Tag Archives: drawing

Juried shows.

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I have a post somewhere on my blog regarding entering juried shows. It is not as hard as you may think; not anymore since digital land. Juried shows can cost anywhere from an average of $9.00 to 30-40 dollars an entry. Usually if you enter two – three entries it may be around $75 to enter. Most show I have seen lately you enter a digital image at a certain size of usually 1000 or a bit more pixels. The rules on the show page will have a required size in the rules. Follow the guide to what they want. You will need a credit card to enter and pay for your image[s]. Follow the directions. When entering I like to enter at least two paintings for the reason the judges see my range of style and control of watercolor. Entering one piece is good when your artwork is spot on and hits the high mark being able to stand strong solo in composition and all the elements.  Some artwork needs to be seen in a series of three if the subject matter is similar in content and similar compositions. If there is not a strong compositional range in the work, then I like to enter three images of close subject matter. For example; say you paint flowers up close in a size 9 x 12. One painting or drawing is not strong enough or large enough to stand alone. Not every case, but for the most part. It leaves the viewer or judge thinking it just can’t make the cut because it needs just a bit more to take it to the next level. But, when you put three paintings together similar in content they enhance each other in content and become a strong entry. It is usually three or five in a series. After five it’s time to move on and expand your artwork to something else so you’re not repetitive.

When taking your best picture I photograph outside under my porch. I have true natural light with no cast shadows. The natural light is usually crisp and I get a true color read. NEVER photo shop your imagines…..you will be disqualified. If you make the first cut you may be asked to physically bring your artwork to place where your work will be displayed and judged. Some shows they judge solely on the digital images. Find a show that fits your artwork and go for it!

Here is a list of a few magazines that list shows and on their sites there will be a listing in the competition menu or event menu. You can find these magazines at Barnes and Noble bookstore or another bookstore in your town.

www.artistdaily.com, www.artistmagazine.com, www.watercolorartistmagazine.com, www.baltmorewatercolorsociety.org.

American Artist Magazine, American Artist drawing, Watercolor Artist, The artist magazine,and International artist. 

Prismacolor.com also has a gallery to display your artwork, sign on and create your artwork gallery. You can look at other artist as well and share tips and recieve feedback too.

Entering a juried show.

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Entering a juried show can be a ball of tension. Now, I know and remember why I don’t care for entering them! I am trying not to focus on the due date vs. “Just painting”. Plus the fact I think it depends on who the judges are and the style of artwork they prefer.  Lately I have been looking at the artwork that was chosen to win in various shows and I am not sure why some artwork was even chosen to win? Is it political? I am sure the judges see something I don’t or at least I hope so. I am not going to concentrate on the nerves of the show [ follow the show’s rules], but I am going to start this watercolor today with the intension of entering. If I don’t finish, then I don’t enter this show; there will be other shows. I like to joke and say “I am almost half way to 100 yrs!” Ouch. Yeah, say that outloud…..so at this point in my life I have learned Not to lean on my own understanding, but God is the director of my life. If I keep doing the same old things I do [that don’t line up with Him] then I keep going around the same mountain until I do learn my lesson. I heard something pretty cool this morning and it is: Every opportunity has difficulty and every difficulty has opportunity and in adversity God created Beauty. Very interesting when heard like that.

I will begin this watercolor today in a bit and post pictures and tips as I go along. Here is the sketch that I think I am satisfied with. Before you start a painting and if you sketch it out first sit it down and look at it a few days before adding paint. Once the wc goes down it is harder to change or fix a mistake once started. Ask others to look at the sketch and tell  you what they see wrong. You may be just too close the problem and don’t see it. Trust me on this. Be careful when using the H graphite pencils……the hard pencil will score the paper and the indent will not come out and be seen through watercolor. Use a 4H or 2H to sketch but lightly! The watercolor will dislove the graphite and whatever is still there can be erased once the painting is completely dry {the next day} with a kneaded eraser.

 I drew the one hand about three times before I got the size right. When I first worked on this it was coming out 18 inches square, compositions do not work square unless it is pattern or Folk art styling. I needed to extend it and it is something close to 16 x 20, a standard size which will allow me to have an easier time framing. When I start a wc I need at least three hours straight to put down the first layer which will set the pathway for realism. If the first layer is not right then the painting will not work. So, my house is quiet……aman…I have a few things to do first and then I will start painting and posting. Thanks for looking!

