Making a Commitment

I've decided that if I don't "go public" with this new commitment it will be too easy to slip out of it, so here it is: PEOPLE!

I've decided to do a three class unit in my next session in January devoted to drawing and painting people. I've already begun, as you can see, to do some sketches. I took the idea from Donna Zagotta's blog, where she challenged folks to do silhouette drawings and explained the basics. I decided not to force myself to do 1,000 silhouettes (although I know that would be marvelous!) Instead I decided to draw from photos of people in order to begin to comprehend the structure of the 16 basic forms of the human body Donna discusses. I'll work as close to daily as I can manage, but I'm not going to make any false promises during the holiday season that's coming up.

My plan is to perhaps try these in gouache, inspired by Donna's work and perhaps influenced by the work of Carla O'Connor and others, too. I might also apply some of what I discover to pastel work, as that's my most comfortable territory.

So stay tuned and let's see where this goes... If you have any suggestions of artists, lessons or other inspiration for me, please let me know!

Deborah

Soft Morning

This one is 8.75" x 13.5" on buttercup yellow Pastelmat, using stick pastels and one of the Sofft sponges to blend. I didn't have the slightest intention of painting it this way, but it took over and ran the whole show! When that happens I don't fight, I just go with the flow.

Your opinion is welcome. Is this your style or do you prefer something more like this ?

Deborah

The Variations of October and November

I finally found the time to get some photographs shot of the most recent of my Variations Challenge paintings. You might remember this was the challenge I set up for my students, and added on WetCanvas, as well. It's been a lot of fun to try to repeat the same image, in the same size (9x9"), in 30 minutes or less, and see how many ways there are to do it.

Variation 9

Variation 10

Variation 11

Variation 12

Variation 13

So, what do you think? This last one really pleases me, even though it's a bit of a departure. I used Colourfix Premium and PanPastels, and it was as fast as it looks!

Deborah

A Loving Father and the 1930 Yearbook

My mom is 97, fairly healthy, and lives with us. Not long ago she and I went out together on the Internet to look at her old hometown of Council Bluffs, Iowa. She hasn't lived there since the 40s but it's still 'home' to her, of course. There are a lot of memories tied up in the place where you grew up.

We spent some time looking at Abraham Lincoln High School and I found a link on the Pottawatamie County Genealogical Society's page where you could request photographs. Her graduation year, 1930, was listed, so I sent off a request, mentioning that Mom had never received a copy of her yearbook. I forgot about it until today when I received an email telling me... well, here, read for yourself:

Hi, You are in luck - we have a spare 1930 AL yearbook. I find your mother pictured, so pretty. If you want to purchase the book we ask $10.00 plus $2.00 postage and handling.

Now, I'm not so sure it's luck at play here! Mom tells a story about how she never purchased a yearbook because she had stretched her father's budget pretty far and just didn't want to ask for more to get the book. Then one evening somewhat later someone was visiting and her father asked to see the yearbook. She confessed she hadn't gotten one--and he was upset (probably a bit embarrassed). That's most likely why she remembers it some 79 years later.

Needless to say, I'm delighted to spend $12.00 to be able to give her something so long awaited. Mom has made a new commitment to the Lord in the last two months, so it's no surprise to me that her Heavenly Father has seen fit to supply something that fell through the cracks all those years ago.

That's the Abba I know!

Deborah