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| painting start, day 1, afternoon, 4/18/20 24 x 48" canvas |
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| day1, detail |
Showing posts with label charcoal pencil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label charcoal pencil. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
24x48, Day 1
May my lived experience with Finding God boost my courage as I start fresh with a new piece. If nothing else, I've begun in the same impulsive impatient manner, by activating the canvas before fully pulling off the plastic wrap!
Friday, April 27, 2018
Alive, Awake, Alert, Enthusiastic
If you've ever gone to summer camp—as I have, you might well know the alive-awake-alert-enthusiastic song—as I do.
There are days when I ask myself why I paint, what's the point, where am I going with my painting, and blah blah blah, as though I should have an answer, as though in the absence of having one I am failing.
Other days I'm alive awake alert enthusiastic, alive awake alert enthusiastic, alive awake alert, alert awake alive, aliveawakealertenthusiastic!
Today I was totally in my happy place—making marks, letting them dry, spraying them with fixative, brushing over them lightly with matte medium. Sun was shining, air was warm, grass was green, I was painting in my front yard. Complete contentment.
Why do I paint? Because, it appears, I do!
I could leave this patch of perfect fun as is, it occurs to me. And, at the moment, I will, since my first tutee of the day arrives momentarily.
But I am itching to see what happens next with this little square of sunshine and enthusiasm.
There are days when I ask myself why I paint, what's the point, where am I going with my painting, and blah blah blah, as though I should have an answer, as though in the absence of having one I am failing.
Other days I'm alive awake alert enthusiastic, alive awake alert enthusiastic, alive awake alert, alert awake alive, aliveawakealertenthusiastic!
Today I was totally in my happy place—making marks, letting them dry, spraying them with fixative, brushing over them lightly with matte medium. Sun was shining, air was warm, grass was green, I was painting in my front yard. Complete contentment.
Why do I paint? Because, it appears, I do!
I could leave this patch of perfect fun as is, it occurs to me. And, at the moment, I will, since my first tutee of the day arrives momentarily.
But I am itching to see what happens next with this little square of sunshine and enthusiasm.
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| new patch, first marks |
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Keep Going
I keep going with the paper I activated yesterday—no plan beyond paint, mark-making, and pastels.
Verbs: mark, brush, spritz, turn, imprint, scribble, drip, veil.
Nouns: acrylics, graphite crayon, water, texture sheet, fan brush, foam brush, rubber brayer, charcoal pencil, chalk pastels.
Verbs: mark, brush, spritz, turn, imprint, scribble, drip, veil.
Nouns: acrylics, graphite crayon, water, texture sheet, fan brush, foam brush, rubber brayer, charcoal pencil, chalk pastels.
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| pmmp-2 detail, work in progress |
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| pmmp-2 detail, work in progress |
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| pmmp-2 detail, work in progress |
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| pmmp-2 detail, work in progress |
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Activate
I activate a new canvas today to further my paint/mark-making/pastels (pmmp) exploration.
A childhood counting rhyme comes to mind. I used to say it when I needed a little self-push to take initiative with one task or another. It'd give me a few moments' pause while reciting, and then the oomph to go when I got to the final word. I recite it today:
One for the money,
Two for the show,
Three to make ready,
And four to go!
I cut a sheet of 9x12" watercolor paper, tape it to a support, wet it with water, and rotate it multiple times as I work. I apply neutral paints, spray water to start drips, make marks with graphite crayon, use a sponge roller and white paint, scribble with a charcoal pencil, scribble with a gum eraser, use a brush to veil areas with white, make patterns with a texture sheet (thank you, Sheila!).
A childhood counting rhyme comes to mind. I used to say it when I needed a little self-push to take initiative with one task or another. It'd give me a few moments' pause while reciting, and then the oomph to go when I got to the final word. I recite it today:
One for the money,
Two for the show,
Three to make ready,
And four to go!
I cut a sheet of 9x12" watercolor paper, tape it to a support, wet it with water, and rotate it multiple times as I work. I apply neutral paints, spray water to start drips, make marks with graphite crayon, use a sponge roller and white paint, scribble with a charcoal pencil, scribble with a gum eraser, use a brush to veil areas with white, make patterns with a texture sheet (thank you, Sheila!).
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| pmmp-2, work in progress |
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| pmmp-2, work in progress |
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| pmmp-2, work in progress |
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| pmmp-2, work in progress |
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| pmmp-2, work in progress |
Monday, March 6, 2017
Finding My Brave Spot
If my nephews got fearful when they were little guys, my sister encouraged them to find their brave spot.
When I stopped painting Friday, I thought, Done, and I was pleased to have stopped before getting past a point of no return.
But …
But …
But I knew this piece needed just a little more wind. A little more fresh air. A little more something to blow through it with a sweet pop!
Instant freeze. What if I wreck it? What if my ideas don't work?
Had to find my brave spot.
When I stopped painting Friday, I thought, Done, and I was pleased to have stopped before getting past a point of no return.
But …
But …
But I knew this piece needed just a little more wind. A little more fresh air. A little more something to blow through it with a sweet pop!
Instant freeze. What if I wreck it? What if my ideas don't work?
Had to find my brave spot.
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| Fresh Air 9x12"; acrylic, graphite crayon, charcoal pencil, pastel pencil, and oil pastel on watercolor paper abstract 2017 |
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| detail |
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| detail |
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| detail |
Friday, March 3, 2017
Fresh Air
The wind that whipped up yesterday keeps offering up fresh air today.
I paint spontaneously and intuitively.
I paint spontaneously and intuitively.
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| Windy 3317, work in progress |
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Windy Day
The wind has really kicked up today, blowing vigor and freshness this way and that.
With a recent newsletter from artist Debora Stewart in mind, I take some internal wind into my studio.
I cut a 9x12" piece of watercolor paper from a new pad, tape it to a support, prop it on my easel, hold a graphite crayon with an overhand grip, close my eyes, and make some marks.
Rotate my paper and brush color onto the page, again using overhand grip.
Rotate, add more paint.
Rotate, add mostly eyes-closed marks with charcoal pencil.
Stop for today, refreshed and enlivened.
With a recent newsletter from artist Debora Stewart in mind, I take some internal wind into my studio.
I cut a 9x12" piece of watercolor paper from a new pad, tape it to a support, prop it on my easel, hold a graphite crayon with an overhand grip, close my eyes, and make some marks.
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| Windy 3217a, work in progress |
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| Windy 3217b, work in progress |
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| Windy 3217c, work in progress |
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| Windy 3217d, work in progress |