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| Zac is getting more Zac-like. Still some tedious detail work to be done, but I'm starting to see his mother's eyes. His mandibular needs narrowing down on the left. Alas, tomorrow is another short day. Friends coming in from Florida. Slow and steady Linda. But when you're hot, you're hot. Drat life's interruptions. |
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| The stuff that makes my heart sing. Did you know that the Faber-Castel family started manufacturing pastels in 1761. These 72, soft, half sticks should produce some decent marks. |
I'm also a junky for comfort clothes that make you looked dressed up, but underneath, you're not. On my way home, I stopped at my favorite boutique to see what was going on for Fall. I hit pay dirt. Not that we go anywhere, but thinking we could, I picked up a few must haves. When I put my packages on the breakfast room table, Ellis was not as thrilled as me. He wanted the wife back he used to have, the frugal chick who never left the house. That chick is gone. He's quoting. Residential construction jobs are increasing. Cash flow is picking up. I, being the respectable female that I am, did my thing: churned the economy for the betterment of mankind. I did my duty for God and country.
I gave him a kiss and the bills, put on one of the tops I bought, my Niki shorts and headed for the studio with my new pastels. I was all dressed up for my swim later. Could any gal ask for a better day?
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| Thirty minute warm up with Sargent. I think I gave the guy a glass eye? If only I had ten minutes more. He does look shifty. |
Lol Linda!! Your post has me laughing so hard. Respectable woman indeed. I would have done the same. :) And your portrait is looking SO lovely! YOu've done wonderful work here. And your sketch is fantastic! Very dynamic, and not at all shifty in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteIt's all the doctors fault. If he hadn't insisted I come in to hear test results I already knew,I wouldn't have been out--and I wouldn't have stopped by the art supply store--and I wouldn't have dropped into the boutique to see if they had a brown tank top to match the pants I bought last year. When I'm out, I'm out. And as long as I'm going out, I might as well. This is all the respectable female's logic. Works for me.:-)
DeleteThe portrait is coming. Thank you. The trouble with Zac is he is in the midtones and only the tip of his nose and one cheek are hit by the light. The turn of his head gave me problems, but I think I'm on to them now. Tilt and turn very important to pose rendering.
This is probably a common problem using informal "snapshots" as reference photos. When the lights are set up in a formal sitting situation, the artist has control over the values.
Ha, your words are as fun and therapeutic as you art. I can just see you float through the art supply store... I'm there with you! SO I am curious... do you do a 30 minute warm-up sketch every time before you paint? Have you always done this or is it something you learned at the workshop? I would love to know more about it!
ReplyDeleteI am lately. I've done it before off and on, but I'm making it a habit these days. Drawing is like exercise. The arm loosens up with warm ups so when you hit the "serious" work, it's more relaxed and I think performs better. Sounds athletic doesn't it? I am making a mistake sitting down for it. I have to set up my second easel for this purpose; the table-top one is awkward--not tall enough. The arm get cramped quickly.
DeleteFor now I'm the frugal chick who never leave the house; but I've made a promise to George, which he encouraged it (he's yet to find out this was a mistake), when our residential economy flourish art supplies and books (cloths, cosmetics, etc) would be bread and butter :)
ReplyDeleteThe set of pastels made my heart sing just seeing it in the picture! The 30 min. charcoal again made me wonna tear mine apart and throw them away-it's SO good!! And the portrait even better!
You're having a brilliant run!!
Hugs.
As I told Crystal it was the doctor's fault. If I didn't have an appointment, I wouldn't have been out. As long as I was out, I figured I might as well stop into my favorite spots and see what was going on. I would never promise Ellis to be totally frugal. What is this artist's life without art supplies and books? Granted, I could have stayed away from the boutique since all I wear are shorts and tees when I'm painting. But we do occasionally go out with friends (like tonight) and I do like something to wear that doesn't have dioxinine or thalo on it.
DeleteHas anyone ever told you that you post too fast? What, me? I saw your astoundingly beautiful painting in the last post this morning on my phone. It is excellent! Then I read all the comments and your discussion about how much you learned from the workshop. I doubt we can give your instructor all of the credit - but it shows! Steve is magnificent - the values make it, I think. And Zack too. The teeth look great - what more is there to do?
