Why you have not seen me post lately

My computer at home is still broken. The C-Drive is shot so I have not been able to post any thing up. I do not have the capabilities at work to post any drawings or at the library. So sad :(.
Hopefully this will be remedied soon.

Sif

I found this picture in Glamour magazine while looking for pictures to draw. It is in the November 2008 issue on page 248. Photo taken by Eric Traore.
As of yet it is the best portrait I have done. To think that I am fearful of the drawing table is silly. I am really fearful of it at times. Drawing phobia. I am usually amazed at what comes out.
The lips need work but last night I figured I had better stop while I am ahead. I also need to work on blending better so the shadows and shades look more realistic. I am happy with it though. I really took my time with this one and thought it out.
This was drawn in graphite and charcoal.

You're bothering me

The bear looks kind of mean and angry. MMMmmm Wonder what I was feeling. The thing next to it you throw and it says when it hits the floor in a most annoying voice; "You're Bothering Me". It was given to me after being throne at my feet more then a few times in one day as a gag by one of the nurses aids that I needed to always be on top of to insure she did her work. I don't think she was ever happy with me because I always thought that my patients deserved top notch care. I took it graciously. It was funny after all-the your bothering me thing.

I usually don't use color seeing I am trying to work more on values in the gray scale and perfect basic drawing skills first. Had fun drawing this. Color was a good break from the usual black pen, or graphite that I normally draw in. The colors where in chalk pastels. I like them.

Conley's Auto Repair

I had to get a four wheel alignment done and while waiting I drew this in cheap ball point pen. I really like the cheap ball point pens to draw with. They kind of glide over the paper.
This is a drawing of a card holder that was in the waiting area of Conley's Auto repair shop. Best price for four wheel alignment that I have found yet. If you are in the area and need work I would highly recommend them.

EDM Draw some thing round

Draw some thing round-I can not seem to find the number of this EDM chanlange but I know I did see it. This is a drum in my back yard with some weeds around it. It was drawn in graphit-which one I do not really remember.

Another Bear

Just another bear, nothing speciel about him.

EDM 13

I decided not to go in order with the EDM's because some times I just draw what is in front of me. This is my work phone. I drew it while waiting for my relief to arive.

Broken

Some of you wondered where I have been for a while. I have been hiding under blankets in a depression after the divorce was over with.

I was not going to post this but after much thought; Hey some times our art comes from the things that we enjoy or endure. It is a way of expressing the feelings deep within that at times hide until the art tools are put to the paper enabling us to process what we are feeling.

I am not laying or hiding under the blankets any more. In fact I know that I am not reject or useless etc.... I will be posting more on this as the pictures come of how the heart is restored. What has helped me and brought me to the level of healing where I am at now is Jesus Christ the Lord. One thing that Jesus said is; I have come to heal the broken hearted and to set the captives free. He does bring healing and hope to the wounded soul. He strengthens those that are weary for it is written; Those that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings of an Eagle. They shall walk and not grow weary and they shall run and not faint.

Yes, Life at times is hard and sucks yet I am truly thankful for His tender mercies and wonderful intimacy. I still have more work to do on this area of my heart for I have not yet arrived but He has brought me along way. I have hope.

Thank you for all you who have asked for me and wondered where I have gone for a while. This group Everyday Matters is truly wonderful and I am thankful for all of you and the encouragement that you have given to me to keep on drawing even during this time. Your guys rock!!! Thank you Odd Chick for asking a few times where have I been.

Another eye

Well here I am at it again. Trying to perfect my drawings of eyes.

I love eyes. I have always looked at peoples eyes when I talk to them. Some times I get lost looking into their eyes comparing one to the other and marveling at the wonderful shapes and textures within. The highlights some times make me want to giggle. Yep I'm nutty but hey what can I say.

What helped me with the eye is the instruction on drawing eyes at http://www.cathyjohnson.info/. I will be visiting Cathy's site often. Thank you Cathy. I am looking for your instruction on how to conquer the nose and mouth. Yeah I am enamored by the human face. It holds such wonder, beauty and mystery especially the depth of the eyes that are a mirror to the soul. They all have a story to tell.

Stock Pot

Friday and Saturday I had to cook four turkeys for a work place holiday dinner. Love cooking and the turkeys turned out really tender. This was sitting out just getting ready for some food to be cooked in on Sunday for the dinner party. Thankfully I had my art journal and a few minutes waiting time so I drew this quick sketch.

The food and the party turned out very well. It was so good I could hardly walk out of the place. Had to roll out. MMMmmm!!!! The folks I work with are the best. Do you like your job? I love mine even though it does not pay much it is worth the time I spend their. I feel like I get more out of my work then they get from me being there.

