A Few New Sketches to Share

Today, I've got a couple of sketches to share that are not related to the 29 Faces Challenge I just completed.  I decided to draw a self portrait of myself, and I drew a picture of my mother-in-law's dog.  I am fairly happy with both depictions.

"Self Portrait, Age 5," by Dayna Winters.

First, for the self portrait. I thought it would be fun if, for Throwback Thursday on Facebook, I drew a picture of myself when I was a kid.   I drew a picture based on  my kindergarten school photo.  I'm biting my lip - something a did all the time, along with the nasty habit of chewing my hair (Thank goodness I don't do that anymore!).  I was worried I would have a problem drawing the mouth since I was biting my lip in the picture, but surprisingly, I didn't have any trouble at all.

 When I finished the sketch of myself, which went rather quickly, I then decided to sketch Missy, my mother in law's dog which has passed on.  I thought I might run into a problem when it came time to sketching the fur, since poodles have pretty curly fur, but with the right amount of scribbles and erasing, I managed to make the fur look pretty realistic. I found I only had difficulty when I tried to get the forelegs to look right.  I finally got the picture to look okay. I framed it with a black frame with glass and gave it to my mother-in-law as an impromptu gift.

"Missy," by Dayna Winters.

Face 29 for the 29 Faces Challenge - September 2014

Finally, the 29 Faces Challenge draws to a close!  I'm kind of sad in a way, because I had so much fun drawing the different faces this month.  I also got to meet a lot of amazingly talented artists and to make a few new friends in the process.  I know I said it early in some of my posts, but I highly recommend the challenge to all artists.  The challenge is open to people of all ages and skill levels - it's a terrific goal to set for yourself, and it allows you to get in a lot of drawing practice.

For the final face in this month's challenge, I decided to draw one of the most iconic faces in the world - the face of Nefertiti.  I actually made a ceramic statue of Nefertiti years back, so it was really fun to revisit her image while working with a different art form.

"Nefertiti," by Dayna Winters.

Below I've included a couple of collages that show all of the faces I completed in the 29 Faces Challenge.  Admittedly, when I decided to participate, I thought, with my health, disability, chronic pain, and fatigue, I would'nt be able to accomplish the goal I was setting.  But I did and I managed to do so by pacing myself and just taking a little bit of time each day to dedicate to art. 

Face 28 for the 29 Faces Challenge - September 2014

"Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra," by Dayna Winters.

For today's challenge, I decided to draw Elizabeth Taylor in her role as Cleopatra.  I had little difficulty with the sketch, but have now found that in my struggle to address the issue with right eye emphasis I've been dealing with for the last month, I am now going to the opposite extreme and emphasizing the left eye in this particular depiction.  I also would have liked to have a better photo to work with in order to get the finer details of the headdress just right - the resolution on most photos I found was pretty poor.  Overall, I still think the drawing looks pretty good, and I would love doing a rendition in color in the near future.

Now, behind the scenes, I'm also working on a couple of craft projects, and I am currently painting an art contest submission (more on this later when it is permissible).  In the mean time, keep your fingers and toes crossed for me! (smiling and winking).

Face 27 for the 29 Faces Challenge - September 2014

"Kathy Bates," by Dayna Winters.

For face 27, I decided to draw one of my favorite actresses - Kathy Bates.  I think Kathy is an incredibly talented actress and loved her roles in Misery, Dolores Claiborne, and her role in last seasons American Horror Story - Coven.  The drawing session went very smoothly with very little difficulty.  I didn't have the same problems drawing the mouth that I've been having with prior drawing.  I'm pretty satisfied with the sketch, although I think I could have dedicated a bit more time to drawing the hair and detailing her attire.

Face 26 for the 29 Faces Challenge - September 2014

So I still want to do a sketch of my son Michael, but I have to dig out our photo album to find the right picture I want to draw.  I may not make it in time for the 29 Faces Challenge, but make no mistake Mikey, I'll be drawing you eventually (wink, wink).  In the meantime, I chose to draw a young depiction of Elvis. I had an affinity for Elvis' music when I was younger and my sister Courtney still does.  This drawing took a lot of redoing - the eyes and lips didn't come out right and I ended up doing a whole lot of erasing and repairs.  I'm happy with the final result though!

Because I have such a struggle with certain facial features, I plan on continuing to draw a lot of faces, even when the challenge concludes.  I also plan on making use of some online drawing and painting tutorials - I'm always eager to learn new techniques and I definitely want to sharpen my skills.

Face 25 for the 29 Faces Challenge - September 2014

"Gordon Ramsay," by Dayna Winters.

 For face 25 of the 29 Faces Challenge,  I originally wanted to draw a depiction of Quentin Tarantino, but the drawing came out horrible and it was impossible to repair.  I'm definitely going to give it another go in the future - I think I took on the task when I was just too tired to get fully involved in the production process.

 I choose Chef Gordon Ramsay as my subject.  I enjoy watching shows like Master Chef, Hell's Kitchen, and Hotel Hell.  Ramsey's face has a lot of character, so depicting him in a sketch definitely proved to be a challenge.  I'm pretty happy with the result, although I feel like I made him look a touch older than he actually looks - this was not my intent and I'm not quite sure why the depiction looks a bit age progressed.

