Sunday Sketches

Ha Ha!

Many lessons ahead........

I began my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project 2012 and found out that this may be more challenging than I thought. First, different paper always presents unknowns. Today, I learned that "there are no mistakes" since I sealed the cover and cannot rebind the sketchbook.

For the cover I chose to create a colored pencil drawing on paper and glue it to the cardboard cover. It needed to have some kind of protection and I just happened to have a container of Golden gel medium which I won at the local Golden demonstration. It worked!

Here is the cover; imagine it folded in half:


The theme of the sketchbook is "Along The Line".

I came up with an idea for the title page and that is where the real challenges begin.

I tried some of the Golden acrylic paint to cover up the brown cardboard on the inside. It was rather messy and I managed to get acrylic paint on the cover and the next page :( When I turned the page, I notice that the ink from drawing on the title page came through to the next page :( Okay, now I need to think of a some kind of artistic creation that will cover up the lines and paint.

Yes, I see this sketchbook creating itself as I proceed.

More to follow. Stay tuned!

Sponge Painting

One of my art therapy clients liked the effects of sponge painting. Upon her closure with therapy she gifted me with a couple of sponges.

When I was in Greece, I fell in love with the olive tree. After a few attempts painting them in watercolors, I have been disappointed with my ability to capture the silvery shimmer of the leaves in the sunlight. I have been enjoying painting the shapes and forms of the bark of the olive tree, but the leaves have escaped me.

Glancing at a photograph of a grove of olive trees, I realized that the leaves in the distance looked like the texture of a sponge.

With wild abandonment, I began to sponge paint.

I remembered the enjoyment and freedom that I observed watching my art therapy client sponge paint. I, too, was playing as I built up the layers of color and watched the sponge texture. What FUN!

I have been staring at this painting for a few days and decided that after all my fun, I had over worked the sponge painting process. Although it had wonderful texture, it was too dark. I thought about using pastels over it as some artists do, but I did not want to lose the watercolor effect. Looking though my supplies, I found some acrylic paint that I had won at an art demonstration. Hmmmmmm......

As I lighten the leaves of the olive tree, I still desired that lovely sliver-blue sparkle. To my delight, I found a metallic white which I mixed with greens.

Painting done!

Sunlight Dancing in the Olive Grove

mixed-media