Baby Bear Boo Boo

Baby Teddy is small and just like all little ones needs to be loved, and just giggles in great delight with lots of Hugs and Kisses.

I had some time at work so got out the drawing pad and was going to work on a baby portrait. It is like I forgot how to draw. I became frustrated and stopped thinking that it was just time to have fun. Isn't that what art is supposed to be. Some times you have to let that inner child out to draw. So here it is Baby Bear. I at times think about writing children's books and illustrating them. I would love to do that as I progress in art.

EDM Challenge

Draw a mug. Well you can not have really serious coffee with out creamer and sugar. At least my coffee cuz it's really, really dark. I mean almost like syrup. My favorite is German Dark Roast, or maybe some really good espresso. I drew the cup and spoon while at Hess Road Coffee House. It is really a nice time with dinner, and praise music. Any one can sing or play if you so desire, or just listen as you sit around with friends for a chat.

O NO!!! What is this? The cat got stuck out in a electric storm. Haaa!!!! Yep the mad cat. I thought that the next EDM challenge for me was draw a cat so I did. I don't really know where I thought that up from but now it is here so I decided to post it. Found this one on the net. Yes truly his tongue is like that. His eyes did look a little crazed but not like this. May be I let my crazed feelings get into my drawing, or I just forgot how to draw. I do that some times.

Scribbles

Now playing: Chlöe - Last Rose of Summer (Intro)/Walking in the Air
via FoxyTunes

For this drawing and the next I tried not to look at the subject. Yaaa did cheat a little. Can you tell?

Carol

Now playing: Celtic Woman - The Ashoken Farewell/The Contradiction [Live][*]

via FoxyTunes
Carol is a very nice lady. This is her baby picture that I saw sitting on the entertainment center and I just had to draw it.

I do need to work on shading better, and the mouth is not what I want it to be yet as a beginner I am quite pleased with it. What do you think?

My wonderful deerhound dog

Here is some pictures of my wonderful faithful dog. She loves me even if I am in a grouchy mood, depressed or happy. She usually follows me from room to room and needs to be laying next to me.

Her name is Killise (Pronounced Killsee). It is a Scottish name for she is a Scottish Deerhound. Deerhounds are sight hounds and some what like the Greyhound with the exception of being larger, hairier, and more animated. Although they do tend to be lazy as you see in one of the pictures.

Don't look at the camera!!!!!

Where is the remote?!!!! I'm not getting up from here!!!!

The Shoe

This is my fist EDM challenge. Draw a shoe. I did not know if I should start the challenges where I would be at if I started at the beginning of the year or not. Well I started at the beginning and will hopefully catch up. If not then that is OK, at least I am doing one of the challenges once a week.

This is not an exact representation of my shoe but it is close. I found it to hard for me at this stage to put in all the stitch work. I think it looks good any way. What do you think? Is it ok to smudge graphite? I have seen some artists that do and there art is astoundingly realistic. Others (like the art course I am presently taking) say absolutely not!!! Never!!!! What do you think? Is it OK to smudge graphite?

Drawn with graphite B2, and Charcoal.

Charcoal Portrait

Well now this is interesting. This portrait was originally supposed to be a drawing of a sweet baby girl with twinkling eyes and beautiful innocence. Some thing happened along the way. I made a big error and did not want to toss it because the eyes looked so good. I decided to then just have fun. Went and got out the charcoal and just started making strokes and this is what it turned into. Is it a man, women, child, teenager? I don’t really know yet I do know that I had fun doing this. In the process I found that I love the charcoal medium. It makes this sweet noise on the paper that kinda makes you giggle. I just loved smudging it while delighting in the sound and feel as it magically glided across the paper. That’s what art is supposed to be correct? Fun, like a little kid in a play box. Well I have not been able to get away from the play box and that is quit all right with me. I would like to stay here forever.

What kind of fun did you have today?

Graphite and Pitt Charcoal.

Katie

This is the twin of Colleen. Both of these women are sweet and gentle and it is my great pleasure to know them. Yes they are older now.

I am having fun drawing portraits. This being the second one I seriously attempted I am quite happy with it. Yes the nose needs work still, and the mouth does not show the joy and innocence that is in the picture yet all and all I am quite pleased. I think I did allot better on the hair and the eyes this time. It looks more real instead of just drawn. I did go a little to heavy on the shadows in some places yet had to stop before it got muddy.

I will need to practice noses and mouths alone more. I think I will do that this wk and the next some.

