Tag Archives: lehighvalleyartlessons.com

Proof reading

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As many times I looked at the painting of Adam and his car I never noticed I forget to paint the “e” in the website that is painted on the back of my car. Joan noticed it today!!!Thank goodness she did and I had enough time to fix it and resubmit it to the juried show. Wow! Can’t believe I missed it. Maybe it wouldn’t have mattered? IDK,,,,but glad the mistake was caught in time, the deadline is Monday. Tip: double and triple check the spellings in the composition. Plus, when you sign your work give a bit of space; in other words don’t sign on the edge. Awe…what an art day today!  Also, do not write your name large enough to see it before you notice the artwork itself! Do not be so vain……it kills the attitude of the artwork. If you want to write your name in large print….do a painting of your signature. Seriously, your signature should be discrete towards the bottom not seen unless looked for or in the pattern of the composition. Look at the Masters.

watercolor painting continued.

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This is as far as I got tonight……awe! I only have a week to finish this. It’s all about layers of color. I want to work the entire composition and then I will come back and work the realism…..

Another day.

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Tonight is the last night for life drawing at Lafayette College for the next two months. I am a bit sad because once in life drawing studio again I realize how much the class has reinforced what I have already studied. That life drawing in the foundation for all art, either if you are a painter or whatever medium you work in. It is hard to manipulate realism if you do not have a basis or understnding for it first. Like I stated before sometimes I am not in the mood to draw by 7 pm at night! For the simple reason it has been a long day, I have back pain and really don’t do not feel like putting forth effort….many other reasons, but I need to prove to myself this is the only way I will improve as an artist on all levels. I need to have a strong foundation in order to stand tall so to speak. So, today I will attend in hopes to draw a professional model that doesn’t move so much. If I get tired of sketching gesture poses I will and need to concentrate on drawing hands and foreshortening views.  I have this watercolor I am starting in hopes to enter this juried show in NY by the end of July. I have it drawn out and I like it so far; I am having some trouble with the foreshortening of the one hand. I will try to work on that in a bit.

I have included a picture of my sketch that was drawn out in a “H” graphite pencil. If you use the H pencils be careful not to press hard on the paper/board because it will impress your paper with a mark or indent that will not come out. Do not press hard!  Also when starting to prepare your watercolors make enough of the base color, for example: This wc has blue as the base color of the car which means I need a lot of blue pigment. I use a porcelain egg tray for my palette, I find it works better than a porcelain plate because of the wells. I will make at least three pots “wells” of the same color blue in sure that I have enough of the same color blue to pull from. If one dries up it doesn’t matter just add water once again. Covering up a watercolor palette until next time just makes the paint have a funny texture for the next time…..just re-water to activate again.

This composition is starting to come into a 18 inch square and this I don’t care for. If it was Folk art then it would work, but I need to extend it somehow. Maybe by continuing the car a bit longer on the left side? That will give me the opportunity to show off some reflection work. I will see once I work a little longer on this.

 I ended up changing the arm angle and drawing in the hand larger in the picture below. Took the composition to 16×20, this way it wont be so expensive to frame because 16×20 is a standard size. I need about three hours straight to start painting and right now it’s late…home from life drawing which eas excellent as always. Now, for two months I can have Thursday night free.

Art shows

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http://www.artistsnetwork.com/competitions. Great site for juried show listings.

Remember before you get completely wrapped up in a protenial show read all the fine print! The shows have requirements such as size, material, medium, framing, title of show/entry, theme of the show and dead lines etc. Know that you may need to take your artwork to a certain place on a certain date, so make sure you can get the artwork to the place they tell you at the time they state.

Also read who the judges are and look up what style of artwork they create. It is helpful to view their work on line so you know what to expect. The show may also be for members only and closed to the public. Just make sure you read all the fine print.

Art Competitions as follows:

www.watermediashowcase@fwmedia.com

deadline is July 16th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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All Media Art Competition

This competition is now accepting entries.  The top winner will appear in our July/August 2013 issue.

