eraser free drawing

Good morning folks.

I've heard some people say that

they can never draw without an eraser.

Well, i'm here to tell you that YOU CAN!

:-)

When i want to paint something in watercolor

i usually draw an outline in MICRON pens.

But the outline, as you see,

isn't just one continuous line.

I think the most important thing when drawing

is to see the empty space

as much as the object itself.

When we draw, we often spend far too much time erasing,

or we draw in the one continuous line

and then get caught up in the details,

and then realize that the shape is off,

or the object is way too small

in proportion to the page,

or the angle is wrong...

we've all been there, right?

So here's my little secret.

1. LOOK at what you're drawing. (photo or still life)

2. OBSERVE IT before you begin to draw it.Where are the shadows? Where's the light?Where's the buckle with reference to the heel?In the middle of the shoe? More at the top?(...you get it, right?)

3. SEE the space around it (the empty space) 

4. BEGIN by drawing reference points (or little lines) on the page

5. BE KIND and patient with yourself.Yup. This is an actual step, and if you don't do it,the whole thing just fucks itself up. :-)

Obviously, as you see here,

the reference points don't need to be exact

and if you realize (like i did in this case)

that the shoe is actually more narrow,

or a bit longer,

then just draw new little lines!

You'll hide the old lines with the painting.

Cut yourself some slack,

be kind to yourself

and just keep drawing.

This takes practice...

Once the left shoe was done,

i basically did the same thing on the right.

a few little details and very rough lines...

it's not important for the line itself

to be precise here,

but the shape of your object.

my trusty little watercolor set...

I usually begin with the lighter colors

and work my way to the darker colors.

A few added details with the watercolor

and there you have it.

Little shoes that belonged to the unknown child of the Titanic...

Drawing techniques can be mastered by anyone,

but you want to draw with more than just technique.

You want to draw with emotion

and intuition

and trust

and feeling.

At least i do.

And you want to have fun while you're at it!

So get to it, peeps.

Take out the micron pens, or markers, or bic pens...

and try your hand at this.

I'm cheering you on, here!!

For those who are already masters at this,

just go get yourself a glass of wine

and join the cheering section.

xoxo

inspiration queen, morning walk and hair gel

hey guys.

Don't mess with this one.

"Inspiration Queen"...

watercolor on paper. :-)

Sometimes i think

i write too much on this blog...

When i first began

i didn't know what the hell i was gonna say.

Now i can't shut up.

:-)

So to change things up a bit,

i thought i'd take you along my quiet morning walk...

(yes, i actually remembered my camera this time!)

Mr. Crow, watching me walk by...

what i see when i get to the sandy part of my walk...

a closeup of the sea and sand...

is this beautiful or what?

look at those soft little waves reaching the shore...

and here, a close up of the sand... 

I'm not alone... ;-)

water, sand and morning sun...

I'm guessing these footprints didn't actually walk together... ;-)

deer on the left, human being on the right.

giggle.

There is nothing better for the soul

than a quiet morning walk.

At least my soul.

Life can become such a rat race

and i believe it's so important

to notice our surroundings.

To notice the beauty.

And speaking of beauty... 

(didn't she say she would be more quiet for a change?!?)

:-)

I just have to share this

because it cracked me up when i noticed it

on the store shelf.

Hair gel.

With ANTI EVAPORATION TECHNOLOGY.

Yes folks,  you heard it right.

Hair gel with TECHNOLOGY.

wtf?

i wish advertisers gave us

a bit more credit.

Do they actually think the word technology

is a plus in this case?

Seriously.

If i was doing the advertising on this,

i'd say this:

Buy this hair gel.

It works great

and your hair won't feel like crap.

giggle...

Wishing you all a happy hump day!

xoxo

Joy Seeker

We do not remember days,

we remember moments.

Cesare Pavese

Statistics show that there are higher rates of heart attacks

on Mondays than any other day of the week.

I believe this is because

so many of us work at jobs we hate.

I hope you're not one of them...

and if you are,

i wish you baby steps towards 

an eventual peaceful, gentle exit.

We often stay in a crappy job

because we need to pay the bills,

we need to eat.

