Open Studio

I signed up for Open Studio.  A local artist provides the studio and hires a model.  I haven't drawn a live model for over 10 years.  I was a little anxious.  I pondered what materials I would use. Pencil? Charcoal? Pastels? Which sketchpad?  Pastel paper? Would my drawings be any good?

Through the red door and up the stairs, there are 4 or 5 doors on each side of the hallway, a reminder that the building at 217 N. Meridian was a brothel in 1910. The artist's studio was wonderful, just like I would want for myself.  A loft with big windows, skylights. She has her own space where she paints, a small kitchen, and an area for the 12 of us and our model. 

I nervously put charcoal to paper. My first drawing was small, porportions not quite right.  I started again, different paper, conte crayon, and let my right brain take over.  The studio is quiet, each of us in the "zone", channeling our creativity.  This is what I was looking for, a community of artists to connect with, others who love to draw and paint. 

Lauren

It's been awhile since I posted any artwork.  I've been working on a few miniatures for upcoming shows. This colored pencil drawing of Lauren measures 2 1/2" x 2 1/2".  Sometimes it seems the smaller the artwork the longer it takes.

Tulip Petal Study #1

I always buy tulips in the spring.  This year I got some that were variegated, sort of a mauve and white.  When they started to curl and die, I was attacted to the shapes, colors, and the veins in the papery thin petals. I thought it would be interesting to draw them, maybe put together some nice color combinations.  So I bought about every color of tulip available just to see how they looked when they dried. For a while there it was "tulip overload" at our house and I'm a little ashamed to say I couldn't wait till they were dead.

The variegated variety were the most interesting.  Tulip Petal Study #1, in colored pencil, is of a stunning red and yellow parrot tulip that dried beautifully. 

Bird's Eye View-Jersey Wooly Rabbit

I like taking pictures looking down on animals, or of people and animals with their backs to you, unaware of your presence, deep in thought or conversation. Me, just observing a private moment.

This colored pencil 4" x 4" miniature, Bird's Eye View-Jersey Wooly Rabbit, took second place in the second annual Small Works, Big Presents juried show sponsored by the White River Valley Museum in Auburn last Fall. The jurors commented, "A common subject portrayed from an interesting angle, expert pencil work, color balance as well as a good framing choice make this sophisticatedly cute Jersey Rabbit a top award winner.  The uncommon angle abstracts the artwork, causing the viewer take a closer look and study the small details of this small artwork.  In a society that values big, this small work shows that good things do come in small packages."