The challenge is quickly drawing to a close and I have really had a terrific time drawing faces and learning new techniques during this challenge.  I'm definitely planning to participate in the February 2015 challenge as well.  In the meantime, I'm going to working on an art journal - I'm even considering entering an art journal challenge for the month of October.  This challenge has taught me that I need a lot of practice in certain areas, particularly in drawing the specific facial features like the mouth, ears, and eyes.  I'll be doing some practice art from time to time to further hone my skills.  I've enjoyed drawing faces thus far, and may very well continue doing so.  Sketching various people will allow me to build up my art base and portfolio.  It will also allow me to track my progress over time and to see what kind of positive or negative trends I can identify in my art.

Faces 23 & 24 for the 29 Faces Challenge - September 2014

"Mark and Puggy," by Dayna Winters.

A while back a family member asked me to draw a sketch of my husband, so I've finally had the opportunity to do so.  And I gotta say, nothing says love like a man and his pug.  So, I drew my husband Mark and our Puggy.  I'm planning to draw our other pug Precious in the future.  I love the way Puggy snuggles up to my husband every night - the two of them look so cute together.  And Puggyman has been my husband's baby boy every since he brought him home.  I actually drew this sketch while standing in the emergency room waiting for my husband to get his sore shoulder looked at - the sketch went rather quickly and it kept me from growing bored while waiting around to be seen. 

"Ray Liotta," by Dayna Winters.

For face 24, I drew one of my favorite actors - Ray Liotta, and of all his movies, it's Goodfellas that's my absolute favorite.  I can watch that movie a million times and never grow bored with it!  When drawing Liotta, I had some difficulty with the shape of the mouth.  The shadowing on the picture is intense, so there was a lot of shading involved in the drawing too.  I am satisfied with sketches 23 and 24.  Looking forward to sharing more!

Learning to Paint Fire With Acrylics

While working on an acrylic painting I found I had trouble with figuring out how to paint fire so it looked realistic.  This is why I love the Internet - there are so many amazing art tutorials and videos online.  I found a really good fire painting tutorial by Tom Flemming.  I definitely plan to try the technique the next time I'm at the easel:

Once I give the fire painting practice a go, I'll post some of my practice work to show you whether or not I was successful or not!  Keep your fingers crossed. :)

Face 21 and 22 for the September 2014 29 Faces Challenge

"Joan Rivers," by Dayna Winters.

 I'm a little bit ahead of myself today so I'm posting two sketches! Today's first subject is Joan Rivers. 

I think I did great when it came to drawing her hands, although I had to fight the urge to make every finger on the hand visible - it's like something in my brain says - five fingers.... you have to see all five fingers!  When, in real life, this is not the case.  I like this particular pose when it comes to images of Joan - she has a soft look.  It's unfortunate that Joan has passed away - the world will miss her comedic talents to be sure.

The second person I chose as a subject happens to be one of my favorite people in the world - my kid sister, Courtney.  

"Courtney, " by Dayna Winters.

Courtney really knows how to live life - she likes to travel, go to parties with her friends, socialize, and she's not afraid to get out on the dance floor and dance!  Despite having Down's Syndrome, my sister has conquered amazing obstacles in her life, and hasn't let anything stop her from living every day to the fullest - I find her incredibly inspiring! So, I dedicate the sketch to her - I hope she likes it when she finally gets a chance to see it. ;)  I love ya kiddo.  (And she hates it when I call her kid) ;).

Face 19 & 20 for the September 2014 29 Faces Challenge

"Jim Carrey," by Dayna Winters.

After running errands yesterday, I was just too tired to post my artwork for the challenge, so now I'm making up for lost time.  I'm sharing my rendition of the comedian/actor Jim Carrey, and the comedian/actor Gabriel Iglesias.  Let me just say I am a huge fan of both.  Carrey has some fantastically funny movies like "The Mask," "Me, Myself, and Irene," "Yes Man," and "Dumb and Dumber," are among my favorites.  I think in his role in "Magic Mike," Iglesias was good too, and I love his stand up routines.

I completed both pieces with graphite pencil.  I had a rather difficult time with the sketch of Carrey - no matter what I did, it just didn't come out right.  I'm not sure if it was my less-than perfect art skills or the photo I used or a combination of the two that cause the problem.  Anyway, I'm not totally happy with the outcome.  I hope to give it another shot in the near future.  I do, however, love the quotation on the Carrey sketch:

"As far as I can tell, it's just about letting the universe know what you want and then working toward it while letting go of how it comes to pass."

The above quote is interesting in light of my difficulties with the Carrey sketch - when I got frustrated, no matter what I did, I couldn't get my vision to come to pass.  I should have let go and returned to it when I wasn't trying to force the issue. There is a definite difference between working toward something and attempting to force things to happen in an effort to meet one's own limited or confined expectations.  Not to mention I really should have known better.  After all, frustration is a real energy block and only breaks the natural flow of positive energies.

"Gabriel Iglesias," by Dayna Winters

On the other hand, I'm really pleased with the way the image of Gabriel Iglesias turned out.  I think I still need to work on sketching the mouth a bit better.  I was pretty surprised by how quickly I managed to draw the Hawaiian shirt.  In fact, I was happy with how quickly I completed the entire sketch.  So for today's lesson: I've learned that once I start struggling with a piece I only make the issues worse - I definitely have to continue to walk away from something for a while and to return to it when I am less frustrated (I just hate loose ends!).

