Just a quick post.  This is my experiment with symbolic color and KittyKitty.  My apologies for the flash in the lower right.  This is acrylic on Ampersand’s clayboard smooth.  I’ve not decided that it’s done; I’ve put it away for awhile.  I do like the idea, so maybe I’ll get it out soon and rework the color and values.  Anyway, enjoy the Fourth!  We’ll be at the beach…in Oregon.

I like to say my learning to paint and draw is "self-guided" rather than "self taught".  I learn tremendously from other artists by the comments they make; the books they recommend; or by their example.  Today’s posting is a case in point.  Drawing thumbnail value sketches or notans is an idea often referred to by some of our masters.  Just choose your favorite watercolor "how-to" book or a magazine article and more than likely someone will refer to thumbnail sketches.  So finally the little light bulb went on: if the masters do it, ought I at least give this a serious go?  I’ve been working on these little drawings for the past three or four days.  At first, I was not comfortable with the idea or particularly creative.  The page posted includes some of the first day’s worth of drawing.  Toward the bottom, I’m starting to get experimental.  I can see the benefit of this practice.  I can see that one idea might lead to the next, and perhaps yet another until I have several ideas to work from.  I can see that I have some ideas that can be developed around a value plan.  What happens next?  Well, I can see that I need to continue to work this practice until it becomes habit and a way of thinking.  Thanks, those of you masters out there!  By the way, check out Mike Bailey’s article on sketching posted to his website and Donna Zagotta’s video on her blog to see more about this idea.  (Oh..I can see…!)

I’d like to add a "thank you" to Chris from the North Country.  Her blog had an interesting article about branding and favicons posted on 30 June.  I didn’t know what a favicon was, but I learned.  My husband Robert graciously updated my favicon changing it to my logo.  The favicon is the little icon to the left of the URL address on the address bar.  I thought it was cool!  Robert says there are lots of favicon editors out there; just simply do a search.

I thought the idea of using my logo on the favicon was so good, I thought I’d use my logo as my avatar and gravitar.  We’ll see how that goes.

And, another thank you to Robert for changing my theme.  Happy July!

Today marks two years of blogging.   My first post was meager since I was trying to figure out what this blogging business was all about.  Two years later and I think I know the direction I’d like to take the blog for the next year.  It’ll go pretty much as it has been going.

I looked at professional bloggers blogs and decided that’s not for me.  I am happy to not have paid advertising on my blog. 

I looked at power art bloggers and decided that’s not for me either.  When I saw that there are over 200 plugins for Wordpress, I decided I don’t have the time to keep up.  I would rather draw and paint.

I looked at Twitter and FaceBook.  I wonder if these are not just the latest fad.  I notice they’re clever with words: "CLAIM" your profile before someone else does.  I had an urge to quickly claim my identity, then had to ask "why"?  I can not keep up with lots of tweets and posts and still learn to draw and paint.  I decided it’s not for me, though I might change my mind tomorrow!

In the interest of full disclosure, Twitter, FaceBook and all the cool things you can do with blogs I find fascinating.  But, it’s a time management issue for me.  I could distract myself all night!

So, that leaves me where I started.  This is a simple journal of my journey.  I like networking with other artists and people who enjoy art.  It’s fun supporting each others efforts. 

I leave you with two "internet frog" doodles I did a few years ago just for fun.  Cheers!

I’ve finished the latest version of KittyKitty.  I still think the expression on this design is humorous.   Kitties sometimes get the "half-lid" look; are they spying on the activities around them?  Or, are they just sleepy?  Or, even still, are they just being kitties?

I started this style of painting to experiment with overlapping and underlapping layers of paint.  I’m finding it a fun way to learn about color relationships.  On the other hand, it is slow!

I thought I’d post the original color study for comparison.  It is 5×7 and does not have as many layers.  The outline you see is pencil.  I seem compelled to make changes.  I painted a shape the "wrong" color early on which caused a series of adjustments.  The colors I used where perinone orange, quinacridone burnt orange, Prussian blue and quiancridone violet.  My intention was to have orange be the dominant color; vertical the dominant direction; and that the tone be somewhat subdued.

I’m still studying.  Last night I stayed up way too late working on this design.  And, it’s occupied my mind most of the day.  Why am I working on this little still life?  Well, I like the curves and the action of the pony as it contrasts with the static, stoic other objects.  And, yet, they’re not so static.  They have interesting shapes.  I keep thinking of my youngest sister, who is a strong, bubbly, happy person as the toy pony.  I think of the group of three as me and my two sisters who are close in age and size.  My youngest sister wanted to do what we did, even though she was five years younger.  So, perhaps this still life is about belonging and about being independent.  My youngest sister is both.

I have been reading Maitland Graves’ book "The Art of Color and Design" on a recommendation from artist Mike Bailey.  Wow!  I am reminded that Matisse is supposed to have said something along the lines of "I work hard to make a painting look easy"…don’t know if he did but that’s how I remember it.  In any case, I get this idea that there is a lot of planning and thought to painting. 

So, I took a design I’ve been working on and did some variations.  I thought I would work the simple value plan of light against a dark field.  Maitland Graves talks about intervals between the values and dominance.  Intervals are used for interest; dominance is used for unity.  Yup, my head hurts a little.  But, I can see that this is an important idea to grasp.  Interval relates to the distance between values on the value scale.

I’ll post three variations to show what can be done with value patterns.  I can see I need to grasp simple value arrangements in order to promote a clear, powerful visual statement. 
 

And, it was a struggle!  The risk to working from your head, or imagination, is that sometime that inner eye is obscured.  I had a hard time getting this design to work.  I’d see something nice in one area of the drawing, but could not figure out how to repeat it or tie it in with the rest of the design.  Finally, I told myself to focus on the big shapes and on developing a value pattern.  And, reworking, re-emphasizing, and re-clarifying intent!  Not stopping until I found a unified design is important to me.  It may not be the most dazzling design, but it’s the work that’s important.  Plus, I think I could compose a painting from this design.

Today’s KittyKitty painting is 15×11, watercolor over a thin, fluid acrylic wash.  The fluid acrylic wash includes a light grid pattern repeated at various locations for visual interest.  My fellow art bloggers (see blogroll!) have me thinking about meaning and what my paintings are about.  The kittykitty series is about the fascinating faces of cats; its about having fun with an image; and its about me.   I’m exploring how meaning and mood can change based on what I choose to emphasize.  To me, this kitty looks a bit stoic at first.  On second look, the kitty seems to be smiling.  What does it know?  At first look, the washes may appear flat.  But, I’ve layered the paint and there is gradation and change in the color shapes.  Even though the colors are strong and vibrant, I still feel a sense of mood reserved….but then kitties are the epitome of cool!

I am honored to be awarded the "Passion for Painting" blog award by artist Mary Paquet.  To me, Mary embodies the idea of "Passion for Painting".  Her words portray feelings of enthusiam and joy about painting and life.

I am awarding the "Passion for Painting" to all on my blog roll, with no strings attached. They may pass on the award if they like; discuss their favorite seven things about painting.  I have been adding artists to my blogroll when I find something on their blog that invites me to return.  Please check out all of them; each has a passion for painting.

In the interest of more studio time, I respectfully declare my blog an "award free zone".  Thank you.

We found a CD of drawings I did in 2001 or 2.  This is one of my favorites.  I jazzed it up a little with Corel’s Painter.  It was going to be used by a wine shop.  The wine shop went out of business and thus my career as an illustrator never got started!   In the meantime, I’ll just post this frog because it’s festive!  Cheers!