April Activities and an Online Class

As I look back at the last few weeks, I realize I've hardly touched my camera.  If I have, it's been for my fiber arts activities.  I've knitted a cardigan and finished it back in March.  I'm now focused on knitting warm weather garments.  Mostly sleeveless.

Here's the results:

My hand knitted Ocean Cardi

Knitting the back of my Maremma two tone vest (pewter & garnet colors)

My Rosanna sleeveless tunic (black tweed)

Tomorrow, I start an eight week class using Illustrator.  I've been "teaching" myself for the last year and most recently using it to create brochures, posters, flyers and a magazine ad.  "Google" had been my loyal friend, but now I must take a class to make sure I'm using Illustrator to it's fullest potential.  Also, to make sure I haven't picked up any bad habits like creating huge files sizes.  

I've realized there is never a good time to take a class.  I'm always busy between work and home life. My motto has been "just do it" and make time.  So far, it's been working.  :)

The Other Hobby...Knitting

My knitting mojo came back at the end of last year.  I've knitted through the end of winter and I'm still going strong into the summer.  One thing I'm doing different this year is to keep one or two projects in my queue.  That means having the pattern and yarn on hand ready to go.  When I've completed a project, I can immediately start another one.  There's no waiting or wondering what I'm going to do next.

I've found a fascination for cotton yarns.  While I enjoy knitting with soft wool, I do find them a bit scratchy against my skin.  So I've been building my cotton yarn stash this year and well...knitting up a storm.

Here's some of the results of my knitting adventure:

A cardigan made from recycled cotton blend yarn:

A lace cape made from the same recycled cotton blend yarn:

Another cardigan made from a cotton blend yarn called Candy in Sour Apple color:

A two-tone vest made from the same Candy yarn:

I started a new knitting project last night.  A colorful tee.  This yarn color is called Sunset.  Appropriately named and such a beautiful yarn to knit with.

My final knitting projects above were taken while they were being "blocked" on the towels.  One weekend I need to setup my portable studio and take pictures of moi modeling each of the garments.

Knitting is a great stress-reliever.  It's portable.  I keep my current knitting project in my messenger bag.  Ready to go at a moment's notice.

Taking Time Out

I haven't taken many pictures this month and February is almost gone.  My D7000 has been idle for most of the month along with my Canon S90 and my Nikon AW100.

Except...I have been using my trusty old iPhone 3GS.  Hubby had an open hernia surgery a week ago.  While we were at the hospital and waiting for pre-op procedures, I was able to capture a photog moment with him wearing a puffy cap on his head.  I had his permission to take the pic of him.  He was probably anxious/antsy before the surgery and we tried to have some fun while we were waiting.

Oh and I did take a picture of my latest work in progress (WIP) oil painting of a beach scene in the Caribbean.  I'm either waiting for it to dry and add a few details or I just might call it finished.  Sometimes...simple is better.

Hubby is slowly recovering and I've been spending a lot of time taking care of him.  Quality time with him.  We've been laughing a lot.  We've been taking slow walks together.  It's probably a good thing I'm taking a break from my many hobbies.  You know, kind of like getting back to the basics of enjoying each other's company.

Painted Tonight...Christmas Candles

A quick painting tonight.  I ended up using 8 brushes to paint this small painting.  

Yellow Ochre wash sketch

Painted in the dark value

Decided to paint the candles next

The finished painting...Christmas Candles

My palette.  The only color I didn't use was the blue...which turned out blah!

Another Painting in Progress...My Second Rose

I'm glad I took a short break from painting.  I was having a problem getting inspired.  My quick sketches and drawings kept me in practice (e.g. learning to look).  I was able to get some rest over this long weekend.  After I dropped my brother off at the airport, I came home to paint.  I thought I was going to paint one of my sketches, but decided at the last minute to paint another rose from one of my photographs.

So, here is my work in progress:

Painted a rough sketch using a thinned yellow ochre wash

Painted the dark value

Painted the mid value

Painted the light value

Painted the details and blended the values

I have to laugh at myself.  At one point during my painting session, I had three brushes and my palette in my left hand.  I ended up getting paint everywhere.  You can see on my canvas paper some mistakes where my brush and my hand got in the way.  Here's the result after 1-1/2 hours of painting:

Second Rose...a work in progress

Another Pencil Sketch...a Rose

I've been trying to do something creative when I have a moment.  Lately, I've been very tired and so painting is out of the question.  I created "mud" with the last painting as I didn't have my creative juices.  I won't be posting a picture of that any time soon.

Instead of sulking on wasted time, paint, and paper...I've decided to spend some quality time doing sketches.  This trains me see the different "values" of the subject I'm drawing.  This will definitely help me when I'm painting.  I seem to be struggling with "values" when I'm painting with different colors.

So, this evening I had an hour and drew this single stem Rose:

I took this picture without flash.  I've been noticing a magenta cast on some of my pictures and also pictures I print using my Epson Photo printer.  I need to recalibrate my monitor again.

I'll be back soon to write a few posts on picture taking techniques I've discovered using my D7k and SB-600 external flash.  Stay tuned!

A Pencil Sketch...Spiderwort Flowers

This evening I had some time to do a quick pencil sketch.  This will eventually be used as a future reference for a painting.

Spiderwort sketch

I figured out a way to take pictures of my artwork with a flash.  I prop up my sketch pad/painting vertically.  I place my Sto-Fen Omni-bounce over my SB-600 flash.  I turn my flash to the back and bounce the flash off the ceiling/wall behind me.  This so far, produces a nice even flash without any shiny highlights on the subject.

