OCT Challenge, bring to class on the 13th!

In my studio I have a east facing window that floods in wonderful morning light. I often will set up a still life to photograph or sketch for fun. The strong light makes wonderful shadows and reflections. I wanted to challenge everyone to try to do the same. Set up a still life, think about your lighting, think about what you will edit out and sketch it. You are also welcome to sketch my set up here. Bring it to class on the 13th and lets talk about it!

Chloe

Sadly our sketch class was canceled. I had so many of you worried about the heat so we will do it next month instead! It has been really hot and muggy so trying to keep up on your sketching is going to be more challenging.

Last night the tempurature became almost enjoyable as the nights are starting to take on that feeling of fall and cool off. I made roasted vegetable enchilada for dinner last night and roasted all the fresh veggies on the barbecue. As they were cooking I grabbed my sketchbook and sat under the covered patio and Chloe came to visit. I was needing to do my overdue international postcard and Chloe was the perfect subject. I quickly did a pencil sketch of her laying there, making sure I got the proportions correct and then began to paint. Not much colors on this one but I like the way it turned out. Can you grab a moment in time this week, paint your pet, a bird, something living? The best way to do it is try and draw from life but take some photos with your camera so you can capture the face or position you like and incase they are moving too much!

Show off you pets week!

Chloe's painting before I added text

My finished postcard going to Albrecht in Germany, he requested animals!

Seashore Treasures

This morning was very foggy, but I did a walk at the beach filling a bag with many little treasures of broken shells, agates and sea glass.  While still very cold outside I took time this afternoon to sketch and paint a couple of my colorful finds.  On the way back on the trail, I saw the Slala Berry bushes turning their leave bright reds, oranges and browns - some with a little green. Picked some to take back to the trailer.  Also sketched a couple of those.  Tried to loosen up with my watercolor and am happy today with what I did.

The other  day, we went through Neahalam Bay and stopped while the town was still asleep. All the stores were closed, but sidewalks of this beach town were covered with large hanging baskets of all sorts of petunias, lilies and lots of foliage around the small cottage shops.  I took time to photograph and also did this painting of one of the shops' porch.

Plein air in Big Bear

We took Jennifer up to Big Bear to participate in a skiing and jet skiing adventure. While we were there we had to exit the lake and seek cover from lightening and thunder showers. It was an amazing few days, I even had a chance to run through a few antique shops while Randy stayed with Jennifer. I managed to paint a little bit and even left one up there in a restaurant under a glass cover on a table next to the window. If you are up there at B's Barbecue Resturant off of Big Bear Blvd I hope you get to see my little moment from the rain storms of August 2012.

Still practicing

Hi Everyone - end of bike ride!

Trip is getting a little long and I begin to feel un-creative.  While in Pacific City there were lots of berries coming to ripen.  I decided to try some natural dyeing with the Huckleberries and Slala Berries.  Took several days, of boiling fabric in salt and then the berries. I got 3 nice pieces of fabric from the testing - all various shades of purple.   I tried to draw the berries, but think I worked too small - keep trying different things with my sketching and painting. Getting the water and paint to work, is not working well for me.  Never quite sure this is a medium  for me.  Have been playing with just some pencil sketching too.

Today we did a bike ride in Seaside where we are this week.  Nice ride down the City Boardwalk along the ocean and around town.  There are many wonderful little cottage homes all around this beach area and I have been snapping many photos.  One house had a
yard railings with all kinds of weathered bird houses and cat silhouettes.  I tried another sketch and paints. 

This is for Christa - Porch with bird houses and cats.

Huckleberry fabric from natural dying

Biding my time

I posted this picture on my blog with the story but I wanted to post something different for our group. It is so easy to take one of your sketches and make a stamp out of it by using either erasers or a lino block and some carving tools. I am going to be making more old key stamps but what about a stamp for you, something you can use over and over again to stamp onto papers, envelopes, postcards etc. Maybe a special momento from a trip or anything. What you need to do is choose a more simple sketch, since you will be carving this you don't want to have it be so complex you can not do it. Then take your sketch and trace it onto either a piece of paper or tracing paper with a nice soft pencil. Next turn your drawing over onto your surface and burnish. You now should have a pencil drawing on your stamp material. Remember that what you carve away will be white and what you leave behind can be textures or black. Have fun!


- Desiree

Our toasty August Sketch Class

Saturday was our monthly sketch class and with the weather intolerable we met inside! I had some photos and went over the benefits and draw backs of painting from photos. I divulged some of my watercolor and pastel painting secrets to the group and we tackled painting a small painting of peppers from a photo. After transferring the drawing to paper I did a demo on how to approach and tackle their paintings. Everyone did such a great job that I don't think you will be able to tell the teachers painting from the students painting! I have had an interest in doing more watercolor painting type classes so we can discuss that for maybe our next year! Here are some of their amazing paintings! Thanks to all the students that ventured out in the heat to come to class and a big thanks to Randy who ran over and got us burritos for lunch which we also enjoyed as the time seemed to fly by as we busily painted!

Gurutej

Karen's

Penny's

Christa's

My demo 

Everyone's painting together, see you next month!!