I also wanted to have samples of the matboard colors in hand so I could physically match them with my work.  Colors on the computer screen just don't cut it.  Yes, I am that picky. :)  Lucky for me, there is a place online that meets all the criteria: American Frame.  I ordered their set of Crescent matboard samples which is pictured below:

Now when I'm finished with a picture, I whip out this 100+ sample set and start playing the matching game.  It's essential that you test the matboard color against ALL sides of the artwork; what may look perfect in one corner may look terrible in another.  Each matboard sample has the item number and name of the color  on the back so ordering is easy.  Another great thing about American Frame is that you can order matboard with a specific size window cut.  For my odd-sized works I order one without a pre-cut window.
I use both the matboard color and the subject matter of my drawing in order to select a proper frame, but that is a discussion best left for another day.

Happy Flying!   

A Painting in 9 Days: Day 9

"Snow White"

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

"Snow White" is finally finished! :)  What an intense 9 days it has been.  Thanks to all of you who faithfully followed the development of this feathered lady.  Tomorrow she will be on her way to the Small World, Small Works traveling art exhibit.  The show will be hosted in 5 different cities in California.  I'll post updates once the show premiers in November.
Now I have to frame the ocelot CP piece I finished a few weeks ago for a juried show.  I hope she gets in.  I should find out by the end of October.  Wish me luck!

Happy Flying!

A Painting in 9 Days: Day 8

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

My weekend was occupied by preparations for the first big rainstorm this season and so I didn't do a lot of painting.  But as you can see I did get the dark feathers blocked in.  Thankfully the storm did get here so I have a nice excuse to stay inside and paint all day! ;)  Hopefully I will have this little darling finished by the end of the day.

I would like to give special thanks to Vic for getting me started online in the first place and for promoting my blog.  I wouldn't be here without her!  She is an amazing artist who also works primarily in pencil.  Be sure to ckeck out her blog at http://artwithapencil.blogspot.com 

Until tomorrow: Happy Flying!

Small & Simple Things

Happy Flying!

A Painting in 9 Days: Day 6

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

This little darling has a face at last! :)  She has such an innocent expression on her face that I've decided to call this piece "Snow White."   
I am determined to have this painting done before the deadline, and with God's help I can make it. 
Thanks to all of you who have been following my projects.  I really appreciate all your support! :)

Until tomorrow: Happy Flying!

A Painting in 9 Days: Day 5

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

I spent most of the day helping decorate the house for fall (my favorite time of the year!) so I didn't do a lot of painting.  But I did begin working on the owl, and as usual I started with the eyes.  I mentioned before how this painting continues on around the sides of the canvas, so I included some angled photos below.

Happy Flying!

A Painting in 9 Days: Day 4

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

I didn't get to work on my painting as much as I would have liked, but I did complete most of the berries.  Hopefully today I can start on the adorable owl. 

Happy Flying!

A Painting in 9 Days: Day 3

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

I had plenty of time to paint yesterday and it went very well, thanks to many prayers :)  The painting wraps around the sides of the canvas, which is something I've never tried before but definately will continue to do from now on.  I still have to add in the red berries and then I can finally start on the owl!

Happy Flying!

A Painting in 9 Days: Day 2

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

Here is the progress on my whirlwind painting project.  I didn't get as much done as I would have liked, but today is a new day! :)
It's been a while since I painted, so it has been a little rough starting out.  The overcast sky background was the most difficult.  Today I am going to try to finish the tree, which has been my favorite part to paint so far.  I love making bark! :)
Be sure and check out some of my previous paintings in the new Painting Gallery tab.

Happy Flying!

A Painting in 9 Days

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

If you have perched in this blog before, then you already know that my artistic weapon of choice is colored pencil.  But since my entry for the "Small World, Small Works" show has to be on canvas, I had to go acrylic.
The painting I originally started months ago didn't work out at all! :(  So with only a week and a half left until the deadline, I'm starting completely over.  Yikes!  There are going to be more prayers than paints on this canvas.
Be sure and drop by tomorrow to see what I've got done so far.

Happy Flying!

Small & Simple Things

Happy flying!

Ocelot finished!

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

My colored pencil ocelot is finally finished! :)  I hope you enjoyed watching her come to life.  Now all she needs is a nice matted frame to call home.
Since I will be entering her into a juried show at the end of the month, I have to come up with a proper name for her.  How does "Up Close" sound?

Happy Flying!

Seeing is Believing: Create realistic eyes

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

Whenever I start an animal portrait, I work on the eyes first.  In fact, I spend more time on the eyes than on any other part.  Why?  Because if I don't get them right, then the entire drawing feels lifeless.
The eyes have to remain vibrant even from a distance.  The best way to do this is to exaggerate the dominant colors.  For instance, the tiger eye above has a very intense shade of blue around the pupil.  Look at what happens to that blue if we take a step back:  

 

You can still see it!  When I work, I frequently stop and set the drawing across the room.  Sometimes the colors are too washed out and I need to rework them again. 

