Fall, fearless and fly and WIP

FFF Challenge

 

The second challenge for FFF at Artists in Blogland is 'Taking a chance'. There are three prompts ; When did you take a chance or a leap of faith. Use a colour you like the least, (for me that is red) and the Quote you see in the picture above.

Red spells danger,

which creates fear.

Fear that I might fail!

Sometimes taking that step

into the unknown

involves a leap of faith.

In my art, fear comes upon me every time I start a painting, staring at that white blank canvas or paper creates a block. I have to consciously make a mark or two before I feel okay lets go! Who cares if it is a wild stab in the dark, its a creation!

Everyday we make a leap of faith, a belief that all will be good, a belief that we will succeed in our endeavours, a belief there is a purpose. If we don't have that belief we are stuck in the same place, spinning around in circles. So even if you know something might be a wild goose chase, go for it! Sometimes, its fun to fall of the spinning wheel. Did you know that wild geese fly in formation and take turns at leading, they are helping each other on the journey. So if we fall, there is likely another wild goose to help you on your journey!

WIP

This week I managed to spend two afternoons working on my large oil, 'Angels in the garden'. I have softened the greens and worked on building up the faces.

By the way thanks for all the kind comments last week, one good bit of news the police turned up with my lawnmower which I was very pleased about as it was only 5 weeks old.  And I am starting to love my new computer! 

Linking to Paint Party Friday and Fall, Fearless and Fly

Calm

I needed calm this week!

Tuesday – My Computer crashed, it wouldn’t even switch on.  Wednesday – washing machine wouldn’t start! The computer techies said I needed a new computer do you realize that it is 7 years old!  Well I was going to update next year what the heck!  Thursday – Buy new computer ( I was getting very twitchy without one) which cleared my savings, so will have to wash clothes by hand, we don’t have Laundromats in my town!  You would think that was the end of it wouldn’t you?  Oh no, Friday my shed was broken into during the night – lawnmower, petrol can, tools gone!  And to top it all my lovely new computer doesn’t like my ‘old’ software and I have to update!  Oh well, I will download some trial versions which will give me a month to find some lolly to upgrade.

You will be very proud of me, I stayed calm and collected throughout.  My big Boy akka Bro smooched and lolled around. That I had to draw him!  Isn’t he cute!  Here he is in a tree.

 



Every morning I took myself to a local reserve to commune with nature and God. I had to draw the ducks, I love ducks!  On Thursday I managed to paint this watercolour, I found it very therapeutic! That’s sums up my creative efforts this week. Onwards and forward, it can only get better.

 Oh, my new computer doesn’t like my printer, but the strange thing is it likes the scanner, er it is a multifunction, so??????  So I can scan but not print.  Think I have to download some drivers or something grrrr.  At least it likes my camera, and I doing my editing on some of the software that came with it albeit limited.

Here is a bit of fun using a freeware programme called Funny Photo Maker.

 

Have a Happy PPF and a wonderful week of creating.

 

Linking to

Paint Party Friday

Sunday Sketches

Masquerade

In Jenn's Artists Play Room this week the theme is masquerade. We don't have Halloween in NZ, so I decided to portray the excitement of going to a Masquerade Ball. Romance is in the air! With a mask on, we loose our inhibitions, and perhaps we can be what we were meant to be.

This piece is done on A3 Card, with acrylics, pen, pencils, and homemade stamps.

Art Journal Every Day

I have become addicted to making journal pages ! After the 29 faces challenge I said I was going to challenge myself to do at least 2 journal pages a week. Well, I have been doing one a day! These two I did over the weekend.

 

The page above is done with the colours of spring in mind, I went for a walk on Saturday, and the fresh green and yellows and soft pinks were so uplifting and refreshing.

This one describes how my Sunday went. My sister phoned unexpectedly from Perth, and we had a beautiful time laughing and talking about the pearls of wisdom our mother showered over us.

Of course, now that I am a convert to journal pages I had to look for a place to link up with other devotees and guess what I found!

Art Journal Every Day at Balzer Designs 

 

Sunday Sketches and journal pages

I have become hooked on making pages in my journal! The page below is done in acrylics, gouache, pencils and gel pen, oh and some homemade stamps. I cheated and changed the colour of the text on the computer, having it all white make the page flat. Also, as yet, I do not have the confidence of being able to place the text straight away, I need the computer to work out the layout.

