Dharma in the Garden

I will definitely do an oil painting of this but just had to try doing an iPad drawing to compare the result with the pencil sketch. I managed to create the effects I wanted with the hair but surprisingly I prefer the pencil sketch. Again it comes down to having more control when using a pencil. Also I can't get shading right with the apps. Nothing beats rubbing the paper with your fingers to get lovely tones.

© Jennifer Eddie 2013 "Blonde" iPad Drawing

I'm glad I've re-acquainted myself with the pencil and paper method of drawing. I still like the apps, but feel more comfortable using the traditional mediums.

 

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Back to the drawing board

I do like using the iPad drawing apps (and I have been experimenting with a few) but I just can't seem to get the same level of control or detail in my drawings as I do when I work with old fashioned pencil and paper.   

So, as it was too cold to work in the summer house today,  I grabbed a few sketching and charcoal pencils, a putty rubber and an A4 pad and spent a very happy couple of hours drawing indoors.  

'Blonde' (Pencil) 8 x 11

Initially I was going to leave this purely as a pencil sketch but then decided to add colour to the hair. This hasn't quite worked in the way I had expected (or hoped).  In the picture I was working from you can see large sections of very white blonde hair - I wasn't able to achieve this but then I probably would need to be working on a darker coloured paper.   To get the effect I want I think I might need to attempt this using oil paints, but that's for another day.

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Drawing from the well

In Profile

Advice to Aspiring Artists

 

This is a very short video but if anyone has any doubts about being an artist or whether their contribution to the art world is of value then I recommend they watch it.

 

 

I did this quick image using the iPad app Art Set and then worked on it more using another app called ArtStudio. The features are a bit 'off' but I enjoyed doing it. Now I think I need to step away from the iPad and pick up a few real brushes and pens. Apps are great but nothing can replace the real thing.

 

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Drawing from the well

This is taken from the sketchbook I had to submit for my portraiture assessment last summer.  I used a ballpoint pen to do a quick sketch from a newspaper photograph.  The papers were full of pictures of Olympians which provided lots of drawing opportunities.  This is Louis Smith before his 'Strictly' fame.  A relatively unknown gymnast who had just won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games.  

 

I used conte crayons and a white ink pen to do this drawing of Jeanette Kwakye. At one stage I had been thinking of doing a theme on Olympians  for my course sketchbook so it does contain quite a few drawings of athletes.  

I did this sketch of Patrick Stewart while watching him on the television.  It was an exercise in patience, waiting for the time when he was on the screen longer than a few moments!  But also a good exercise in getting a likeness when your 'sitter' isn't actually sitting. 

At the time of preparing for the portraiture course assessment, I was drawing and sketching in this book on a daily basis  as I needed to have a significant amount of work for submission (it's amazing how a deadline can focus the mind!).   Finding my 'fashion' pencil drawings today has given me the impetus I need to start sketching again.

 

Here's one I made earlier...

I was looking through my portfolio this morning and came across a few pencil sketches which I did when I probably about 18 or 19 years old.  They have a definite 'fashion' feel to them, but I was into clothes and fashion in a big way at the time!  It's also interesting to note that I didn't add any facial features  - obviously I struggled with faces even then.

39 Simple Suggestions

prAna's Handbook for Life 2013 is a list of 39 suggestions for dramatically improving the quality of life.

Lots of these that I want to do and some that I do already.   Okay, maybe not that many but 9 I can do in my sleep.  Actually I'm not sure about 6.  Don't we all do that?

But I should be able to manage 1 & 7, and 10 can't be that difficult.  Now, 11 through to 39...

Hmm, some of these may be a bit more challenging (apart from 13) although I definitely like 14! Oh, and 23.   I really want to try 33 but 36 not so much.

However, I certainly believe in 37.

 

Happy New Year!

 

 

 

Tradition: sit with husband in a room lit only by tree lights and remember that our blessings outnumber the lights.  Betsy Cañas Garmon - www.wildthymecreative.com

What a beautiful sentiment.  It is so easy to forget that our blessings are many when others' are so few.  I will be counting mine this Christmas and saying thank you for each and every one.  

May you be blessed this Christmas and all year through. 

Okay, have given the blog a different 'look' and edited/updated a few bits and pieces.  But I still need to start thinking about what the purpose of this blog is, if it's served its purpose, whether it's time to start over.  

The trouble is, I just don't blog often enough which is pretty important if you want people to visit! It's also lacked direction in the past, doesn't have a clear identity and could really benefit from a serious make-over.

I have a few ideas up my sleeve so hopefully come the New Year I'll have a clearer picture of next steps.