Myrna Wacknov
59/365: MsKitty Visits Mirror and…
….she finds me staring back at her! Inspired by Myrna Wacknov's blog, I am sometimes inspired to practice self portraits. I had the mirror tilted in order to try to get MsKitty in the mirror. Didn't quite work; I'm looking two different directions. I find it's harder than I think to draw and maintain a pose. How did Rembrandt do all those wonderful self portraits? Hmm….practiced maybe?
Posted in Daily Drawing 2010, MsKitty, Myrna Wacknov, self portrait | 
Tags: Cats, Daily Drawing 2010, MsKitty, Myrna Wacknov, self portrait | 
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Daily Drawing #14: Fun Thoughts, Self Portrait #2
Myrna Wacknov suggested that I try abstracting my self-portrait (see the comments on my previous Self Portrait). I had never thought of that! What a challenge! This is really a challenge and it’s great to stretch and grow my mind. Yes, the portrait is distorted; it’s part of the stretch-and-grow process! “Fun Thoughts” refers to the fun I had playing with the facial expression.
Enjoy!
Posted in Daily Drawing 2010, Drawing, Myrna Wacknov, self portrait | Tags: Daily Drawing 2010, Drawing, Myrna Wacknov, self portrait | 11 Comments »
Day 10: Just Me and MsKitty
For some reason, I decided to have fun with the "photo booth" on my Mac, ala Myrna Wacknov's "Drawn to the Mirror". I rarely draw myself, but I started playing with pencil and paper. Now, the angle of me to the camera lens is awkward. I'm looking through the bottom of my bifocal lens trying to see what I'm doing. Excuses? Well, I just gave myself an extra hard assignment, because of the funny angle. But, it was fun anyway. It took me awhile to draw this; two sittings in fact. I have a deeper respect for the graceful, fluid line Myrna Wacknov achieves while drawing her portraits in a short amount of time!
And, of course, I did another drawing of MsKitty with the egg cup. This drawing took a half hour. I was trying to push myself along a little bit faster.
I hope you enjoy today's drawings! Admin note: I did the portrait last night. Admin note two: I usually post the day after I do them…just my routine.
Posted in Daily Drawing 2010, Drawing, Kitty Still Lifes, Myrna Wacknov | Tags: cat drawings, Daily Drawing 2010, Drawings, Kitty Still Lifes, MsKitty's Story, Myrna Wacknov | 14 Comments »
Still Life with Pony: Designs 46 & 47
I keep on chugging along…and thoroughly enjoy it! There are some interesting decisions I notice that I’m making. One of the important decisions I have to make during the design process is whether or not I will keep the design flat or will I suggest different planes. Once the decision is made, the drawing process takes a definite course. Today’s drawings show two divergent ways the design process can go. I think it’s interesting that I drew them one right after the other; one is flat and one uses tone to suggest depth.
I wanted to highlight Myrna Wacknov’s blog today. She talks about Mike Bailey’s approach to his teaching: working with one image over multiple paintings. It is this approach that I have been focusing my efforts on over the past year. I still get inspired every day! The ideas just bubble up when least expected!
Enjoy!
Posted in Drawing, Mike Bailey, Myrna Wacknov, Still Life with Toy Pony | Tags: Art Every Day Month, Drawings, Mike Bailey, Myrna Wacknov, series, still life with pony series | 7 Comments »
MsKitty’s Back At the Teapot — In Color
MsKitty’s world is not strictly linear. Yup, she’s back at the teapot. Perhaps she needs some Chai tea before her next adventure. Or, more likely, she is insisting that I paint her in color. She is, after all, a colorful cat. Tomorrow, she does goes someplace else….wait and see!
These two color studies were done on different paper. Variation 1 was done on Arches 140lb cold press watercolor paper. The second was done in a sketchbook, the Robert Bateman Cover Series by En Tour Artist Products, inc. Its 110lb paper, suitable for light washes of watercolor paper. Its what I like to use when we go camping and is like working with hot press paper. Part of the reason for these studies is to prepare myself for painting while camping.
Update: Check out this posting on Myrna Wacknov's blog. She has a very neat home made travel pallet. I'm using something similar.
Enjoy!
