Experiments in Colored Pencil

In my search for artwork that can be done at times I can't be in my studio I keep coming back to colored pencils. I find my strength in the "art arena" seems to be anything done in a "drawing" style. Such as scratchboard, pastels, colored pencils, and ofcourse illustration done with pen and ink or graphite.
I had my mom here for a few days again to give my dad a short break (she has alzheimers for new readers). When she's here I can't be in my studio, thus this is part of the reason for the search. I have to say if I can get it worked out to my satisfaction I think colored pencils will be the answer.

Experiment #1 was done using MDF board. It was going well until I needed to put more layers on in some areas and the board wouldn't take any more. So I sprayed it with workable fixative- either it did NOT like the board or it was because it was the bottom of the can. I'm suspecting the latter. It was like I had sprayed the piece with varnish- so that was it. I couldn't do another thing. :-( It was looking somewhat like a watercolor before it was ruined.




2.25"x3.25"
I finished this piece done on Arches water color paper yesterday. I was able to achieve my darks that I wanted, but still not really happy with the support. I'll keep experimenting.

In The Heartland and in my heart.

Summer is here and that means BUSY! I've been away visiting my aunt, visiting BRIO, my gallery in Galena, camping with my family, etc. Been trying to fit in some painting around all this! Galena was beautiful and the gallery is filled with wonderful things- a number of which I'd have liked to bring home! I look forward to another visit hopefully before summer is over. Marsha, the owner is such a warm and friendly person. It was just a joy to get to meet her. I wish we had more time to visit and get to know each other. I am honored to be among her artists.
Here's what I've been working on lately...
Colored pencil, 2.5" x 6.5" Title: I'm Outta Here!
I finally got this piece photographed- it's been sitting around waiting... I learned alot working on this- my second piece in colored pencils. These are my "evening when I'm not too tired" pieces so they don't happen much or fast! But I really do enjoy the colored pencils. Had several people very surprised when I told them what the medium was. I intend to keep working and learning with these. It's a fun medium and very "transportable".

This next piece is casein, 2.5" x 6.5" Title: Summer in the Heartland
I just finished this piece this afternoon. I am feeling more comfortable with the landscapes and really, really enjoy doing them, although the buildings can give me "fits" at times- getting the lines right! These pieces of farm and country scenes are so nostalgic for me, and make me feel very peaceful. I love farm country- I don't think there's anything prettier than rich farmland filled with bounty. The midwest landscape speaks to my soul.

Great Blue Heron miniature

3.5"x5.5" Acrylic on board

Just finished this this afternoon. It's actually more "3-D" than it appears on the computer. It loses something here- the greens pop out from a transparent darkness which just looks a bit more flat here and the heron seems to be closer, more "out there" than it shows here. I really had fun painting this one.

New Painting Subjects! Motocross- FUN!

I went with my youngest daughter to watch my granddaughter while Melanie (daughter) raced her 4 wheeler in a motocross event this weekend. We camped there Sat. night and then all day Sun. was dirt bikes and 4 wheelers! We had a wonderful time and I unexpectedly found some new painting subjects. The weekend was GORGEOUS, weather beautiful, not a bug around, and the bikes and flags, etc. were just soooo colorful and watching them go up and over hills, fly up in the air on these machines and have such a great time and such nice camraderie was just wonderful to see. There are only a few girls doing this, but all participants- men and women- are very sportsman-like- they stop and help each other if they get stuck, they are courteous about moving out of the way if another is behind them and trying to get around, etc. It's done in laps with several groups at a time going round so they can be overtaken quite a bit plus each group has faster and slower riders. It's not so hugely about winning as about the actual sport. Ofcourse they want to win, but they still remember the meaning behind that word. It was a wonderful experience and I hope I get to attend more of them this summer. I thought you might enjoy a few photos from our day.

Just hanging out...

Unloading the "steed"

All suited up...

Waiting...

Waiting...


















That's my girl!!!

Ofcourse, no outing would be complete without a visit to the park play area...

The PRIZE...

Latest mini- Field Work

I have been working on this one all week. Just finished a little while ago. This one is acrylic on board. 3"x5". I love the farm scenes- they're such a calm and "summer" thing.

Duck, Duck, Goose- completed

Just finished the last bits of touch ups this afternoon. These fellows were alot of fun to paint. This piece is done in acrylics, the ducks and geese were done mainly with the new interference acrylics. I do believe I will like them for certain applications.

Here is a close up of a couple of the fellas...
This piece is 3"x5". Traditional miniature.

Updated Works In Progress

Last week was a total wash as far as getting anything done with having my mom here to take care of and this week has been almost as bad. I tried to work some on the turtles last week- the first photo of it was where it was previous to last weeks work.


I had a hard time trying to get the color corrected as you can see. I think the true color is "somewhere in between" these, although I believe it is closer to the bottom one. I have the sun coming in the window- directly in my eyes. Evening seems to be the only time I really have to do this sort of thing and it's always such a bad time to try and see the color.


I was able to do some painting today. When I go down to the studio I have hopes of getting further than I ever do. Today was no exception. I spent alot more time down there than it looks!!! These miniatures take alot of time to get them "right".
I've been "fighting" with that goose all afternoon, and now the duck has joined the fray! Persistence hopefully will pay off and I'll get them the way I want them!