Carousel Dreaming

How fascinating to stumble across old drawings tucked away from the past! 

This happened to me as I was cleaning out a file cabinet recently, and lo and behold I discovered some demonstration drawings I had done for a children's drawing class I was teaching a loooonnnng time ago, in 1987! 

They were learning to draw the basic line shapes, and how to combine those elements into images. 

You'll notice the two keys to good design being used:

variation and repetition 

To teach them this, I used simple elements like circles, triangles, spirals, curves lines, dots, squares, etc.

When I found this drawing, I stopped and looked... remembering. And could see that more of me was revealed in that simple drawing that I had realized at the time.

Here is it, a little faded, since it was done with inexpensive colored markers on cheap school paper.  I wonder if anyone can identify with the longing in the carousel horse's dreaming??

(can click to enlarge)

Happy drawing,

Retta

Overcoming The Ugly Stage

I can't speak for any other artist, but one thing in common that almost every art project that I've done has had is: a phase during the process when it just looks ugly.

That's where what I see on the canvas doesn't match what's in my imagination. Not by a long shot. In fact, I've long given it an official name: The Ugly Stage. 

Don't believe me? Here are some examples from my archives... I'll give one shot of The Ugly Stage, and then the finished painting: (can click pics to enlarge)

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

What's the antidote for getting past The Ugly Stage without dumping all your paints in the trash in frustration??

Self-belief 

That's it, really. No magic, no big deep esoteric formula. 

Just believe in yourself. 

Believe in the process. 

Believe that if you don't give up, you'll see progress. 

Trust in your process. 

It's so easy to doubt yourself during The Ugly Stage. Don't Listen!! 

Believe in yourself, in your potential.

Oh sure, there are times I DO say "oops, that was a learning experience!" That's part of the fun of learning and trying new things, new ideas and techniques.  But most of the time, for me I find it's simply The Ugly Stage.

So... I stubbornly refuse to give up, and keep going with my initial concept in my mind, believing that it will appear. 

I don't usually totally meet the expectations of my Imagination... but I keep trying. The payoff is when once in a great while, something actually exceeds my expectations, and I almost have tears of joy.

Such is the case with my current project. I'm not at liberty yet to share it... it's a commission. I know, I know! In my last post I said I didn't enjoy commission work! What can I say? When along comes a project that calls to your heart... the only answer to give is... Yes. :-}

Happy painting, even through the Ugly Stages,

Retta

Commission Work: Love it or Hate it?

Today I was thinking about commission art work. First, let me just admit that it's not usually my favorite thing to do nowadays. There, I said it.

Some artists enjoy it. Some of us find it... constraining. And maybe even sometimes a little intimidating and/or frustrating, if the client seems hard to please.

I remember once doing what I felt was a fantastic job on a pastel portrait of a young girl. I still remember it like yesterday: she had sunlit black hair, wore a blue dress with white trim, and was grinning broadly. I proudly presented the finished portrait to the Grandma who had commissioned it... and she asked me to change the highlights in the hair. Okay, no problem (though I thought they were bold, matching the photo).

Next... she didn't like the dress. Fixed it.

Next... I don't remember, cuz I politely aplogized, took it home and threw it in the trash! What can I say... I was young. :-}

Just for fun, I dug out an OLD album with a crummy, faded photo of that portrait. Honestly, it really did look just like her! Well, I thought so, anyway. (can click pics to enlarge) 

See, the Grandma had wanted it done from a photograph so it could be a surprise. You know how THAT goes sometimes... photos "lie". And Grandma insisted it didn't look like the little girl. Yet... it looked like the photo! Sigh... 

Here are some others I did back then, and at least these people were happy with their commissioned portraits (sorry for the fading and skewed colors, they are quite old photos):

Next time, I'll share one commission assignment that WAS one of my all time favorite works!

In the meantime, I'd be curious to hear how others feel about commission work, if you'd like to share.

Happy painting (even if it is on commission),

Retta

The Birth of Timebird

My sister, Karen, is a writer. She wrangles her words over at KarenElizabethBrown, her writer's blog. 


Recently Karen joined a crazy fun challenge called the A to Z Challenge, where one must write a post for 26 days straight, using the corresponding letter of the alphabet as the base of the topic.

