Faces

Yesterday I took all of those black and white faces I did during the 30-day challenge in January and put them into a little book, adding some blank pages for some additional drawings.  Covered some chip board for the front and back cover, added a little ribbon, and voila!
Linda

Sculpture Class #1

So, apparently this is the year for me to try new things!  I decided to sign up for a 10-week "portrait sculpture" class.  I thought it would help me become more familiar with the structure/planes of the face and improve my portrait paintings.  Tonight was the first night.  I was a little intimidated when I walked in - several seasoned sculptors - one lady was sculpting Paul McCartney, another lady was sculpting her husband.  There were five of us newbies.  The teacher gave us each a 25 pound block of red clay, which we  mounted on an armature.  We were to work this into the basic shape of the head.  Once I relaxed and started working with the clay, I really enjoyed myself!  So, here are 2 photos - first is my basic shape - second is after I used a sponge and smoothed it out.
Linda

Beach Girl

Thought I would try a figure in this pattern painting style . . .
Linda

Geraniums

I love geraniums - they are so cheery.  Still playing with this pattern painting . . .
Linda

Japanese Pattern Painting

I took a 1-day workshop from Peggy Kroll Roberts last weekend.  The arts of Japan greatly influenced the impressionist painters such as Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, Monet and Van Gogh.  I love the graphic look of the Japanese block prints and obviously, so did many of these impressionists.  They incorporated into their work the light with no shadows, patterned surfaces and vibrant colors on a flat plane. I enjoyed the workshop so much and hope to do some more paintings in this style.  Here are 3 of the paintings that I did in the workshop.
Linda

Carmel Mission

So, went to painting class today, all set to paint from a photo I had taken of the Carmel Mission when I was in Carmel in February.  But, when I got to class, one of the other students had brought a beautiful fresh bouquet of roses from her garden.  So, decided to try painting the roses.  After several times wiping off the canvas, I did give up.  I love flowers so much and yet sometimes they can be so challenging.   So, went back to my original idea of painting the Mission.
Linda

Ballerina

So, life has been getting in the way of my painting . . . but was able to paint today - a ballerina!

Linda