Most of us tend to believe we need this job

to make ends meet. 

We need to make this much money

otherwise, everything would fall apart, right?

Wrong.

I'm here to tell you 

that it won't fall apart.

That there may even be a chance

that you'll be happier in the end.

I speak from experience.

When i lost my job (several years ago now)

we were in the process of building a new home.

My salary was the most stable of the two

and we had our 8 year old son to care for.

Two weeks after i lost my job,

my husband was laid off.

Long story short: we not only survived,

but we strived.

We spent less, worked hard,

compromised (temporarily)

and kept our courage.

We discovered that as long as we had a place to sleep

and food on the table,

we were ok.

This isn't the 1920's anymore...

there are so many other options out there

to set you free from work that makes you feel 

like a caged bird.

We discovered that we really needed

far less things than we thought.

And you need far less than you think.

Unless of course,

you're keeping up with the Jones'.

If that's the case, 

then yes,

you need a shitload of money. :-)

I believe there is more value to be found

in watching waves on the shore

or a soaring bird in a blue filled sky

than in any Lexus,

or Rolex,

or Gucci bag.

Of course i still work,

but i work to live,

I don't live to work.

And I do what i love as much as i can.

That includes art & writing,

listening to good music,

meditative morning walks,

watching the waves

and the soaring birds

in the blue filled sky...

Wishing you all your own blue filled sky today...

and maybe even a pretty flower. 

xoxo

spring is in the air...

Good morning Munchkins.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

:-)

I'm posting something that i painted a while ago,

since i spent most of my weekend outside

and have very little art to show this morning.

This is the view from our front porch.

That tree you see on the left side

is a lilac tree.

It's nowhere near growing flowers yet,

but soon my friends... soon.

:-)

We could feel spring in the air this weekend

and it was exactly what my body and soul needed.

After a few months of very little sunlight,

it does the body good.

I went for a long walk on the beach with my son yesterday

and we both smiled when we saw the ice breaking free.

Such a welcome sight after months of everything being frozen.

In Eastern Canada,

there are three things that scream SPRING IS HERE!!!

1. taking out the summer furniture...

2. chirping birds...

3. Tim Horton's "roll up the rim" contest. :-)

It's another beautiful day here today.

If all goes well,

i'll finish my work a little early today,

and sit out on those Adirondack chairs

with a good book and a glass of wine.

If all doesn't go well,

i'll just pout.

;-)

Wishing you all a week filled with fun, laughter, and art.

And no pouting.

xoxo

Santa's day off

In the spirit of Christmas, i'm guessing this is what Santa does on his day off. :-)

...a few black lines with the MICRON pen...

...a few extra snowflakes with the white pen, and there you have it.

Santa on skates.

As much as i love painting & posting, sometimes, life gets in the way. 

Christmas preparations, work, appointments, books to read, Christmas specials on tv. :-)

I try to make time for art every day, but i do have days where motivation or inspiration (or time!)

seem faaaaar away from my grasp, and on those days, i don't fret over it. I just do something else.

I know there are more quiet nights on the horizon where i'll have time to myself, good music by my side and paints & paper galore. 

So if ever i disappear from blog land for a few days at a time, please know that i'll be back, and i'll be eagerly visiting your blogs as well... so keep posting too, ok? :-)

xoxo

Goya

I was reading on Francisco de Goya last night - he was born in the 1700's,  was a Spanish painter and basically lived a life of tragedy. He suffered the deaths of several of his children, a complete loss of hearing in mid life and a downward spiral into mental illness in his older age. He lived alone in a house on a hill and eventually began to paint directly onto the plaster walls. He died in the 1820's and some fifty years later, his paintings were transferred from the walls of his house to canvas. Many of his paintings done during this black period, some would say, clearly depict his descent into madness.

I wonder about his family, and whether or not he had any friends...

last night

Here's last nights' work - about 30 minutes worth. That's really all it takes. And obviously, one doesn't need a fancy shmancy art studio. A little space, a few paints, markers, paper, and you're good to go. We usually have far more time than we think - far more ability - far more to offer the world.

