The Benefit of Living with an Art Model

One of the benefits of living with a model is getting to draw him while he works.  During a recent college class Zoom session, David held one long pose for an hour and a half.  Once I got the camera and lights set, I got to draw right along with the students.  But one key difference:  I peered around the camera and computer set up and drew David from life.  Lovely to get to do that again!

Sunflowers!

 The sunflowers around my home are blooming gloriously in spite of the drought.  Bumblebees, butterflies,  and Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds visit the blooms from dawn to dusk.  Goldfinches, Titmice and Chickadees are already dining on the seeds from older blooms. 

While the flowers feed a plethora of wildlife, they make my heart rise whenever I see them and feed my soul as I try to capture them on the page.  

First Fall Leaf of 2019

There's no denying the shift of the season towards fall.  The grandmother Sugar Maple tree on my farm is beginning to change her cloak.  Not scarlet yet, but the green is tinged here and there with yellow and orange-tinted leaves (in addition to the dead brown clusters killed by the periodical cicadas).
Here's a leaf I found on a walk to my mailbox that called out to be drawn in colored pencil.

More Fun With Art Stix

My friend Brad, who gave me my new woodless colored pencils, challenged me to create on a large sheet of paper just from my imagination.  It felt like an inward blossoming of spring -- the color and warmth my soul is so hungry for right now.

By the way, Happy Pi Day everyone! (3/14)

Color in the Dead of Winter

I just came back from a birthday celebration with my family, and our dear friend Brad.  Brad and I share birthdays within a week of each other, and so we celebrated today with lunch out.  Brad gave me the most delicious box of colors -- Prismacolor Art Stix.  They are much like Conte Crayons -- squared sticks of pure color -- but in a rainbow of rich colors.  I grabbed some fruit from the fruit bowl to test them out on, and was pleased with the way the flat sides laid down smooth shadows and the crisp edges created bold contour lines.  They lay down rich tones easily.

Outside, it's 17 ℉,  and intermittently throughout day, snow spit from the low clouds.  The world looks monochromatic.  These Art Stix were just what my eyes hungered for.  Can't wait for the first spring daffodils and greened-up grass to test my new toys on!

My cat, Chubby, flopped by my side while I drew.