Dimpled Truth...365 Days of Drawing

The hardest bit on this drawing were the derriere dimples. I kept saying too much. Story of my life.

A heavy hand in a drawing area that should be a slight half-tone can lead to some unfortunate results.

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In The Pink...365 Days of Drawing

What's the difference between greatness and mediocrity in art? That's a very big question, isn't it? Well, if anyone saw Pink's performance at The Grammy's last night the answer was there. She followed a rather labored performance by another female artist who while technically perfect was also using all the props in the world, including a fair dose of bump and grind, to get her message across.

Then came Pink in a white shroud who flew into the air in a Cirque Du Soleil kinda feat. She was astounding. Poetic. Took the the art of performing a mere song to a whole different level. It was very moving to me. She got a standing ovation. It was a tear-jerker moment.

It reminded me of what my mentor, the great Everett Raymond Kinstler, N.A., once said in a workshop and I don't quote him directly. But it is something I have never forgotten. Something along the lines of being a fine technician (in art) is just fine and dandy but something less perfect said with passion and conviction will soar. Perfect can be boring without the passion.

This has nothing to do with last night's drawing. But I can't stop thinking today about how I can't wait to get to the studio and perform just like Pink although I might leave my shroud at home.

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BLING BLING...365 Days of Drawing

It is what is...an indulgence in bling...and another drawing down.

I want one.

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The Cobalt Blues...365 Days of Drawing

This paint tube almost squeezed the life out of me. It was Friday night. I had cooked a lovely dinner after coming home from painting at the studio. The last thing I wanted to do was draw. This is often my problem in the evening which is why this challenge to draw every day is good for me.

I thought a humble paint tube would get me in and out fast so I could get on to more fun things on a Friday night.

Wrong. My Old Holland Cobalt Blue got the better of me. Must be all that pure pigment in the brand.

This is the first drawing of the month I put to one side to finish when I woke up after about 45 minutes of drawing frustration. This morning I wrapped it up in about 10 minutes. Go figure.

Approx. 5" x 8"

Channelling my inner Chanel...365 Days of Drawing

I am crazy for Chanel. Wish I could afford it. So when I saw this vintage bottle of Chanel No. 5, my favorite fragrance, I knew Coco would approve of me drawing it.

A blog post by artist friend Shelley was very much in mind. She wisely asked when does a drawing cease being a drawing with all this wash stuff I do.

Good question. To my mind, if you can still see the drawing lines and the paper in parts when the drawing and wash is done, it still qualifies as a drawing. I wouldn't leave the drawing lines in a painting and I wouldn't leave bare white canvas showing. If you click on this to see a larger image of the bottle, the paper grain is still very apparent.

I agree the approach that I use is a very painterly one and perhaps not for everyone. But that charcoal stick is out to the very end. That is when I place the last few crisp lines to punch things up.

Things in art to my mind have to have a Yin and Yang. Hard, soft. Hot, cold. Lost, found. Love, hate.

I am sure Coco would agree. Her design aesthetic survives to this day intact.

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Pink donut saves artists' bacon...365

Well, I did it but only just. A simple pink donut saved my bacon in the daily drawing challenge. I have always liked pink donuts. They excite me.

I was looking for every reason to get out of drawing last night. I had done a head study demo from life in my new teaching class during the day that I figured could easily count as my 30 minutes of daily drawing. The block-in is drawing afterall. And then there are ALL those sketches in my sketch books of old I could steal from. No-one would know.

I was reasoning this out with my husband after we got back pretty late from dinner and wine. He gave me a look, a look that said NO. I have to thank him actually for his support in this venture.

I should also mention that I am trying not to do "copy" drawings of other artists work in this challenge. I know that is very useful to do and I have sketch books filled of tons of copies of Kinstler, Vilppu, Brideman, et al., from other the years. I think so much copying was holding me back in a way. It was time to move forward.

So I am trying to develop my own personal drawing style along with the brain hand co-ordination which is harder in a way. When you copy another artist's drawing, part of the hard work is already done for you. The edges thought out, the shading down pat.

But when you are putting down something on paper through your own eyes, you have to think a little more in my opinion. And it takes a little longer. At this point in my art, it is important not only to paint like ME, but also to draw like ME.

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Walk the walk? 365 Days of Drawing

What's that phrase...walk the walk, do the talk?

On this drawing it was all about the movement for me. I almost cut my drawing moment short when I mistook the lovely cold lemon-infues beer I was drinking for the gouache water.

Gouache water doesn't taste that good - let me tell you. Hope there is no lead in it. Otherwise this challenge could be cut way short.