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Monday, May 17, 2010

Life

It has been an interesting week. Hubby had some health problems that had us worried. Just a reminder that Life sometimes gets your attention despite what you may have planned. Things are settled down now and we have a plan to proceed.

All of this running back and forth to doctors and specialists gave me plenty of time to sketch in the waiting rooms. I've included some of my sketches in this post. This first piece is a canvas I just finished. Fresh from all of the activity of this past week, I was thinking how all of life's experiences take their toll on us. Little by little, as we age, we bear the scars of life's journey on our face.

This was a sketch I had in my book done in graphite and colored pencils. I adhered it to a canvas and then covered the background with light molding paste. I used encaustic medium to embed the face more into the canvas. Then I added crackle paint to one side of the face. I liked the effect of the "aging" on the face. The encaustic medium gave the colored pencils a bruised look over one eye which was unexpected but perfect for the effect I wanted. The quote was from Dante and jumped out at me as I was searching through my little container of snippets. I am loving this new (to me) shade of purple: Golden's Dioxazine Purple. So yummy and rich!

This next piece is a drawing I had colored with the pencils and then scanned into Photoshop. I call this "Dreamer". I have been practicing with so many different kinds of colored pencils and am having fun blending them all.

This next one is called "Bella". I put her into a digital piece but thought I would just show the drawing here. I used the Derwent Coloursoft pencils on this one.

And this one was an experiment with all the different colored pencils. I didn't name her yet. I am still thinking of what kind of setting to put her into.

So I've been sketching faces every night while spending time with hubby. It's been good practice and I'm getting used to the pencils. I have a special project I'm working on right now but I don't want to say anything until I get the first piece finished. It will be a time consuming project but it can be completed in small stages. The first stage should be completed by the end of the week! I'm LOVING this one!

5 comments:

Lori Saul said...

Hi Pam,
First I love the look of your blog - what a beautiful header and side bar designs! I have had a chance to catch up with all of your new work(your muse is in full force). Your shrine books are amazing and I love your ladies faces - you really have your own signature look and style (which I admire a lot). Hope your husband is all right (life gives us these little wake up calls doesn't it). Anyway thanks for stopping by my blog and your lovely comment. Your art and art processes are so inspiring to me!

studio pashnada said...

you're in my prayers - I know how scarey this can be having just gone thru it with my son

love the canvas - good use of a lot of different materials

and WOW with the colored pencils!!

Michele said...

I'm sorry to hear your husband had some health scares. I know how scary that can be, and hope he recovers quickly and all is well soon.

I'm so excited to see your new project!

As for these pieces, I'm digging the pencil sketches a lot, and my absolute fave is the last lady with no name. There is something so soft and beautiful about her.

Also, the Life piece rocks. I like how you did a bit a graffitiesque letting to the word Life. And how the face is embedded in all that lovely texture.

Outstanding as usual!

Bill said...

I especially like the last sketch. She makes me think of a gypsy.

I hope everything works out well with your husband's health issues. Sometimes life isn't fun.

Robin Norgren, M.A, R-YT, Spiritual Director said...

The eyes on "Dreamer" are amazing. So glad you are able to participate in "Flying lessons" with all that is going on.-Robin