So far, during this challenge I've also learned I have an issue with right eye emphasis in my sketches - even when I try not to do so.  I guess it's going to take more practice to conquer the issue.   I also find myself often truncating the subjects features, while other times, when I'm trying to defy my natural tendency to truncate, I overextend the subject's features instead.  I still need a lot more practice drawing mouths, noses, and ears.  I know, even though not some much during the 29 Faces Challenge, I have some difficulty with hands, fingers, feet, and toes as well.  However, I can say I'm getting more confident with every image I sketch.  I'm hoping that as I keep track of my artwork I'll be able to track the changes in my skills over the course of time.

Small plastic craft skull for a future craft project.

On a different note, a few days back I mentioned picking up some wonderful materials for making crafts  - among the list where some pre-cut wood pieces, seed beads, and a couple of Halloween skulls.  I'm working on a couple of fun projects and ended up investing in some black felt, spray tacky glue, and some more pre-cut wood pieces.  I also picked up a small, plastic skull since the skulls I originally bought were covered in glitter - an issue I thought I could work around for the purposes of my project, but... it didn't work out so hot :).  So..., I save those for another project.  I'll give you more information as the small projects progress!

Face 18 for the September 2014 29 Faces Challenge

"Jim Morrison," by Dayna Winters.

For face 18, I chose Jim Morrison, the lead singer of The Doors, for my subject.  All I could think about was the song "Riders on the Storm," as I sketched this drawing. Jim has a sharp, bold jaw and I had a bit of a struggle getting it just right.  In fact, I still think his chin is a little off in the drawing, but other than that I'm very happy with the outcome.  I think I did a relatively good job capturing the piercing look in his eyes (although I notice I'm still having issues with right eye emphasis in all of my drawings - and I have no idea why I keep doing it).  Interestingly enough, I find that I don't even really see the right eye emphasis issue until I photograph the art - it's weird.

I had a lot of fun drawing this piece, and wouldn't mind doing it again in some other medium or a similar medium.

Face 17 for September 2014 29 Faces Challenge

"Oprah Winfrey," by Dayna Winters.

The quote I like the best from today's subject is: "Do the one thing you think you cannot do.  Fail at it.  Try again.  Do better the second time.  The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire.  This is your moment. Own it."  The latter quote is from none other than Oprah Winfrey.  I chose this subject because I find her inspiring.  When I have the time, I like to watch her interviews with brilliant and inspirational people.

I had a bit of difficulty when it came to getting the shape of Oprah's face just right, and I also struggled a bit when it came time to draw the mouth and eyes.  Nevertheless, I think I did a fairly good depiction considering this is my first attempt.  I chose graphite pencil for the medium because, for me, it is the easiest medium to work with at the moment.  When I paint something, it takes me far longer to complete the project.  This is probably because of two reasons - I'm way too finicky (and self critical to my own detriment), and I'm relatively new to painting with watercolors and acrylics on paper/canvas.  So for now, as I battle a small stomach bug (Yuck!), fatigue, and my inner critic, I'm sticking to the tried and true medium of pencil.  In February 2015, hopefully I'll be in a better place and able to produce works with more diversity in terms of medium.

Face 16 for 2014 September 29 Faces Challenge

"Robin Williams," by Dayna Winters

Today I chose to draw a graphite sketch of Robin Williams.  I'm moderately satisfied with result, and think it could be better.  I love the quote on the left that reads: "You're only given one little spark of madness.  You musn't lose it."  I loved Robin Williams and his sense of humor.  He will be greatly missed by many.

Today, I also had an opportunity to play with some of the craft materials I got early in the week.  I've been painting a bit, and thinking about the next face for the challenge.  Hopefully, within the next day or two, I'll be ready to show you all what I've been up to creatively speaking! ;)

Health Update - Living with PBC

Image courtesy of Pixabay.com.

As part of my blog, I share ongoing updates with family and friends about my health status.  If you are new to the site, I was recently diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis - an autoimmune disease affecting the liver.  I have a number of pages explaining what the disease is and the consequences of it.  You can find out more information by clicking on either the Health link or PBC link under the categories column on the right hand side of the page.  If you also suffer from primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), I'd love to hear from you.  You can contact me via email, connect with me on Facebook, or leave your comments below.  All comments are moderated so they will not appear right away, but only once I approve them.

Now for how I'm doing health-wise; I think, at least right now, the worst thing about having PBC is the fatigue. Some days I feel pretty good with no fatigue at all.  Other days the fatigue is relatively minor.  Then there are days when the fatigue is absolutely debilitating.   I've discovered if I push myself too hard on days where I feel good, I pay for it several days after the fact, with body aches and severe exhaustion.  Of course, not pushing my limits is against my very nature - I'm stubborn, always have been, always will be.  Right now I am trying to find a healthy balance and one can live with -I want to be able to do as much as I like doing while keeping my levels of exhaustion to a minimum.

