Corn God Study #1
Some days I feel like in order to be satisfied in thinking I’ve created “something” I have to post an image of it every day. Lately I haven’t posted much. You know, It isn’t like I haven’t been drawing and painting, but given how I’ve do my watercolors, and since that has been the majority of my work the past few weeks – I don’t feel like I’ve had much to show. The reality is that I have a bunch of projects rotating at once – but none completed.
Jack-o-lantern Ideas
Mostly, I like to put down a layer of color, and then add another once it dries. This could mean, five minutes of painting and an hour or more waiting. Hey that kind of rhymes.
Sketch Ideas for Icons nestled in branches
So the truth of it all, is that I do like to be able to make something, and then post it, and then have feedback. That is one reason I got such a kick out of my 30 day sketch project on facebook. I was just inspired by feedback. Unfortunately, Most of the feedback I get on the art-blog is spam. Ads for online pharmacy schemes and drugs I don’t need. I take great satisfaction in using the SPAM and DELETE buttons.
Epcot's Living Seas Icon in Oak Branch
I don’t let it get to me because I know that I’m not really advertising my little blog and it’s not something that you would run into on google or some other big search engine. That’s okay with me I guess. It’s my little online piece of self which I can log into from time to time. I can even log into it from my phone and feel all cool and trendy.
Cinderella with Pumpkin Sketch
Seriously, I do get into the whole online thing. I’ve kept a written journal online since 2002. Before that I kept a hand written journal for major parts of my life. It’s just who I am.
As I mentioned before, I’m on a “Let’s draw and paint pumkins” kick. I don’t know why – maybe I’m wishing for a cool and dry autumn (my favorite and most productive time of year). It’s closer than you think you know. I did a page of studies with various results. The best one I’ve done rates a solid “eh” on my scale, but I’m rarely blown away by my own stuff. I find it frustrating to see so clearly in my head what something should look like, only to have my result to not even come close.
Pumpkin Studies - Not drawn from life.
Perhaps I’m being negative and I shouldn’t do that – there is no room for that here. Practice and Progress. Practice and Progress.
The projects in current rotation have been the studies of pumpkins, two separate works about jack-o-lanterns, an attempt at lily flowers and two versions of a funky sketch I did that I refer to as the corn god. Some of my art is a clear reaction from being isnpired by others, some of it is me trying to find my style and still some is just practice as in “I’m going to try to paint this”.
Corn God initial idea/sketch
I can see improvements in some areas so all is not a loss. I’ve realized that certain paper responds well to what I’m doing, while others don’t. For practice I’ve gathered up all the odds & ends and pads around the house and I’ve just been blowing through them. So while some aren’t up to snuff, I would guess they are teaching me how to solve a problem or two.
I still feel that I’m stronger in drawing but I’m drawn to improving my watercolors right now. Perhaps watercolor feels more valid to me at this juncture.
I will continue to practice and to see what I can do with the watercolors and in the meantime I’ll continue to sketch out ideas. It’s fun and I feel happier than I have in a long time.
Sleeping Dragon - with pumpkins of course.