Mid-November

It has been a very busy month for me with a strong focus on national boards. In addition, I put together a student art exhibition at The Phoenix Art Museum in a weeks time! Their Children's Art Gallery space had a last minute cancellation for the month of November, so they called me and asked if I could put something up. The art department at North High came together and we matted and framed almost 40 student artworks. We had an opening on the 9th with a crowd of about 70 students and their families.  It was more than fabulous, in fact it was one of the best experiences I have ever had! I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the exhibit and the number of people that showed up. I will post a few pictures when I can.

Being so busy, I have had little time to make art, plus I missed going to last Tuesday night's drawing session. I did go the week before, on the 1st. That's when I painted these three artworks. They are all acrylic paint on brown paper, 24" x 36". I used the brayer technique that I am currently fascinated with. We had a new model, Julian. He was rather long waisted and I struggled a bit with his proportions. In this first painting, he was wearing his glasses.

The second painting was a foreshortened pose that I started to get but am not sure about it. So typical of me to doubt my success. I do like the way this one turned out, the shading at the base shows that he was resting against something and the strong, diagonal black lines helps to unify the paining.

This is the third painting of the night and is probably my least favorite. On a good note, it does capture they way Julian looks.

To finish out the night, I worked a sketch in my sketchbook. It was a 30 minute pose and I wanted to focus on Julian's facial features. I started the drawing with his nose. I have found that if I try to sketch the shape of the face first, the proportions are almost always off. Instead, I start with the center of the face and work my way out. As usual, I ran out of time!

This month, I have only completed a couple of my 6" collages. This one is titled "Life is Good" (of course).
I was in Tucson the first weekend in November for the National Board Fall Retreat, so I didn't make any collages. I did, however, make some really good progress on my entries for National Boards. I completed entry 1 after getting some feedback plus I learned more about how to approach the analysis of my videos. This coming week, I will be videotaping in my classroom.

This collage is actually on a background oil painting on paper that I had cut up into 6" squares. It is somewhat experimental to see if the items stay adhered. It is titled "A Kodak Moment".

This one is title "It's a 2 Olive Night". Just basic fun.

I made this collage this morning in celebration of Aunt Dolores' 90th birthday which is tomorrow, November 14th. I will give it to her as a birthday gift.

I have a busy week ahead of me, but it should be a good one. I really hope to video just the right segments for both entry 2 and entry 3.  Wish me luck!

Working Through October

It has been a good week at school though I struggled a bit with my video recording for National Boards.  I accidentally recorded over a video that I thought might have some possibilities and then I didn't know how to change the tape when it ran out. Now that I have that figured out, I hope this week's taping goes more smoothly.

On Tuesday night, I wasn't able to go to life drawing as it was my Tuesday for meetings. This means that I didn't get a chance to do any artwork during the week, but I did make 2 6"x6" collages this weekend. This first one is titled "Just Say Cheese".

This one is titled "Flying to be Free".

The only other artwork I even have going at this moment in time is the painting of my dad. Today I did finish his face and I added the photographs. Just a little more to do to it and the painting will be finished.  I should be able to get it done next weekend!

Fall Break Comes to an End

It is hard to believe that my fall break is ending. It was actually a relaxing week in which I got a lot accomplished. I have done everything possible with regards to my national boards, nothing else can happen until I am back in the class room this week. With upcoming video recording, I anticipate analyzing video on a nightly basis.

I worked on the painting of my dad. I actually procrastinated until just yesterday as I wasn't sure how to approach it. I decided that my dad'd skin was actually much paler and a bit less rosy than I had painted it. So, I mixed up a very light, yellowy skin tone and painted over the whole face, then I came back in slowly, adjusting for value changes, wrinkles, and other little details. His skin is much lighter now than how it shows in the photo. I am actually quite pleased as now it looks more like dad, he no longer looks like a young man.  I also added in the scale of justice, painting it a very dark green, not quite black. I am now waiting for the paint to dry so that I can come back in and add his eyebrows along with a few final details. I have laid out photographs that I am contemplating attaching to the painting. I will also add a fancy H as well as dad's name.  I am just not sure yet where these features will go. For today, I have the photographs just taped in place so that I can contemplate their location.