I return to the liver specialist in the middle of next week.  I will have to get more blood work done a few days before (and can I tell you I'm beginning to feel like a pin cushion already).  I've been religious about taking the Ursodiol as prescribed, missing the medication only twice due to illness.  I'm hoping the doctor will have some advice about how to handle the fatigue I'm dealing with.  I will soon be participating in a sleep study as well, to see if I have sleep apnea.  If I do, a machine might help in reducing some of the tiredness I feel.

As many of my friends and family members know, I was admitted into the hospital on August 1 for my eighth bout of cellulitis.  This time, I had it on the left side of my face.  I had a CAT Scan of my head done to see if there was any infection, and if so, where.  Incidentally, the CAT Scan revealed a dime sized growth on the left side of my thyroid.  So, now I'm under watch by an endocrinologist.  If there is any change in the growth, I'll require a biopsy.  Of course, the results of the biopsy determines the next step from there.  So that's where I stand presently - I'll be adding future updates as I get them.  

Face 15 for September 2014 29 Faces Challenge

"Stephen King," by Dayna Winters

On day 13, I shared a sketch of Edgar Allan Poe, one of my favorite writers.  Drawing Poe made me think of another horror writer that I am a fan of: Stephen King.  I started reading Stephen King books in my preteens - My first encounter with his work was when I read "The Shining," and then I was hooked.  "The Shining" followed with "Carrie," "Firestarter," and "Christine."  I like some of his newer work too, like "Blaze," (which was really different from his other works," and "Full Dark, No Stars."  As of now, I have "Doctor Sleep," on my Kindle Fire, just waiting for me to read it!  Often times I lack the energy to do so (and that's in no way a reflection on King's work.)  

A friend of mine suggested using audio books and I'm thinking about it, but then I know I would miss the experience of holding a book or device in my hand to read (moreso the book.)  I love the feel and smell of books, and to curl up under a comfy blanket near the woodstove on a cold winter day with a good book is still among the top things I love to do.

The most complex thing I faced when drawing King was the features of his brow and I had to work at getting the eyeglasses just right.  But, the quote by King helped me realize that I really had to stick with a piece and see it through to the end: "You have to be faithful to what you're working on."  In fact, seeing that quote made me return to the sketch of George Carlin for face 14 and complete it, regardless of how I really felt about it. I've found that when I'm working on a sketch or painting, I don't really appreciate the piece until the work progresses and it really begins to come together.  I think when we give up on something before we give it a chance to work, we are selling our abilities short.  I can't tell you how many times I've destroyed a piece of art in progress because I wasn't happy with the result.  Now, I push through the piece and see it through to its completion.  If I like the outcome, that's wonderful, and if I don't like the outcome, I chalk it up to a learning experience and move on to the next project.

I did have one issue to deal with though - if you'll notice a small cluster of dots near King's nose - of course, they don't belong there, but I can't get them to erase.  I'm doing the sketches in a sketch book and the image before it bled through a bit.  I've realized I'm either going to have to put some kind of material between each sketch or I'm going to have to separate all of the images and pull them out of the sketch pad when they are finished.  This way, I don't have to worry about completed pieces smearing or bleeding through onto other drawings.

Face #14 for the September 2014 29 Faces Challenge

For face number 14, I chose the comedian George Carlin as my subject.  Carlin's face, especially in the photos where he is older, has a lot of character.  His eyes are very expressive and there are many tiny details in his brow.  His forehead is lined with myriad lines: some light and some deep.  His nose has a unique curve on the left side, and there is a slight reflection that appears at the top of his head and just above his left temple.  

I had a terrible time getting the lips right, and as if the moment I'm writing this, I'm still having difficulties.  When I get frustrated with a piece I'm working on, the only thing I can do is walk way from it and return to it later.  Right now, the image of Carlin actually looks a lot more like Van Gogh!  I'm struggling with getting the shape of the mouth and lips right.  And as I look at piece, the hairline and the shape of his face doesn't seem quite right either.  

I decided to set the piece aside and work on something else.  I had already chosen a subject matter for day 15, so I went ahead and started working on it.  Now, I'm not going to get too far ahead of myself and tell you who I've chosen (I want to keep you in suspense), but I will say that upon finishing the piece, I'm more determined then ever to fix the sketch of Carlin to my liking.

I'll give you a clue as to what triggered my determination; As I finished the drawing for day 15, I wanted to complete it by including a quote by the person I drew...for those of you who know the subject, the quote might be familiar; "You have to stay faithful to what you are working on."  When I saw that quote it was like an odd synchronicity, as if the universe was telling me that I better not think about giving up on what I was doing!  That, coupled with the fact that when I was drawing Carlin I heard his name on the television 3 or 4 times, made it feel like I was meant to be doing exactly what I was doing at that time.

So, for better or worse, I present here a graphite pencil sketch of George Carlin.   On the sketch the quote reads, "It isn't fair: The caterpillar does all the work, and the butterfly gets all the glory."  This quote made me start thinking about the creation process and how a work of art, when in progress, usually looks nothing like the final outcome when the work is complete.  And, the viewer of art only sees the outcome (butterfly), not all the layers and layers of work (caterpillar) it takes to create the piece.

Face 13 for the 29 Faces Challenge September 2014

"Edgar Allan Poe," by Dayna Winters.