This journal page has an amazing story behind it. A while back I was being bullied by a woman who made my life a misery. I couldn't figure out out what I had done to cause such behaviour. A mutual friend told me it was probably something she saw in me that she didn't like. I thought yeah oh well? And promptly took myself out of that circle. The amazing thing happened last week, I saw this woman up town, and was about to cross to the other side of the street, when she called out “Sharon, please have coffee with me!” I hesitated and looked at her, she was thin and hagged. I thought “What the heck, I can stand up to her.”

Then something glorious happened she apologized, it was done with her heart as she had tears in her eyes. Then she explained, like me she had been in a serious car crash and her life changed over night. She said she hated the way I dealt with it with a smile always on my face, and finding positive things about the situation, and using it to make a new direction in my life. She said she was so resentful and full of bitterness that she took to drinks and drugs. She ended up in prison, and there she finally started to turn her life around. Then she asked me why didn't I feel bitter. I was astounded. I explained to her that I had my share of bitterness and it was a battle for me, and that perhaps I was fortunate in that I had seen what bitterness and anger could do as my uncle was an alcoholic and my brother had experimented with drugs, and I knew at no cost that I would go down that road, and that in latter years my faith in God has brought about major healing. We hugged each other, and while we may never be friends, there is sisterhood, an understanding. 

Later that night the words on the journal page above keep resounding in my head. I am sure they are words to some song I heard somewhere. Anyway, I felt that they were appropriate. 

The scripture I am taking into next week I posted on my devotional blog, but, I will share it here with you guys as well. I used

watercolour and pencils, and yes I did add the text on the computer.

Have a happy week creating and God bless.

Linked to Sunday Sketches

Fall, Fearless and Fly and WIP

I have decided to enter the challenge Fall Fearless and Fly at Artist in Blogland, even though it is spring here. I am at a point in my life where I am reevaluating my goals and my life in general. I am shedding my old leaves and hoping to grow new ones. Yes reinventing my future. The best thing is I don't have to do it all at once, as Abe Lincoln says take it one day at a time.

For this journal page I used gouache, stamps and pencils.

WORK IN PROGRESS

As part of the shedding of my old self, I discovered that I can't carry on with my painting Up the Creek, I found myself putting off getting on with it, and it was only when I was doing this piece and wondering why I was itching to get to work on another large painting that I realized that I had indeed moved on, and I was not that person any more. I think having a large painting on a depressing period of my life would only make me dwell on the past and not concentrate on the future.

So, I have decided to do the series as a series of journal pages. I will post them as I do them.

Angels in the Garden

Now to the painting I am working on and am quite excited about. It is quite a different way of working for me as usually I have everything worked out before I paint. This is more intuitive. I have had the canvas below for ages, it was an attempt last year to paint flowers in my garden. I got struck and it has been sitting face against the wall until 2 weeks ago. I was changing the room around and left it face out. As I was sitting there and I could see faces, maybe because I was doing the 29 faces challenge I was seeing faces everywhere!

Here is a photo of it can you see faces?

 

This week I started to paint the faces I saw and as I was painting I realized that I was painting a childhood experience! I used to love lying on the grass and staring at the flowers I was convinced that I could see angels amongst the flowers. My grandmother had told me that fairies lived in the Buddleia Tree in the hen pen, so, why I thought, there couldn't be angels in the flower garden?

I think that I have too many faces, so might take one or two out, I also haven't decided how realistic to make the flowers and leaves, I will have to wait and see what develops.

 

Linking to Paint Party Friday

Fall, Fearless and Fly

Botanical

I got a commission to paint flower fairies - wisteria and lilies - by a good friend of mine. She wanted them done in a “grown up” manner! They were to be a present for her mother who is fairy mad. I love painting and drawing flowers, I love painting and drawing people, but fairies? It was pushing the boundaries for me, I kept putting the task to one side. I have just discovered this blog Just Add Water Silly through a link up from Tracey Fletcher King's blog to the Artists' Play Room. This week the challenge was Botanical.

