Faces #460-#464

Although I have been getting some work done, I haven't had much time to post. But here above were a few studies/faces I've done since last post. I have a lot of sketches, too, but will wait to post them when I have a little more time. I wanted to hit 500 faces by my birthday at the end of this month, but think I will just be shy of that mark. In any event, I know I will hit 500 before my one year blog anniversary at the end of next month! I have had a lot of thoughts about the second half of my goal, as to whether I will just proceed as I have been, or add a twist of some sort. I hope everyone is doing well, thanks for visiting, and take care until next time!

Some Updates, Some New Faces

First up to show are Faces #452-454. It started out as a more abstract piece (below), and there was no initial sketching. I just started throwing down big chunks of color to form three extremely loosely rendered heads in bizarre colors. I was just going to leave it this way.But then, in a second sitting (below),  I went back to add the detail and do the real "drawing" of the piece. A little different way of working.

Faces #455-#459 are just pencil sketches.

Here, below, is an update of my Michelangelo study. I went back and fine-tuned my drawing, and have started adding the dark pastels. I got some goodies in the mail I ordered from a company called Feathermart. These are some bleached blue peacock feathers I will be adding to this collage. The feathers are really stunning, and the picture doesn't do them justice. I think after a lot of arranging, I have arrived at a final layout for this mermaid collage, below.While I was going to add an actual pastel painting to the collage, I decided on scanning the painting instead for a printed version. If I choose to sell these printed elements, I like the idea of a person being able to add their own handwriting to the beach element if they choose. So I made this version without the shell.

I also had an ink drawing I did that I wanted to add to my collage. I scanned it, and added a border digitally. I think this would make for a cute note card, too! Of course, after adding the border digitally, I decided to play around a bit more with the image, contemplating possible variations... Lastly, these octopus medallions from Alpha Stamps were bought especially for this collage. I am going to have to stitch them to the Roc-Ion triangles I painted, then back the triangles with mounting tape to get them onto the collage. Roc-Ion is a heavier weight fabric product that won't fray, that can be painted, that can be stitched through. It worked out well for this application.  Now I just have to buy my matt board substrate cut to the size I want, and start putting it all together!

Until next time, take care!

Face #450, Face #451

Here is a study I started of Michelangelo's depiction of God in "the Creation Of Adam", a fresco on the Sistine ceiling. I have drawn it larger than the reference photo I am working from (shown) in case I decide to add color. I also adjusted the angle so it is straighter on the page. Should I decide to use pastels and add the color, I think the hair will be the biggest challenge because it is so intricate in form. The face took no time at all to draw for me (must be all that practice from drawing so many faces)! Of course because I left it open to add color, I didn't pencil in the glorious bold value shifts from Michelangelo's work...so it is more of a bare bones drawing.In very sharp contrast, Face #451 is a more graphic rendering of  ballerina. Here is a close up of it (below) appearing larger than it actually is. This is ink and colored pencil.

I hope to have more over the weekend. Until then, thanks for visiting and take care!

New Work, And Some Squalor

Yes...some squalor. The squalor of having a teenager in the home. My son (who I am very proud of) started college last week and is doing his first semester locally. And although I adore him and we have lots of fun, this picture below is most certainly indicative of his age (laughing). I wish I could tell you that this is a photograph of his bedroom...but it's my dining room that I had long since planned to use for a studio. I wish I could also tell you that just one room of my home looked like this. So, how about it? Does anyone out there think I could enter this photograph in some sort of home makeover contest? (laughing) I do have one new face to show here today. I really enjoyed working on this, and turned to some different pastels than I usually grab for the skin tones. I had planned on getting three faces done yesterday, but sunk all my time into this one, working leisurely.

I have been planning a somewhat larger piece for a few days now that I hope to at least start by the end of the week. Until next time, take care!

More Faces, More Collage Fun

First up, are Faces #447 and #448. I am glad I did these sketches in pencil on pastel paper instead of the crummy sketchbook paper I sometimes use when working in pencil. This paper handles erasures so much better, and the tooth of the paper makes it more pleasurable to work with. Next, I have a two more elements for my mermaid collage. As mentioned in a previous post, I plan on keeping this one color restricted for a more vintage look. For the other collage project, I did like this version of elements (below) with the marbled paper. But I mentioned adding some inks to the elements so they would be more compatible with the marbled paper. Instead, I have decided to use these below for one collage... and this second version (below) for the collage with the marbled paper. I am glad I have both of these versions laid out neatly and print-ready should I decide to sell them as art papers for collages. Here are some medallions below that I created digitally that I may also use in my collage.And finally, here is how the second version of elements look with the marbled paper. Much more compatible. Once I have just the right selection of my printed elements for the collages, I will probably go on a hunt for buttons, beads, ribbons and the like. I haven't decided just how complex or simple I want the collages to be at this point. I may not post about them again until they are finished...and I need to get busy again with faces!!!!

Until next time, take care!

Faces #445, #446, And More

Face #445 started out as a "trois crayons" drawing (red, black, and white chalk). Normally this is done on a cream toned paper to get nice skin tones, but I was curious how it might look on a cooler toned paper. The black and red really scream against this paper, and the effect leaves him looking almost tin-man silver.Here is the same image below after adding in skin tones and some modifications to his hair and face. I will say that the trois crayons made for a nice under painting, anyway. I could play some more with this piece, but probably will not. Can't decide. Some touching up on his face and a background might make it into a finished piece. For now, it's another face to add to the count.Face #446 also started out differently, sat for a day, and then underwent some modifications. Sometimes the best thing you can do with a piece is to let it sit before proceeding. I am happy with how this one turned out.I went back to this mermaid collage lay out, removing some items and adding an item. I think I may keep this piece color restricted to keep with the original concept I had for a more vintage look. I also finally bought more ink for my printer today and was able to print up some items for this other collage I want to make, to go along with another piece of marbled paper I bought. Although I like these printed items with this marbled paper, one of two things I can do will make them more compatible. I can use some inks on the printed items to make them tie in better with the marbled paper. Or, I could add a border of some sort that closely ties in with the colors and values of the printed items. I may even do both. It is a collage, after all.

Have a safe great weekend, and thanks for the visit!

Slow Cooked

Although I don't have any new work to show today, I did manage to snag a few decorative papers for a collage in my travels. I have just loosely laid it out here for the camera. A feature I like in the process of collage work, is that you can put it on the back burner and slowly gather and collect just the right ingredients before moving forward. I am almost ready to put this one together. The decorative papers give me the textural quality I was looking to add, along with a bold shot of deep color from the marbled paper. I was pleased with the papers, and how well they play with the other elements.

Until next time, take care!