With Halloween (Samhain) soon approaching (yes, really October 31 is not as far off as it might seem,) it got me thinking about all that is fun about the time of year - Halloween decor, celebrations, trick or treating, and, of course, scary stories, which leads me to today's portrait.   For face 13 (and I think my subject matter and the number 13 go together quite nicely), I drew one of my favorite writers, Edgar Allan Poe.  It's funny, but in many of the images of Poe he seems to have a dark countenance, one that matches the dark tone of many of his stories.  I absolutely love Poe's works, including stories like "The Fall of the House of Usher," and "The Tell-Tale Heart."  Of course, my absolute favorite piece (and I think it is favored by many),

 is his poem "The Raven."  Someday I hope to see the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia too.

The image I used to rely on for this depiction of Poe comes from a daguerreotype produced in 1848.

Edgar Allan Poe in 1848.

I've decided to stick with graphite pencil as a medium for now.   I enjoyed drawing Poe and the drawing session went quickly with little difficulty.  The most difficult part of the image was completing his tie.  His eyes, nose, hair, and mouth were relatively easy to produce.

Face #12 for the 29 Faces Challenge and Letting Your Inner Child Play

"Jess," by Dayna Winters

The twelfth face I've decided to draw is derived from an older photograph of my daughter.  I struggled a great deal with trying to get the mouth and eyes correct.  I know I'm biased, but I think my daughter has a beautiful face - she looks so much like her grandmother and there are some features that make her look like her great aunt as well.  Despite the minor struggle I had with a few facial features, I otherwise felt the drawing went rather quickly.  I'm feeling more confident in my art the more I practice.  I'm satisfied with the outcome of this piece.  I look forward to every new drawing and find myself thinking about the next drawing while I'm working on the current one.  In fact, I'm a couple of drawings ahead of myself, even though I was too tired to post anything yesterday.  I figured I had a day's wiggle room and that I would still be able to meet the guidelines of the challenge.

In between drawing time, I had a chance to pick up some craft materials.  I look forward to creating some fun pieces.  I gotta say, I love the season just before and around Halloween - you can find some really cool things to work with! I got some nice pre-cut wood pieces very inexpensively, some inexpensive glass beads, and a couple of decorative skulls I plan to play with - not quite sure what I'm doing with them yet, but I know I'm going to have fun doing it.  I'll be using some of my acrylics on the wood pieces and I have some magnets so I might be able to make some cute little refrigerator pieces.  As far as the skulls, I have a pretty good idea what I'm going to be doing, but the idea is still in the experiment phase.  I'll definitely post more about it if I can get the process to work.

Craft supplies I recently picked up.

 

Another thing I'm enjoying is coloring.  Yes.  I said it - coloring.  I get a chance to let my inner child play and I can just relax as I color.  I got this very inexpensive book of patterns and I started coloring them with colored pencils.  The Roger Burrows' Image Travel Pack book came complete with 8 colored pencils.  I had some extra color pencils laying around and picked up an additional box so I'd have plenty of colors to play around with as I filled in the cool designs.   

 I'm not at all sure what I'll do with all of the patterns once they are completed either - of course, that will be a while since I only do them when I'm not working on something else or when I need a break from a current project or task. There is about 50 images in the book, all of which consist of unique patterns.  The images remind me of the Spirograph game I used to love when I was a kid.  I could play with that game for hours on end!

 

  I got it in the bargain books section of the store and picked it up for as little as $3.00.  Considering the book goes for more than $17.00 on Amazon, I think I got a great deal indeed!  Here's the first picture I took time to color:

Pattern I completed reminding me of turtle medicine.

(It reminds me of the Native American stories where the Earth is a giant turtle and perhaps it is my subconscious speaking to me and telling me the turtle is my totem or that I need turtle medicine).  When I was working on the piece, I was trying to make a few flowers in the design - the turtle shape is completely unintentional - that's what makes it so cool!  Looking at the symbol as I sign I might need turtle medicine in my life, I began to think about turtle symbolism in stories and in various cultures.  Off the top of my head, I thought of the story of the turtle and the hare - the concept of "slow and steady wins the race."  Since turtles were considered the world in Native American cultures, it becomes a symbol of Earth, earthy energies, and the element of Earth.  If I take in consideration turtle medicine, it means I need to remain grounded, balanced, and I need to slow down, take things at my own pace, and to learn how to pace myself. Long before and just after being diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis, I have been dealing with fatigue, which is sometimes mild, sometimes debilitating, and I've been struggling with the notion of not being able to keep pace and do all the things I used to do.  I am now in a stage of my life where I have to relearn a new pace, to adjust to various conditions (however undesirable,) and to learn how to do what I like doing without pushing myself too hard.  When I push too hard, I find myself down for a few days, and then I feel even worse.  It's still very difficult to not push myself on days I feel pretty good, but I'm starting to learn that achieving an easy balance is going to be the best policy for me.  Ironically, the turtle symbolizes understanding, emotional strength, persistence, and determination too - so, I best pay attention to what the turtle is trying to teach me!

