Snowman

More playing with my camera and studying composition......

Steven was shoveling the driveway so I took the opportunity to snap a photo.  The dark grey of his snow suit contrasts the snow perfectly.  The reflections in the snow behind him are very cool and add a lot of dimension to the pic.  I learned that it is paramount to make the face clear and I am very happy with the results. I even like how his glasses are a bit foggy from his breath and the icy cold air.  I would have cropped the top of the pic but it would have interfered with the look of the shadows.

Snow Storm

Snow, snow, snow!

We are on track for record snowfalls this year....woohoo!  I love the snow but enough is enough.

I am watching an online photo class on Creative Live and am playing with my camera.  A couple of things - I am learning about all the gear I NEED to become better and I am learning about all the things I have to pay attention to within myself to improve.

This is a shot I took of the truck across the road.  There are several things I am happy with - you can see the snow falling, the lights on the truck are on in contrast to the car and I love the semi-cleared windshield.  I think I got the appropriate depth of field for the shot as the background is somewhat blurry.

I will be practicing lots of picture taking in the near future.

Baking Cupcakes

Good snowy morning!
Today I have a water colour I did (or should I say two water colours) representing a friend of mine who loves to bake cupcakes and cakes.
The above is a version which she approved from a sketch- until it was done.  She now says she likes everything in it -except- she would like the glasses changed to the heavier, half moon ones of the original.

This is the original one.  When she saw it, she asked that I increase the bust area and darken the hair.  
Now, these are water colours , not drawings, so changing the glasses means doing yet another painting.  I will do one more but, if she wants something else changed, I just cannot keep painting the same thing.
I know she asked me to do this painting but I soooo feel that once a sketch is approved, that is the version which should be the final result.  What do you think?

Quick And Easy Florals

Just thought I would do a bit of water colour practice and painted these two little floral pieces.

Both are 3" X 4"

Done on water colour paper (140 lb) with a simple little paint set.

A Cute Watercolour

Whew, it has been a l-o-n-g time since I posted.  I did not realize it was almost a month.  In that time, my hand is healing, Christmas has come and gone, and I have cleaned my studio (LOL).  And believe me, it needed it!
So here I am today, having rewarded myself for putting order in the room, with a watercolour I did today of Annie (or a representation thereof) playing soccer.

It is all ready to frame so tomorrow I am off the buy a frame that comes close to fitting.
Hope you have a great New Year!

Elephant Sketch

I was inspired by a documentary I watched the other day to sketch this elephant.

The documentary was titled "How I Became An Elephant" and I found it very moving.  It really called attention to the plight of the abused elephants in Thailand and I hoped to convey sadness in the eyes of my drawing.  I would recommend that anyone interested in animal rights watch it.

Thanks for visiting!

Bijou - Pencil Sketch

When we were in Detroit, I visited Blick Art Supplies and, wow, I was like a kid in a candy shop!  I could not decide what I wanted to buy.  So I took my time and only purchased supplies I know I cannot get here.  My best find was hot pressed water color paper (2 for 1).  While I was there I got a hard cover sketch book and today I dug it out.  My finger is on the mend so I have decided to dive right in to some serious!!!! art.  As a start, I opened the sketch book and just drew.

Bijou was sleeping on Steve's chair so he seemed a logical subject.  I have never really sketched an animal before but I just looked and drew.  I tried to keep my eyes on the dog and not so much on the paper and I am pretty happy with the result.  Could be a bit better with the shading - A LOT BETTER, IN FACT - but as a first effort he is OK and kind of cute.
I found such relaxation in the sketching that I might need a bigger purse (so my sketch book can come everywhere with me).
Thanks for visiting!