Abstract Art

I recently started a new course at the local college. The course is Abstract Art. This is something different for me because realistic drawing and painting are something I am more comfortable with. Drawing/painting what I see with care and precision. Abstract art is something I've never quite understood...or liked. So this course is a challenge for me...to me...by me. This course will challenge my comfort zone and force me to step outside of it and try something different. I'm really looking forward to it!

Lost but not forgotten

I haven't blogged in a long time, mainly because I was busy with work and life in general, but I never stop thinking about what I would share if I had time to actually sit down and share. So, here goes...what I've been up to.

This past semester, I took a course in Life Painting in Oils, below are some of the paintings I produced during this course. Comments and (gentle) criticisms welcome.

(posted from most recent)

costumed model

reclining nude

palette knife

fauvism style

nude

Last drawing class

My course end last Thursday. We got to class and set up our easels as usual. There was a model but no one was really sure what the plan was for this last class as we had done our final project the week prior. Our final pose was a 3-hour nude (below) and after the three hours were over, I felt as I could continue drawing for another three hours. So, what was the plan for this last class?


Our instructor was returning the work and talking to each of us about our drawing and our plans with the program. While he was doing that we were invited to do any type of drawing we wanted, I chose to do a portrait (also below). One by one he called each student up. At first I thought he was being nice to everyone, but then I overheard a couple of conversations that were not so positive. By the time it came to me, I was quite nervous. He called me up, commented that I had drawn the head smaller than scale and added that this particular mistake was better than drawing the head too big - which would make the model look "grotesque", in his words. He also said he liked the hands - which are so terribly hard to do - and he said I had a natural way with the pencil!! Wow!


The insecure me immediately jumped up to tell me that he was just being nice to everyone. So, I listened more attentively to the next few critiques. And...I can safely say...he was not shy, at all, about being honest in what he thought of everyone's talents or shortcomings. By the end of the evening, I was pleased with my work in the course and the progress I had made. I've signed up for the next course. I selected one of the compulsories in the program and my daughter will be joining me in the course. I'm really looking forward to that too. In the meantime, I've signed up for belly dancing again. My first class was last night and I just loved it!

My drawing course is almost over...

And I'm going to miss the class. I've really enjoyed this course and have been having visions of artful success! Ah, to create art and to actually sell it to someone who loves it as much as I do, what a dream is that! That is what my goal, but I have a way to go before I get to that point. Everything I produce is still very personal, very much for my own pleasure coming from my heart. I could never part with what I paint, I wonder how you come to the point that you can part with your art.

Here are some of my most recent sketches. I posted these on my Facebook page and got some really positive feedback, which did wonders to bolster my ego, especially during this difficult time in my life.

I hope you enjoy some of my drawings.

every class begins with gesture drawings, here are two I like

skull study in preparation for portraiture

drapery study

2-hour pose

Beginning Portraiture

I've always enjoyed drawing people's faces as long as I can remember. As a teenager, I would draw the portraits of the boys I had crushes on. I remember one portrait of Marlon Jackson (of the Jackson Five) who I absolutely crushed on, as well as one of the Osmond brothers, David Cassidy, and various boys in my classes. As my kids were growing I would draw them, usually fast sketches with little likeness, 'cause they moved around so much. Most recently, I painted my youngest son's portrait and have sketched my daughter's, but haven't started painting as yet.

Last night, we started our class, as usual, with gestures - which is a great warmup to drawing. We then moved on to do a number of conture drawings and after the break we began doing portraits. We had one of my favourite models, Paula. She is very lean and angular. Her face has a "Kennedy" look to it, but I don't think I was able to capture that with her lips. Her face has the look like Maria Schriver's or Caroline Kennedy's. A strong, angular upper lip and high cheekbones. Looking at it now, I realize the lips should be wider than I've drawn them. But, I still think it's a pretty good likeness of her, aside from that.

Exhilarated by drawing

My drawing class goes by so quickly. How three hours of drawing fly by is unbelievable. Last night we had a really beautiful model. Her facial features were so well defined she was a delight to draw. We are studying drapery and moving on with shading. Below is a drawing of last night's model, plus two other models from earlier in June.

Stefan Galvanek

Last Thursday, in my art class, my teacher Stefan Galvanek invited me and my friend to his gallery opening the next night. I called my friend and she was able to attend with me. My daughter also wanted to come along. What a great evening it turned out to be.

Downtown at Sam's

Stefan is an excellent teacher who flatters my work...don't know whether he means it or not, but I need to believe he does, otherwise I couldn't go on. I enjoy the exercises we do, the models he's chosen for us to draw, and the dry sense of humour he has. In talking to him, I explained how this was something I had wanted to do all my life, and have finally given myself permission to pursue the study of art. I wish one day to have my own gallery showing and be a self-sufficient artist. (hmmm...it's not even "Wishcasting Wednesday" and I'm throwing wishes out there.)

Finally doing formal training in art

As a frustrated artist, there are a number of things I have been frustrated about. Mostly, that I never got a chance to formally study art. Right after my university years, I took a number of art courses...life drawing, ceramics, painting, etc. But none that would lead to a certificate, diploma, or degree. Now, one would say, that's not important but, to me, it is. I think it's my way of validating my artistic skills, my creativity, myself. My self-esteem is wrapped up in proving myself. As I embark on a new workplace and new portfolio, I worry about "performing" up to snuff...proving I am good at what I do. I KNOW I am good at what I do, but there is that self-doubt. That voice in my head that still says, maybe you're just not good enough. Art has been a way to heal myself. To touch my inner child. Yet, I have difficulty giving myself permission to play...to paint...to create.

Since May I have been doing the first course in a fine arts certificate at a local college. Below are some of the exercises we have done in the first six classes. My instructor has given me positive feedback and seems to like my work. And, more importantly, I like my work!

First Class: Still Life Thumbnail

Second Class: Gesture

Third Class: Negative Space
(this photo is on end...the model was curled up on the floor...I don't know how to flip the picture in Blogger)

Fourth Class: we learned about body proportions

Sixth Class (I missed the fifth): we studied the skeleton

This was a thirty minute pose