I was happy to be able to help out on "A" day by lending some images demonstrating the process by which a painting comes to life, and Karen used this as a great analogy for the writing process.

What intrigued me was a comment a reader left, describing the process as a "painting being born". Being born! I loved that... the idea of a "birth".

I don't know about other artists, but I suspect most of us feel very much that way... it's our "baby"!

So... I thought you might enjoy seeing another birth! I hope you enjoy the peek behind the curtain. :-) 

I don't have sketches from the very beginning, but you can see some of the process below, including my expensive pencil holder--the spam can! :-D

 (Can click any pic to enlarge)

Here's my set up with the Caran d'Ache Neocolor II's used plus some watercolor pencils, on black illustration board.

At one point, I ran it through photoshop, to check values, and adjusted as needed.

 At this stage, there is no water yet. Just the neocolor II's and WC pencils.

 Almost ready for water.

 Starting to carefully brush on water.

 More water, more neocolor II highlights and color adjustments.

 Final color tweaks and all done... Timebird is born!

Happy painting,

Retta

Having Fun With Posters

One of the things I enjoy creating for my other blog are motivational posters, using either my art or Jim's photography. 


Today I thought I'd share just a few of those. But first I'll share the simple process for anyone new to it, and who might like to make one of their own.

The process:

• Usually I start out with the idea first: what do I want to say?

• Next, if I don't already have an image in mind, I'll cruise our archives for one that seems to fit.

• Using a copy (NEVER mess with the original) I run it through Photoshop, cropping as necessary, and then add the text.

• Most of the time, I will finish the edges some way. Sometimes I create the typical black-edged poster look (in that case, do this first, then add the text). Other times, I'll add a "frame" around it.

• I save it in the original PSD format then create a separate image that is a web-sized version, with lower resolution. That's one way for an artist/photographer to be able to share their art, yet not make it easy for thieves out there to swipe it. 

Not that there is any guarantee against thieves... if you need a guarantee, then you probably shouldn't be showing your work on the internet, LOL! 

Me? I'm at peace with it... I do what I can, then let it go. 

So here they are, the posters (can click any to enlarge):

Happy poster making,

Retta

Bicycling Kitties & Making Art With Personal Meaning

Sometimes we make art that looks light and fun, yet it actually came from a deep place of meaning for us. This illustration I did a few years ago is a good example of that. 

I had read a book by Dr Phil McGraw, The Ultimate Weight Solution. What he wrote resonated with me, and helped me make many changes in my life. One thing it did was to help me see that I really WAS responsible for my own choices, and had the power to be the captain of my own life. 

Dr Phil has a good-ol-boy Texas way of talking and writing... very colorful, lots of word pictures. And as I read, I started imagining illustrations to go with the book. Alas... this is the only one I actually made. The original was done with ink and watercolors.

(can click to enlarge)

Did you notice that I've since 

dropped the "kat" from Retta? :-)

I appreciated the truth in the quote underneath the cat: 

"When you begin to see that your particular weight struggles may have little to do with anything outside yourself, your power to change is enormous... Start recognizing that you actively influence positive events in your life. Start pedaling on your own personal power."

The truth in those sentences apply not only to health, but to my art as well. I am pursuing my dreams... pedaling on my own personal power. And that DOES feel empowering!

Here cropped out the image of the cat in Photoshop, squaring the edges with the clone tool. I plan to include it in my future Zazzle shop, for use in cards or posters or whatever people would like to use it for.

Happy meaningful painting,

Retta

Doodling With A Message

I thought I would share some of the fun doodle stuff I posted on my other blog... this first one was from November of 2009.

I enjoy combining meaninful quotes with colorful designs. We all go through hard times... but there's no use in worrying about something that hasn't happened yet. Some good quotes about Worry:

"Worry is a misuse of imagination." --Dan Zadra

"Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere." --Glenn Turner

"I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened." --Mark Twain

"Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due." --William Ralph Inge

"Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway."  --Mary C Crowley

This doodle was created with good ol' Sharpies and colored pencils.

(can click to enlarge)

Happy worry-free doodling,

Retta