ugh, I've spent most of the day going over my references for the life of artists/painters. Lots of fantastic information, but most of it is about the paintings and their subjects, not their lifes and the business. It's now time to take the notes and then putting it together. then I can play with the bobbins or the embroidery, yah!!

I finished the squares for the embroidery class. I have determined I am truly a fiber snob. The day before I was working on them and abandoned them to play with the bobbins. I found working on a simple braid I definitely liked the bobbins with weight. The single wood bead was not on the list. I kept holding them by the tip rather than the tail. Moved on to pony and bone beads. Those were okay, but of the two I'd rather use the bone. Then I went on to the two bead woodens. Those feel a lot like the three's. I think I could put both in the same pattern and not feel a lot of different.

Anyway, back to the embroidery samplers, I went back to them and worked very hard to finish them. I used up all the plastic canvas yarn I had on hand. My hands felt icky the whole time. I wanted to wash my hands. When I ran out of that nasty, I used a bit of the wool from the last project and the thrift store. That was soooo much nicer to work with.

Then I rewarded myself with playing with the bobbins again. I did several tries with various bobbins. I did the cloth stitch and it was very plain, straight forward. Still have the same feeling about the bobbins. Those with weight work much better.

This morning was reading for the artist class, from a book I picked up this weekend. It is Painters of reality. Interesting content, discussing drawing and painting styles of Lombardy style from Leonardo to Caravaggio. It didn't really help for my class which is about the artist's life, workshops, etc. I have to dig that info out so I have something to present.

It's been so long since I've posted, so many distractions. What has happened in the last year...
I didn't finish the boards for the demo, still haven't actually. I keep putting them on my list to do, but I always procrastinate and never finish them in time. I think that I am unsure of what I'm doing, so I am hesitanting.

I did a decent display at Steppes artisan, I'll see if I can post those pictures. There was some good work, good feedback too.

I have my realization that I'm not going to be a laurel, leastwise anytime soon. SO I'm doing art for art's sake. If it's not period, or period materials, that's okay. I am going to have fun doing it.

Last winter I had surgery, so for a while I was out of doing anything particular. That meant when it came time to enter something in Kingdom A&S I didn't, and had a good reason for it. I made another trip to the Houston Fine arts.

I did make plans to do a display of artist supplies and stuff at Steppes this year, then I got distracted. I have decided to go back to fencing, and I need new gear. I still haven't got to the fencing, but I've been working on the gear, and one pair of spectacular gloves for tourneys. I reviewed period examples, designed the gloves and have commenced the embroidery. the silk work is done, but the goldwork is on going. One problem with the gloves was that all of these examples was with bobbinlace. Not needlelace, which I would be quite happy to do, no, it has to be bobbinlace. with all else that I'm doing on these gauntlets, it has to be bobbinlace.

So i've made a couple of pillows (stuffed with straw) and several batches of bobbins(dowel rods and beads) and even done the first piece. I rather like working the bobbinlace so far, but I have lots to learn.

This year's Steppes artisan will be all about these gauntlets, from the embroidery to the lace and since I'm going to that step, I will be also making the gloves too. I just don't know if it will be by hand or not.

I'm going to be trying to get photos up on those too. and all my bobbins and pillows....

the demo project

I picked up four pine boards for a demo project. I would have rathered birch, but it wasn't immediately available, and for what this project is, the pine will do. I also picked up regular gesso. I want to work with mixing my own, but since I haven't purchased the supplies for that and I have to do this NOW, I'll wait on the other.
I've got two coats on gesso on one side, one on the other and tonight I'll do a third. I see a lot of brush strokes so I expect I'll be sanding as well tonight.
Originally I was thinking I could use a doll as a model, but since this is a time crunch project and yes I actually sketched a couple of the dolls, I decided I'd be better off attempting something like a sphere or fruit for this.
Tonight the schedule is to finish the gesso, do an underpainting color - probably grey- and then the under painting of my subject, whatever it turns out to be on all of the panels. Tomorrow will be doing the underpainting of light and darks, assuming everything dryes fast enough, on three of the panels.
Next night will be the colors on two panels and lastly one panel will have full details.

I just hope it will dry fast enough in 24 hours that I can proceed. I want to display these at a demo this Saturday. I'm betting though, that I will have one, maybe two stages done. Sigh, what I get for not being inspired prior to this.

On another note, I did try out the graphite pencils and they were lovely to work with. I want to work with those pencils whereas the others were just not there for me.

Re-Inspired

I’ve been avoiding doing this work that I know is very important. I’ve even been researching and planning other projects other than these things.

This past weekend I think was one to help me get back on track. I went to an event near Houston. I spent a lovely day in the company other scribes, helping with overdue painting. Then I arranged to go to the museum of fine arts in Houston the next day with one of the other ladies. We had a nice lunch at a Greek place nearby before first going to an art store. That alone would have been inspiring with all the easels, supplies, tools and books on various arts that I love to indulge in. I browsed the books, looking over several books on my recommended list at Amazon, was able to determine not to buy some, put others on the definite list, and even bought a couple. I bought a set of graphite pencils that have a wonder feel to them. I can’t wait to try them out. I also picked up a couple of new brushes, a bristle, a sable and another I can’t remember the type, probably a sable, or mixed sable and synthetic. I also found some carving wax for the pewter doll project.

Then we went to the museum. I spent a lot of time just getting up close to the paintings, looking for hints of brush strokes, thickness of paint and so on. I was exhausted, but inspired. Waiting now for the day’s work to be over so I can sketch and get ready to paint…

The next step

After reviewing the book "Painting like the masters" I've decided I should do a practice painting, doing the one of Hazel over again, trying to use the under layer techniques that I read about. I have a canvas that I had originally intended to use for this painting before I found out about panels being more appropriate for my style.
So I'm going to prime over the painting I did start and work with the outline and the lights and darks under layers. I will try to remember to take pictures as I go and post.

I have to also admit to not starting my sketching exercises yet. I think I'm afraid of them, and I keep making that promise that I have to start and then I'll be okay, but I'm still holding back on that. I don't know what to do, because when I have the urge and desire to sketch, it's not the right time (that pesky day job)and it doesn't happen...

will have to work on that...

Distractions

I've been busy the last two weeks, doing sewing for friends so other than glancing over the new books I haven't been able to do anything with the drawing or painting.

I also realized something just the other morning as I glanced at my new sketch book, that I haven't started the sketches though I have all the materials to get started. I think when I procrastinate, and I am definitely procrastinated at this point, I am afraid to start, afraid that what I do won't be good enough and all that.

So, enough though my night is planned for lots of sewing for a friend's gulf war wardrobe, I am going to spend five - ten minutes sketching. I want to do at least that much every day, especially when it is a non-painting day, and I expect I'll have more of the non-painting days than other days.

Something I did do paint related this past week or so was a series of heraldic banners of 14 German cities. The work was all done in acrylic paints, but I think I learned a lot about fine lines and such. I don't think the process hurt at all. After the sewing is done, I'll try to get pictures of the banners up, just to show, I have been working in paint, I have!!!