Click here for guidelines and to enter.

 
 

Pastel Journal Pastel 100 Competition

The 14th Annual Pastel 100 is now accepting entries. Winners will be featured in the April 2013 issue and will be awarded more than $15,000 in cash and prizes.

Click here to learn more and enter
   
 

Over 60 Art Competition

The Over 60 Competition presented by The Artist’s Magazine is now accepting entries. Winners will appear in the March 2013 issue.

Click here to learn more about this competition

 

Southwest Art Artistic Excellence Competition

Southwest Art’s newest competition is now accepting entries. Winners appear in the December 2012 issue. Deadline to enter is July 15, 2012

Click here for details and to enter

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Being an artist.

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I was thinking about when people you are meeting for the first time and they ask “What you do for a living?”  It took me a long time to be able to say “An artist” in a prideful manner.  In my experiences people often have a raised eye brawl and look at you with disappointment that you don’t measure up somehow.  Not that you need their approval.  I think it is just human nature to want to be accepted on some level. Unless you are truly known for your art, then these people can’t wait to be seen with you. In college studios you’re surrounded by other artist usually a bit stranger then you and you fit right in no questions asked! Boy, do I miss my college days. I don’t know if for the reason of being young again or if I knew then what I know now? probably a little of each. Young people today have the same stresses just bumped up a notch or two; this I have noticed the past few semesters in the college darkroom.

 When I was teaching and someone would ask “What do you do?” and when I replied; “I am a teacher” I didn’t feel so convicted or out-of-place and somewhat respected. Maybe it’s just me? 

I believe that my art talent is God-given and If I feel ashamed about being an artist God can not honor my work or even bless and anoint it. Like I said it has taken me a long time to get to this point, and not that I don’t care what people think of me…..I have grown spiritually in my life and I like where I am in my life [this season].  Then I was thinking earlier today “I am not painting/drawing enough” and then in my studio I have recent artwork everywhere! Wow! The past six months I have been working my butt off with my portfolio. Then it occurred to me “Do not let the devil trip your ass up”! Whisper crap into your ear; always something negative “Your not good enough” or “Your art sucks”. I tell you ……it is Not you thinking all these negative thoughts! Don’t believe the lies of the devil. God loves you and has a great plan for your life. Just imagine what artwork you can create if you had a positive view of yourself. Plus, your artwork will flow with ease. Keep a sketchbook because you may not be able to paint all the ideas you have at once!

Composition is key. Taking 100 pictures of the same subject forces you to not only look at the subject differently; it forces you to see the composition outside your comfort zone.  Presses you to challenge your skills and the norm of the subject you are photographing. In so you will learn to see and recognize good compositions in the future. You want to provoke emotion in your art. The person viewing your art will stand in front of it much longer if you tell a story in the artwork itself. A subject matter that means something to them the viewer; a fond memory of growing up for example. You need to set the scene in your art and why would someone look at your work?  A strong title is important also. I struggle with composition myself from time to time. You want movement in your composition meaning lines, shapes and forms that have your eye going throughout the artwork.  A light source to establish the time of day and what feeling or experience do you want the viewer to take from your art? There is a lot to think about when it comes to composition. Just the look on someone’s face in your work can tell a story.

I like to photograph and use my own pictures for reference; do not use someone else’s artwork for your own unless you ask the artist. If then give credit to the artist whom took the picture.

I am going to start entering juried shows, I had some photography published in college and it has been a long time over-do and its time to turn my work up a notch!

American Artist Watercolor magazine is hosting a juried competition for watercolor artist named, “What do you love?”.  Here is the link:  www.watercolorcompetition.com for all the rules. Deadline for entry is August 6th, 2012.

I have a few competitions and dates written down somewhere and I will post in the next day or so. I have a great awesome composition in mind for this juried show and I will post the in-progress of this new piece. I did the photography today!

 

How light changes colors.

