Tina Marie -

A pencil portrait of my daughter done from a photo taken a while ago. She's an excellent artist and very creative.

The 'Gallery Wall'

I suppose all artists have at least one wall where you hang your work so you can see how it looks from a distance and other vital statistics, (like..... , is this any good?). I've been known to take mine down, unframe and do 'something else' to it . Of course with me I have 'gallery walls', 'gallery hallways' even gallery floors, you get the idea. I have a lot of 'stuff' . Thats my security cat Mary Louise on duty. She takes the morning shift.

Is It Real?

I wondered why I had so many comments on the drawing of the "Eye' (below) after I posted it on Flickr. It was picked to be on 'Explore ' of which I never knew about. I'm guessing it's a page where they post what they think is 'interesting'. Some people commented on what a "wonderful photo" it is.... No , No, not a photo,... a photo of my drawing! But thank you anyway.

The Answer

This week has been one that I don't want to do too much thinking or analyzing , not good at that anyway. Life is going to come at you whether you want it or not. When that happens to me, this is my best medicine. And I have that obsession with drawing and painting eyes. So that's exactly what I've done !

Watercolor 11x14

Same subject posted earlier in pencil . I love working with both mediums, so I did one of each. Why Not ? I don't own a tube of black. All my near blacks are made with either paynes gray or a blue ( ultramarine, indigo, plus Burnt Sienna) I'll sometimes add a touch of sap green, or if I want a reddish cast, alizaron crimson. Collar bones need softening . Yes!

'Gracie'

This is my latest pencil work. Thanks to Stephen Baird an amazing photographer you can find at http://nikonsniper.blogspot.com/. He joined my blog this week and when I saw his photos I asked his permission to do some in pencil and watercolor. He travels and gets to record all the wonders of different people, places and things. Stephen, thank you for your generosity. This was done using my Staedtler drawing pencils on smooth Bristol paper about 11"14". I use diagonal, vertical and crosshatch lines, and my trusty kneaded eraser.

UPDATE:: I picked a few of Steves photos to recreate, this one I couldn't wait to do, it was five hours work , I enjoyed every single minute, and after I posted it found out that its his granddaughter. Well hello Gracie. I hope you like your picture. !

Pencil / Graphite

Yesterday my mind was going from one thing to another, watercolor? flower?, landscape?., accomplishing nothing, I wound up posting a small watercolor that I did eons ago and don't even like that much. So what did I do? I did what always makes me feel better, thank you very much. And thats to draw. Last night picked up my Staedtler Drawing Pencils, smooth Bristol paper, trusty kneaded eraser and away I go.!