Affirmations for Artists by Eric Maisel

I think I will try to find this book. Here are some quotes out of the book that some one sent me.

When I read affirmations like the ones below I think WOW, to grow in art is to grow in life. We can take the lessens learned at the drawing table to real life. We can take our creativity and use it to problem solve and see the picture in a different way just as if we are trying to work in a new medium.

On Rejection:"I will get rejected. And I can stand rejection: but not in the absence of an occasional victory. I must and will have successes. As great as the pain of rejection may be, I will risk inviting it by showing my art in the world; and to achieve the successes I need, I will do my best work and unravel the mysteries of the marketplace."Affirmations for Artists by Eric Maisel

On Persistence: cont'd:"Keep spiritually sound and be persistent. Persistence is the key. Just never stop believing in your dream." Deborah Aquila, as quoted in Affirmations for Artists by Eric Maisel

On Persistence:"Who wouldn't give up? Another dozen canvases ruined. Another year without a decent-paying role. Another novel that never quite came alive. Another band self-destructing. Another ten auditions and nothing; another twenty query letters and nothing; another fruitless round of mailing out slides. Who wouldn't give up? Only the persistent artist. She lives through all this and by so doing retains the chance of becoming the exception."Affirmations for Artists by Eric Maisel

On Patience:"Patience is not only a virtue: it is so necessary that its absence will doom an artist. An "impatient novelist," an "impatient sculptor," an "impatient violinist" must grow frustrated and unhappy. How much patience is required to parent children? To wait for the flowering of things that do not bloom until the springtime? An artist can feel impatient stalled at the checkout counter if she likes: but with regard to her work she must maintain a deep, abiding patience."Affirmations for Artists by Eric Maisel

On Painting:"Whatever my medium, however I am to be an artist, I can learn from O'Keefe and van Gogh, from Rembrandt and Matisse. I can see, feel, and dream like a painter; I can bring a painterly texture to my next song and a painterly look to my next film. I am a visual artist." Affirmations for Artists by Eric Maisel

Sail away

I let a real neat kid draw in my journal.

Doc's Waiting Room

I drew this yesterday while waiting to see my doctor. The chair was supposed to be a couch but I did not have room on the paper to draw the couch. Hey it is my art so I figured I can turn it into a chair if I want to :).I drew the lamp to big. I suppose if I thought it out before hand I could have put the lamp at the other end of the paper or put the drawing jounal side ways and then there would of been room. Live and learn I guess.

Hat and eyes

While I was waiting for some one I drew his hat on the coffee table, and some duddles.

Eyes

Just some eyes out of my journal.

Octopus

This sits on my drawing desk. The Octopus does not have any hair so I added it. Hey!!! Some times you just gotta be silly and have fun at it.

The nose knows

Never been much good at the nose. These I think are the best ones I have done.

Follow your nose. That wonderful smell. You know Tucan Sam the Fruit Loops bird? When I was a kid that was one of my favorite cereals.

Purse

I drew this while at church. The purse was hanging on the back of the chair in front of me. Gee, I wonder what the preacher would have thought. I did pay attention to the message but right now it escapes me.

The Brief Case

I drew this while waiting for my lawyer in the court house. It truly did help decrease my anxiety while waiting. This is my lawyer’s brief case.
This is drawn with a fine PITT Pen and an ink brush pen was used for some of the shadows.

Peanut Butter Fly

I brought a jar of peanuts to work and had some time on my hands. This was drawn with a black ball point pen. As far as the peanut butter fly……Ha!!! Ha!!! What can I say? Some times I just need to stop and be silly.

Smiling

While sitting at work I spotted this smiling face with pens and pencils in it. I used a black ball point pen to draw this.
Having my journal handy with me all the time really helps.

First Color

This is my first real try with color. I first drew with graphite and then had fun with oil pastels. I enjoyed doing this. It was a good change from working in black and white.

Favorite Book

This drawing was done with a ball point pen while at a table during a bowling banquet.
The cup was on the table, and I decided to add the book. The book is my favorite, the bible. In Psalm 66 it says I will wait on the Lord. He alone is my salvation. I shall not be greatly moved.
Do you like me at times want things to change quickly like our culture with the fast food mentality? Me I become impatient and need to be reminded that some times it is best to be still and know that He is God, and wait on Him.
I need to remember that life is like art. A process of growth, yet to grow I must go through the process and it will improve and get better.

Colleen

This being the first portrait I have done I am quite happy with the way it turned out. Yes it needs work but you know what they say. Practice!!! Practice!!! Practice!!!!

I really had fun drawing this.