Faces 2 and 3

It is so hot here at the moment that I haven’t done much in the way of painting over the last few days. Yesterday was a stinker, my thermometer said 39o Celsius.  That’s hot for here, wasn’t surprised to see on TV we had the hottest temp for all of NZ. 

   

So this morning I was up before the larks, it was relatively cooler so got my journal out.  I got cracking on my 2^nd and 3^rd faces for the 29 Faces in February challenge that Ayala is hosting.  Go there and check out some of the wonderful work others are doing.

I decided that I wanted to test drive some new pencils I got last week.  They are Derwent water soluble graphite pencils and they come in a light, medium and dark wash.  I have just received a batch of photos from my sister of her two grandchildren (Yeah that makes me a great aunt!).  They live a eight hour drive away from her, so she doesn’t see them that much, and when she does, there are millions of photos flying my way.  She is such a proud grandma! 

FACE 2

Here I used the medium wash pencil in the traditional manner.  Kendal loves to pose, as her father, my nephew, says she loves to work that camera!

The next picture is of Flynn at the harbour making friends with a seagull.  I used the medium and light wash pencils with water.  I think that this has possibilities for my illustration work.

FACE 3

The next picture is not really just a face its Kendal on her beloved bike.  I was on a roll, and the theme at Illustration Friday is Wheels.  I am not going to link it there as I really struggled with this.  Kendal was okay to do, it was the bike, and I couldn’t get the perspective right.  Inanimate objects can be a problem for me.  Any way I used the dark wash pencil in a traditional manner.  I will come back to this later as I think the picture has potential. 

 

Well I am up to date now, so think I will go and stand under a cold shower for half an hour, its only 9 am and it is 31!

Have a lovely week Sunday Sketchers and blessings.

Linking to Sunday Sketches

Hey Sister, Go Sister!

This post is dedicated to all sisters.  My sister moved to Australia 3 years ago and I miss her heaps.  There are a lot of reminders of the fun we had, especially at this time of the year.  The first week of February meant our Father’s birthday, and the annual family gathering, Waitangi Day (New Zealand’s national holiday), new school year starting, to name a few.

Every year until our father's passing nearly 6 years ago we used to pack up her car and we would set off on an adventure for a week.  The destination was our Dad’s farm.  We would leave about 5 am and get to the Bay early afternoon, with several stops for shopping (hehehe).  Then we would hit the beach.  We lived inland and the nearest beaches are wild and rugged, not your swimming and sunbathing types.  The beach we favoured was Ohope the beach of our childhood.  It has massive surf and long stretches of sand and sand dunes.  Picture postcard stuff. We would became children and splashed and dived through the waves with wild abandon!  Then late afternoon we would tidy ourselves up and carry on to the farm.  The family would welcome us commenting on our long journey and how tired we must be.  Nobody mentioned the trails of sand in our wake or for that matter the shopping bags piled up in the boot!

The above journal page is commemoration of those times. So sis, if you are reading this, I am coming over later this year and we will hit some of those gorgeous WA beaches big time!

29 Faces in February

I am taking part in the 29 faces challenge hosted by Ayala. As today is the first I have to get cracking.  Keeping to the theme of sisters, I have started this painting, a self-portrait of me and my sister.  Artistic license applies sis!

Here is the sketch I did on the canvas 16 x 20 in. yesterday.

This morning I got cracking and painted this using water soluble oils. I think I lost the tension that I had in the sketch.  But it early days yet.

I want the tension to be there to portray that sisters, while they are close there can major differences in attitudes and life style.  The blood tie keeps them together through thick and thin.  My sister and I have had our skirmishes in the past, but this time in our lives, we are closer than ever.  Speaking for myself, distance has made me realize how much she means to me.

During next week I hope to finish this. I am not convinced totally about the colour scheme yet and their expressions I might change.  I want them to appear happier as I think they look a bit sad.  Will these count as two faces in the challenge, I hope so.

PS I have nearly finished the hills painting from last week.  I will post it next PPF!

Have a lovely week creating wonderful art and happy PPF.

Linking to

PaintParty Friday

29Faces in February.

God's Promise

The scriptural prompt for Word Art Wednesday this week is Isaiah 54:17

When we accept that Jesus died for our sins, we live under the new covenant. We are made right with the Lord, our sins are forgiven and we can enter into a relationship with him.  His laws are written in our hearts, and in our love for him we obey.  It is not through our striving but from him comes the will to obey.

The inheritance which awaits those who serve God is truth and victory.  It is the protection of God in all times of trouble and his friendship in all periods of adversity and victory over our foes.

and to know that I belong to him. I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ. Php 3:9