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I always knew but recently noticed how the color of the water changes so much in the water reflection of my fountain. I will photograph more pictures of the fountain at different times  and post the comparisons. Here are the few I have; Pre evening below.DaytimePre sunset.

A season for everything.

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Another quick Thank you to all the people who took the time to comment on my blog with such kind inspiring words. I read all of them and like one person said that I inspired her by what I wrote even though we most likely will never meet.  How beautiful. If we don’t tell our story how is anyone else going to benefit from our experiences? People all over the world of every race have a common core and it’s to be loved.

I was thinking about how I am closer to 50 then 45….OMG! Say that out loud! It hurts a little! lol. It’s funny and its true age is just a number; it is what we learn in life and what we pass on that is important. There is a season for every part, every stage of life that we must embrace because it happens if we want it to or not. I am at a point that I want to celebrate!!! I raised three amazing children, my youngest just got the big driver’s licence! Yeepee!!! I can take the taxi sign off my car! My mom said to me “Oh, I am so sad they are all grown up and I wish they were little again”.  “Are you serious?”. I am thanking God for this new season in my life. I can actually start to remember who I am as an artist and take “back time” for myself. There is a light at the end of the tunnel that is getting a bit brighter!  I am glad my kids are growing up and hopefully flying the nest in the near future or few years. I am tired. Tried of cleaning up and following everyone’s schedule!  I did the best I could to be a great solid Mom they can always count on and they know that. They know my story that I was not able to have children because of endrometriosis and God granted me three;  He has a great plan for their life. Well, He has a great plan for all of our lives…. we just need to invite Him into it. If I did anything right they all know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Just because the world says something that certainly doesn’t mean God feels that way. His ways are not the worlds.

Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)

  I love being a Mom, super I may add! And I wouldn’t give that up for anything……but I am tired……..I am looking forward to my new approaching season in my life. I want to be able to dedicate more time to my artwork and I actually want to enter some juried shows! Who knows maybe I might win one!

 When I was teaching High School art my children were young, just babies and the common feeling amongst all my students was that they wished there was a parent home when they got home from school just to ask them how their day was. Even if they were mad at their Mom or Dad;  Just a parent to listen to them complain about whatever……Not nesseccarliy give any answers….just Listen. Possibly a hug and a simple “I love ya kiddo” or “I am proud of ya”. Answers that do not cost a penny, we can not Buy our children with stuff because we feel guilty because we need to work and don’t set time apart to spend with them. Then material items are more important to ya than your kids. Turn the dumb TV off and eat dinner together.  I taught my kids responsiblity when they were just small; I remember once when I was giving my second baby a bath in the kitchen sink. My oldest was about three then, He wanted to help me and I knew there would be a bit more water on the floor! But, it was important to make him feel proud of himself for helping Mommy and it taught him some responsibility. It didn’t really matter the diaper went on backwards! He felt great about himself for helping and He felt loved.  Never fails baby always poop after their bath anyway, so just do another diaper change and put the second one on right! Don’t sweat the small stuff. Looking back into my teaching career my students taught me more about raising teenagers and the teenage years then any book ever could.  The point is if any is to enjoy your kids at every age and stage; time goes like that!  Children are a gift from God and we should respect that. As a parent {if you are one} you know how we feel about our kids sometimes? You think OMG will I survive this kid? Lets be honest as parents we all go through crazy times, but remember Love and encouragement are gifts to give everyday. It doesn’t cost a penny and we’d be so much more richer for it in the ways that count. At the end of the day we all just want to be loved.

My Studio!

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One of the best decision I ever made was to make a space for myself to work on my artwork. I like to call it my studio, makes me feel inspired to create. If I added my sewing machine it would be an old lady’s craft room! Anyway, I cleaned my space tonight and of course I wish it was larger…..but I am grateful for what I have.  My dollhouse is in the other corner to the left. I was thinking of trying to turn my dollhouse’s large table somehow thinking I would have more space…….but I love to look at Zanadu Mansion in all its unfinished splender. 