Not a Rose-y Day

I've been trying to paint at least 2-3 hours a week...if I'm lucky.  If the week nights are busy, I wait to do the 2-3 hours on the weekend.  That's the goal I've set to become proficient at this new hobby.

Today I allocated some hours to paint...after I was done with teaching a knitting class.  I thought the class was would take 2 to 2-1/2 hours the most.  It went on for 4 hours.  I was a tired puppy.  

It took an hour to put away all the knitting stuff and then collect myself in front of my canvas and arrange the paints, palette knives, and miscellaneous art stuff.  This blank canvas stared back at me:

I've been collecting pictures of stuff to paint (e.g. flowers, blueberries, our beloved beagle, some buildings, etc).  I pulled out a picture of a pink rose and thought it would be an interesting challenge for me.  So, here's my sketch in a thinned yellow ochre wash:

I have to tell you, my heart was not in the mood to paint.  I could tell as I was mixing the colors for the pink rose and then for the green foliage (lack of) and background...I just wasn't happy with the colors.  So, I trudged along and applied the paint to the canvas panel and this was the so-so results of my efforts:  

I decided not to touch the painting anymore and let it sit and dry for the next few days.  Was I trying to tackle a subject that was way over my head?  Not really.  I've done several pencil sketches of roses and other flowers...it's not a new subject for me.  Was it because I was using a cheap canvas panel?  That may have something to do with it...it was from Walmart.  Was I too tired to paint?  Yes!

Lessons learned:  (1) not to use cheap art materials.  I'm using good paint and great brushes.  What was that?  You get what you paid for?  I know, I know.  No more cheapie canvas panels.  (2) Not to attempt too many hobbies in one day.  (3) Stay on target and focus on the hobby (e.g. painting) that I want to work on.

Back to the drawing board....

Three Apples Painting

This evening, I got a chance to sit and paint for a few hours.  I went ahead and finished my apples painting by adding in the shadows and then painting the white paper towel underneath.

Rough sketch (left) and final painting

Three Apples (close up)

I'm going to leave the painting as is and call it "done".  I've been learning that the more I touch something, the more I overwork it.  Simple and less is better.  

Now, I'm off to look for a photo to paint from.  I've only got thousands to look at.  Sigh!

Apples - WIP

In less than two weeks, I'm on my fifth oil painting which is an apple study.  I used titanium white, lemon yellow, alizarin crimson, cerulean blue, and yellow ochre.  The three primary colors represent cool colors.

My palette

Used yellow ochre mixed with thinner to create a light wash for my outline

Still a work in progress...to be completed later this week

Two More Paintings on Values and Secondary Colors

Here's my third oil painting called 'Secondary Colors'.  This represents the purple, green, and orange colors that are created by mixing the primary colors (red, yellow, blue).  I then mixed the purple, green, and orange colors to create the background colors.  I also used white to create the lighter colors.  I have to wait a few days for this painting to dry before I can finish it.

'Secondary Colors' painted on a canvas panel

My second painting represents another take on values, but in the color blue.  I used Ultramarine blue and white to create the values.  Before I can finish this painting, I have to wait a few more days for the paint to dry.  

'Values 2' painted on canvas paper

I'm trying to figure out if I should paint the back ground first and let it throughly dry and then paint the objects.  Currently, I'm painting the objects first and then painting the background.  This method makes it harder to paint in between the objects.

As for photography, I didn't realize how hard it is to take pictures of oil paintings.  I have to use my external flash to capture the details, but at the same time I get a lot of shiny spots from the painting.

My New Hobby...Oil Painting

I've been interested in drawing/sketching since Jr High when I took the required art class, but I never pursued a career in the arts.  Let alone an education in that field.  In 2000, I picked up watercolor painting.  I took a local class that got me off to the wrong start.  One, my paintings were miserable looking and two, my instructor wasn't that good.  That was a short lived hobby.  In 2002, I decided to get back into watercolors and took an 8 week course at an Old Town shop.  I studied with a wonderful lady, Karyn, who painted beautiful and lively scenes.  I wanted to paint like her.  My painting skills improved immensely as she introduced me to artist/professional paints and brushes.  That made a huge difference.  I continued painting for another year or so.

Since then, I have taken on additional hobbies like sewing and knitting garments and accessories.  I really enjoyed spending time in my fiber arts.  My short lived painting experiences helped me see a gamut of colors, hues and textures.

Now, I've taken up oil painting.  I looked around for classes, but decided to learn this new hobby on my own.  The money I would have spent for the lessons, was instead used for my new supplies (paints, palette, and brushes).

My first oil painting called 'Values'

After playing around with the oils, I can honestly say that I enjoy it more than watercolors.  I did a wet-on-wet or single layer technique and it only took two hours to complete this painting.  

My painting area.  One of my watercolor paintings is hanging on the wall (upper right)

I got the hang of holding the palette in my hand and didn't feel any fatigue.  It felt natural.  I also managed to hold additional brushes and a paper towel in the same hand.  I do need to get a larger palette once I start painting with additional colors and do more mixing.  

I love my clear acrylic palette

I found this inexpensive table top easel on the Internet.  The easel itself is adjustable to different angles.    It can also hold large size canvases.  For this painting, I used Canvas Paper and taped it to a board.  This is a cheap alternative to canvas.  Once I progress further along...I have canvases waiting for action.

My portable table top easel with a storage drawer

I am using water miscible oils called Artisan from Winsor and Newton.  It supposedly feels like the real oil paints, but I can use soap and water to clean up my tools.  I decided to go this route as I didn't want to deal with irritants and vapors in the house.

Photography is stil my number one hobby.  As you can see, I still end up taking pictures of my other hobbies.