Lesson

It is my next watercolor lesson from this book, conducted by Barry Herniman (his blog, so sorry that the blog looks like forgotten by the author), I love how he mixes colors!

I was much more free here, did not read the instructions and mixed colors looking at the photos and not reading the mixing recipes.

I can not say what the instructional books are. Are they help or harm or nothing. I think that any type of practice is good for my feel of watercolor and knowledge of technique. I also think that the info gets into the head, boils there and later adds to the understanding of the subject. You can not explain why you do this or that, you just know what to do. Why? Because someday you read something and almost forgot it. Almost.

Bookmark

I have read today in "Making a Mark" blog (link) the bright idea of  Hugh MacLeod explaining the reasons of other artists read your blog.
Read him (link), he is so right. At least the idea to read/watch  blogs as a source of inspiration works great with me.

I had great painting plans for this Sunday, but finished with quick sketch of  the flowers on the kitchen table.
Started it with water-soluble graphite pencil, but it turned out not as soluble as expected. Then added watercolor pencils, which explains grey tint appeared after mixing. It is small, will work as bookmark.
Wish you nice week ahead!

Sketching the city

What one can do when drove her mother to the supermarket and not interested in shopping (only that day!) at all? Right, one can sketch in the cafe while waiting.

Trees

I do not want to look boring but yes, I can draw green-blue-yellow non-stop. My favorite colors of the summer. When I finished this piece in my sketchbook, I was so happy with it, overwhelmed with my so strong talent.
When the admiration calmed down, I remembered the comment of my friend (she is psychologist) that when people draw trees they mostly draw the self-portrait. Shape, color and quality of roots, trunk, branches can give a ton of info about the author to the pro in psychology.
What shall she read in my sketch? That I definitely need to change the hairdo.

So I did this pencil sketch. Hoped that this time the crown will look OK. Fat chance. No head at all.

And now, after posting, I look at this tree trunk and see similarity to famous "Titanic" shot.

Interesting, how my friend will interpret...

100 Followers!

My dear followers, I saw today that the number of my blog's followers reached 100.
I am honored and so pleased and appreciate that one day you decided to push the button "Follow" on my page.

Wish you all joy and creativity in real world and in blog world! Happy living!

Sketching the city

Today I was sketching the Krymsky bridge in the center of the city. And added color at home, as it was too hot and stifle to sit outdoors for long.
One time the bridge was popular among the suicides, so the authorities put extra rails and fence along the passageways.

The flower to be from parent's garden, in June. The ants here yet do not know, that it would be long, dry, hot and smoky summer ahead...

Figure Drawing

Well, it is me. From the photo of 2007 in Geirangerfjord, Norway, one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.
I am much slender in the sketch. Good method to fight weight :-).


I wanted to try to paint the bright sunlight and to see how it works on colors and shadows and whites.
Overworked. I need more practice.
The chair is perfect.

My azalea is in bloom. All winter I was fighting for its life: more water - less water, in the sun - in the shadow, new soil, new fertilizing, sprinkling. It did not take me seriously and was losing its leaves from time to time, showing that I was bad, bad gardener. Flowers? - Forget it, baby.
 Then, in July, I left it for two weeks in dark room, no watering, no fresh air, no sprinkle. Just side by side with huge plastic bowl of water. The flower took it seriously. It does not want to die. It started appreciate my efforts. Now the flowers are all over the body and the ton is on the way. Very human behavior.
I am planning to emigrate it to the bathroom.

Watercolor and Gouache

It is  my study of Nathan Fowkes "how to" post. I love the blog of Nathan, his once in a week posts show a real master. He mixes watercolor and gouache in his quick sketches. 

And my point was not only to try to feel the freedom of Nathan's brush, but to see how the watercolor/gouache behaves. Pretty heavy, I must say.  And easily covering one layer of color by the other, the quality long forgotten in my watercolor practice:-)) 

I use bigger font today. The visit to my friends' blog gave me the idea to try,  it makes reading much easier (if you are arrogant enough to think that your texts are interesting read, Irina!)

