Monday, February 22, 2010

Anything is possible

Something completely different from my usual, isn't it? I just needed to paint a giraffe and a child...
So..... do you think it's a boy or a girl?
My daughter says it's a girl. She said that I made the hair a bit too long for a boy, and that adding a tiara didn't help.
Tiara? Really? Not a crown for a pretend prince or little king? Tiara.
She came half an hour later, while I was still painting and had a little laugh.
"The rosy cheeks, eyelashes and perfectly groomed eyebrows don't make it look more like a boy."
Oh, whatever. Maybe I don't know how to paint boys.
Or giraffes.
But I think it's cute.
And I think it carries a good message.
I listed it on ebay. Hopefully someone else will like it too.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Bird keeper

Painted on wood. Size: 5 3/4" x 17 1/2"
Available on etsy.
I woke up with a headache :-( but it will pass.
Have a happy day!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

I love online classes!!!

As much as I enjoy to paint freely,  without giving it much thought (like the painting I did in the previous post) I also love to learn things. I think that online classes are the best thing ever. I remember how I used to read the class descriptions for art retreats and wish that I can go to them. Having them online is even better - you get to watch the teacher paint as many times as you want.
I love Sharon's class! I feel that I learned a lot only after 1 week. Not only about painting faces. She gives many tips about the whole process from the beginning of a painting, to the way she seals it at the end. There are several things that I already started incorporating in my other paintings.
I also love how she gives detailed instruction about the color. That's different from what I've saw before - what color where, what does it do, why etc. I guess that's the reason why her paintings have life and just look cool, not one-dimensional.
I have a long way to go, but I've practiced a bit and am more than happy that these ladies came from my brush. I invite you to join us if you want to learn how to paint interesting faces. The class is ongoing, you can just jump in and play.
On an other note - I've been looking at so many beautiful pictures of snow on other blogs, that I thought it might be good to show what I see in my backyard. Spring is not here yet, but these daffodils don't know it. My tulips started blooming too.... I'll have to take a picture and show as they are the funnies tulips in the world - they bloom only one inch from the ground...
One more thing... I want to thank you all for the comments. They are much appreciated and loved, as always. I received several questions that I would love to answer, but I don't have the commenters' email addresses. I don't think it's appropriate to go to their blogs and answer under their posts.... just doesn't seem to make sense. So, please, if you want me to answer - I'll be happy to, but please leave your email address.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

I love you no matter what

I had a pretty difficult week and when I finally had time to paint, I didn't know what is it that I want to paint. I turned the camera on just to document whatever was going to show up and I'm glad I did. This sad creature emerged from the wood and the words "I love you no matter what" appeared in my mind too.
Art is healing.
It seems that I left all my sadness to the painted girl and was ready to dance after it.
 The video is very short, less than 1:30. Hope you'll enjoy it.
HAPPY LONG WEEKEND!!!!! My heart is singing!!!!!!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Perfectly happy

I can't seem to open my eyes this morning... feeling very sleepy... I thought looking at this green eye might help, but I don't think it's working.
This painting went through many transformations. I wanted to paint a quick profile, but it didn't work that way. I taped the part of the process. Interesting how many hours of work can fit into a cut and sped up 5:30 minute clip.
As much as the painting was fighting me, I was aware how happy and centered I feel when I have the time to hold a brush in my hand, so I choose the following words for her:
Hope you'll like the video.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Trying different things

I was playing with different materials over the weekend, doing the assignments for Misty Mawn's portrait workshop. This one is painted only with inks, white acrylic paint and a black pencil. I completely overdid it and lost most of the color, but it was a fun thing to do and it looks different than my usual colorful stuff. 
The following one scares me  bit.... It's obvious that I didn't have much control over her, because if I did I would not leave her looking so serious (or angry or scary). I finger-painted her face with Shiva paintsticks. As I painted the telephone rang at least 3 times, so I left color fingerprints on it, on the remote control too... very messy. It was very interesting... the paint under your fingers just calls you to keep on going, adding, rubbing.... fun. Now if I would only have time to practice some more with the paintsticks, maybe the face would turn out the way I want it.
I was pretty comfortable with the last exercise - big girls' crayons and white paint. I've did that many times before, so I just relaxed and painted (while watching NCIS rerun again... I'm addicted). This girl looks familiar. I was actually surprised when I finished painting, and went through my old journals to see if I painted her before, but I couldn't find her.
There is one exercise left... she made it look easy, but I know it will be challenging for me. I'll show it if I decide to try.