Sunday, June 30, 2013

Balancing Act


That's a loaded title. It applies to more things than just this little picture, for sure! Its what my life is all about right now - but I guess that's true for everyone, all the time, pretty much.  Like spinning plates on Ed Sullivan, am I right? 


(In my mind I always have Sabre Dance playing in my head to go along with this kind of routine, rather than what this guy is spinning to ...)



So here's my little piece. I set these up and took some reference to work from. It was fun to play with them, to see what they could do. They're just a little bit sticky, so I was able to get them to stay like this just long enough to snap a few pics. 

This is a small piece - 5 x 7. All Pablo colored pencils, on Stonehenge paper. 



I put the original and prints for sale in my etsy shop. Because the prints are small, they're only $10. Such a deal! 

Today I'm working on a 'drawings of knitting' project. I've been playing with this idea for a long time, and am determined to chain myself to my desk until I get it figured out. Luckily my desk is right next to an A/C blower, because we are having a heat wave from hell right now (108 on tap for today). I'm so thankful I get to sit inside and draw pictures, rather than have to be outside doing something icky for the next several days. The cats are all laying around like they're dead, and every time I walk around the house I have to step over some little furry body splayed out right in the middle of the hall, or a doorway. 

Hope its cooler wherever you are!!


Sunday, June 23, 2013

Wedgwood Biscotti

Just finished this piece. It was inspired very spur-of-the-moment the other day. I had the biscotti already, but had no idea how I was going to draw them. I'm bored with doing things just sitting alone with a shadow. So I found a cup. Then a doily, and 'wahlah' (voila). I only took two reference photos, which were essentially the same. In other words - I just 'did it'.



Its Pablo and Polychromo colored pencils on Stonehenge paper. Centered on an 8.25" square.

I found the biscotti at Costco the last time I was there. They were another spur-of-the-moment decision - they definitely weren't on my shopping list, but I always have an eye out for possible drawing subjects, and they looked nice. (It helps that I also like biscotti).
The cup is part of my very eclectic china collection. I have odd bits of all sorts of patterns, but mostly collect white or cream colored pieces. This is Wedgwood, the Patrician pattern.
And the doily is a little cheap paper one from the dollar store. I kid you not. All the holes aren't even punched out properly. But it was the perfect thing to complete the picture.



Here's a little 'step-by-step' so you can see how it progressed ~






And a little detail ~


I've put the original as well as prints in the shop

I'm also tinkering with my shop prices a bit. Its like splitting hairs, decided which prints should be $15, which ones $20. 8 x 10s are $20. But I figured out that if a piece is 8 x 8, or 7 x 7, it still takes a whole 8.5 x 11 piece of paper to do the print, and usually the same amount (or close) of ink as a whole 8 x 10, and I also have to trim it - just like an 8 x 10. So am 'upping' the price on a few things. If I can get two prints out of one sheet of paper, the price is less. There are times when this logic doesn't quite work, for odd sizes, and I'm sure some people may wonder how I arrive at a price. Prints that were  $12.50 are now $15, and a few that were $15 are now $20. I think the cost is still low, and hopefully affordable to anyone who might want one, while still allowing me to actually make a bit of profit. This is the fiddly and not as much fun part of having a shop and trying to make it all work! 

I'm also working behind the scenes on re-doing my website. I really need a "Commissions" page for people who want to order a custom piece of art, with sizes, prices, etc. There are a few other things I'd like to add. I do have some new software that I'm going to use, but any of you who've done this know about the learning curve, and how much work it can all be! But I'm determined. Meanwhile, if you'd like me to do a drawing for you, please just email me, or 'convo' me through etsy and we'll sort out all the details.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Red Sucker

That doesn't sound like a very nice name for a candy. But that's what they are, right? At least here in the States. Maybe they're called something different in other lands. (I keep wanting to say "I'm gonna get you, sucka!" Isn't that a movie?)




8 x 8 inches, colored pencils on paper


The coffee shop I go to had a little bowl of these by the cash register, so I nabbed one. You know I can't resist a fun piece of candy. I haven't had one of these since I was a kid! They used to give them out at the doctor's office I think. Or somewhere like that. 

I went back to Polychromos and Pablos (both oil pencils) on Stonehenge paper for this.


I put prints of this in the etsy shop, and may list the original as well, later. 

I have some other candy, and some biscotti to draw (if they don't get eaten first - especially the biscotti).


(I had to take a break from those sheep from the last post. Actually, I deleted a post where I did a good deal of whining about not being able to render them properly, using a new paper and all. Not sure what was going on there - its like someone waved a "bad ju-ju"wand over them or something. I absolutely love the drawing, but for some reason can't figure out how I want to render it. So I've put the little sheep family back in the barn for now, and they will come back out when I get my "sheep rendering mojo" back. Just in case you were wondering.)