Art class is in session

 Started teaching art classes from my home and here are some of my sketches from today's lesson. The student is already ahead as far as contour lines go so we skipped to shadow and light to create depth. I didn't get a picture of her's which I regret but I did have fun using charcoal and sepia pencils again.

 My middle boy decided that this looked fun so he had fun using the charcoal bits made his own pictures. Feels good to teach someone who is learning as well as M is, next week I will take a few of her's a post them later.

Sunday Scribble to Painting

Entered into a contest for Michaels Arts and Crafts just for fun. This was my Sunday Scribble that I made into a painting. I did it in one night and left in all the mistakes on purpose. I am trying to do something new and realize now that mistakes are part of learning. I know what to do differently next time and will not repeat it. But overall this one turned out just fine.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus trees lining a walking path. These trees can be very vibrant on their own but the unique shadows they create are some of my favorites.

Here is the same path but in color. Such a warmth to it. 

See the lovely colors they have on their trunks? As a child I didn't even notice these trees as anything more than a giant playground, the used to line our backyard. After my parents cut them down I realized how much I appreciated them. To this day the smell of Eucalyptus makes me happy.

Dooley is finished

Finished

Dooley's Portrait

 My cousin recently had to put her dog down and her sister asked me to do a drawing of him for her as a gift to remember him by. So here is a little of my process of getting it done. First I traced his picture onto bristol board and then chose my colors that fitted him best in the photo above.

 Next I blocked in the main colors lightly then started on the rendering of his nose.

 Eyes I find are the most important to pieces like this. If you can get the eyes right then it will show in the finished piece. So I worked on his eyes and darkening his features. I work typically from my favorite points on out so if his face wasn't working out the way I desired then I could start over easily.

Last is my current work. I used rubbing alcohol for the blue to make it seem more like a glow behind him. Still layering the browns and reds and will finish that tonight and last of all will be the whiskers and off he goes to my cousin. It is turning out better then I had imagined and I have prayer to thank for that.

Sunday Scribbles

During the first hour at church my kids normally like to draw but occasionally they are busy doing something else and I get time to sketch a few things, yesterday was one of those days. I branched out a little on this drawing with how I normally design things but this one turned out pretty awesome. Sometimes freestyle doodles can look pretty amazing, no thinking, just drawing!

17 years in the making

 I started this idea back when I was 17, that was 17 years ago. So hard to believe that I never could finish this but I managed to redraw it and finish it once and for all. There is a story behind this but I am not going to tell you, it is all up to you to decide for yourself what it all means. I purposefully left in the elements that were not perfect just to show myself that even imperfect parts in art can still make a strong piece. I have hid this one for myself until recently. I am already working on a sister drawing for this one that will face the other way to compliment it. Now to get back to commissioned drawings.