ReplyDeleteGreat Sargent sketch. It would be a good Robin Williams sketch too, I think. Love the idea of a 30 minute warm-up. Unfortunately I often only have an hour, so that wouldn't work for me.
Which brings me to my next point, re your good life. In my next life I am going to be a woman and marry Ellis so I can paint and buy supplies all of the time. Enough said. ;)
Yes you have. And yes I think I am posting too much. I should follow my new guru's example and just post once a month. But I like posting--albeit journaling, albeit registering what I did in the studio that day. Blogging daily is how I made the studio an everyday thing.
DeleteCome on Dan. I'll let you know when it's astoundingly beautiful, (but thinks for the encouragement). I'm still feeling my way with my son and his with this new method and Zac is the more difficult of the two. He's head is just slightly turned and he's being shielded by his dad from the sun and is a tough conglomeration of half tones. His chin still isn't sitting well. Maybe today? Except we have plans with friends this afternoon and evening so I better get started.
The charcoal does look like Robin Williams. Doesn't he?
Wonderful posts!
ReplyDeleteThank you Casey. Did you notice I bought pastels? I'm moving your way. Now what is "sand" paper? That's next on the course supply list. I have till October to gather all my pastel needs together. I'm smearing it out. Pun intended:-)
DeleteYes...you had a lovely day---and yesterday I was at Dick Blick having similar thoughts "shall I buy this? ---of course!" What has happened to us? We used to be so normal hahaha. I am sure you always look nice. I embrace the painted up look. Sometimes people think that I paint -----houses! Love the new pieces. You are on a roll.
ReplyDeleteToday I will take a photograph of my painting coat. It's been washed recently and is clean.
DeleteWhen I was designing and frequently going on client calls, I had to be dressed. Waiting around to go, I liked to paint. Thus I wear one of my son's doctor coats. I get in trouble when I don't button it. My left hand is usually loaded with three different brushes all loaded with paint. If I turn quickly it's more than likely that paint will find it's way onto my tee shirt rather than the canvas. I must learn to button that coat instead of figuring I'm protected just because I put it on.
I'm an art supplies junkie too "All the gear, no idea!!!" I have oils, acrylics, pastels, charcoal, watercolour pencils, graphite pencils, oil pastels (and all the cnvas and paper to match!!)all fine but I only use watercolour!!!!! However when I go to Ken Bromleys (my local art store about 2 miles away) I have to buy as it saves me another journey, so you see I am saving petrol....really economic after all!!!!
ReplyDeleteLOL. Yes, it is a good idea to conserve gas and get it all while you're there. Actually, I thought I was frugal at the art supply store yesterday. I only got two things that weren't on my list: brushes and a set of 72 pastels. It was the pastels that pushed the bill over the usual amount (50.00). It's good I rarely go to the doctor. Any out will make me think of stopping by my favorite places.
DeleteYour posts always help me start my day! I wish I was as energetic as you! Your excitement shines through!! I am making my list right now, since I'm going to Blick's later...I need some more pastels! Your painting is wonderful as well as your amazing sketch!
ReplyDeleteI'm not that energetic. I am determined to see how far I can go with this genre which fascinates me. The workshop did it. I think I also need a workshop on formal portraiture. I noticed in the Sargent book of painting that while the clothing was gestural, the heads and hair were precise--not such loose strokes. I think the two approaches do go together. And so my dance card is filling up. Pastels are costly considering how quickly you use them up. I was also looking for small sets of all white, all black, all colors one uses a lot. Didn't see them, but I'm not through shopping. I am for this month though. I did have a good time.
DeleteNow back to the rack.
I think that warm-up is awesome....
ReplyDeleteThanks Roger. They are fun. I'm learning a lot.
DeleteThe real Zac is definitely emerging from the canvas! And, yes, Sargent looks pretty shifty-eyed, but so does the reference photo. Can't wait to read what you're into next!
ReplyDeleteSame old. Same old. Big weekend plans. Lot's of dates. Tomorrow, Saturday, maybe my last painting day. I'm a little sad. It's going well. Much more involved than I anticipated.
Delete