Once upon a time this building was a very important part of my parents place's architecture. Now it is forgotten and so very beautiful with this disheveled hairdo.

Flower Drawing

 The technique taken from Janet Rogers's workshop and I am happy with the result.

This studies I also did keeping in mind Janet's instructions.

Today the city again is covered with smog and fire smokes, almost no oxygen in the air and it causes little waves of panic and fear in me. My poor little planet.

Little of Everything

One more sketch from my Williamsport impressions. Genetti hotel. Should I send them the link as the independent advertiser?
Today, at my parents' place I arranged grapes, peaches and plums for still life painting. And left for a moment, to get my paints. When I returned, the fruits disappeared from the plate. Nobody has seen or heard anything..

This is the photo from parents' garden. Taken 1,5 month ago, when the greens were so newly green.


And music of the day.  

Everyday practice

While I was sitting at home locked and stocked and waiting when the smog go away, the sketching was the most relaxing and joy bringing affair. So I post few little, A5, pieces from my sketchbook, like the crow yesterday and the cow today. I like her face expression. Oh, and somehow I forgot to add the udder.. :-)

I like very much this summer photo from Lock Haven, PA. I did it in sunset, best time for me and my camera.

The Crow

Oxygen, oxygen!!! The strong winds yesterday moved away the smog and fire smoke from Moscow. I can breath, I can open windows, life is so good again.

Photographers' blogs

City Daily Photo site is founded by Eric Tenin, as the place where photographers share their every day photos of the places they live in. I joined the group with Moscow Daily Photo October 2009 and it was so very right move.
We make friends, improve photo skills, watch and read about the life around the planet. And the photos I see inspire me for painting. Just some switch in my head or heart turns on and I realize in millisecond - that's it, I need to sketch it. The artists know the feeling.

This sketch, (A5, watercolor and watercolor pencils) is inspired by Mo's photo of St Pancras station in London (blog Fresh Eyes on London )

And this one (A5, watercolor and ink pen) by Paulo's photo of pink tree in Funchal, capital of magic Madeira (blog Funchal Daily Photo).
Thank you, daily photographers.

The Vacation, Conclusion

About my friends.

Ken Barclay, "Shurok"

This painting was created by my friend Ken (click to see his blog). I lost my cat this January and Ken painted him for me, exactly when this support was so very needed. Besides, Ken wanted to sent the painting to Russia. I was afraid that Russian post would lose it, so Ken sent this generous present to my relatives in NY and I saw and touched it only this July. And you know, it is such a cure to look at my Shurok with Ken's eyes. Thank you, friend!

David L.Christy, "Portrait"

I participated in Karin Jurick's "Different Strokes" challenges and we painted portraits of random painter-participant in December. And David L.Christy (click to see his site) did my portrait. And he was generous to offer to send it to me. What a honor! For same reason I asked him to send it to NY. And touched it first time two weeks ago. The portrait is great. I am such a beauty there :-))

About workshop.

J.Rogers, "Flower"

They are openhearted.
Janet, I remember how your were pulling the heavy metal easel to make me feel comfortable during speed figure painting; how you worried that I will not be prized when we were dicing the after-workshop presents. And I won (at least you said so). Now I have the flower, drawn by Janet Rogers and Cheap Joe's brush - Joe Miller signatures Series 50/50 (it is great, I tried it yesterday!) . And brushes, papers, paints, whatever I asked for or did not ask at all. Thank you!

Linda, our talks were so short in time, I am sorry, you were so busy. But you shared great ideas and maybe planned my future. I wish so much your important work and financing of fine arts study and art center would be OK.

Moe, you are such a pleasure to talk to, nicest and kindest Moe, thank you for being such a patient model during our training.

People are the main wealth of any country. The USA are really wealthy, believe me. The man always fears the unknown, as soon as you start to learn the subject of your fear, you win the battle against it. And blogging, internet are priceless, as they help us to realize what a small thing this planet is, how we are small and connected, that we have same wishes, problems, fears. (Well, looks like I have breathed too much carbon and my smoky brain became too philosophical ;-)))

The Vacation 7

This is my last post about my vacation to the USA. And I will add a conclusion. This is serious literature after all.

