Sketches From Hawaii

Aloha guys!

 

Yup! I've been to Hawaii. That's why it's been so quiet here for a bit.  Hawaii is totally amazing.  We hit both Oahu and Maui. The islands have such spectacular views and unique features. 

 

Of course I  hauled some of my art supplies with me.  My plan was to try "plein air" sketching to see what I could do.

 

Wow!  Working plein air was crazy intimidating at first.  It took me a few pages to relax and get the hang of it.   I started out with pencil the first couple of tries, switched to pen alone, added watercolour on another couple of sketches (field kit and watercolour pencils), then tried one with straight watercolour. 

 

Basically I had WAY too many supplies and couldn't decide what to use.  I haven't mentioned yet I also had extra watercolor tubes, glue, a spray bottle, watercolor crayons, charcoal and so on.  Between hauling my supplies, my sketchbook, my notebook, my camera, my iPod, my water, my hat, my sunglasess - you get the picture!  I was the most weighted-down person in the group. 

 

So my pencil sketches are NOT below as they are pretty sad.  I felt more comfortable when I picked up my micron pen, plus when I added my iPod and earphones things started to click for me.

 

I've scanned most of my pages for you to take a pick at. 

 

Aloha!

 

 

 The lady in the foreground turned out to be an animal and portrait artist from Vancouver!

 

 

 

I started out to make a bunch of little sketches but the big one just grew and grew.

 

 

 

 Awesome fish tacos at Horhitos food truck in Kihei, Maui.

 

We stayed at the Maui Banyon.  This is only a fraction of the size of the complex.

 

 

 

One of the many beautiful lava outcroppings along the beaches. 

Dock in the Water and Boy in a Hat

Two latest projects finished in my Soul Food online course. 

"Dock in the Water"

 

 

I wanted to make something that represented home to me so I decided to do the river, the sky, the evergreen trees, and the granite rock. I love living beside the Winnipeg River. 

The shadow box was made from paper maché.  (So-so-so much fun getting gooey!) 

 

 

 

 This doesn't look like any fish I've seen in our river???  Looks kinda like a big goldfish!! Ha ha

 

My dog Maxie is just below the trees on the right hand side.

The sides have a bit of stencil on them, toned down with acrylic glaze mixed with some paint (first time using an acrylic glaze - totally hooked). 

 

I thought it was so cool that I glazed the whole back of the piece.  Has rather an old world feel to it, don't you think?   

"Boy in a Hat"

 

 

I made this with Pental oil pastels on card stock.  My plan was to doodle a bit to see how the pastels worked.  When he started to look like an actual person, I kept going!  (Worked from a photo)  

 

xox

 

PAINTING AT AN EASEL

I have never painted at an easel yet I have three table top easels built by my dad.  Go figure!  My lesson in Soul Food required me to choose several source photos and build a picture from it.  This is the largest picture I have ever done.  I could not believe how many decisions I made throughout the process.  I'm thinking painting might be kind of like learning to drive - when you first start driving, you have to think about everything because it is so unfamiliar.  Eventually, with tons of practice, driving becomes second nature and you can enjoy the ride.  Working at the easel was totally awesome. I hope some of the decision making becomes second nature.  My brain was wired and fried by the end of the work.

Soul Food

I know it's been ages since I've posted anything on this blog. But I'm into a real cool online art course called Soul Food, creating all sorts of pieces.  I have some wonderful people in my life who are so encouraging and supportive of my work.   I figured it'd be easier to share it with them, and anyone else who is interested, if they could all come to one spot to look rather than me emailing them all the time.

So here are the results of some of the first lessons I've taken:

 

 

 

 

Cheers!

What's On My Work Table

This is my little corner of the world where I like to work.  I usally listen to music or podcasts on the computer directly behind me, or movies on the tv in the next room.  I can't do much painting here though, as the table doesn't go down flat, and there is carpeting on the floor (I'm a bit messy).  So I move to the kitchen island when I have a painting project then cross my fingers that I don't spill big time.

 

 

 

Below is what's on my work table right now.  It's the last assignment from Carla Sonheim's Faces 101 online class (see post here for more pictures and info about the class).  I hadn't quite finished the class when my next online class with Alisa Burke started.  I was so excited to start the second class that I put this last assignment aside.  Then I got sidetracked from Alisa's class with our vacation.  When I came back I thought to myself, "Self.  Finish up Carla's class.  Alisa's class is not going anywhere." (thank goodness for unlimited access!)

The assignment is to make a series of 10 drawings using my favorite medium/technique from the class.  I loved doing these drawings with an ultra fine black sharpie and shading with a black watercolor crayon.  I spread the watercolor crayon with my finger dipped in water, so I can't get too fussy or perfect with it.  These guys took about 20-25 minutes each to do. 

