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I thought I’d make this post for people to chime in with their project ideas or resolutions for 2021. For me I made the resolution to portray more people of colour this year, I also want to get a lot better at mixing realistic skintones in watercolour. My next project is the character Michael Burnham (played by the lovely Sonequa Martin-Green) from Star Trek Discovery. This February am also doing the pattern design challenge at

drawesome. I want to use some William Morris pattern as inspiration.

What are your plans? Do you want to work on some techniques, are you participating in any challenges? Do you want to finish a work in progress from last year?

blackmare

It’s been a while since I posted anything, so, here’s one painting I’ve done since then. 12x16”, water-soluble oils on linen canvas. I used a reference photo I snapped, of a Friesian-cross mare who belongs to some friends of mine.

I’m really liking water-soluble oils; the ones I used for this are Winsor-Newton’s “Artisan” line, which are crazy affordable at Blick. Anyone who thinks they’d like to try oil paints but not like to breathe fumes from turpentine or mineral spirits, these are a great way to go.

dray

It's early in 2019 and some of us have set intentions to draw, paint, create more this year.

...Some of us might not be doing so well at maintaining that streak (and I mean me... whoops!)

I figured it might be fun to dig into the archives and bring up some WIP's. What are some of your oldest WIP's? What's the WIP from 2018 you'd most like to finish this year? Are there any old works for which you'd like a complete redo?

For example, I've got a couple under the cut that I'd like to try again. (Note that one is NSFW-ish, though a rough sketch). I wondered if anyone would like to join me in sharing some before pics, and then working over the course of the next month and a half or so to finish an 'after' shot, whether that be finishing the existing WIP, or rejigging, chopping and changing, or fully starting over?

( Two pics behind the cut, both 'before's and thoughts. )

If anyone wants to join me in challenging themselves, let me know. Would you like an formatted challenge, or a more casual check-in?

gumbogumbo

This is really incomplete but I have no idea what to add to it. Any advice?

I don’t know how to add watercolor detail :( ( read more )

Current Mood: discontent

gumbogumbo

Y'all wanna get this more active? Post some random tips you have for any medium or any subject! My suggestion is: when working in watercolor, consider not using black. Shadows can be very interesting if you use blues, greens, really any color layered several times. It might add some complexity to a previously simple piece :D Maybe if you paint a red tomato, put some greens in the shadow. Blue building, orange shadow. Try it out :)

Just advice though, what do you all suggest?

Current Mood: giggly

gumbogumbo

I'm happy with this.

a water color painting with a big avacado and a tomato

Current Mood: energetic

amyvanhym

Pitcher on DeviantArt || Assange on DeviantArt || Writeup at my place

Current Mood: tired

blackmare

4" square oil on canvas. The dog's name is Terry and he's currently in foster, awaiting a home.

The painting, for me, was just for fun. I may donate it to the rescue organization if they want it.

blackmare

( Second drawing and artist nattering under the cut. )

blackmare

Upside Hound, 7.5 x 10.5", pastel pecils and carbon pencil on paper. This is Indiana, lounging in her typical luxurious fashion.

I drew this yesterday and it is making me smile every time I look at it.

blackmare

10 x 8" study for Angel Number Six. Oil paint and wax medium on canvas.

( large work in progress under the cut )

blackmare

Just wondering.

blackmare

54th and Bayfront, 48 x 48", acrylic on canvas

By the time I painted this, in 1995, I'd had the image in my head for years. I think of it now as the starting point for a lot of the art I make now: I still have this restless energy, these colors, and the horse as symbol of power/fear/motion/courage all converging.

But I tried to destroy this thing, once.

( Cut for the Rest of the Story )

blackmare

Outward Bound, above. Found objects with oil paint and wax medium, 7 x 9".

Screwy Little Houses, below. Found wood pieces, oil paint and wax medium, about 7" high.

I find stuff everywhere, all the time. Pick it up, take it home, it waits however long it waits until I figure out what to do with it. I had the things for the bird for over two years before I made that piece, but the Screwy Little Houses were created within days of my finding the wood bits.

Does anyone else out there do this, salvaging materials nobody else would want?

blackmare

This very sweet boy has been keeping me company while I work on a mural. He lives in the house where I've been working, you see.

Portrait of Peanutbutter, 12 x 9" oil on panel. By commission as a gift for his owner.

blackmare

7 x 5" pastel on paper; commission for a DW/LJ friend. I do these for a bit of extra grocery money.

This is mostly NuPastel and a little bit of Wolff's Carbon Pencil (black tones in the eyes and shading under/over some of the pastel in the fur). The paper is a heavy Strathmore Bristol, coated with acrylic medium that I mix with sienna/umber colors and a bit of pumice powder. It makes a brushy-textured, fine-sandpaper ground that's awesome for drawing on.

nezchan

Having spent an intensely frustrating few weeks in life drawing class trying to apply Loomis-style skeletal structure to live models, I've decided that the best way to overcome my problems is by hard work. After all, they say if you're having trouble drawing feet, you need to draw more feet. I figure the same thing applies to figure construction.

So for the month of November, starting this past Wednesday, I'm going to spend at least one half-hour session per day (preferably more) doing studies from George Bridgeman's Constructive Anatomy and Complete Guide to Figure Drawing. So far, I'm really enjoying it. Bridgeman's style is a lot looser than Loomis', and I find it a lot easier to comprehend on a practical level. At the end of the month, we'll see where I am.

I've been posting my sketches so far on my sketch blog, and I'd welcome any comments.

Anyone else here have any ongoing or monthly projects?

Current Mood: relaxed
Current Music: Flight of the Conchords - Too Many Dicks (On the Dance Floor)

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