On Sunday we had a picnic in Prospekt park, Brooklyn. We grilled meat and vegetables, ate refreshing watermelon. It was rather hot and sticky, so the park took care of our group - it started strong raining, temperature dropped and fresh air arrived from nowhere. 

Reflections on the pond

Our place under the huge tree was protected from rain and wind.

And I realized again (so many times during this trip) that the world, Universe, nature (whatever you call it) was welcoming and kind to me.

On Monday, my last day in the States, I did shopping. First to Dick Blick, to add some brushes and sketchbooks to my dream-box. Then to girls' paradises in Manhattan.

This dress is soo great... But I am sitting at home, locked by weather conditions (I do not want to write about this stuff any more), and can not show it to the city :-))).

The Vacation 6

At a moment I am sitting in my flat, windows shut, AC on, and trying not to panic. The carbon is all over the city, and 100km around the city. I can not see the building on the other side of the road. The radio says it will go on for at least three days more, but sounds lost and confused. I love oxygen.

And I am continuing my vacation story, I need to be distracted by pleasing and relaxing memories. 

My workshop was over and I started my drive back to New York. This time the stop was planned in Williamsport, PA.

The day before my departure I was googling the hotel in Williamsport and chose Genetti, which had great location and rather discrepant opinions. But I was not afraid, what's the point? I stay there only overnight, if the hotel is bad, I will have one more colorful memory (this time dark color:-).

The road was OK, I drove I-80 and on when only 50 miles left, I was carried away by the sight of handsome man in the side car. I was carried away to some side road and completely disoriented my GPS by this action.

The GPS, programmed to choose the shortest route, decided we need to go over the hill. OK, as you say. The road became more and more narrow, went higher and higher and then suddenly was over. The GPS had different view of the situation and a lot of ideas of our lost-road trip. Me? Nervous. And very funny. You can not be lost in the middle of the civilization (unfortunately:-)). So I turned off my little helper, went back to wide roads, enjoying every moment of my "small roads trip". Then the GPS was waken up and I happily reached Williamsport.

Lovely town! Genetti hotel was OK, old and with individuality. It offered me the wonderful room with a view.
I went for a walk around town. This town begs to be sketched, so beautiful and colorful. I made a lot of photos, was to tired to draw en plein-air.

Williamsport, PA

Williamsport, PA

Next morning, after the early walk around town, I headed to New York and reached it almost safe (only one hour in Manhattan jams - GPS and me aim to find the shortest routs not the fastest :-))

The Vacation 5

The next two days of my workshop were more and more creative and inspirational. As if the ability and need to paint was growing every day and reached the maximum in the end.

This lady. When I brought the portrait back to the hotel on a last day, I adjusted it standing and was walking around and looking at her attentively and surprised. Was it me who did this painting??? It was Janet's and Steve's efforts and great result. Besides, it was Janet's hand helped me to draw the face parts in the right places, which explains a lot :-))
But I have to be logical, not over-emotional here...

First we draw the model, from photo, pencil in hand, eyes on the photo, result is funny but very complimented by Janet.  I was pleased. 

We started painting with monochrome portrait sketch, to feel the light and shadow, the value.

Then we had 2 ten minutes figure studies with live model (Thank you, Moe! and sorry, you are so nice and beautiful in comparison with...) to feel the shapes and warms/cools.



Sooo interesting!

Janet during her miracle work

This flower is my attempt to copy Janet's manner of drawing flowers (I have not been to her flowers' workshop. But I looked at her results and was so inspired).

By the end of the day 3 all our group had a dinner in cozy Italian restaurant.

And by the end of the day 4 I was so sorry that the workshop finished, sorry to leave the group and the place, my new friends, my new experience.

And few more photos of this lovely welcoming place, Cuyahoga Falls and Cuyahoga Valley.