Vacation Inspiration

I didn't bring my supplies with me on vacation.  It was more of a matter of space, and honestly I didn't want to bring them not use them and feel the guilt.  However, I did bring my camera.  I mean who goes on vacation (especially to the beach) and doesn't being a camera?  While soaking up my year supply of Vitamin D, I admired one of the shells my husband found.  I decided I wanted to try something different.  Usually I'm all about landscapes, and believe me I have tons from this trip too, but with this one I wanted to try something explicitly artistic.  I surprised myself too!  Very happy with the result of this one.  I've found many other sources of inspiration.  So when I get home and settled I'll pick it up again, and that has me pretty excited! Ready to get home and pick it up again.




Sanibel Shell
Digital Photo, 2011

 

For the love of colored pencils

It's amazing how much time there is that I DON'T get to paint/draw, but when I do, it's heaven. The previous work "Cherries" was a lot of fun and I think really successful.  As a result I decided to give the colored pencils another go.  This time I used my best friend's photo from this year's cherry blossom blooms (I won't post the original w/o consent of  the photographer).  I used the burnishing techniques this time as well.  Not quite as successfully as before, and my blending marker was too stained by the "Cherries" to use it effectively.  I went beyond nature's palette, with the inclusion of Light Ceruleen Blue, Prama Violet, and Canary Yellow.  I find it to be a rather pleasing "Spring" palette, since cherry blossoms bloom in spring it was appropriate.  I used Canson Pastel Paper again this time in Blue.  It's also executed in a 4x6 space.  I wanted to make it smaller.  It not only helps me keep things tight, but I think for composition and display purposes it would be suited better as a smaller piece. Enjoy!

"Cherry Blossom Buds and Blooms"
Colored Pencils (Prismacolor)
Canson Pastel Paper

A drawing

Ugh, I just can't seem to stay on task.  It's probably because I haven't found my voice or even what I'm best at yet.  However, that may have changed...maybe...

I follow this blog Paint and Draw Together.  The site posts a picture for everyone to do just that, paint or draw their interpretation of it. That's what I decided to do tonight.  I completed this in Prismacolor Colored Pencils.  I also attempted a new technique that I just recently learned about, burnishing.  It's a technique used to ensure that colored pencil drawings don't appear overly waxy (a constant problem of mine) and also to create a shiny smooth surface.  I applied layer upon layer, blended with a colorless blender, layered some more then blended with a blending marker. I cropped the original photo to achieve, what I think, is a better composition. 



"Cherries"
8x10, Prismacolor Colored Pencils on Cason Pastel Paper