Hmm, I thought, I wonder? So I finally got cracking and over the last few days worked on these two pictures. I am pleased with them I hope they fill the brief for my friend. I really enjoyed doing them, to the extent I am think of doing some more! Just shows it pays to step outside your boundaries from time to time.

wisteria fairy

Lily fairy

 

For these I used watercolour pencils, gouache, and a gel pen on A4 hot pressed paper

Linking with Artist's Play Room

Last face, a new challenge and award

My last face number 29, phew! Was going to do an oil for today, but as I started the challenge with the intention of getting to grips with acrylic paints I thought I better do my last face in that medium. I still not hundred per cent happy using acrylics, but I have discovered a new technique that creates dreamy romantic paintings. I call it splatter! I paint the picture in a flat style then use layers and layers of splatters (Made by using very wet paint. You fill the brush with paint then flick the bristles and splatter!) It is hard to control but you can get some interesting effects.

I have really enjoyed the challenge even though at times I wondered what I was thinking when I signed up for it! I think next time I do something like this make I must be sure I don't have any big projects in the pipeline.

New Challenge!

Would you believe it I am setting up my own challenge, yes, you guessed it I am a workaholic! I have always wanted to keep a decent journal, but get distracted. So, October is Journal Month – I won't be able to do a page a day, but have intentions of doing at least 2 a week. There I am now committed!

Here is the first page with the scripture I am taking into the coming week. I have to admit that I have added some embellishments after I uploaded – yes the flowery things. Think I will be on the lookout for stamps now. Sigh, the collecting of art tools never stops. Hehehe. (Any tips for avoiding seriously buckled pages, would painting a layer of gesso help?)

I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. Philippians 3:13 NLT

Have a great week creating lovely art and objects.

Linking with Sunday Sketches

PS - the Liebster award

Thank you Denthe ♥! This award involves sharing 11 things about myself, answering 11 questions posted by the giver, and then nominating 11 blogs. I am informed that this should be blogs with less than 200 followers.

The 11 Questions posted by Denthe

Do you collect things? And if so, what do you collect and why?

Old China, the art work on them just inspire awe. I would have trouble painting the motifs on paper let alone china. Also cats real and memorabilia! Why just love cats and their attitude.

What is your favorite city and why?

It has to be Paris. Whenever I have been there I have had the most amazing time.

What irritates you immensely?

Barking dogs, there is one next door and he drives me crazy, I like dogs, but this one is mean as. Jumped the fence and tried to eat my cat, big boy Ambrose. Need I say any more.

What do you love most about yourself?

Now thats a hard one. Probably that I am loyal to those I love

If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?

My Body? Not because it is ugly, but because it is broken and lame.

What do you really want to do before the end of the year?

Believe in myself as an artist, since blogging I am getting there. Get some chooks so that I can have my own eggs.

What is your favorite form of exercise??

Sitting on a sofa reading! Seriously, I used to be a lunatic trail runner and thought nothing of running up mountains and going for a 30 mile jog. It stuffed up my body big time.

What do you do when you're stressed?

Watch TV, read and eat and swear at the cats I do apologise to them later and they forgive and purr and slobber over me.

Are you a morning- or a nightperson?

A disgusting morning person, I been known to be up long before dawn.

What is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?

Feed the cats and make my first cup of tea for the day.

11 things about myself

1. I love cats - have three at present
   
   
2. After a lifetime of wandering the globe, I have settled in NZ and love it. I am a Kiwi but left it at an early age and came back about12 years ago.
   
   
3. I love my house,and its large garden, and hopefully some hens soon. Just got to convince my neighbour that they don't attract vermin!
   
   
4. I am gloriously happy single and intend to stay that way. Had a long marriage that should have ended years before it did.

5. I am very self–centred (selfish?). But then all committed artists are if they are honest, think of your partner or family sitting alone while you are creating. But because they love us or they know that we are hell on speed if we are not creating they put up with it!

6. I love humour, and often see the funny side of things on the wrong occasions.

7. People watcher – one of my favourite activities to to have coffee at cafes and watch the other customers and wonder about them – or it could be that I just like a decent latte.

8. I am a paradox, I love my own company and people think of me as a loner, but I love people all sorts, and need to interact with them. Maybe it is my selfishness coming out - I only want people around me on my own terms

9. I hate sitting and doing nothing.

10. I love colour, and hate the current trend in Kiwiland for its obsession with black, black all the time. The world is depressing enough without having to wear mourning clothes. Ouch, some people are going to hate that!

