Cay Denise

Last night's practice is based on a photograph of former U.S. President William Jefferson Clinton. The sketch/drawing was done with mechanical pencil (HB core) and painted with Japanese watercolors.  The eyes have some embellishment done with a black Pentel PointLiner (0.5mm).   Overall, the nose and expression are good though his face may be just a bit short and eyes may be slightly off.  The biggest challenge were the lips and how his face wrinkles between the nose and chin with the downward-curving mouth.   I'm calling this a good effort and may make some changes tomorrow perhaps adding something to the background.  It looks too bland/choppy and may be a bit distracting if left like it is.

Tonight's effort is based on a photograph, that appears to be altered for a symmetrical result, of a muddied female face cupped in hands.  The photograph has been included since it is hard to describe in order to imagine it. My version has been sketched with a mechanical pencil (HB core), select areas have been painted with Japanese watercolors and some embellishment with a black Pentel PointLiner (0.5mm).  I especially like how the cracks in the cheek areas came out.

Last night's practice was based on a photograph of a beautiful Indian elder.  I had done 5-minute sketches of this woman many times last year and was so disappointed with the results not looking like her. Being brave, I chose the photo to work on as a practice effort.  The sketch-drawing has been done with mechanical pencil (HB core).  Minimal Japanese watercolors have been used for the background and bangles.  Also, black Pentel PointLiner (0.3mm) was used for the pupils and gold Sakura PenTouch was used for the nose ring and bangle decoration.  Eraser played an important part too--for highlights and the suggestion of white hair. I'm pleased with the outcome and even some of the fabric shading and highlights.  Her hand was difficult to draw because of what may be an arthritic condition.  That said, it may be time to practice drawing hands.    All I can say is what a delight to have captured the essence of this woman who wears her wrinkles so...

Yesterday's effort, with some final touches made today, is based on a drawing of a younger Angela Lansbury.   The sketch was done with mechanical pencil (HB core), the background painted with Japanese watercolors, and embellishments added with silver Sakura Pen Touch marker and white Uni-Ball Signo pen. I worked on a slightly textured paper (95 lb. watercolor type) and didn't like the challenge of blending the pencil shading and doing erasing.  The head tilt is slightly off (should be a bit downward to the left).  That said, it doesn't matter as I'm quite satisfied with the result!

Update : Some changes have been made to include adding clearer definition between the body and garment areas, painting the garment in, and tweaks to the face.  This works much better! Original Post : The evening's practice was based on a painting by John William Godward titled 'A Fair Reflection' that he created sometime between the mid 1800s and early 1900s. I've been particularly interested in Godward's paintings of the clothed female body-nude underneath that are partially revealed through areas of translucent fabric draping.  By the way, fabric draping is one of his specialties and something he painted extraordinarily well. This is my interpretation of his piece.  The sketching was done with mechanical pencil (HB core), the piece painted with Japanese watercolors, and embellishments added with gold acrylic paint and white Posca Pen. The entire body fits on the page...and that's an achievement for me.  Aside from that, I'm also happy that there is the sen...

This was some play yesterday and today based on a photo (in the center) from a recent British Vogue magazine edition.   It seemed perfect for experimenting with drawing the image on black paper (to represent skin color) followed by doing it on white paper.  It was so interesting and challenging--trying to convey light areas of the dark skin on that dark paper.  The paper itself absorbed much of the lighter diluted paint and pen color that was added in the effort to lighten areas.   On the other hand, the white paper was easier to convey/suggest shape and body position versus skin color.  To add appropriate color/shading would have taken much more time and effort because the photo itself is not defined enough to see all the pertinent edges. It is edges that are important in defining shape, position, movement, etc.  Without them, there is blurring and some imagery becomes distorted or takes on the look of an optical illusion.  Do you think the photograph...