For all the artists out there, find a few minutes in the day to paint something or write something or play something on your guitar. Tonight, instead of planting yourself on the couch in front of the TV, sketch something - even if it's small. It may inspire you (or others) to do more. We need more artists & poets & musicians in the world. Don't wait till you have more time. You never will.

life and death

facecloth

Solitude is as important to an artist as the ocean is to a fisherman. As artists, and writers, and musicians, and poets, we must become comfortable with the quietness, with the "alone-ness", so we can hear our own thoughts & create from within. Even if the end result makes no sense to anyone else. (like this facecloth!)

There are many artists out there, but not all create from the heart. Chances are good that if is done from within, it will eventually find its way to another heart, somewhere.

crooked cup

elephant man

Chris Gallucci ran away from home at 12, and was in prison by 16. He was destined for a life of crime & violence. Until he met Timbo the rebellious, stubborn, huge, bull elephant - who needed a trainer. Chris became Timbo's trainer near the Mojave Desert & developed a 30 year relationship with the elephant. Although he could barely write, he kept journals throughout these solitary years & eventually published his writings. After reading the book, I was struck by the intense connection they shared, and the trust they developed in one another. I finished the book thinking, "I wonder who saved who's life?" I think I know the answer.

diamonds & gold

an off night...

the suicide tourist

I am an advocate of euthanasia. I was a supporter of assisted suicide before the documentary (the suicide tourist) on the life and death of Craig Ewert, and I am moreso now. Craig was a computer science professor who was diagnosed with ALS in 2006 and chose to end his own life, but had to fly to Zurich (Switzerland) in order to do so - where assisted suicide is legal in some cases. Away from his home, away from his bed, his books, his music... I don't understand the world sometimes. We lack compassion as a society if we deny someone like Craig Ewert the dignity to end his own suffering peacefully. We as a society, have no right to tell others how to live their lives - so why do we feel we have the right to tell them how to die?

Liz...

I lost a good friend last week...
Liz was a gifted photographer & lover of life. These are her eyes. Her version of a self-portrait.
...the world is a sadder place for me these days...

the sapling king...

I found this little tree near a brook by my parents' home. It almost looked brave there in the snow, welcoming spring in its own way. I loved the shadow cast on the snow & the fact that it stood there  - quietly waiting for warmer days. Nature is a wonderful teacher. If only we were all so patient. Most of us don't take the time to observe our surroundings long enough to appreciate such beauty. We rarely even notice the little things, because we're too busy with our to-do lists. We're too busy "DO-ing". Toni Morrison (the author) once asked, "if you thought about your to-do list, about what you needed to do today, and considered only the things you must absolutely do, those things that are crucial in your life, what items on your list would you be left with?"

For me, there are really only a few things I MUST do today, or I will die... :o)

1. be a good mother to my son

2. writing, reading, art

Of course, I also realize that bills need to be paid, so i don't always play. But I make it a point to play as often as I can... and to be a good mother to my son. 

What would you have on your list? :o)

buddha smile...

jazz, blues & purples

women writers...

Irène Némirovsky was an author who, at the age of 26,  sent her manuscript anonymously to a Paris publisher. He was floored at the quality of writing, and asked that the writer make himself known. He was floored a second time when he saw a young woman walk in. She was from a well to do Russian family, but neglected by her parents, so at the age of 13, immersed herself in books & writing.

When France was occupied by the Germans in 1940, Némirosvky & her husband were forbidden to pursue their careers because they were Jews. They sent their two daughters away for safety, and joined them later in 1941. During this time, she began another novel, "Suite Française", describing everyday life in France under the occupation. She finished part of 1000 pages, and in June, 1942, she was arrested and deported to Auschwitz, where she died a few weeks later. Her daughters kept the writings and years later - in 2004 - "Suite Française" was published in France with enormous success.

Stories like these make me smile and cry at the same time... 

red pepper & tomato

I did this one at the end of the summer - harvesting time. I get as much pleasure from the vibrant colors of fruit & veggies in the garden as I do from taste. Although I do enjoy winter (and yes, I realize I'm in the minority here), I look forward to warmer days & melting snow...