The Private Room

I was in the art gallery last week and after enjoying the exposition I pried behind the back partition and saw this creative place, the office of the gallery owner. Liked it very much and made a sketch at home, based on fast photo.

Today I received a letter from Rhonda Carpenter, creative and vetsatile talent. She celebrates the 5th anniversary of her blog and she chose me for her giveaway. Rhonda, thank you so much! I will send you letter with mailing details right now!

One more thing today. I want to share with you the link to the blog of talented artist I found recently. When I finished panting of my black cat, I decided to Google: "cats in watercolor, images" and noticed this artist  David Scheirer, and his blog liked it from first glance. Maybe old news for you, but it was really inspiring to see his art.

Black Cat

24x32cm, Montval paper

Her name is Dashka and she lives in the village where my parent's summer house is located.
The watchman of the village thinks that Dashka is his cat as his dog and his chickens are.
But Dashka knows that she is free soul and that she belongs to the world. So all the villagers are allowed from time to time to feed her, pet her and make photos of her. Watchman is also allowed to provide sleeping place for her.

That time (few weeks ago) she allowed my parents to feed her and I was jumping around during the process, trying to make a photo, but every time focus was unfocused and exposure was overexposed.
I decided it was time to negotiate. Dasha, I told her in polite Russian, please. Stand still for one moment, I will  make your photo and try to paint a cat from it (as I have never painted cats before).
The free soul stopped, glanced at me, cleaning her cheeks after breakfast, "Do it, Silly!" (and I did), and then left me, slowly and with dignity.

Saturday in Sketchbook

Quick sketch of the corner of the cafe where I was waiting for my friend yesterday. They serve amazing pirogee (pies) with different fillings there, cherry-pie was super. 
I wanted to repeat the shapes of the Vienna chairs and table (we call them Vienna here).

And the oil painting I finished in my drawing class a week ago and collected yesterday, when it dried. The idea of the lesson was to draw different shades of white in cool light.

Oil on board, 35x45cm

Oranges and Bananas

My contribution to "Rookiepainter" challenge.
Look at the site, works in the challenge are amazing, talented and interesting. It is great opportunity to see the art of my friends, their approach, choice of colors, techniques and characters.
I hope my contribution will not disappoint the team..

Vase on Blue Cloth

30x40cm, oil pastel on light-grey paper

My contribution to the "Paint and Draw Together" challenge.
It is oil pastel. The medium which gives me most comfort and confidence.
The photo is so rich, I fell in love with it and was sure that oil pastels would be glad to help to do the challenge.

Waves

30x40 tracing paper

These waves were done on tracing paper after I was a little disappointed by the purchase in art shop...

I bought a thick pack of 54 sheets of 9 colours paper for pastel works and only at home I noticed the small letters about the details of the pack: 9 colors, 3 sheets paper each and 27 sheets tracing paper for ink paintings. Tracing paper? Surprise. Of course it was my fault, I will be more attentive next time and read everything on the package. But they really have talent for hiding info)). Anyway, I received the opportunity to try my Pentel Color-brush ink pen on tracing paper.

And the small sketch of the city from the cafe window. It is very hard to start sketching when cafe is full. "They will critique me, they will laugh, I want to hide, but I want to sketch so much that I do not care.." Do you know this verse?
And the link to the brush-pen photo/description. Still I need more waves to decide if I like the pen or not.