How do you create the illusion of round eyes?  First: light.  That small white sheen gives the appearance of a layer above the colors of the iris.  Second: the folds of skin around the eye.  The eye can't just sit on the face; it has to be held in place!

 

         

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse behind the drawing board!

Happy flying!
 

On the Drawing Board: Barn Owl

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

I decided to try a different format for my next colored pencil piece.  This is probably going to be a matting nightmare for me but I think it will look really nice when it's finished.

Happy flying!   

So close...

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

Here is the progress on the ocelot portrait I've been working on.  I hope to have her environment finished by the end of the week.

I saw a TV program the other night about people who keep big cats like this spotted lady as pets.  It was awful!  A wild animal is sacred.  It is not meant to be put in a box like a cheap trophy.  They deserve the freedom to live in the environment they were created to inhabit.  Keep wild animals wild!

Until tomorrow: Happy flying!         

A Case of Blogging Block

Greetings, my feathered friend!

I'm not the type of person who can just sit down at a computer and start typing.  I have to write everything down by hand first.  Yes, even these brief blog entries! :)
And today the only thing I can think to write about is the fact that I have nothing to write about.  Isn't that an oxymoron?

Happy flying!

Peacock Pegasus Sketch

 

Greetings, my feathered friend!

 

This drawing will become part of my Sketchbook Project entry.  I plan on making a larger version in full color later on.

 

Happy flying!



Small & Simple Things

The Sketchbook Project 2013

Greetings, my feathered friend!

Have you heard about the Sketchbook Project?  It is "a global art project where participants from all walks of life are sent a sketchbook and have until January 15th to fill the pages and return it for inclusion in a traveling exhibition and permanent collection in the Brooklyn Art Library." 
I joined the Sketchbook Project last month and have already completed a few pages in my book.  You have to choose a theme from the project's list but how you interpret that theme is entirely up to you.  The fee to join is $25 and it includes your blank sketchbook and info card, archiving in the Brooklyn Art Library, and inclusion at every 2013 exhibition.    
Would you like to participate? Then visit the Sketchbook Project's website to learn more and become part of the creative movement. Deadline to sign up is October 31.

Happy flying!   

A Tale of Two Forgeries

Greetings, my fine feathered friend!

I've always been fascinated by cases of art forgery.  I recently read an amazing book on one of the most elaborate art cons of all time: Provenance by Laney Salisbury and Aly Sujo.  It tells the true story of how hundreds of forged paintings (some of which are still in circulation) were legitimized through the methodical tampering of the British art world's archives.  The book reads like a crime novel, complete with a crafty villain, fearful accomplices, and determined detectives.  

Well the drawing board beckons, so until next time: Happy flying! 

Progress on the Ocelot

 

Greetings, my feathered friend!

 

This furry lady is finally coming to life.  I still have to finish her leg before I move on to the tree branch, which will be fun.  The rough texture of the bark will be a nice contrast to the ocelot's softness.  I love gnarled trees!  Must be a bird thing...

 

Happy flying!

 



Pencil Tip: Choosing the right color

 

Greetings, my feathered friend!

 

These days, trying to pick the right color of colored pencil from a 72+ set is like trying to find your car in the mall parking lot on Black Friday.  One way I've found to combat this pencil problem is to make a chart like the one pictured below.  

 





The chart lists all the names of the colors I have along with a 1/4 inch square sample of each color.  I also added the quantity for each pencil so I know when I need to replenish my stock. 

When I'm working on a drawing, I keep this chart beside my reference photo so I can easily pick out the pencils I need.  I don't have to spend time testing each pencil on a piece of scrap paper anymore!

Speaking of drawing, I have a half-finished ocelot begging for my attention.
Until next time: Happy flying!

Jack's Beanstalk

Welcome, my fine feathered friend!

I love fairy tales, and as soon as I snapped this photo I thought: "That sure looks like a magic beanstalk." 
Well the drawing board beckons, so I had better take wing.
Happy flying!
  

On the Drawing Board: Ocelot

Greetings, my feathered friend!

Here is my latest colored pencil endeavor.  I love this stage of the drawing process! :)  I enjoy watching the subject come alive on the paper. 
I hope to have this fine feline finished for entry into the NVAL  Juried Small Painting Show at the end of the month. 

Happy flying!

Blogtoberfest 2012

Welcome, my fine feathered friend!
I was perfectly content to sit in the relative safety of my nest and simply watch the blogging world go by until I spotted this amazing opportunity.  What better way to test my newfound wings than to try and blog every day for a month!  Sometimes the only way to overcome your fear of failure is to jump in head first.
Good luck to all the participants! :)
As always: Happy flying!