I'm not at all sure what I will do with all the patterns once I complete them all.  My husband had a good idea and suggested maybe making the images into bookmarks later.  It would definitely give me a good reason to pull out my laminator from the recesses of my closet! Still, there are a lot of patterns to work with (50 or more) and way too many to make just bookmarks, so I'll be looking for some crafty ways to put them to use.  I'm thinking if I paint some of the patterns and push them through a kaleidoscope feature in a photo editing software program, I might be able to create some cool graphics for poster art or something along those lines.  I absolutely love Photoshop, but I've also been playing with the online photo editing option called Pixlr.com.  It's a great resource for anyone who doesn't have Photoshop who would like to experiment rendering graphics or for someone looking to edit some photos.  It's also a money saver for someone who doesn't have the funds to invest in an expensive software editing program.

When I color in the patterns, it's like I'm meditating.  I can spend time just filling in the spaces or creating what my mind's eye sees, all while I enjoy the silence and alone time with my own thoughts.  It's definitely a peaceful activity, and I'm finding I'm learning a lot about myself in the process.

Face #11 for 29 Faces and the Infinite Possibilities in Creating Art

Creating art gives us infinite possibilities.

To share my love of quotes, I'm offering an inspirational quote each day. You can see the quote in the uppermost portion of the column on the right, just above my category listings and blog archive. Yesterday I posted Emily Dickinson's quote, “I dwell in possibility.” An artist/writer definitely “dwells in possibility,” during the creation process, but more so just before the act of creating art. When looking upon the blank page, paper, or canvas, and when an artist's ideas are still not made manifest, that is when she is faced with the most possibilities. It is as if she is faced with ideas in quantum superposition – like all of her ideas are existing in all possible states until the observer (the artist) observes the ideas, thereby collapsing onto one possibility – a single reality.

To understand quantum superposition, view this short video:

                                   

As an artist draws/paints/writes, there are millions of possibilities with every drawn or painted line or with every word chosen. No two pieces of art are exactly alike – even if the same artist draws them. Every minute movement is a choice made by the artist – it's akin to dipping into an endless well of possibilities, all of which are existing simultaneously, and choosing only one possibility every millisecond. This is true even if the artist is attempting to recreate something already created or making something new. Each line, curve, shade, color, or design consists of millions of choices all made by the artist – the creator – the observer.

Mark Twain - 1907.

An artist makes manifest what is in the mind of the artist. She creates with great intention, all while working toward making something that is not only visually appealing, but capable of stirring emotions. It is as if the pen or the paint brush is a wand and the artist is using the tool to magically bring ideas into being in the physical realm. Artists are like shamans in a way – walking between the physical world and the realm of ideas. Which brings me to today's quote by Mark Twain:

“What a wee little part of a person's life are his acts and his words! His real life is led in his head, and is know to none but himself.”

The artist often reveals something about herself through art. Through personal will, the artist brings to light something he or she has perceived, whether with the physical eye or the mind's eye. What's neat about this process is when someone views what the artist has created, the interpretation of what is viewed reveals something about the observer of the art as well.

 

"Mark Twain," by Dayna Winters

I drew Mark Twain for today's sketch. The picture is the eleventh face for the September 2014 29 FacesChallenge.  I based my depiction on a 1907 photograph taken by A. F. Bradley.  Twain's face has a lot of character, thereby making him an ideal selection for a drawing – his stern look, white hair, wrinkles, and strong jaw gave me plenty of practice drawing and shading. I'm satisfied with the outcome and looking forward to tomorrow's creation. This challenge is amazingly beneficial, allowing me to spend a little bit of time being creative each day. Plus, I'm improving my skills just a little bit each time I draw. The challenge is an excellent idea and a great resource for the artist looking to grow artistically; it's an outstanding way to explore infinite possibilities.

Face #10 September 2014 29Faces Challenge - "Emily Dickinson"

"Emily Dickinson,"by Dayna Winters

Today I wanted to present a drawing that mixed my love of poetry with my love of art.  I found an old photograph of Emily Dickinson in the public domain and thought it perfect for the challenge.  Again, like the drawing of Marilyn Monroe, I worried whether or not I could sketch a work that would capture Emily's features enough to make her recognizable.

The photo I used to create this sketch also gave me some difficulties.  I think I made the face just a touch too round, and the eyes are a bit larger than they should be.  Also, there are few images of Emily, and of the few there are several unauthenticated daguerreotypes.  So I decided to use the most popular image as a reference of her; the daguerreotype taken at Mount Holyoke Seminary.  The photo was so old, some of the minute features were difficult to see or identify.  In fact, the photo was sold old and worn, I couldn't tell if Emily had a couple of freckles on her face or if the photo's wear and tear made it look like she did.  I decided to leave off the freckles since many other artistic depictions of her do not include them.

To that end, suggesting that I left out freckles on Emily's face because other artists have done the same makes me wonder how often artists refrain from including certain depictions, characteristics, features, or elements in a work of art based on general consensus, other depictions, cultural understandings or social expectations.  For example, I know there are many pieces of artwork depicting Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  Some of the art shows Eve handing Adam an apple, despite the fact that the Book of Genesis makes no reference to the fruit.  Thanks to the work of John Milton and "Paradise Lost," the apple has become a pervasive image associated with Eve, Eden, and temptation.  This understood notion is then replicated in art, despite the fact there are no biblical verses to support it.  The entire question leads to another; How does our own perceptions and observances influence our artistic renderings? 