This is how far I have gotten today, about four hours. This is only the foundation of hues and shadows I need to bring up detailed realism. I like it so far……:}

Watercolour portrait

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I like to spell watercolour with a “U”, feels more artist like!  Anyway,  I worked for about an hour on this morning, adding and working up the realism. Now, I need to let it sit for a day or so and give my eyes a rest. Plus, I want to let the paint really dry and take hold and settle. Once that happens I will go back into it add ridiculous realism. Certainly, the painting can stay as is and be called finished, but I need to take it to the next level. 

 I thought about this many times why I need to take my artwork into realism and I came to the conclusion that I can not change what kind of artist God made me or gave me the eyes to see as an artist; I can only work hard with what I do know as an artist and honor God, enhance, plus develop what I know as an artist and take my artwork to the next level. I have been working hard in Life drawing and actually seeing results I enjoy, so that is a good thing. Two minute poses are hard for me because I want to draw not sketch gesture drawings. I don’t know if it is that I only had about thousand hours spent in  life drawing classes or I am at a point I can skip that section of class? Good question. All I do know is that I Thank God for my life and what He is doing in it, especially as an artist. Without The Lord I would Not be standing, all my Blessing are because of Him whom died on that cross at Calvary for me.

One very important fact; Do Not ever think Your Art is not worth creating! Being an Artist is a gift from God. {period}. Do Not let the devil set your a** up!  Take the time to look around  sometime; at nature, the birds chirping, a child’s smile or your own life. What obstacles you have overcome in life and are still standing. Do not ever think “Where is God?”, He is and was right there with you the whole time. He is the Creator and what an Artist is He. So, if you are an artist and reading this right now realize that God gave you a part of Himself; the artist. What is important to you is important to God.

I really like the scarf and the way the folds are. I want to enhance the pattern yet and I will come back to it in a day or so. Right now I am going to try to downsize this easel my Dad made me when I was in college. The problem is it so big! My Dad always made things for giants! Once he made a picnic table that when you sat down at it the actual table top was at your chin! No lie! lol. Funny stuff. Wish I had a picture of that. So, I probably could make two easel just with the one.

Life drawing

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Recent page has been added to the Life drawing category of two beautiful portraits. I will add one picture featured below sketched in the un-reveling nude figure fashion since this is pictured on a post page. Drawn on Strathmore artist cream color paper with basic charcoal in a 15 minute pose by a professional model. Without a photograph to view the expression was captured beautifully. The hand needs some improvement as far as detail to shape and shadows, but overall the sketch came out well. I find myself wanting to add more realistic detail at the fifteen minute duration poses. At this point I can render a fairly nice sketch, after this point I would need to use charcoal pencils to get tighter detail for more control of the medium. I also would use a different hot pressed surface paper for a longer posed sketch, a smoother surface would give me and allow more control with realistic detail.

If you double-click on the picture you can see the surface of cold press paper and how the charcoal goes on that surface. The paper was bought on clearance and I usually do not use cold press for life drawing, if I were in a pinch and wanted to work this drawing longer into a realistic sketch {sometimes a model will pose several minutes longer or come back to a difficult pose later} spray workable fixatif would follow next and then charcoal pencils which would allow a slight more amount of detail without taking up what was already down. 

Second hand art supplies

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I know how expensive art supplies can cost and even with a 40% craft store coupon the cost is still high. Try looking for art supplies on Ebay. Most sellers I find are honest to deal with and ship on time. Supplies are mostly somewhat used, but in very good useable condition. For Prisma colored pencils cost $200. new  for the 132 set at the craft stores and these items hardly go on sale. On Ebay you can win a set for $30, 40, 50.00 if you take the time to look for the auctions. Even if some pencils are used it is a lot cheaper to buy a few needed colors.

Pennsylvania artist in the Lehigh Valley area. Professional creative art lessons in all mediums; watercolors, oils, acrylics, pastels, still and life drawing, graphite, charcoal and color pencil. If realism in any listed medium is your goal then I am the artist that can teach you.

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Hello and thank you for visiting my website.  Please feel free to stop by my online art GALLERY or learn a little about me by clicking on the SUBJECTS I teach and ABOUT ME pages above.  This WordPress website is growing with tons of art information,  art ideas and pictures of artwork.  I will be adding new galleries of dollhouse miniature paintings and paper flowers that I design, make and teach how to make. I am also a certified  tutor on WyzAnt, but please contact me here.

I am currently accepting new students of all ages.  I can be reached at zanadumansion@yahoo.com if you have any questions.