Thursday, December 27, 2012

End of 2012 gouache drawings!

"Line Dance"
Gouache
9" x 6"
$20
SOLD


These may be the last drawings of 2012.  I'm not sure.  I've been super busy over the holidays but still getting some creative time in here and there.  Am working on a book also.  Girls were home so I was able to create a whole new album of wonderful movement photos with them wearing different outfits. 
Looking forward to sitting down with my gouache again.  A very Happy New Year to all!


"Peace, Baby"
Gouache
9" x 6"
$20
SOLD

"Fabulous Pants"
Gouache
9" x 6"
$20
SOLD

"Whatever"
Gouache
9" x 6"
$20
SOLD

"Groovin Down"
Gouache
9" x 6"
$20
SOLD

Friday, December 21, 2012

Equipment for right outside our studio.

I get asked a lot about my equipment and my favorite set ups.  This is just one.  I love my Julian Half Box Easel.  I leave it set up all the time.  This is a newer one but I've had one for over 30 years and honestly I wouldn't be able to fold it up because one leg is taped.   I can carry this easily all over the yard to spots I like.  I stack and tape the paper palettes to the drawer and store extra paint, panels and turp in the back.  I don't have to run back and forth to the studio if I run out of white!  It's  a classic.  

It's easy to lift and walk around with.  I do have to watch the legs not to get hung up on a bush or some corner of the house or studio.  Not really a problem.

Taping the paper palettes to the drawer keeps the palette from falling off!  

I just carry extra everything in the back part of the easel.  So convenient!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

I can always find time to draw.

"Young Dance"
5" x 8"
Gouache
$20
SOLD

I had time to draw again today.  A passion.  Please excuse the photography!  The paper these are painted on is actually a light white!  Colors are a bit more saturated.  Maybe I'll repost and shoot them in outside daylight.  You can get a better idea from the other drawings posted.  After must insistence from my husband I raised the price $5.  It really is a steal.  A steal for me!  I love what I do.  I love to experiment.  We all need to reach our full potential.


"Blue Angel"
5" x 8"
Gouache
$20
SOLD


"Dancing Dolls"
5" x 8"
Gouache
$20
SOLD

"Bringing down the House"
5" x 8"
Gouache
$20
SOLD

"Dance Pants"
5" x 8"
Gouache
$20
SOLD


"Dancing Spirits"
5" x 8"
Gouache
$20
SOLD

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Got some more laundry done!

"Dancing in Purple and Green"
5" x 8"
Gouache
$20
SOLD


"Dancing in Orange and Blue"
5" x 8"
Gouache
$20
SOLD


"Dancing Dots"
5" x 8"
Gouache
$20
SOLD


"Go Go Boots"
5" x 8"
Gouache
$20
SOLD


"Pink Angel"
5" x 8"
Gouache
$20
SOLD

Original drawings in gouache on acid free paper.   OK, I raised the price a bit to cover shipping and shipping supplies.  My husband insisted!  I said I want everyone to be able to afford an original work.  Really, the frame will cost more than the art!  I suggest a pale colored or neutral mat with a simple thin frame of about the same value as the mat.  Looks striking and leaves the contrast for the figure.  Try not to have too much value contrast between the mat and frame.    











"Teaching Tools"

The following are a few examples I bring with me to workshops I teach.  One thing I try to express is how powerful manipulating the fundamentals can be.  It's why I believe there is room for everybody to have their "own voice".     


With this demo I painted from a photograph.  I did four different interpretations of the same photo.  Top left is a "high value key".  Bottom left a "darker value key".  Bottom center is most representational of actual setting.  Top right I pushed up the chroma on all the colors. 


The demo on the left was another example of a "high value key" exercise.  I had the model in really dark value clothing so the students would have to get past painting the values they actually saw.  The demonstrations on the right show how you can use different value arrangements for the same subject. 


This is an exercise we always start with.  Finding a simple value plan of our subject and then interpreting it in color staying as true as possible to our value sketch.   This is  really an  important part of planning a painting.


This board shows three quick demos.  Left,  a demonstration of a backlit figure using a few values.  Center, a quick light and shadow demo of the model in a studio setting.  Right, a quick demo of a backlit figure in color.  These were really to show how I get started.


I take a lot of what I call "teaching tools" with me to workshops I teach.  It gives students a good idea of what to expect over the course of the class.  It helps me explain the exercises I plan.  I have collected stacks of these and always refer to them as well as demo new ones.  This one shows the simplified planes for an adult head I use and the lower right corner shows a demo of shifting the value range up to the lighter tones.  

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Busy in the Kitchen!


Yes!  I've been busy in the kitchen! sitting at the kitchen table creating more gouache drawings.  In between I've gotten a ton of laundry done, a little cooking, cleaning and addressed many other obligations.  It's so possible to continue exercising the skills in many different ways. 

"Demure Damsels"
5"x 8"
Gouache
$15
SOLD


"Swinging Ponytails"
5" x 8"
Gouache
$15
SOLD


"Dance Trance"
5" x 8"
Gouache
$15
SOLD



"Pink in Stride"
5" x 8"
Gouache
$15
SOLD


"Viva la Bell Bottoms"
5" x 8"
Gouache
$15
SOLD



"Joy Dance"
5" x 8"
Gouache
$15
SOLD