I Now Can Say No More

So I asked a very talented photographer I know over on deviantart if I could draw a self portrait she took of herself and she said yes. So here is my progress on it. I submitted it to the "Strokes of Genius" drawing art book contest (like I'm some kind of a genius!!) but no go on that. And I think I can see why it was rejected, but I'm very happy with how it turned out. Stop by her page to see the original and some of her other wonderful stuff. Cheers and love. ks (Oh, and I entitled it after a line from a song by Robbie Robertson - who was originally in "The Band" with Bob Dylan. Robbie decided to investigate his native american roots and then organized a whole album around different native american musicians from Canada all the way to Florida. Its called Music for the Native Americans and I listen to it at least once every couple of months.)
Michelle's page is http://michellevarela.deviantart.com/

Lakota man

So I was searching around for clothing references for a painting and I stumbled on the photographs of Gertrude Kasebier from the early 1900s. I was so struck by them I printed out several and just started drawing. Here is one of the Lakota men she photographed - from, I think - a western side show. And in my true fashion, I dropped the nose down too far - thus not truly capturing his face. (My youngest daughter pointed it out to me. She has a good eye for that.)
 Slightly darkened in the computer, but on my favorite Cagrain paper using faber castell pencils.

End of the Last Day

So I started this back last year - in fact the first picture I took is dated July13 2010 - and now almost a year later I've returned to it.
The sky and sea have been glazed, her hat, hair and skin tone have been glazed and "mostly" finished.  But I'm not happy with the lower half of the painting. I feel like it just drops off the canvas. Even though I've toned the blanket behind her down I'm not liking the color of it. And I almost feel as if the two men looking off lead the eye off the canvas. I am seriously thinking about adding two inward looking characters. I'd appreciate comments and opinions. Thanks and cheers. ks

Woman of Mystery final

Well, it's as final as I want it to be.
I've been so.... unenthusiastic.... bout everything. I've had to put my beloved 7 year old kitty down and it's torn me all up. That, in NO WAY COMPARES to seeing your beloved husband - Azra, are you listening? - in a hospital, but it has just been a capper to a couple months of "yuck." It happened so suddenly. sigh

Woman of Mystery

This is actually a portion of a "potential" bigger drawn scene. I don't know why I like to do that.  I start with something and then I just roll on with it, adding things I think make "a story."
pencil on that wonderful Cagrain paper again.

Why A Duck

This was a challenge over on wetcanvas.com in the colored pencil category (April's challenge).
So, yeah, colored pencil on bristol. I spent a lot of time on this one and really enjoyed it. Obviously I didn't mask or tape off the borders and didn't finish the left side, but I like the finished product.  One thing that was different about this that I did was wipe it all down in a swirling motion with a cotton pad. That leaves a  nice sheen. (I did that instead of blending it out with a colorless blender.)

Angel in Cemetery

A drawing from a photo I took while on vacation last summer. We visited a famous cemetery and this statue was beautiful.
Pencil on 9x12 Canson heavyweight drawing paper ( a really lovely lovely paper! I recommend it!)

Blackbird

My first attempt for the Paint And Draw Together: Challenge 19 - Red-winged Blackbird  (Thank you, Azra, for inadvertently alerting me to this blog - rubs hands together in glee! I am so enjoying challenges!)
Done on a canvas panel 8x10 that had been previously used as a pallet. I sanded it all down to a relatively smooth surface (thus the rough look here) and then jumped in. The darkest portions were done with quinacridone red and cobalt blue with a touch of burnt umber.  Alla prima in about three - four hours. Really had fun with this! (Took a photo and after it is really dry, I may scan it to see if it I get a better image)
Oil on canvas panel 8x10

Green Shoulders

So this is really a 12x12 canvas (scanned and cropped) and I had intended to do the ten minute studies on it. BUT I set down the groceries and placed the fresh bananas on the counter and the next thing I knew I was about four hours into this painting. SNAP! Just like that. What happened to all the painting ideas bouncing around inside my head? (Oh, believe me, they are still rattling around in there...)
I am not sure if compositionally-wise this works - mostly because the uppermost banana leads the eye off the canvas ( but I still like it)

And then - as my Grandfather would say - "They ate that."
oil on canvas 12x12

Menu Decisions

While on vacation last summer I  surreptitiously took a picture of a couple making a menu decision. I still feel a little guilty about it - but I really enjoyed painting them.
Oil on canvas
10x8