When I was in college, I had a chance to visit Dickinson's home on a class trip.  I had a lot of fun and it was great to have the opportunity to see where Emily use to live and write.  The image below is Emily's home. The last time I knew there were tours available, but I took part in the class trip before 2008. There is small shop inside where you can buy books about Dickinson and other souvenirs. Of course, being the bibliophile I am, anyone that knows me knows I walked out of the little shop with a book!  I also got a bookmark (a now very worn out bookmark I might add) with a quote from Emily:

"To be a Flower is profound responsibility." - Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson at the Mount Holyoke Seminary circa 1847-1848

I decided to add a quotation by Emily to the piece I sketched: one that references artistic pursuits.  The quote in the lower left corner reads: "Nature is a haunted house -- but Art -- is a house that tries to be haunted."  I like the quotation because in a concise, simple, beautiful, and powerful way, Dickinson describes what an artist does - replicate nature in its many forms.  In our attempt to mimic nature through art, it becomes possible to really explore the diverse features of one's subject matter.  I think artists look very closely at what they are trying to replicate - examining every small detail in order to create a near perfect replication.  Through such observances it becomes possible to really appreciate the complexity of all creation.  Art lets us see - lets us really see something/someone, whether we are depicting an image straight from our imaginings or we are attempting to replicate something/someone from everyday life.  Our lives are so rushed - everyday is filled with myriad commitments, work, family, frustrations, anxious moments, that we often have so little time to truly see what is around us - to appreciate the miracles in our every day existence.  Art, in any form, whether it is writing, drawing, or painting, lets us re-engage with nature and our environment - to spend time appreciating our surroundings and everything in it.  Through art we become, not merely an observer, but a  mindful observer of the world.

Face #9 for the September 29Faces Challenge - Marilyn Monroe

"Marilyn Monroe," by Dayna Winters

I have to admit, when I made the decision to draw Marilyn Monroe for face number 9 of the 29 Faces Challenge, I was somewhat concerned that I was biting off more than I could chew.  Drawing portraits from real life is something that is very new to me, and with a pop icon like Monroe, I think, much like spelling French words that are next to impossible to sound out with all those silent letters, you either get it right or you don't get it at all.

I've been taking a look at some quotes made by artists, and I found one that fits my Monroe drawing experience perfectly.  Picasso once said, "I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it." This quote can't be truer for an artist looking to hone skills and expand one's artistic horizons.  

As the author Brene Brown suggests, one must risk being vulnerable and dare greatly to achieve great things. While I was much intimidated by my attempt at drawing such a recognizable icon, I wasn't about to let that stop me for making the effort.  The exercise is helping me to cast aside self doubt and criticism, while I boldly challenge myself to things I once believed otherwise impossible.  I'm really satisfied with the outcome of this piece - not so much for the fact that I made the sketch look slightly similar to Marilyn, but because I was brave enough to challenge myself to do it!  If I'm gaining anything from pushing myself through the 29 Faces Challenge, it's greater self confidence in my artistic ability, and the courage to present it to the world.

September 2014 29 Faces Challenge - Week One Recap

When I first committed to participating the in 29Faces Challenge for September, I was a bit worried that I would not be able to keep pace with the other artists or that I wouldn't be able to produce that amount of work.  I felt a little pressure when it came to having to create 29 faces in 30 days and to blog about each piece. 

As I've completed the first week, I don't feel at all pressured anymore.  In fact, I'm enjoying the entire process.  With every piece I create I feel like I'm connecting to my artistic side more.  I'm practicing a little bit of art on a daily basis.  I've found it is really a great process for uplifting the spirits.  I'm learning a lot about the unique characteristics of different faces.  The challenge is actually something I look forward to doing.  I like it so much, I'm already thinking about participating in the February 2015 Challenge!

For the first week I created an array of faces.  On day one I sketched a female face straight from my imagination and titled it, "Simple Beauty."  On day two, I researched how different Geisha's looked and sketched a newly full fledged Geisha.  On day three, I decided to try drawing a newborn and I wound up with an image that looked like my first born "Matthew David."  On day four, I sketched a fortune teller scrying into a crystal ball ( I'm hoping to make a painting with a similar theme in the future.)  I presented a graphite pencil sketch of my daughter on day five and titled it "Jessica Marie."  On day six, I sketched a photo of my mother, and day for day seven and eight, I sketched a photo of my friend and her son titled, "Tracey and Brock."  That last sketch let me even get ahead of the game a little bit since the drawing consisted of two people instead of one! I was pleasantly surprised by some of my creations, and I was pleased with the diversity of faces I drew.

I'm already in the process of coming up with ideas for the second week of the challenge.  I have to say, I'm really having fun doing it and I'm so glad I didn't pass up the opportunity to participate. I encourage any artist take up the 29 Faces Challenge - it will help you connect with your creative side a little bit every day and to keep the creative juices flowing!

Is It Time For You To "Paint Like A Child?"

I've decided to change up the background of my blog to give it a splash of color.  I think beautiful, vibrant colors evoke positive, even joyful feelings and emotions.  The template is not mine, but comes with the blogger layouts.  I chose the watercolor background with splashes of orange, red, violet, and lavender, because it gives my blog a fresh, artsy look.  One of my favorite things about art is the ability to play with and blend colors.  Mixing paints allows me to connect with my inner child, explore, and just play. 

