The Study

After this bombing in Moscow it felt so good to sit peacefully and paint a lesson from a book.
Life is so great.

Boats

The today post is a lesson from this book, which I highly recommend as step-by-step instructions in watercolor painting study.

Red!

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As my dear friend Ken (his blog here) commented: "I much prefer the coloured posts". I completely agree! But these weeks it is so much to do in the office, that I can find only half an hour for the lovely activity. Drawing  is faster, plus it keeps my hand in shape. And it does not prefer natural lighting.
When I did my class with sepia still-life (posted few days ago), I could not understand why I did not use red instead of sepia. In monochromatic Moscow spring I miss color red so much!
This little tulip is my salvation. Though the piece is done in cold red, it fills me with energy and joy.

EDM # Next

Next EDM (details here) in my collection: draw your glasses. I was always trying to be a good girl, so why to draw my glasses, when I can draw my glasses, my sun glasses and even my lenses? Yes, this pair of little slippers are my lenses.

Responsibility

40x60cm (16"x24"), Sepia

Wow. 49 followers. I have started my blog a year ago and got the first follower three months later. Made me happy and confused.  The purpose of the blog was the exposition of my progress in drawing/painting. I thought - It is OK, nobody's interested. I know that my works are hanging at the wall in some virtual reality and it completely feeds my wish to be popular or famous. No responsibility and the knowledge that sometime someone can see my sketches occasionally.

A year passed.

I am completely absorbed in blogging. I met the most welcoming and talented people of the world. And I hope we are friends now (not Facebook type of friends, but friends for real :-))) And my "Blogs I follow" list is endless.  I joined Moscow Photoblog and I try to promote Georgia Photoblog (please visit, it is a treasure!). And few times the idea came to me: maybe (just maybe) I really do drawing/painting well???!!
That all happened to me only because of your support and attention. Thank you so much!
And now I feel growing responsibility: I need to improve my technique, I need to be interesting, for my so much respected 49 followers. I will try to do my best. Promise.
And now let's dance. I remoned youtube link, it caused errors.

Menton Daily Photoblog

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I saw this wonderful photo in Menton Daily Photoblog, so rich with photo treasures. Could not stop thinking for a week how I will draw this beauty. At last!
I was drawing it when photo was turned upside down, according to the method I got from Bert Dodson's book "Keys to Drawing". Then my so active left side of the brain had to sit quite and wait what will turn out of the activity of right side of my brain :-).

Mixing Business with Pleasure

I decided to mix  EDM#10 "Draw your hand or hands" (business) with small yoga exercise (pleasure). As I need to hold hand still for time being, why can't I make a mudra, to allow the energy to flow in right direction?

Gian Mudra (Mudra of knowledge):
Removes emotional tension, anxiety, restlessness, melancholy, grief, sadness and depression. Hide insomnia or excessive sleepiness, high blood pressure. Mudra activates the memory, focusing potential.
Implementation: finger easily connects to the pad of the thumb. The remaining three fingers straightened without tension and divided.

I am not sure about the name of this mudra.
Some effects:
- Cleanses the body of toxins;
- Stimulates all the processes of purification and selection;
- Help from hemorrhoids and constipation.

The mudras become effective when practising three times a day, 15 min a time.

Potted Flowers

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I am busy in the office. I do not have time to call my friends to say "Hi", let alone to draw. Three or four days later I realise I NEED to take the brush, without any special preparation, study of colours and composition. Just to take brush, wet it, load with paint and put on paper. Just to feel the easiness of line and energy of colour. Only for fifteen minutes. And then return to everyday race. Do you recognize the feeling?
The sketch is the result of this need to paint. First stroke - flowers in the middle, pot. Then flowers to the right. And cactus on the right to finish this short pleasure. Colours sing in different voices, composition... (where did I take this word???). But I feel so good and ready for next days of routine.

The Spring?

Pam Van Londen, Artist and Graphics Designer  (her website) has sent me the letter inviting to participate in new on line challenge. Once in a month she posts a photo to be model for us, participants and all mediums and sized are welcomed.
I wanted to do it with pastel. The photo shows the first signs of the spring and I wanted to try to show them right. I went far away from the model photo in the process of drawing and I like the result.

EDM # 9

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EveryDayMatters # 9: Draw a bit of organised chaos.
My painting tray. All necessary stuff is collected in one place. Watercolours, brushes, small sheets of paper, paper towel, masking fluid, tube of white acryl, cup of white gouache.
I can hardly see any chaos here :-)). But this is me, I always try to order stuff and usually feel uncomfortable in any chaos.

Pot and Onion

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My drawing/painting teacher told me today that when she had studied in the art college they did different sets of still-lifes for 3 years non stop. That could make a great painter of me or kill my hunger to draw and paint forever :-)).
I did this still life for 3 full sessions (total of 9 hours, lovely tea breaks included) and I was full. I asked the teacher to leave my drawing as it was and to start new project. My problem was (and is)  I could not put all this small strokes (parallel with equal pressure) any more...  So the pot and onion turned just fine. The folded cloth behind is jammed and looks like a loaf :-)))
Final: I like it very much and it is the result of really hard work.

EDM # 8 Piece of Jewelry

Big mistake here. I need to make photo before I add color. This piece looked like really realistic drawing before I mixed my paints :-)). I added white acryl (my first tube of acryl ever) to check how  it would look like above my ruined watercolors. Looks very good, could not add more damage.
The EDM # 8 task to draw a piece of jewelry turned into still life. It consists of violet Chinese jewelry box, bottle of perfume and my metal beads (good painting turns even better when text explanation about  what you see is added:-)) 

EDM # 7

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Another page from my sketchbook. 

It is next EDM task, "Draw something from your kitchen". I always want to add color to any drawing. I saw perfect examples of mixing color and ink at "Urban sketchers" and try to follow the method. This paper is good for drawing, but can not stand water, starts buckling and lose its shape. I do not care, these are quick sketches to train the hand.

The main object is this decorative glass jar with red and green peppers inside. I could not stop when I finished the jar and added few kitchen's details.