This week I went plen a-ire painting with Joan and Ann. We went to Thompson Peak, parking at a trailhead that had a great ramada, restrooms, and so on. It was a great place to paint, and the weather was perfect! I worked in watercolor and ended up with this painting. My focus was somewhere between the saguaro cactus and the palo verde tree. It was a perfect start to my week off from school.

I went to Stu's on both Tuesday and Thursday nights.  Thursday was a great session, as the poses were 40 minutes instead of the standard 20 minutes. Our model on Thursday was Rose, and you would never have known that it was her first time as a model; she was great. I finished 2 paintings, acrylic on brown paper, 24" x 36", both of which I were very happy with. The first one is titled "Portrait of Rose". She was wearing a headband, which added a nice touch to the painting.

The second painting I titled, "Laying on a Blanket". Having an extra 20 minutes really gives me enough time to make sure that the proportions are correct as well as the time to finish the background.  That is why I felt that the night's session was so successful. I wish Tuesday nights were longer poses too.

I also had the opportunity to make some of my 6" x 6" daily collages. I only missed a couple of days so I felt pretty good about them. The one on the right is titled "Count Down". The others I made are shown below.

And it is already October!

I can't believe that September has come and gone without me posting to my blog.  It is already midway into October, in fact this coming week is Fall Break which signals that I have completed 9 weeks of school. It is hard to keep track of where the days go. I am full swing into my National Board entries.  I wish I could say that I have started video taping for 2 of my entries, bit that hasn't happened yet.  I will be starting a watercolor unit right after break, so I will start taping then. Plus I will need to tape my classes as they are critiquing an artwork, hopefully that will happen the first 2 weeks that I am back in class. As for now, I have finished entry 4 and am almost done with entry 1. For entry 1, I still need to get photos of the students final project (which they are finishing over break) plus I need copies of the summative assessment that they will get right after break.  It is obviously consuming my brain at this moment.

I have been doing only a small amount of artwork, just what I can accomplish at me Tuesday night drawing sessions. I worked each Tuesday in acrylic on large brown paper, using the technique where I apply the paint with a brayer. The following are some September examples.

I did manage to make a few of my daily collages, just on the weekends.  It is hard to fit much else in on a weekday!  The collages are all mixed media, 6" x 6". Evidently I was on a black & white theme for the month!

Over fall break I really do have a lot on my agenda.  As for national boards, I am starting on the analysis of student work section. I won't be able to finish the section until after break, when I have all of the information in front of me, but for now, there is still more that I can do.  I will also try to "unpack the prompts" for the 2 video entries.

I worked in my garden just a little bit yesterday, took off the shade screen and planted beets and carrots. Later this week I hope to put in some transplants of lettuce, broccoli and cabbage.

For art making, I have some projects from school that need to be finished.  The most important on that list is to make a chart of watercolor techniques to have when I start back after break. I also have a pencil drawing and a watercolor pencil painting to finish up (these are teacher examples).  Then there is the painting of dad. It is still a too young version.  I haven't worked on it in weeks, trying to figure out where I went wrong. I think I need to make his face, or at least his cheeks, a bit wider. That might solve the problem. His skin tone needs to be paler, not so red. I guess I have some work ahead of me. I hope to make some progress on it.

This week I plan to do a Plen Air painting session with my friend Laura. Now that we are experiencing some cooler weather, it should be a nice, outdoor activity. That is scheduled for tomorrow. I plan to work in watercolor. Then there is Tuesday night drawing session plus a Thursday night session with a longer pose. I look forward to that.

For now, I think I have relayed all that has happened since my last post. I will try to post at the end of fall break. It might be interesting to see if I accomplished all that I have planned.

As August comes to an end....

I have reached a moment where many things are paused....I can't do much more with my National Boards until I get further in my teaching, and I only have one painting in progress and it needs drying time.  I am almost at a loss with what to do with my weekend time.

This week, at the Tuesday night life drawing session, I worked with acrylic paint applied to brown paper with a 2"brayer.  This first one shows Roy from behind.  Just before this pose, I did a painting that I didn't like, so I turned the paper over and painted this one next.  I don't usually paint on the front and the back, but really, it doesn't make much difference since these ones on brown paper are just ending up in my closet, rolled up.  I am enjoying the brayer work as it is much looser and organic, almost abstract.  It is pulling me into a new direction.  My friend, Laura, thinks I should come in with another media and fine tune them.  That's what I did when I learned the technique at The New Hampshire Institute of Art.  For now, I will wait and see.  Maybe this weeks paintings will get reworked.