Today I saw a news report about an artist who works with her two-year-old to create some of the most amazing art pieces.  According to the report, she allows her daughter to make designs and then the artist attempts to paint what she thinks her daughter is imagining.  Ruth Oosterman and her daughter have incredibly impressive pieces. The money she makes from selling the art goes toward her child's college fund.  I love this story because it not only shows a mother and daughter working collaboratively on creative endeavors, but it's a pretty crafty way to earn the funds for her daughter's future education!  You can see how they work together through time lapsed videos on Youtube.  Here's an example:

                                

I'm sharing the above story, not only because I like the collaborative creative efforts of mother and daughter, but because Oosterman referred to a particularly moving quote by Pablo Picasso: 

"It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child." 

The quote rang so true for me.  I had recently discussed with some artistic friends of mine the pros and cons of being critical about one's own art.  Often times we try so hard to make things perfect that we forget to truly enjoy the creative process.  When children paint or draw it is all about being creative, exploring, and having fun.  As adult artists we sometimes lose that ability, struggling to make our art match up with a created ideal or what our inner critic tells us is the right way to make/create/draw/paint something.

"Sunny Days," by Dayna Winters

As I thought about the quote I remember a painting I completed a few months back, titled "Sunny Days," and how I struggled with the painting for weeks trying to get every element just right.  I can remember the frustration that would crop up and take away from the joy of the creation process.  I often had to walk away from the piece and return to it later, just so I wouldn't become too negative about my art.  I learned from the experience though - if I find myself getting frustrated I recognize that I am trying too hard to please my inner critic - it's time for me to just relax and enjoy!

So, if you find yourself self-critical and hard on yourself as you view your own art, then maybe it's time for you to "paint like a child."  Remember the days when there was no pressure, when playing with paints, crayons, markers, pens, pencils, pastels, or any other medium was about discovery, not about creating a piece to meet any kind of expectation.  Let your art be about blending, movement, emotion, and the sheer joy derived from creating!

Faces 7 & 8 - for the 2014 September 29Faces Challenge

"Tracey & Brock," by Dayna Winters

Today's image is a sketch of two of my friends, Tracey and Brock.  I asked Tracey for a photo I could use and she kindly sent me one of her holding her son. I found the eyes, smiles, and smile lines the most challenging when I drew the sketch.  The clothing was relatively easy, and drawing the hair wasn't at all difficult.  I did discover that the darker something is in a pencil drawing, the longer it takes to get it just right.  Also particularly challenging was the different degrees of light and dark - when drawing in black and white there are no distinct colors to reveal the differences between various parts of the drawing so all of the shading is done in different degrees of dark and light.

After I completed the image, I sent it to Tracey and she was pleased with the outcome. She was surprise how quickly I had finished the piece too! ;)  While this is another sketch I've completed in graphite pencil this week, in week two of the challenge I'm planning on using different mediums including colored pencils, pen and ink, and perhaps paints if time allows.

Face #6 for September 2014 29 Faces Challenge - "Kathleen Francis"

"Kathleen Francis" by Dayna Winters

Today I decided to draw a sketch of my mother.  I can't believe the flood of memories that goes through your mind when you are drawing someone you knew and loved.  My mother passed away from breast cancer when she was 49. The photo I derived the image from is one of my favorite pictures of her.  She is looking at something, seemingly pleased, and she is holding up a gorgeous perfume bottle.  As I drew the image I realized just how much my daughter looks like her.

The most challenging part of the sketch was getting the eyes just right.  I also found doing some of the shading particularly challenging.  I think the easiest part of the sketch was the hair, and I didn't have much trouble at all with the nose or mouth when I drew the picture. 

Face #5 - September 2014 29 Faces Challenge "Jessica Marie"

"Jessica Marie," by Dayna Winters

For today's challenge I decided to draw my daughter as a baby.  I derived the image from one of my favorite photos of her - professional photo I had taken.  In the photo she sits leaning up against a wicker chair.  She's wearing a big floppy hat, a string of pearls, and a big, fluffy pink boa.  I liked the idea of play dress up and she looked so cute!  Now 19, she's still just as beautiful.

The shading in this piece was the most challenging.  When I began the drawing, I wasn't at all sure how I would draw the boa, but I'm satisfied with the result.  I think I did a pretty good job of capturing her cute smile, bright eyes, and chubby cheeks.  I dedicate the piece to my daughter and thusly titled the sketch, "Jessica Marie."  I love you girlie!

"Fortune Teller" - Face #4 for 29Faces Challenge

"Fortune Teller," by Dayna Winters

For today's image, I decided to sketch a fortune teller scrying into a crystal ball.  She wears a shimmering scarf on her head, gypsy coins dangle from the scarf just above her brow, and she carries a mysterious air about her.

I thought her scarf would be particularly challenging to draw.  Much to my surprise I found drawing the fabric far easier than I first imagined.  The hands were a bit of a challenge for me as I had difficulty getting the fingers just right, but I am satisfied with the result.  I'm hoping to eventually do something similar with acrylics, but for now I completed this piece in graphite pencil.