My Escher painting continues....

I have done some more to this painting which I can’t believe I started in July! After I had painted the initial picture I wasn’t sure what else to do to it, so I left it a while. Anyway, I came back to it and decided that I would ‘do an Escher’ on an Escher picture, (he used mirrors in the making of his art) and I traced the painting so that I could mirror the image. Now that I have done this I am trying to work out how to link the bridges together. My thought is to mirror the bridges so that they form a loop. I have traced those from my original drawing and I am now trying out various placements. At least I can do this with tracing paper until I like the effect

This painting is taking ages, but I seem to want to really think this through which is very unlike me. I have also had creative input from the amazingly talented Mac in my art group (he seriously is brilliant) and from lovely Jim.

So it's coming along......it may be a few more months until I have anything else done to it at this rate, what with Tam's art class and Kelly Berkey's sketch challenge....talking of which I need to post up my latest attempt soon.

Have a great weekend!

Follow your dreams....

I had another bash at my art, heart and healing painting and this is it.

I really enjoyed trying something so completely different from what I normally do. It’s strange for me to add collage and especially for that collage to have a meaning. Usually when I paint or draw, the subject has a different meaning as maybe I have visited the place or I’ve created the still life. But in this instance this picture just came from within. No person to copy, no real idea of what will happen....I just let it unfold.

I didn’t like my initial background so I re-did it, but all in all I think it came out well. By the way, this last sentence is a huge shift for me.....I normally put my art down, or say it’s not good enough, but you know what, this came from me.... it is just so.


I am going through a change in my life right now and the words in the painting ‘do not be afraid to follow your dreams’ is to remind me that I mustn’t give up. The word courage is what I feel I need. And as for the bird and hearts.....I need to let my heart lead me and be free.

Thank you Tam for helping me, and what appears to be over a thousand others, take this journey.

Finding my way.....

My rough draft of the person in my painting

I started on my painting from Tam's Art Heart and Healing Course last night and I must say I had a lot of fun.

I've not been feeling great of late, so it did me good to try something completely different to what I normally do. I quite liked the results of part of the painting and other bits I didn't. I realised that I can learn a lot through Tam's videos but at the end of the day it boils down to my style.....what I like to paint, how I like to apply the paint and the materials I use. Tam's video's are great and are very inspirational, but I have been to too many art classes where the students are frustrated their work doesn't replicate the tutors....it never will as it is their work. And I admit I fell into a bit of that trap last night.

I will work on the painting again tonight so I thought I would post up a rough draft of the face until I can show the whole painting.

However, it was lovely forgetting the world and my troubles and just painting. Absorbing myself in my creative journey......as at the moment that is definitely what I am on. Jim was busy editing his photo's from his last event, so I let him be and went off into my haven and painted. He kept popping in to see how I was doing and I thanked him for being so wonderful, understanding my desire to paint and for being so encouraging. I thank my Higher Power every day for bringing him into my life....

Days like this.....

The last few days have been a bit weird for me. I've not felt right at all. Admittedly I have a few things on my plate right now but generally I am feeling less like me. Maybe it's the rat race I belong to, the lack of time for me, the lack of time for me and Jim, the feeling that I am not fulfilling my dreams....all of which I have the power to change, I know.

Just feel like I have had the wind knocked out of my sails.....

Have a great Monday!

I've found where I belong.....

Here......

www.shinberglevinas.com

I was browsing on the internet the other day and came across this picture of a studio. Just look at that light!!! Wow!

I can see myself one end with my paints and Jim the other with his photographic studio (in my head this space is big enough for the both of us).

I don't know who lives here, but my, I am in love....

Off to dream now so have a great day!

My sketch challenge

I have started the sketch challenge set up by Kelly Berkey and I chose the picture I liked the most – the one of her back. For me these poses are heaven as I love drawing the back....don’t know why, I just love the contours and shapes. When I attended my life drawing classes I always tried to move my easel so that I had this view...mainly because I struggle with faces. So here’s my first one in the challenge: I really enjoyed this and used a pencil I bought years ago called black beauty. It’s a thicker pencil and is made of bonded lead, which gives a thicker and darker line without having to press too hard.

I was going to draw this picture (and any others) on big pastel paper as when I draw a person, this is how I like to work, preferably using pastels, oils or charcoal. But this time I thought I would use my A4 sketchbook as not only will it keep all the drawings in one place and I can see my progress, but also it means that I can sit on the sofa and draw or take it to work.

I haven’t drawn in ages (I usually paint) so this is really good to do especially as art teachers have told me that as an artist, you should draw every day. Anyway, here’s what I learnt when starting this challenge:

~ If you are due to go out, then don’t pick up the sketch and carry on as it will make you late! :o)
~ This has already sharpened my observation skills
~ When I started this I wanted it to be perfect especially as I will be posting it online, but I then started worrying about it....so I took a deep breath and relaxed and worried less about the end result and enjoyed the process more
~ It’s all about the journey

I really enjoyed this and I had forgotten how much I enjoy drawing as well as painting.

Have a great day!

A sketching challenge...

Through this wonderful blogosphere I have come across the amazing work of Kelly Berkey. Her jewellery is so lovely and unique – I love it! She is also part of a community of other female artists and Kelly decided to set up a weekly sketching challenge. So she asked her partner to photograph her and she posts up one picture a week for people to draw or paint. A few people have joined in, and I have decided to dip my toe in the water and have a go.

As quite a few paintings have already been done, I decided to pick a few of the previous challenges and give it a bash. I am really hopeless at drawing faces....I never put them in my paintings if I can help it. When I did a life drawing class a few years ago, I always drew anything BUT the face....so some of these will be a real challenge for me. But I am looking forward to it and will post my offerings whether I like them or not.

On another painting note, Willowing's art class started yesterday and I am looking forward to getting stuck in :o)

Hope you are having a good day!

Helen

Time to learn and have some fun....

The friendly and inspiring Tam from Willowing.ning has created a free paint class called ‘The Heart of Art’ which I have just joined. Normally she charges for her workshops, but she has offered this free to anyone, and at the last count, 865 people have signed up – that is amazing!

It’s not the usual type of art I do, but at the moment I am trying out all different methods and mediums to see if I can find my style. So I am looking forward to being crafty, arty, sewing again and trying something new.

The class starts on Monday 18th (oooh tomorrow!!) and runs for 4 weeks.

I will post up my attempts here, and thank you Tam for being so generous. It is true what they say, by giving to others you receive back tenfold, so you will absolutely flourish!

Have a great Sunday everyone....I'm off to take up another creative challenge - post to follow soon! x

A haven of tranquility

I am fortunate enough to have a place where I can be creative...an area I can store my paints and paper and set to when the mood presents. After not having such a space for years, I fully appreciate it. But my, wouldn’t it be lovely to have one of these......

Above - centralhi.com

Below - from Housemartin blog

Above - www.channel4.com

A mature garden, a room with lots of light and a beautiful environment to let your creativity flow.......

Sounds perfect!

Have a great weekend!

Helen

The fourth one...

A while ago I blogged about producing 4 paintings in a month....I did achieve this (yay!) but the time after has been so busy that I haven't been able to blog about it. So here it is...

I decided to continue using the same scene and this time drew a rough outline of the buildings in pastel, in a colour similar to the colour of the pastel paper.

I then started blocking in the various colours to build up the picture.
I then started to add more details, correcting the lines, adding windows and some shadows.
This painting didn't take long, I would say an hour tops, but it was fun to do.

Looking at it now, there are things I would change, but that is what painting is all about - by doing you learn more than any video or book can teach.....

Have a great day!

Helen