I often think my drawing is so-o-o-o bad when I'm working on it.  You know that little voice in your head that throws all the negative gobbly-gook at you?  It trys to get you to stop and go wash the dishes or read a book or watch the next episode of The Big Bang Theory?  Well, I've been working hard on ignoring it.  I tell it to take a hike 'cause I'm finishing the picture no matter what he says.  Then I can really get into enjoying the process and I'm usually pretty happy with the end result.  Guess what I discovered?  I LOVE drawing chins.  How weird is that?  Chins are so expressive.

I've got 4 more of these to do to complete the series.  Then I will dive back into Alisa's Whimsey and Wonder online class.  Online classes rock!  Especially for people like me living in rural areas.  I do hope to go to an art retreat this year though.  Nothing beats hanging out with other artists-swapping stories, ideas, techniques, just being with people who are as passionate about art as you are.  But the online community and the classes are super great to keep a person going - lots of support and inspiration out there.

Thanks for dropping by.  Until next time...

xox Leah

Visit to Sheep Farm

The other day I went to none other than a sheep farm!!!  I was stoked.  I've seen a few sheep in my life time at petting zoos and from a distance sitting safely in my car and on tv...LOL...but never anything like this.  It was a whole other world, and amazingly, it was just five minutes from my home!  It is a relatively new farm as farms go (i.e. wasn't there ten years ago) so it's not like I was ignoring it forever.  But what a different world from my own, only steps from my backyard. 

 

I took both my camera and my sketch book, thinking I could capture these b-a-a-u-tiful animals two ways, but it was so COLD I could barely hold the camera to take pictures, never mind stand around for a half hour and sketch.  Fortunately we were able to go into the barn where more of these delightful animals were hanging out.  I ended up taking photos only and made my sketches from photo references.  Thanks to my friend Mary Ann for being such an awesome tour guide!

 

A few of my photos....

 

 

 

Me holding a beautiful black lamb. 

 

 

The lamb needs a feeding tube

'cause it doesn't know how to suck.

 

 

 

 

 

Fred the barn cat. 

 I think he is secretly a diva at heart.

He kept trying to sneak into my photos.

 

 

These guys know how to eat;

they just don't have a mama to feed them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

and sketches...

 

 

 

 

 

 

I made Fred look a little off-balance here.

He's so much more handsome in person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

xox Leah

Happy Dance from Store to Store (aka Shoes & Art Supplies)

I shopped in the city today while I waited for my son to write an entrance exam for a college program.  I had to go shoe shopping. :(  This is NOT one of my favorite activities as I have such a hard time buying shoes.  Yes, I have those kind of feet that can't take flip-flops, high heels, any heel for that matter -- I need to wear orthotics. 

 

My normal shoe shopping place (with limited selection) closed and I needed a new place.  This time I braved the downtown driving and went to Canadian Footwear.  OMGosh, they have a great selection and a super-helpful staff.  In no time at all I had two new pairs at the checkout counter - a dress shoe for work and new winter boots to replace the ones that kicked the bucket last week. I could not get one more wear out of them. ( an you believe I bought winter boots on the first day of spring!  Felt more like a January day instead of March.  Last year at this time we were wearing shorts! That's a Manitoba winter for you.)  Here they are...

 

 

I know, I know - they are basic black.  But they go with everything, and right now, that's what I need.  Sandals are next, then maybe something with a little color???

 

I was so happy I did a little happy dance as I left the store.   Then my day got better.  Right across the street from the shoe store was an ART SUPPLY STORE!  Like it was sitting there waiting just for me.  (art supply stores/book stores/craft stores/fabric stores/antique stores/grocery stores /office supply stores-- these are my favorites).

 

This store was brand new to me so of course I went to investigate - just to look and see you know.  Yah, well, I could not leave without buying something.  Especially since they had this cool sale on - everything in the store that is purple and green is 30% off.  Sweet idea!   This is what I bought.....   



 

 

 

Liquid watercolor is new to me - one bottle just to give it a spin - red violet  (30% off) and same with the lime green acrylic ink (again 30% off!).  Of course I needed a lime green sharpie (30% off), then couldn't resist the pad of watercolor 140 lb paper and the pan of water colors 'cause they weren't that expensive.  You can check out their website here  Cre8tive Supplies. 

 

 

 

 

I had already picked up these double ended watercolor markers in the bookstore at the college (not knowing that a whole store of art supplies was waiting for me).  These are cool - brush at one end and fine point at the other.  I gave them a whirl during the final minutes while waiting for my son.  Here is a couple of quick flower sketches I made in a small moleskin book I had tucked into my purse.

 

 

 

The black zentangle styled picture in the corner is with the Staedtler 0.05 pigment liner.  My favorite size pen.

 

It was a super good morning and to top it off, after a quick lunch, I got to go to a bookstore!  Need I say more?

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

xox Leah