Self Portraits and Self Image

I added my self portrait to the sidebar. Since one of my goals is to learn to draw better I thought I would start the year out with a self portrait. I want to also do more "finished" drawings than I usually do. This is more finished than usual but I think I would still consider it just a sketch.

Even though I look at myself in the mirror each morning, it was hard to look in the mirror to draw myself. I was afraid of what I would find out about myself. Doing a self portrait is a very revealing exercise for an artist. In a self portrait you are showing to the world who you think you are and how you see yourself, and I think even more scary you are revealing this to yourself.

For everyone's information and in a spirit of full disclosure, I seem to think of myself as a bit younger and thinner than reality. I was really surprised by this. I was truly trying to get an actual, realistic likeness with no face lift involved. I am happy with how the sketch came out because often in the past I have had a very negative self image. I found that I am happy with myself and where I am at in my life at this time. I can see in the drawing the improvement of my skills not only in the drawing itself but also in the expression my face.

I would be interested in hearing about others experiences with self portraits and what you might have learned about yourself- please leave a comment.

Happy New Year!

Just like so many others I like to make New Year's Resolutions. New resolutions make me feel like I am starting over, or like last year was just practice this year I will do ____________!

I am excited about my 2007 goals. I wanted to lose weight and I did, still more to go but I look and feel better. One thing that is fun about losing weight is having to get new clothes. My closet was nearly empty because I gave away anything that was too big, I did not want the chance to go back. Another goal: Not to play computer games--I still haven't and I don't want to!

And to do more art. I don't know where to start on this. I have done more art this past year than ever before and I love it. Despite my travel anxieties I made 2 trips to Haverhill, MA to go to Art Boot Camp and the Technical Course. Both were amazing I learned so much and met wonderful people. My art work took a dramatic jump forward after Boot Camp which is exciting. I haven't had too much time to practice the things I learned at the Tech Course yet but I am looking forward to stretching and preparing my own canvas and other supports and trying out all of the other things that were demonstrated. I also have a website, they (FineArtStudioOnline) said it was easy to start and so I tried it and it was so easy I had one before I knew it. I probably got a bit ahead of myself with that but I like having it--it makes me feel professional. I did sell 3 paintings from it! I also moved all of my art stuff to the basement. The basement has really needed a good cleaning and it is a great incentive to know that the more I can get rid of, the more room I will have for my studio! I think that hits the major art highlights for 2007, now on to 2008's goals.

I have a long list of goals for this year. I will spare the minute details and just give the overview. There are 2 catagories: Art goals and non art goals. For non art goals it is simply to continue Weight Watchers because it works for me, and to continue with my efforts at organizing (I think I am more organized than I have ever been in my entire life and I still have a lot to go but now I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.)

Art Goals:
1. I need to improve my drawing. To do this I have several books that I will read and do the exercises in.

2. I will manage my time better. I think that this is critical for me. I have set a goal of working for 2008 hours this year. This will include drawing, painting, blogging, studying and business related stuff.

3. Painting: I want to do lots of it. Make more color charts (I have learned so much from the ones I have made so far.) Go to Portrait Camp in June.
Try out different supports (copper). And I think the hardest is to put more of myself into my work and to have something to say with my paintings.

4. The business end of things. I am going to join 2 of the local art groups. I have set a sales goal, this year it is to cover all of my art related expenses. Learn my new programs--eArtist, and Quickbooks and more about my old ones Photoshop Elements.

For my Christmas present my daughter set up a lot of the business things for me. It was a wonderful gift of her confidence in me and that really does mean a lot to me. (All of my family have been extremely supportive, I am very blessed.) I am also going to work on marketing and enter some local shows and competitions.

I have a long list of details on all of these things because I need to have the goal clear in my head and on paper. I have made my goals into more of a checklist of things to do so I can see where I am and the progress I have made.

I think it will be an exciting year, and I almost forgot...I am going to go to Germany this year!!!! Definitely, I have my passport and my daughter is moving there on Saturday. I will miss her, but she has a great job there and I will get to visit!!

Merry Christmas

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

I have been thinking lately how Jesus gave His life for us, not just on the cross but from the very beginning. He taught us by His words and His example how to live. Everything He has done has been for us. I hope that we can all remember the birth of the little baby in Bethlehem who was born to overcome death. To bring us hope, to atone for our sins and show us the way back to our Heavenly Father. I don't think we can fully comprehend what Jesus Christ has done for us.

I hope that all of us will spend a bit of time thinking about Jesus, this always brings a sweet feeling of joy and happiness to me. Merry Christmas!

Kiwi

This is another "Kitchen Painting". Kiwi are a challenge to paint but fun. The juicy texture on the inside and then the fuzzy brown outside that has a green undertone to it. Each required a different method of painting. Most fun was that I got to use my Canada Balsam medium! It smells wonderful! I used it on the green interior of the fruit to help get that shiny, just sliced look.

Watermelon and Grapes

My favorite fruits! These are two more of my 5 inch by 5 inch paintings.

I tried to have a looser feel to the Seedless Watermelon It was fun to do but I think I miss the seeds.

The Grapes I thought would be hard because of the detail and because of the colors. The detail of the grapes was not as hard as it looks, but it was the color that was challenging. The challenge was to keep the reds and greens from making a muddy brown color while maintaining that transparent jewel-like quality of the grapes.

Three Red Pears

I am really pleased with how "Three Red Pears" turned out. It is larger than the little 5 x 5 inch paintings I am used to doing. I have been trying to try different methods, techniques and sizes. One thing that surprised me was that the pears seemed to have a personality of their own when I was finished. I am thinking of renaming this painting Gossiping Pears or Three's a Crowd since the two pears on the right seem to be "talking" about the third pear. I am going to work at putting more personality into my fruit paintings. Maybe I will do a series called "Pears are People Too" I know it sounds silly but I think it will be a fun direction to go with these still life paintings and it may help the fruit feel more real and alive.

Three Red Pears, 12 inches x 12 inches on gallery wrapped canvas. It is available on my website.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone is having a day filled with gratitude. This quote came in an email today.

"Ours is the responsibility to show our gratitude by the actions of our lives."
--Thomas S. Monson

I need to think about my life and make sure my actions reflect the gratitude I feel. If they don't, am I really grateful?

I do have so much to be grateful for and I do give thanks in my prayers everyday for the blessings that God has granted me. This has become my favorite time of day, because it fills me with peace and happiness. No one can ever have too much of those!