11. I am a very committed Christian, although I am not a fan of churches. Maybe because I have not found one that I think is honest.  Ouch again!!!!

11 Blogs - I hope none of these may have more than 200 followers, so in no particular order:

1. Giggles
2. Tamie Lee
3. Tracey Fletcher King
4. Pointypix
5. Creative Harbor
6. Christine
7. Cris, artist in Oregon
8. Debbie
9. Liz Powley
10. Penny Stewart
11. Lynn Cohen

There are heaps more and if you want to nominate yourself feel free to do so!  just grab the button and go for it.

My 11 Questions for the above:

1. What is your favourite flavour of ice cream?
2. Are you a dog or cat person
3. Who is your hero or heroine in the art world?
4. If you had to spend a month on a deserted island what famous person you would like to accompany you.
5. On this said island you were allowed only one song to play what would it be?
6. What drives you crazy?
7. What is your favourite colour?
8. If you were allowed only one art medium what would it be?
9. What do you like best autumn or spring?
10. What is your favourite activity
11. Do you like chooks (hens)

NB You don't have to take part, I won't be offended, as I know some people don't like this sort of stuff and I know it is time consuming. But I would love to read your answers! If you take part please ask your nominees 11 questions.

Faces Catch Up

For Paint Party Friday I am going to devote to my catch up on the 29 Faces challenge at Ayala's. (I got behind because I have had the flu for the last few weeks, can't get rid of it, going to make sure I get the flu vaccination next year!)

First 2 drawings are by Picasso, he has been a great influence on my art since I was a teenager, then, I liked his strange abstracts and colours. I still like them but nowadays I love his drawings. I have chosen two to copy.

Face 25

Picasso was a man for the ladies and he had many muses throughout his life. This drawing is of Francoise Gilot done in 1943, she was an art student that Picasso befriended and had two children by – Claude and Paloma named for the dove of peace. When I first saw it I found it difficult to believe that it was his. A man of may styles. I just love the hair.

Face 26

This is a more typical drawing of Picasso's and I just love the simplicity and economy of line. Actually it is quite hard to get such simple lines to look right and it took me three attempts before I felt I had got it!

 

Now two painters that have influenced me throughout. I gave myself the task of only allowing myself two hours to do each one! That's why they look sketchy.

Face 27

This is a copy of Matisse's “Green Line”, it was a portrait of his wife. I think it was the first time that he started to use arbitrary colour in portraits. Matisse has been a big influence with the use of colour. He taught me that things did not have to be the colour you see, but any colour you felt was right.

Face 28

You guessed it this is a copy of Modigliani, an Italian artist of the early 1900's. This picture was of Jeanne Hébuterne his mistress who killed herself after his funeral. He was a sad character hooked on drugs and alcohol. But like Van Gogh he could paint and most of his fame came after his death.

A book of his paintings was the first art book I ever had, I brought it with a voucher I had won for an art prize at school. So, you could say he has been a life time favourite. I got to say I really enjoyed painting this much more than the Matisse work!

Well there you have it, 28 Faces, only one to go! I will post the 29^th on Sunday Sketches, so check it out it is going to be a painting in my own style and I have given myself tomorrow to complete it. I have to say while the challenge has been great, it has been a challenge! It has taught me a great deal about my art and what I like, so it has been a very worthwhile event for me. So thank you Martha for setting the Challenge.  

Happy PPF Day every one.

 

Faces 23 and 24

Still trying to play catch up, here are two profiles mainly because I find that they are difficult to do. The artists I've chosen are Pablo Picasso and an English artist R B Kitaj.

Face 23

R B Kitaj is a lesser known contemporary of David Hockney, he is a figurative painter with a twist. I have always liked his work as it is slightly different, he seems to have an eastern feel to his work. I did this copy in pastel pencils and am not sure I got the mood of Kitaj's pastel right. I was doing it from a black and white reproduction and that could be what my problem was. However when taken away from his work I am very happy with this.

Face 24

Hah Picasso! No surprises for guessing that he is a major influence for me. I have liked him since I was a teenager. Initially I liked his lopsided face abstracts, I still do, but as I delved into his work more I saw that he was an amazing draftsman, and he could draw with much sensitivity. It is a drawing with this sensitivity that I have chosen to copy today.