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| A Quiet Exchange, graphite, 6 x 8, TMDD Series 2015 |
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| Rough Start, a working title, graphite, 6 x 8 TMDD IN PROGRESS |
I knew I was off to a rough start this morning when I almost fell through the glass shower enclosure and then had a toilet overflow. By the time I sat down to sketch, I knew I couldn't expect much. My pencil was out of control as the minutes ticked away. Composure finally returned five minutes before the Sun Torch turned off. This lovely lady with the smile will just wait till tomorrow for brilliant.
Yesterday's rendition of a serious Ellis listening to a friend came off a lot better. I had had no rude awakenings to raise my blood pressure. Done in the quiet of morning, this sketch was not affected by stress; it has painting possibilities. One of his eyes is a tad off, but overall that's my baby. Rough Start isn't even close to a likeness; I started it too close to the morning's irritations. I should have waited till one twenty over eighty returned and the bathroom floor was dry.
If you've been following my Thirty Minute Daily Drawing Series, you know there is no rule about finishing the sketch in that thirty minutes. The only rules are to draw daily. and stop on the half hour--don't make a big deal out of it. Next Monday, Daylight Savings Time begins. I will put away my Sun Torch till next October. I don't think I'll put my drawing equipment away though. Sketching has been a wonderful way to start the day, on a par with meditation.
For goodness sake don't put aside the Daily Drawing, it's quite fascinating for us followers. This one of Ellis is really good, I'd be very pleased to have drawn that one.
ReplyDeleteGoing to try to get back into art today ... sneezing & sniffing as I go. I'll try a simple still life I think. Nothing too demanding or protracted as I'll be off to the Middle-East and Australia for 5 weeks from next Monday
http://jeanettebarnesart.co.uk/
Forgive my ignorance with regard to geography, but is the Middle East close to Australia? I'm not visualizing, but they may be? I'll have to have a look at the Atlas. How adventurous. We're off to Las Vegas in April. That will be adventuresome as well. We're meeting our sons and their families to celebrate our 55th. I'll be head hunting again with my camera--but I don't think cameras are allowed in casinos? Privacy and all that. Shame. There have got to be some great shots of people in the throes of losing their fortunes--or making them?
DeleteThanks. Ellis was difficult, the lighting being so poor, but with my laptop in the shop, I'm down to photos I took when I wasn't thinking about drawing.
We're having a bit of a cold here. It must be circling the world? I'm going to drink a lot of fluids and read fiction by a good, young writer, Anthony Doerr, All The Light We Cannot See. It's about two youngsters, a French blind girl and a mechanically talented German boy, at the very end of WWII. The prose is beautifully written. Tomorrow, the studio. The weather has warmed and the lower level has too.
Middle East = Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Iran (about 6000 miles from UK).... we will be going to Qatar and Bahrain. Then on to Australia which is another 8000 miles away from there. When I was an aviator, I spent 25 years flying in this region ... we also flew regular missions in to USAF Nellis which is the local air base at Las Vegas
DeleteYou do manage to get around! You give me a chuckle. I knew the places you were mentioning weren't around the block. Are you sure five weeks is enough time? Also jet lag. I take Melitonin, the large dose, to get me on an even keel. You'll need it. This reads as quite a trip, you don't want to be in a slump. I' taking some to Vegas. The three hour time zone whacks me out the first couple of days. Sounds exotic, but exhausting. Visiting family, I suppose?
DeleteGood news, I am so glad you won't stop the sketching, I would miss them if you did. Ellis is brilliant! Take care in that shower!
ReplyDeleteI think it has become a habit? I ran across that photo of Ellis in my archives. It's a poor one, as most of them are, but I like the serious look on his face. Thanks; he gave me lots of trouble--as he always does. 😄
DeleteI like both of these sketches. Wonderful, and amazing after dealing with the overflowing toilet--ugh.
ReplyDeleteIt was a horrible half hour--and doing the load of towels afterwards added to the unpleasantness. I should have put off picking up the pencil, but I figured drawing would be calming. After nearly half an hour it was. Thanks Jean. My sessions with the pencil have taken me round circle. I'm back to where I started years ago.
DeleteMy friend Helene emailed me Ellis's nose is too big. I noticed that too--as soon as I published. Actually, the nose isn't too big, shading is missing. He's a smudge away from good enough. I do thank Helene for bringing Ellis' nose to my attention. I was too busy rectifying his chin. I do love another set of eyes.
ReplyDeleteFrits are welcome. Thanks Helene. Tomorrow: a well placed smudge.
DeleteYou caught the intense look on your husbands face while listening to a friend, very well done !
ReplyDeleteNot till I shade his nose down to size.
Deleteyes, I am glad you won't stop sketching..! I like both sketches...especially Ellis!
ReplyDeleteThe best reference shots are taken when people are unaware there is a camera in the room. The unfinished gal paused, with reluctance, to flash me a smile. It's a phony smile, the kind children have in their school pictures. But after,I give Ellis one more smudge to narrow down his nose, I'll see if I can't capture that "hurry up and take the picture" quality. I am pinched for references with my lt still in the shop and no word as yet when it will be returned repared. I miss my beach people.
DeleteYour portrait sketch of Ellis is superb - very strong, simple, just perfect. I hope you are all right after your close encounters with that dreaded bathroom!!!
ReplyDeleteKathryn
The day started wrong and kept going that way. It was just one of those things. Thanks. My friend was right; ellis' nose was too big. Not anymore. 😊
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