In the studio, I've got five little paintings and one medium sized one in the works. Until I can say they're finished, I've got the following: Two more journal studies--one Tobacco Sphinx moth, and a Datura drawing I made sitting out when it wasn't blistering hot. 4" x 5," on paper.
Definitely feeling the dog days of summer and looking forward to cooler temperatures. What's the weather like where you are? Does it affect your artwork...the subjects, the number of paintings you make?
Definitely feeling the dog days of summer and looking forward to cooler temperatures. What's the weather like where you are? Does it affect your artwork...the subjects, the number of paintings you make?
9 comments:
Glad to see a fresh post from you again, and that you are so very busy. FIVE paintings? Gads!
How do you find the time to do the drawings with all those paintings underway?
Great little sketches Melinda. I like the way you have arranged the triplet moths. And the b&w Datura is well rendered too. It reminds me of a study I did a little while ago which I will post today especially for you (not to compare but to compliment). When the weather is fine I prefer to get outside, go for long walks in the countryside and draw/pastel/paint whatever I come across that takes my fancy (which is many and varied). When the weather is poor I will work in the studio usually using figure drawings as the basis of a painting, or even an adventure into abstraction!
David,
I'm so glad you enjoyed the sketches. It is a treat that you would also post the study you made of your "local" datura and I am delighted that these similar subjects span the continents and ocean. Click here to see David's Pretty amazing.
Your interaction with weather as it affects 'your neck a'the woods' helps the observer to see your artwork in context. The environment does play a significant role in the way we approach work. Love to hear about weather and especially clouds!
Edgar,
"Gads" is right! It drives me a bit crazy to work on so many at once. However, I see them crying out for finishing and I don't want any of them to feel left out or undone.
I try to paint during the day and then at night I draw in my journal just before sleeping. Sometimes a good drawing emerges, but mostly scribbles and experiments with caran d'ache are the result. I think of the half-asleep drawings as a way of tricking my left brain and allowing my 'arty' self to have free rein. Have you tried this?
These are great drawings Melinda.
Rainy season here and we have been getting a lot of it lately. I am not used to being blocked from the sun for so long. If you like hearing about clouds, this is the place to be right now.
Frank,
Thank you for visiting! Being in this region right now is pretty amazing with all of the rain and spectacular clouds. I am thankful each day that we have rain, even as our yard floods!
You are an exceptional artist and it is gratifying to know you enjoy the moth drawing. I'll bet you get these where you live, too.
Lovely sketches Melinda. Can't wait to see the paintings. The weather you talk about having right now sounds amazing.
Jeffrey
I don't know that my attempts at "tricking my brain" in this way have produced the same results as you... I have trouble seeing the difference in the level of creativity I produce when drowsy vs. awake.
But I do see differences in the qualities of my marks, and a kind of doggedness to my drawing that is usually cut short when I'm working in my aware, and more critical state. Maybe that's what you're getting at... less self criticism, more freedom to just let the work be what it might be?
But your work is both creative and high quality, no matter what. Your landscapes are great, and your journal entries are so intriguing.
A very nice sketch. I've been walking the neighborhood looking for roses to paint. The summer here (southern CA) is near perfect but the roses still look a little drought stricken.
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