This was my last painting of the evening, it shows Roy laying down.  This was probably my favorite painting of the night.  I am not sure why other than it does capture his expression as well as the weight of the pose.

I have been working on this painting of dad.  I haven't been able to capture his age, it looks like a young version of dad.  The colors aren't quite as bright as they look in this photograph.  The oil paint is wet as I worked on it yesterday, so now I am waiting for it to dry.  Next weekend I want to try and "age" dad, then I can continue on what I want to have happen in the background.

I managed to make 3 small collages this week.  They are each very different from one another and I actually had fun with each one.

The week ahead is filled with meetings, Rainy is coming for a visit, and I still have my Tuesday night drawing session.

Until next weekend....

Working into August

I have finished my first week with students in the classroom.  It has been exhilarating, tiring, and rewarding all at the same time.  I did go to the Tuesday night life drawing session at Stu's, though I was rather warn out.  Teresa was our model.  I worked with pencil in my sketchbook and then completed a drawing using conte crayon on pastel paper.  I wasn't overly thrilled with the way it turned out as I could have used another 10-15 minutes to really finesse the drawing.  This image shows 2 drawings I completed on the same page in my sketchbook.  With the first drawing, I was focused on capturing Teresa's hand and arm.  The second drawing was a portrait that really does look like Teresa.

Being back in school, I was only able to complete a couple of my daily collages.  It was difficult because I did a little bit towards the collages strung out over a couple of days.  I had a hard time getting excited by either one.  The first is titled "Lamp Light", it began with a stamped background to which I collaged on bits of papers including part of an envelope and a photograph.  The second is titled "Love is Everywhere", it began with a magazine transfer to watercolor paper and then I collaged a stamp, papers, another magazine image and a round metal piece onto the surface.

I also finished Mike's Box.  I actually finished it last weekend, but didn't get around to photographing it until today.  What is hard to see are the individual photographs that are contained inside the box.  On the back of each individual photograph is the year it was taken.  I used graphite pencil to draw the picture of Mike that is on the inside of the top of the box.  The feet of the box are made from the plastic cylinders that are a part of Mike's insulin pump.  I am totally pleased with the finished box.

Back to School

I have been back at school for a week now though tomorrow is actually my first day with students.  I am already tired.  I only managed a couple of 6" collages this week and today was my only opportunity to work on my tortoise painting and the portrait of dad.  Making art is only going to get more difficult to fit in.  As much as possible, I intend to maintain my Tuesday night life drawing sessions.  It isn't just school, I am also thinking about the time that I will need to dedicate to National Board Certification.  That part might not kick in this week, but I do plan to start on portfolio #1 "A Portrait of Teaching Over Time" the second week of school.  I can do this.....

I didn't photograph my sketches from last Tuesday, but here are my collages.  The first one is titled "Smile" the second one is "Just for You".  I started both with magazine transfers on watercolor paper and then worked up my images on the surface of the transfer.

I am not very "talkative" at the moment so I will simply stop at this point.  I hope to report back in next week with promising information and more artwork to post. Hmmm.

Last Week of July

It is hard to believe that July is over and that on Tuesday I head back to the classroom.  Granted, the first week is time to prepare for students, but it still means that I will be putting in full days.  I am hoping that I can keep up with my artwork a day as I have managed to do over the summer.  If time doesn't allow, at least I have the weekends!

Speaking of an artwork a day, here are two that I completed this week.  Both are 6" x 6" and consist of collage papers on a painted background. I really do enjoy piecing this images together to create a subtle message, or in the case of the bottom one, a not so subtle message.  The first image is titled "Within Reach", the second "Need to Know".

I did go to the life drawing session at Stu's this past Tuesday night.  For sure, I will keep attending throughout the school year, that way I will be creating some art!  On Tuesday, I focused on body proportions and just worked in my sketchbook.  I started with the drawing on the right, and sketched in Jesse's entire body, again focusing on proportions.  Because the pose was only 20 minutes, I didn't get too much of the shading finished, but there is enough to get the general idea.  The drawing on the left I chose to do because I struggle with silhouettes.  This one is a pretty good representation of the model.

