Inspiration could be called inhaling the memory of an act never experienced.

                                                           Ned Rorem

 My initial intention when I started this blog was to show my works as I progressed.  This one was pretty far along when my patrone reminded me of this original objective.  So here we go! There is just a quick underpainting on the leaves and the pot so far ~ lots of glazing still left to be done.  Also, since this is a pretty simple composition I am tempted to put something else in it.  And, as usual, I will attempt to keep some of my strokes loose.  Already I can see myself tightening up on the leaves ~ small progress on the pot.  Relax, relax, relax. 

Jasper

                              Dogs come when they are called; cats take a message and get back to you.
                                                                
                                                                          Mary Bly

        Well, as I stated in my last post I was getting tired of drawing flowers so here is Jasper.  Jasper and I have never met ~ this is done from a photograph I found on-line.  We only had one dog ~ her name was Maggie.  But if we ever get a dog again (very doubtful) I hope he looks just like this guy and I am going to name him Jasper (or Sotheby).  Anyway, I am still learning lots of things about using colored pencils.  They are more like watercolor than I thought ~ very difficult to blend and very difficult to cover over dark colors.  In other words, you need to plan ahead.  Oil paint will always be my favorite medium.  If you're not happy with your work, wait one day and paint over it!  That said, I hope to always have at least one colored pencil work in progress on my drawing board.  It has been a real pleasure having a dog in my life again for a few weeks!

Much Ado

I hear and I forget.  I see and I remember.  I do and I understand.

                                                      Chinese proverb

      Well, this is the third in my series of Art Deco colored pencil drawings.  I am slowly learning how the pencils work ~ new terms like burnishing and overlaying are part of my vocabulary now.  I am also picking up new techniques like laying my work on a heating pad so the color spreads more easily, using Q-tips to blend colors, filling my shadows with a light dusting of indigo blue.  I must admit, however, that I am getting a bit tired of flowers.  One more floral drawing is already in the works but am now thinking of moving on to art deco patterns.  Anyway, I highly recommend this medium to anyone who is considering trying their hand at art.  It allows for a lot of control ~ so unlike watercolor! 

Golden Ribbon

Success for the striver washes away the effort of striving.

                                                    Pindar

     Well, finally, here is my second colored pencil art deco drawing.  I am still trying to figure out all the nuances of using colored pencil but am really enjoying the process.  Working from the top left corner down across to the bottom right I complete a small section at a time.  When the work is completely finished I start over again at the top again going across and down finely tuning each section.  Some may find this process tedious, others may find it meditative.  Either way the end result, I think, is worth the effort.  If you like the drawing above then check out William Morris.  He has long been a favorite artist of mine.  A master of design, his work is so intricate it is almost hypnotizing. 

Five Tulips

Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men or animals.  some seem to smile, some have a sad expression, some are pensive and diffident, others again are plain, honest and upright.

                                      Henry Ward Beecher

 Well, now I know why the coloring book craze has taken over!  What a joy to work with colored pencils ~ they enable such control over line and shading.  I am going to try my hand at one more of these using a much wider palette.  It could be that I find this method so enjoyable because it doesn't call for any "looseness" at all ~ this is about as tight as it gets!

Dawn

The eyes are not responsible when the mind does the seeing.

                   Publilius Syrus

 This is sixth drawing in the series of women with red.  I have learned a lot about shading and value doing these drawings.  It is my intention to do six more in the next several months.  For now, though, I have become interested in working with colored pencil.  My experience with this medium is very limited but I have enjoyed working on the red parts of these drawings.  Currently on my drawing board is an art deco flower composition.  I am using a limited palette of red, green and blue.  Next time I will post it even if it's not finished.  In this particular drawing above I really tried to broaden the value range from the whitest white to the blackest black I could achieve.  She is definitely my favorite ~ probably because I can see some progress in my technique.  I also walked away from this one earlier than I did the others.  It is my tendency to overwork my drawings, I think ~ always aiming to be a little looser.  That's not so easy, though, as I always see room for improvement.  Like the saying goes though, artists don't finish their works, they just abandon them.

Vision

     A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.

                            Antoine de Saint-Exupery

 Well, this drawing is about as far away from the last one as I usually can manage.  For me, this is very loose drawing and I am working very hard to work less on the details in her hair.  Hopefully, I will be able to stay nice and loose in her clothing as well.  And, the big decision to be made ~ where to put the red?!?  Merry Christmas!