Just before the midnight hour, this effort was completed.  It is a sketch of Katherine Heigl taken at one of the Oscars she attended. The sketch was done with mechanical pencil (HB core), earrings were done with silver Sakura Pen Touch marker, and the eyes were done with brown Japanese watercolor and black Pentel PointLiner (0.3mm). The shading is subtle, and I like the result.  If I were to add more color it would be watercolor with yellow for the hair, brown/copper for the background, and red for the portion of the gown that can be slightly seen in the lower right.

Yesterday's effort is a drawing based on a photograph (no information is available on the source photo though a reverse image search shows many uses of it).   The face was sketched with mechanical pencil (HB core) and colors are from Japanese watercolors.  The pupils were embellished by a black Pentel PointLiner (0.3mm). I'm pleased with the sketch, but don't like the turban nor the background.  Ah well, I tried a couple new things and they didn't work.  Onward!   

Yesterday's effort was based on a photograph of Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge.   The sketch was completed using mechanical pencil (HB core), and the piece was painted with Japanese watercolors.  Embellishments were added with black Pentel PointLiner (0.3mm) and gold Sakura Pen Touch.   Overall, it doesn't look quite like the Duchess.  The face needs narrowing, the neck needs lengthening, and the hair could use some work. That said, I needed to do a practice piece and am glad I finished this one, even though it isn't a good likeness.  

As part of undertaking a new class--some pre-work has included identifying a handful of my favorite paintings and analyzing them for why I love them--digging deep for what excites me about each one.   My selected favorites represent a broad range of art periods and countries of their artists' origin.  In addition, there is also a range of reasons for my personal attraction to them.  They include the use of light and shadow in creating form and dimension, perceived story, different textures, movement, beauty of painted fabric draping, sensitive use of line, curve and ornamentation, color, and contrast. It occurs to me that almost everyone could probably identify some favorite pieces of art and find the same reasons for liking them--as described above.  So, what makes our tastes in art so individual...such that my choices would not necessarily be yours nor yours mine?   How do we connect with a piece of art or does it connect with us?  Is it the glance from t...

Today's practice efforts were mainly to test out two new art journals and decide whether I want to work with them for a new class. To do that, I used a different reference photo when working in each.   The first effort was based on a Virgin Mary painting.  I was testing a Stillman & Birn Mixed Media Sketchbook.  At 270 gsm, the paper should be comparable in weight to 140 lb.watercolor paper, if not better.  But it isn't as thick as my 140 lb. Visual Journals. The paper worked pretty well in taking watercolors (see below).  The image was sketched with mechanical pencil (HB core), painted with Japanese watercolors, and embellished with white and iridescent pearl acrylics plus a gold Pen Touch marker.  The one thing I like about the painted image is the scarf.  It has a base layer of light watercolor and is topped with a white acrylic glaze that gives it a believable translucent effect. The second effort was based on the photo of what looks like a med...

This effort is based on my blog header image and is the first time I've completed a piece on stretched canvas in many years.   The image was sketched with mechanical pencil (HB core) and painted with acrylics.  Some final embellishment was done with a black Pentel PointLiner pen (0.3mm).   For my first canvas effort of many years, this came out quite well.  I could be critical about one eye that is slightly off, but it is ok.  As I do more pieces on canvas, this will get better.

Today's work is based on John Melhuish Strudwick's Angel with a Scroll dated 1895. The image was sketched with mechanical pencil (HB core) and painted primarily with Japanese watercolors plus a few fluid acrylics (gold, white, purple).  Other embellishments were done with a gold Sakura Pen Touch marker and a black Pentel PointLiner (0.3mm).   This was quite an undertaking!  It is a double panel from my new sketchbook.  I had to use a ruler for the background that has perspective.  What I like most are the wings because there is a sense of form to them.  By the way, this is the second time I've painted a face in with watercolor.   Areas that didn't come out well include the pink clothing--the top didn't work well in that color.  Her body looks a bit awkward, but it is partially due to the lines used to reflect fabric folds.  I think I could have taken off some girth and perhaps added a bit of height to the figure.  For now, though, it is ...