Knees I & II.

My first paintings of knees. Not too shabby, huh? I started off by putting a faint outline to get the basic shape and then I filled it. I painted them simultaneously with a palette knife; putting the paint on both pieces where I wanted it, before moving on to another colour. It was very exciting, I haven't used a knife since high school and it felt good. I'm not sure what I was expecting the result to be, but of course I feel as though I can do better and with practice that'll happen. I worked from a photo of my knees, although my painting could be seen as the front or back of them (which I don't mind).

Today, I have started on adding a background colour. I shall add those pictures to this post when it's finished and I'll let you know.

I have also painted some back knees, which will be in the next post.

Started Life Drawing.

(15 minute drawing of a feature)

I've decided to take up Life Drawing.

Now honestly, I'm being very hopeful of myself. It's on a Monday from 5-7pm (this to me is late), but I'm determined to see it through and maybe my drawing will get better. There's also another Life Drawing workshop on a Wednesday, which apparently a little different, so I shall be attending them as well. Dedicated or what?!

I was nervous to begin with, it wasn't at the thought of there being a naked model (turns out there's two), that doesn't bother me at all, rather the fact that I was going to meet new people. It was fine after a while and getting into the swing of things. I felt like I was being picked on slightly and being told I should be doing this and that to my drawing, however, I guess that's just how I'll learn though. I definitely achieved slight improvements as we went on. The very last one I did is my favourite, I might have to stick with drawing feet.

(1 minute each figure)

(1 minute each figure)

(5 minute each figure)

(15 minute drawing)

(20 minute drawing)

(25 minute drawing)

Cross Your Fingers.

'Cross your fingers.'

It's finally over, yes! I was very unsure about this one from the very beginning. The outline did not look great at all. Normally, I get a feeling about how it's going to go at this point and I just didn't feel it was working. With this drawing I seem to have lost the way I draw, or maybe I just keep changing it. I don't think I have found my style yet and maybe I never will. At some point my mind decided it was a great idea to go mad with the cross hatching. Some might like it and some, like me, may feel it's too much - let me know what you think.

The title for this was decided at the outline break time point, I always have a little rest here, to get myself together and think what I'm going to do. I also found that because of how I felt about the piece, the t.v. seemed more distracting than normal, however, I still managed to get it done. I definitely needed all the luck I could get and crossed my fingers, with the hope that it would get better. I asked people to cross there fingers too, the more the merrier! So if you were one of them, I thank you for trying. Sorry I didn't succeed as well as I could have. But remember practise, practise, practise. One day it'll happen, I will be content with what I create (fingers crossed haha).

Pen Found.

'The Floor Found My Pen.'

I admit it, when it comes to the weekend, I am the worst person at getting anything accomplished. An example is this drawing. I started it last week and  it had taken me five days to get it finished. I had planned on working out of my sketchbook but it was too windy outside for what I wanted to do. So I was at least thinking about being 'arty', that's better than nothing, right? And I did attempt to finish my drawing. However, my boyfriend was round and he was being intentionally distracting and getting in the way. It worked. I ended up making a mistake above the skull (you can see it in the top photo). I thought it was best I do no more until he had gone home haha!

The process of this drawing has been strange... It has taken far too long, which I know is my fault. As always, life gets in the way. I can't wait to get back to uni next month (although, I doubt I'll be very productive then either). I'm not as pleased with this one, I reckon because of the amount of time I spent on it, my 'mind set' on the piece changed. The name of it is because when I was ready and sat down to begin drawing, I couldn't find my pen. In the end I found it on the floor. The outline started off well, then when I began adding details and shading it went down hill. I guess I can just learn and carry on. Once again I need to realise it's sketchbook work and doesn't need to be perfect.

Rushed Feeling

'I felt rushed.'

Basically, it does what it says on the tin. I didn't start this one as early as yesterdays and I reckon it shows. I wanted to get it finished today with a blog post and now that it's done, I feel like I rushed it. I'm not happy with it and I definitely can do better. Although, I suppose the whole point of this sketchbook is to get over this way of thinking. I guess it's going to take me a while to get used to it. It's all meant to be practise and something I can show when I return to uni. Thankfully I still have a bit of time until then.

I know for sure that tomorrow there will be things I want to add to it, but I shall try my best to refrain from doing so. Maybe I'll distract myself by filling another page with another elephant skull, that is if I have some good time to myself again. We shall see how I feel. I wasn't going to do anything arty farty today, however I have been bribed with cuddles and it worked haha! The bottom photo is what I achieved before going to work. I tend to always start with a basic outline and then fill it in. I have managed to finish it after work and ta-daaa, I am now blogging to you about it. I've been a good girl for once, but I'm still not at an artist level yet. There is still much to learn.

Please Stay.

"Don't go, please stay."

I hope I don't sound too big-headed, but I love this illustration I drew yesterday. It's definitely the best one I have drawn in my sketchbook so far, well I think so anyway.

It came about of having a spare couple of hours due to the power being off in my accomodation. I assume they were doing maintenance or something important. Thankfully my laptop kept its charge and I started off by playing solitaire, which got boring very quickly. I then decided I should attempt some sketchbook work. Seeing as I had no internet, I used pictures I took at the zoo as references. The animal I was going to challenge ended up being the lovely grizzly bear. She didn't appear grizzly at all, but I'm sure she could if she wanted to be.

You can see the stages I took in the photos below. I quite like the simplicity when it's just the outlines of the bear and plants. However, I don't regret adding the fur pattern on. I also added the phrase at the end, I'm not sure of the relevance, but they're parts of a song which came into my head during the making of it.

I hope you like it too and believe me I was happy when the electricity came back on, but it was time well spent for once.

It Is Not Easter Yet.

Acrylic paint on acrylic paper, A3.

From one owl to another. This owl painting has been developed slightly more. It is still very simple with basic features. I have included the outline of wings with the eyes and beak. I also decided to change the colours from the previous one. I find that the yellow acrylic mixes and spreads out better, so that is why it is mainly based with that colour. However, someone said to me that it looks like an Easter Chick. Does anyone else agree? Now that it has been said, I now think it too and the thought will not go away whenever I look at the piece. Aaaahh! I prefer this one compared to the blue though, it may be because it resembles something more.

On that earlier note of Easter, it will soon be here! Well, in about a month, but still, that is close enough to get a tad excited about it. All the chocolate eggs etc. already in the shops looking delicious and tasty. I am just looking forward to having an excuse to eat loads of them and not be judged for it, but shhh, don't tell anyone haha!

Below are photos of stages to get to the final piece: