Hello 2012

When I look at myself and my life in the past and future, I am constantly struck by the need to concentrate on gratitude/thankfulness.  I am thankful for the people in my life that I love and I am thankful to be able to love art and critters so much and have both in my life .  My number one goal for 2012 is to savor every moment the best I can, to constantly redirect myself to the present and what I am greatful for in every moment. (I can be such a worry wart and grudge holder -- often focusing on what I am scared of or resentful of --- this is not a good way to live.)

I am thankful for my family.  Here is a follow-up to "The Way We Were" .  My brothers came to the exhibit dressed as close to the picture as they could be (I did not have the slightest inkling they were doing this, though I was very happy they were planning on coming to the exhibit opening) and insisting we take a picture like the picture, LOL.  I was so warmed by this experience.  Here is a photo from the opening:



I am thankful that I am able to connect with people and finance my art through commissions.  Here are a few commissions I had this year, that did not get posted to my blog.





I so much enjoyed taking a drawing class at Denison University this year.   I felt totally absorbed in the drawing process and also feel I renewed confidence with drawing from life and various media within myself.   Here is a little bit more of the 100 drawings project I mentioned in a previous post:



I did a 100 page flipbook which is on the stool on the right, but I would have to video it to have it make any sense.

I may post a few more drawings from class, in the future.  Also, I am planning on taking a painting course from the same instuctor during winter semester.

I have already started a series of drawings looking out at my pasture from the back of my house and I will post one of these in a day or two (some troubles with my camera and must wait for sun).

I have a commission on my drawing board (which I can't post until it is gifted) and I am focusing on gratitude.

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!

A Lovely Anniversary Present and Drawing Class

This Bear and Dove was a fun and very touching commission.  A man contacted me about a present for his first wedding anniversary.  His wife called him "Snuggley Bear" and he called her "Lovey Dovey".  He wanted to know if I could do a bear hugging a dove.  I did several sketches and after we collaborated on picking out the preferred features of the sketches, this was the result.  It is 12x16, colored pencil on hardboard panel.
I think I mentioned that I am auditing a drawing class at Denison University this semester. At any rate, I am and it is really stimulating to be using other media -- conte crayon, charcoal, ink, markers and to be drawing from life.  Though alot of my in class drawings are currently stored at the university and I have not yet taken any photos of them, I though I would share some homework.  One of our assignments is to pick an object and incorporate it into 100 drawings.  This wooden horse I have had for several years is the object I picked:

Here are drawings 5-11.  I am using conte and it is on two sheets of 18x24 paper, so the final here is 24x36.  I may add more to it later.  As I said above, feeling very stimulated drawing from life (though it is still). His arm fell off while I was workig on this, so I have not included it for some of the drawings.

Two Works

My piece, The Way We Were, Coshocton - 1972 did get into the Johnson Humrick House Museum Exhibit.  The opening is October 22, 4-6 P.M. A convenient time for some of my family to be there and we can have dinner afterwards -- looking forward to a good time!  I did change the year in the title from 1971 to 1972 -- I thought about it some more and that is the year it was.

Here is a portrait of Riley, a clipped and wet Portuguese Water Dog, that I finished last month. It was a surprise gift and was well received.  I enjoyed the challenge of the water as something new in this one.

I am having fun but also kept busy with a drawing class I am auditing.   I am working more from life and using other media -- I am enjoying it very much.  I keep alot of my work at the university, but will try to snap some photos for the blog. Also, I will be posting some other commissions soon,also.  After a disappointing Christmas season last year, I have had steady stream of commissions starting in June of this year.  YEAH!

Thanks for stopping by.