Round 2 FIGHT!

I haven't been doing as well as I had hoped with my watercolor/sketch 365 but I plan to catch up.  I can give you all the excuses I want but it is harder then I thought it would be.  Also a lot of days that I don't sketch or water color it's not that I'm not doing anything artistically at all.  Usually on those days I have put in a good hour or two on hand stitching or knitting something for a larger project.  I am creating everyday just not necessarily in the form that I set out to.

Here is what I accomplished since last time.

 This one still needs more work on it but this is what I got done in one day.

 Loose sketch of something I am knitting in a pile

Yep I suck at Drawing

 Trying to work the skin tones or flushed but I ran out of time and hated the way the eyes came out doe, instead of angry

Neurons

 Some Bone Shading off of a Science Magazine

 ey?

 Playing with Lashes

 Bubbles and Foam

Network of Veins

Water colors and Weekend Re-cap

 This weekend was filled with crafty, relaxation and celebration!

I knitted the most intense purple I have ever met and selected some new colors to add into my hair clips for Craftin Outlaws.  Which as always was a huge success.  I was also a dope and failed to remember to take any pictures while I was walking around.  I did pick up some cute things which I will post possibly tomorrow.  Jessica Miller did get some fantastic photos of booths and their wares.  Below are mine but you can go HERE to see the full set

 I am too short for my own booth, this is me standing.

 Great picture of my Pincushion rings.

 As for celebration it was my Nieces 7th birthday that we celebrated a day early after Craftin Outlaws.  She had a full schedule Sunday so it was nice to have an intimate family dinner with the little one.  We of course ate Korean Good at one of our favorite places Kaya.  I Shared some Dol-sut Bibimbap with Andy and of course we grilled out own Galbi and some other meat I can't recall because I was too busy gobbling what was right in front of me.

Sunday I just took it easy.  Our house guest Grace Dobush left that day after we shared a wonderful brunch at Third and Hollywood around the corner from the house.  With the Husband out hiking with some friends I settled down for a very relaxing day of nail polish, knitting and crying my eyes out to silly Korean Dramas.  The particular one I picked up is called Secret Garden.  I am 4 episodes in and so far the only thing that is happening in a garden are some awkward social status fights and daydreaming.

I picked up this stunning blue nail polish after Grace put a bug in my ear of gorgeous colors and brands when we had intense nail polish discussions Friday night when she came in from Cincinnati

The Base color is OPI's Miss America Line "Swimsuit…Nailed It!" and the top sparkle Coat is OPI Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night". I spent the rest of the time after  my nails dried knitting on a personal project that has been on the back burner for years.  It is this cute lace cardigan out of a variegated aqua blue yarn in a lace pattern.

Finally we come to the end of my first week of  daily water colors and/or sketches.  I did pretty good doing mostly water colors this week and pushing myself.

The first one is of my Cat Sophie when she does her back wiggles on the carpet seeking love and belly rubs (I know a cat especially orange girl that likes belly rubs?  crazy eh?)

Trying some more wet brush techniques doing fish and failing horribly because of the wrong paper.

I was watching some episode of Star Trek the next generation when I did this one.  Not sure what I was going for here.  I guess just some doodling.  I worked a little bit on some blending techniques since I was on the proper paper now.

A fashion sketch of something that has been mulling in my head and some gradient work on the edges.

A light sketch that started out as wanting to be a dragon fly and slowly evolved into being a palm tree with coconuts.  I really enjoyed doing this and letting the colors meld together on their own instead of forcing them.

More random sketching.  I wanted to compose something small so why not some flowers?  I tried a few different techniques here.  Flowers have been on my mind a lot because I want to do a little embroidery stitch sampler for myself using flower motifs.

Last night I nearly forgot that I needed to do something.  I sketched my toy sitting on my stomach before I went to Bed.

Tonight I have a Crafty Ladies Night at my friend Claire's!  I think I will try making these Fabric Boxes I have been eying out of a Japanese Craft Book I have.

The color of a Whale

In preparing a new portfolio for Grad School I wanted to get back into the swing of sketching and also in improving my lack luster 2-d skills. Over lunch with some lady friends we were talking about 365 projects that they were doing or wanted to do. I was thinking to myself that would be interesting to re-hash for myself. Previously I wanted to do it where I would sew something everyday. But that is nearly impossible since I work in spurts or some projects take much longer then just one evening. it was a little funny because while saying 365 my friend Claire was referring to her photography project whilst in my head I was thinking, 365 what? because I've heard of so many different types of projects done on this basis.  After that I had to run some errands at the cursed Joanne Fabrics. 

While getting some supplies and strategically planning out how to use my coupons I was browsing my favorite section of Art Supplies.  I love art supplies, the organization the colors the possibilities.  I have a small collection of sets of gouache, water colors, oil colors, markers, water color markers, etc etc. that are barely touched only for my fear of not using them properly.  I have absolutely no confidence in my 2d capabilities.  I saw in the corner a small pocket box of watercolors.  At $24.99 I thought it too costly for a little endeavor but with my 40% coupon making it approx $14.99 I could dig it.  I decided then and there that I would embark on my own 365 project that would consist mostly of water color.  It will be my exercise to get better and be creative in a new way that I haven't dedicated much time to in the past.  Armed with the pocket paints and some aqua brushes I feel this could be a less imposing way to push myself and take it anywhere with me.

Unpacking the little cakes of water color was kin to unwrapping a gift truffle box.  Each delightful color in their little chunks ready to explode on my paper.

This is my Day 1 painting, it was my cat Sophie doing her back wiggles.  Today is my 3rd day.  I'm going to make a flickr album to compile them and I would like to make a little end of the week post of the pictures from the week.  I'm not looking to make masterpieces here just give myself some exercise.  Water color is one of my favorite 2D mediums to work with.  I feel the most comfortable with it. 

Funny enough last night my friend Beth talked me into going with her to see this Moby Dick thing at the Wexner Center.  Moby Dick is a book I have avoided because I know it holds so much meaning to people and what not.  I just can't comprehend trying to read it (I know I am a horrible and backwards person).  Perhaps I will someday but only because of this.

I didn't realize it at first but then when Beth showed me another link to the event I put it together.  My friend Arnell's brother in law Matt had illustrated a book!  Not just that, but it was an Epic project and so close to the heart of the 365 project that I just picked up myself.  Listening to him speak is kind of funny because I remember when he married my friend's sister, I remember when he was a dude at Laughing Ogre Comics that I used to chat with about how much we missed SHOCC Comix and the things coming out from David Mack and Top Cow.  It was years ago but I remember the way he talked and listening to him give a presentation was a bit surreal.  It was good to hear him be the same person, candid and honest not on a  soapbox being preachy but instead humble and still in awe of this great project and what it has brought into his life.

The hardest to listen to was him talking about how difficult some parts were and how it affected his personal life.  Those are the things that scare me about art and my eventual immersion to Grad School.  I did not get the book yet because the line was just annoyingly long at the event and since I kind of have the personal hookups I don't feel the urge to get it signed right away.  I will be purchasing it very soon.  It was a thick tome and very pretty to flip through.  He will be an inspiration to many other young artists weather he realizes it or not.  He also kept a Blog which can be found here!