This is my favorite picture from the Chinese Garden.
Saucer Magnolia/Tulip Tree
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Monthly Archives: March 2012
Lan Su Chinese Garden
We took Kathleen and family around Portland on Sunday. Lunch at Kennedy School where they were staying. Went to the Chinese Garden, Saturday Market, Queen Bee, Woodsman and a walking tour.
Pursuing Portraits – Lesson 1
I am addicted to signing up for classes. Its easier to ‘take’ them if they are live. I’m taking Pursuing Portraits right now with Pam Carriker. Its been a slow start because I didn’t think I could do it for Lesson One. Lesson Two looks even worse because its a mixed media collage with a self-portrait. I am moving forward.
These are generic faces. The basic idea is you take an oval, divide it in half to place the eyes. then divide the bottom half in half again for the base of the nose. The bottom quater in half for the mouth. The are 5 eyes across the head. so Two eyes with eye sized spaces at either side (and between). The neck extends down from about the middle of the eyes. Pam’s videos also show some simple shading to give volume.
I’m going to go back to shade my ladies. I’m surprised they look people like.
Drawing with Joy
I want to watercolor journal but have the typical fear of using paper and making bad art. Its part of the reason I like my ring journal so I can easily destroy anything I don’t want to see again. I got a ton of cheap 140 lb cold press water color paper from Dick Blick but have had trouble working up the guts to draw on it.
It occurred to me last night that I could doodle practice on it and learn how to apply watercolor in a low stress way. I’m surprised at how much richer the colors are on nicer paper.
Last night I broke out some Joy Sikorski books: How to Draw a Radish, Clam and Witch and went to town.
Hood River Weekend – Photography
Took my camera out on the walks we went on the last two days.
Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. The trail, two disconnected paved ribbons along abandoned stretches of the historic highway, give you more than 10 miles of sightseeing thrills. Between Hood River and Mosier, the five mile Twin Tunnels segment passes through two climate zones.
Indian Creek Trail Segment 2 trail head starts on 12th Street at the entrance of the Columbia Gorge Community College, and it dead ends at private property.
Hood River Weekend – Travel Sketching
Practice March 16
Daisys copied from a Cathy Johnson book. Others are quick sketches with photos on my iPad.
Doodling with Sachiko
Illustration School: Let’s Draw Plants and Small Creatures is one of three adorable books by Sachiko Umoto. A little more grown up than Joy Sikorski.
Wanted to draw something that was relaxing. I think the style works well for journaling.
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Build me up Buttercup
I want to watercolor journal or travel sketch or art journal or mixed media journal. Or what ever feels good at the moment. I practiced buttercups this morning. Drew on from Claudia Nice’s book then a couple from Internet photos. This one is from the wikipedia entry on buttercups.
Need to work on my penmanship.
Knitting Kick #3 Double Take Cowl/Hat
Working on my 3rd Double Take Hat/Cowl from Elisa McLaughlin. Super easy pattern. Takes about 3 hours to make. Made a lime green one for my mother. I think some of the appeal is imagining every one would look as adorable as Elisa when she models it.
Worked on the green and brown one on the flight to and from Pasadena and the progress I made freaked out both men sitting next to me.