(Monday, February 20, 2023)
Posted my still life last night, and I'm proud of it, if I may say so. I'm happy to be working in pencil and watercolour right now, and happy to do a few more still lifes. I have a couple of ideas coming down the pipeline!
It's amusing to reflect on the process of doing Still Life 2...it started off as quite a complicated set-up with sugar, a tea cup, and some blueberries. I started drawing and eventually realized I bit off more than I can chew, so to simplify.
Realized that the main thing I wanted to capture was the teapot, and the way the lamp on the side table cast pleasing light on it. I wanted to capture that feeling of coziness, of time stopping.
So, I'm glad I edited, also because I'm not a fast worker and leaving sugar and blueberries out at night invites unwanted critter guests!
How it started:
Off to piano practice today, as I will be playing at mass with my group on Saturday. I'm also making headway with my piano exam pieces, slowly but surely.
~*~
In other news, Lucian released his mini documentary with Emily Howard today, and it is somewhat of a celebratory day for us. Artists, especially those who freelance, are intimate with the vagaries of rejection. A lot of our lives is the rejection of our work, which happens to be such a personal part of us. So, when something like this hits, it's not just welcome, it's cause for celebration. We're definitely gonna get the good Scotch tomorrow. :)
If you're so inclined, please take a peep at the doco which means so much to a lot of us. In it, Emily talks about her grief journey and how her paintings are connected to her healing. While you're at it, please take a look at Emily's STUNNING paintings at emilyhowartart.com
~*~
Monday's paint practice:
(Tuesday, February 23, 2023)
I was able to go to my *favourite art store* (the mention alone gives me pleasant chills) and obtain some Winsor and Newton watercolour paper, a B pencil that is artist quality, and a kneaded eraser.
I love going into the art store because it's local, everyone's friendly, they know me, and they always have GORGEOUS art on display by island artists. PEI, for such a small island in geography, and population, produces a lot of crafters, artists, writers, musicians. It's a little intimidating until you realize that everyone is also SO friendly, and supportive. We love it here.
I've always wanted to try the Winsor and Newton paper because I was curious about it being cellulose and cotton (as opposed to 100% cotton). I'm also on the lookout for paper for a watercolour journal, which I'd love to obtain by the summer. I might make my own, or buy a pre-made one. The Kilimanjaro journal looks great but it's also quite pricey.
I've so far been working only with my kids' pencils for my still lifes, and so I wanted something a little better quality in terms of lightfastness. The kneaded eraser baffles me but I'm curious.
(Wednesday, February 22)
Happy to say I've been able to do some watercolour tests this morning, and came up with this:
Winsor and Newton pro paints
on Winsor and Newton 140 lb,
25% cotton cold-pressed watercolour paper.
It's a little messy, but I do feel the difference that good materials make. The Winsor and Newton pro line of paints, I cannot say enough about. The pigment payoff is incredible. The Winsor and Newton paper I would say is comparable to the Strathmore sketchpad, which I'm also making my way through. If I were to make my own sketchbook, I would definitely buy one of these big sketchpads, cut up the paper into folios and bind them with string.
I've also blocked off the day to do a still life while the sun is out peeping through the clouds. Trying to catch the light before twilight.
How it started:
How it's going:
(1)
(2)
I've been working on this for the better part of the day, with some interruptions, and alas, I didn't beat the sunset. So, I'm hoping to have a little time tomorrow to finish the flower and the jar details. It's always the details that take the longest!
In any case, I'm quite happy with this, and hope you like it!
Mikhai
Loving the blueberry jam still life so far! Growing up I never liked still life (why would anyone care about a composition of fruits?!), but now I really like a good one. I think a good still life will also capture the light of day, and just celebrate the colours and shapes of a good harvest.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chiara! Lol I didn't get it either, but for me, right now, it's a great way to explore compositions and textures! Everything one needs to make a good painting is there in a still life, in my humble opinion.
DeleteLiking Emily's art- especially Field under the Stars.
ReplyDeleteI love her art. The blooming skies, the delicate paint placement...have you seen the video?
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