Link to Deb Pero

I forgot to post a link to an artist for you to check out on my earlier blog.  I have been corresponding with Deb Pero in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, via wet canvas in the Southwest Forum.  She is a wonderful knowledgeable artist.  Deb's blog post the other day has some random thoughts on painting,  offering some very good advice. 

It is always good to review the reasons for doing things when painting.  Sometimes we do them without thinking and sometimes we get ahead of ourselves.  You might try some of Deb's ideas.  You may learn something and come out ahead in the process.  Thanks, Deb.  I particularly liked being reminded about hard and soft edges.  I always need help on value, too.

Another hint from me:  I have a hard time reading white print on black, so I read blogs on NetNewsWire.  You can subscribe to your favorites, read, comment, sort and skip blogs without leaving your reader, all in black on white.  (I'm surprised when I click on the page and it is white on black.)  I read many, so this really helps save time and my eyes.  There are many other reader options, like Google Reader.  Much better than going blog to blog.   Have fun!  Oh, and come back by here.

Sketching for #244

It is pretty quiet around here.  Cloudy, warm and very little chance of rain from the nice clouds.  Shucks.  I sketched a page in the brown paper Utrecht sketchbook with the Prismacolor Premier 05.  By the way, this marker/pen has been going all summer.  It has made many strokes and is still going strong.  It has kept its fine line.  After all this use, it does get a little heavy if I slow my stroke down too much.  But, I am a quick sketcher so I think it has served me well.

 Number 4, can opener; Number 5, uncovered foot and Number 6, something you drink.

Number 7, something from my purse and Number 8, makeup item.

Hope your weekend went well.  So far, so good here.

Start of a Pastel Painting .. Yay!

I actually went to Regina Burchett's on Wednesday and spent the day visiting, painting and getting a bit rejuvinated and into the mood of painting.  Thank you Regina.

Regina was working on an Austin skyline and clouds painting she had started.  She is specializing in clouds and skyscapes.  She will be demonstrating at the Texas Pastel Society meeting on November 19 in San Antonio.  If you get a chance to go, you will enjoy seeing her approach to painting beautiful skies.

It is difficult to just paint after a lay off.  At first I can't even decide what to paint or what to paint on.  I only took an 11 x 14 inch piece of Pastelbord, so I wouldn't have a chance to change my mind.

I prefer to work from life than from a photo.  I was looking around Regina's studio and  her old French horn was sitting on a bookshelf.  I decided to work on that.  Maybe a mistake as it has many ellipses and those are a bane to my comfort zone, but I had a good time and was pleased with the start of my painting.

I always enjoy painting with Regina.  It is good for me to paint with someone, especially a friend that will critique honestly and gently.  It inspires, encourages and relaxes me.  If you never paint with friends you should try it!

I started with some pastel on the board and spread it around with alcohol for an underpainting.  Then just started in drawing and putting in the basic shapes.  I start with harder pastels for the underpainting.  You don't need to use so much of your "expensive" pastel if you do an underpanting.  I am trying to have a lighter touch so I can build the layers slowly and it worked for the most part.

I like to use purple for the shadows in brass.  The complements work well together.

This is the painting as I developed it some.  As I look at it now, I think the bell of the horn should be a bit more elongated and not quite so round.  It seems to be facing me directly which it shouldn't.  It is easier to see those types of mistakes by looking in a mirror, upside down or with the camera.  It is good to check as you go along.

I probably have about two hours work in this, so it will develope and change as I go along.  I doubt I will get to work on it again until we get settled in the new house, so a couple of weeks at the earliest!  Sometimes it is good to let the painting "age" anyway without looking at it for a while.   It will have to be so, this time.

I sketched on Halloween for Scavenger Hunt 243 and today for Scavenger Hunt 244.  I will post them both here.  Join the Scavengers for some sketching fun and practice.  I sketch for homework!

For Hunt 243 which ended on November 3.  Number 5, wallet - my burnt orange wallet with a silver longhorn on it.
Number 6, stuffed - the RV across the way must be stuffed as they have a storage shed on the side!

For Scavenger Hunt 244, Number 1, something found in a car - the jump start/compressor in the Escape.
Number 2, landscape - with the challenge of drawing with my non dominant hand.  (By leaving it small, you may not be able to see it is very rough.)
Number 3, open - the Escape while we were tailgating.  Gene was listening to the news and I was sketching while we had some wine and coffee. Did the wine affect my view and perspective?  I will blame it on that.  Hmmm.

Instead of a sunrise, I thought you might like to see our temporary home at sunrise.  Pretty quiet still, the traffic hasn't begun to swoosh by at a rapid pace.  There will be zero traffic at the new house.  We may have trouble sleeping!

We went to the last fall ball baseball game at Disch Falk Field.  The Longhorns won over the Texas State Bobcats.  They played 14 innings and play many of the players.  They bat 10 instead of 9 and allow substitutes to go in and out.  It is fun to see the new teams and was a superb day for baseball.  In February when the season starts we will be wishing for such a day!

I forgot to say that you should look at Joanna's blog post.  You gotta love those boots!