Thank you.

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I just wanted to say a quick Thank you for all the kind words and feedback for my blog site. I am new to blogging and this site; I just wanted to show-case my artwork.  I did read every comment made and approved them, but I am not sure where to read them after they get approved or are posted? LOL! I am getting there.

 It has been a long journey getting to this point and at times I tell ya I wanted to give up!  It only has been the past year that I actually felt like putting forth effort, if that makes sense? Like I did write on my blog somewhere that between being Super Mom, the captain of this House and my health there wasn’t any time for me! And if there isn’t anytime for me I can’t give something or anything away if I don’t have it myself. We all want to be a better parent, a better spouse, and or sister etc.  I love Joyce Meyer and she says; ” You can’t give something away you don’t have”.  Example: you can’t give love if you don’t love yourself or you can’t  give respect to someone if you don’t respect yourself. The big one is: Hurting people hurt people!  IDK……my point is I am a happier person if I can create my art and feel good about myself creating.  I try to watch Joyce Meyer everyday and study The Word [Bible] with her and except the love God has for me through His Son Jesus. I have learned that { I } we do not have all the answers to life; Why did that happen? or why am I in this situation? etc. God lets things happen in our lives so we draw closer to Him and learn to Trust Him with absolute Faith. I wouldn’t be standing if not for my Lord and Savior Jesus.

I have no idea why I am writing this but in short story someone out there in cyber space must need to read this: 

I always wanted to be a Mom. God knows our hearts. I was Not able to have children because of Endometriosis and I lost count of how many surgeries later. I knew that I knew that the Lord God ways are not ours. I had to release my Faith in prayer and believe what God says about  circumstances.  Look up Matthew 7-24. The scriptures states anyone who stands on Christ will not fall.  My first child was born on 7-24 time. My second child was born on day 7-24 and my third child was born in room 724. Do Not ever say there is no God or Jesus.  If you are one of those people who say; “OH….not me” where is He in my life? Well, shut up, stop believing the devil, and invite Jesus into your heart and see not what you lose but how your life will change for the better.  As simple as; “Jesus, I invite you to come into my heart, I am a sinner, please forgive me and I make you my Lord and Savior”. Aman.  Watch your life change for the better.

Life drawing

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This was a 30 minutes sketch drawn on Strathmore artist paper which has a tooth; more likely to use with pastels. I enjoy working on this embossed cold press paper which has a surface or texture mimicking a golf ball divots.  Look closely at the dotty result from the paper’s texture. At first, when sketching it is tempting to toss the sketch into the garbage! It is not similar to drawing on newsprint, the texture doesn’t allow detail at first. Continue to work the sketch for the first 10 minutes or so. Here I used vine [soft] and compressed charcoal [hard] which allowed the shadows [in vine] to smear brilliantly. Still needs to be cleaned up and worked a bit more. The nose is a little too long, but I can’t change that now. This is still a good work sketch with a good likeness, so until he models for the class again this was a good practice.

I noticed how some of the other artist were drawing and most just sketch in a gestural approach. One person was drawing in the Geometric Simplification [in shapes or blocking], or simple contour drawing lines [ outside lines of forms]. 

I always start by drawing an eye and then the next eye. Get them in proper alignment and work from the center of the face outwards. If you draw the contour line [outside]  of the face first, then you make it very hard for yourself to “Fit” in the eyes, nose and mouth in proper relationship to each other or you will erase the contour line you put in already. Do not ever draw the chin for example smaller than it really is just to fit into the outside contour line you’ve drawn, erase the outside line. This model is very fit and in good shape, so the muscle lines are linear and defined in form which allows you to study the figure in proper proportions vs. an over weight model where you need to know the skeleton and look for core lines to start.  It is easier to sketch defined form for a 30 minute pose if the model is fit.  During a 30 minute pose the time will allow for a Tonal drawing meaning a value range study from lights to darks and allow for more detail or realism.