Things with Wings, EDM challenge

This is my contribution for last weeks EDM challenge "Things with Wings". I was working off a photograph and figured out that seagulls can very easily take on the proportions of ducks, if you aren't really careful. It is amazing how a slight change in the length of a tail or curve of a head can change the look of a bird so familiar. He still has a few problems but he's the best I can do for the moment.

Boats going out

Took the dogs for a hike along that marshy area in the painting I did a couple of days ago. At the end of the trail, the main channel goes out to the bay, eventually; for what ever reason, there were quite a few larger boats headed out that way. All I could see from a distance were the masts sticking up out of the grass like dorsel fens.

I know not to center my subject in the middle of the page, but when I'm painting in my sketchbook, I some how, forget all the rules. I can't believe I'm sitting up at almost midnight posting this. I got stuck on the perspective and had to re-do it twice.

Light

Jana was teaching us to work with capturing light effects, yesterday. This isn't quite what I was shooting for but I think I can "finish" it so it works for me. Thought I would post the original first, before I start adjusting it... I'll post the end results when I am finished (unless I really screw it up!).

Duct Tape

Using the old adage: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all"...

Marsh at sunrise

I got up early this morning and took the dogs up to the top of the hill, above the marsh. The wind came up in the night and I didn't think I would be able to hold my paper still enough to paint, but by this morning, it had calmed down almost completely, however, the air was still cold.

There is a houseboat, I think it is part of the patrol, that sits out in the center of the reeds. I had forgotten my glasses and although I could see distance just fine, I couldn't see up close, well enough, to even attempt to draw it.

Loose

The name of the game was "loose".

This was from Jana's class yesterday. She put a bouquet of flowers on the table, we were to put the paint on, in the general color and form. After it was dry we were to add ink, to create a more defined form.

The first one (with no lines) was in my typical style, tight and controlled even when I was doing "loose". Jana liked it well enough, and felt it was light enough, that ink would over power it. The second one, is more what we were striving for.
I enjoyed this exercise and will use it for warm ups and maybe in some of my own stuff.

Nasturtium in Vase

I haven't done any just pen and ink drawings, for a long time. Last night, working off the effects of coffee, too late and a restless mind; seemed like a perfect time to throw some of that energy onto paper. I got a little carried away with the cross hatching on the shadow...

Eucalyptus at Sunset

No, this is not what I have been working on the last couple of days; I had just enough knowledge to get started and scare myself, so that isn't finished yet. I think I will ask for Jana's help on Saturday : )

This is from a picture impression, left in my minds eye, this evening when I took the dogs for a run at sunset. Once again, I was trying to do a graded wash in my sketchbook, you'd think I'd get it by now, the paper isn't thick enough to do a good job! However, it is quick, cheap and the right size!

Just a quick note; I am working on my first large watercolor painting. It's 11" x 14", large for me, as I am usually working in a 5" x 7" sketchbook. I am trying out some of the techniques I've learned from Jana. It will probably take me a couple of days to finish it, my schedule just got jacked up again. Wish me luck! I'll post it when I finish...

Gourd

This was a quick 15 minute painting, done at the end of wc class yesterday (I had to leave early). Jana wanted me to feel like I had painted something and not just done practice work, so she plopped down this gourd and suggested I paint it. It is amazing how quickly one can produce something when you don't take time to over-think it. I added the bumps at home this morning, from memory.

Breezy

"Whirlin' and swirlin' and dancin' along..." I love the dance of the leaves; a decent rustle will stop me in my tracks (same thing happens at the sound of the geese flying over). I decided to use that for the breezy challenge. In an attempt to make them look like they were on the ground spinning and dancing, I tried using shadows behind them; wish I had left good enough, alone. I still like the perspective, just need more info on how the do it right...

Cow pie Curve

I wasn't going to paint this but it cracked me up. Okay, so I have a warped sense of humor.


I hike my dogs in a cow pasture so cow pies are inevitable. I noticed earlier this week, white chalk marks had been put on the trail and the trail had been widened. A few days later I saw a group of Jr. High kids running the trail. Here is the mystery; on the first curve of the trail, cow pies have been lined up in a row all along the curve. I don't get the reason for this, is it a warning to watch out for them? Surely, it isn't a natural occurrence this row goes on for 20 - 25 feet. Okay, I will get back to painting stuff a little more normal now ; )

Gram Sleeping

I thought I would try to draw my Grandmother with graphite pencil this morning. Although I like the drawing, I am having a terrible time getting the color cast out of the background and still getting my lines dark in photoshop. If any of you have suggestions, let me know.

There is something in the reverence of drawing a person you love that is very close to meditation. When the pencil hovers over the eyes that have followed you with love and affection since you arrived on planet Earth. Rendering the hands that have caressed your head a million times. Casting the shadow of the lips that have kissed away hundreds of wounds from childhood. It is hard to let go of the person that has loved you the most all of your life...

Apple

Impatient Artist = Overworked Painting...

I tried a graded wash in my raffine sketchbook; not a good idea. This is on 140lb arches wc paper. The wash is much better, but the painter needs to learn to, either quit while she is ahead or at least, let the paint dry before trying to work it more.

Sorry for the glip in posts there, my work schedule has been all over the board again this week.

Cow and calf

I realize this sketch is nothing to get really excited about if you are the viewer, but if you are the artist, well, now that is a different story! I have tried to draw animals a lot of times and cannot seem to get them to come out looking anything like what they really are. I drew these two on site yesterday afternoon and was fairly pleased with the out come, I mean, at least you can tell they are cows!

Sycamore Leaf

It is that wonderful time of year again! They are rustling on the trees, spinning in the air and dancing on the ground. I LOVE FALL!!!

My light was coming from a funny angle, I did the shadow pretty close to the way it was on the page...

Sandies

Sometimes ya just draw what's in front of ya...
Tonight it was two Sandie cookies. It has been discovered by DH that they are excellent with Hazelnut Cocoa Spread.

Quiet - A Falling Feather

This was a tougher challenge to me. Trying to illustrate a sound or, as in this case, a lack of sound, took some thinking. This is what came to mind...