My second page shows 2 more views of Jesse.  The pose of Jesse from behind was a great pose.  Notice that I didn't leave enough room on the page for his feet; this is something I need to work on! The upper body drawing was a 30 minute pose so I had just enough added time to create a more completed looking drawing.  I really love my Tuesday night drawing sessions!

Last Week of Summer Break

It is hard to believe that summer break is almost over!  I actually have to be at school 2 days this week in my capacity as Instructional Leader.  Officially, teachers return next Tuesday, the 2nd of August.

Mike and I took a couple of short trips this past week.  Both times I took my watercolors with me.  First we went to Flagstaff (Mund's Park) for a couple of days.  I actually went in to town and bought a 7" x 10" watercolor sketchbook that I could practice in.  I have enjoyed working in the sketchbook as I am really creating somewhat quick studies while practicing different techniques.  It frees me up from worrying too much about doing it "right".  I started with this painting of some wildflowers.  When I finished, I picked one of the flowers, pressed it, then taped it on the page.  You can see where I checked my colors on the upper left.  It was really nice to be able to be outside to paint!

Next I painted this container of petunias that Randy and Carol had growing on the steps to their house.  I was using the technique of mixing my colors directly on the paper rather than on the palette.  I had just read about painting this way in a book by Charles Reid.  One thing for sure, the colors end up very strong and bold.  Again, just being outside was a relaxing way to spend the day.  The only problem was that I had a hard time finding scenes outside that I wanted to paint.

Next I chose to paint Mike while he was sleeping on the sofa during an afternoon nap.  I have to admit that I mixed the skin tones on my palette.  When I mix on my palette, I notice a difference in intensity, they are much lighter!  I probably should have at least darkened his shirt, but then this is just practice.

I decided to paint another picture of Mike, this one while he was up and working at his computer.  It wasn't so easy as he kept moving slightly.  In the end, I am pleased with just how much this actually looks like Mike!  I did more color mixing on the paper and achieved the darker tones that really do make the painting stronger.

After a couple of days in the mountains, we came back home to Phoenix for a couple of days and then headed to Southeastern Arizona.  Mike and I had reservations for 2 nights at Loew's Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson.  This painting shows the view out our window.  It was a difficult point of view for me to capture, bit I think the essence is there.  It was overcast outside with an even display of clouds.  I could barely see some mountains further off in the distance.  We spent most of Saturday on a day trip where we visited The Thing, just outside of Benson.  We also went through the Amerind Museum near the Cochise Stronghold and then toured the Rotunda and Throne rooms at Karchner Caverns.

When we got back, I ventured out to the pool with my watercolors. I found some girls that I thought were settled in for sun bathing and started to sketch and paint.  The one girl on the right, moved in to the pool, so I painted her twice, but like the way the composition improved by her move to the water.  I decided that black bathing suits are popular, and without black paint, I did my best to mix a substitute.  Again, with the skin tones, I tend to mix in the palette so they end up much softer than say the bathing suits did which were mixed on the paper.  I need to find a happy medium.

Next, I painted a woman who was reading at the edge of the pool while her children swam.  She got up and moved while I was in the act of painting, so I did the best I could.  I wish I would have made the colors darker, more lively.  While the proportions of the figure are fairly accurate, it just lacks a certain oomph.  Again, it was great to be outside to paint.  I enjoyed a beer by the pool as I painted!

Sunday morning I ventured out for a walk, with my watercolors in tow.  I walked up to the waterfall.  It is a natural waterfall, but the resort pumps water to it to maintain a year-round flow.  Along the way, I noticed this little, tiny cactus blooming.  It was pushing its way out in the small area of dirt between the rock wall and the rock steps.  I decided that the cactus was certainly worth painting.  I spent about 30 minutes, sitting on the step and painting.  A passerby said she would never have seen the cactus if I hadn't been painting it.  I wandered around a little bit more before returning to our room so that we could pack up and head back to Phoenix.

Now that I am home, I have decided to try an 11" x 15" painting of the cactus.  I will make the cactus larger and add more detail than what is evident in my practice painting.  I still have a couple other paintings to work on as well.  I know that once school starts and I get more involved in the National Boards, I will have less time for my artwork.  This week demands a final strong push.