Back to painting.

 It is almost as though I had forgotten why I even started this blog. I should be doing more to further my goals in drawing and painting while I am looking for a full time job. We'll waiting tables in evening gives one time to paint, and time to paint during the optimal time of day. As I sit here typing the sun is shinning through the south facing window of my house, my fiance's and my bedroom to to be exact. I/we have a room that faces north for me to convert almost solely into a studio. The problem arises, of course, from the lighting or poor lighting of that particular room. Something to keep in mind while drawing and painting during the day is to not disregard where the lighting is coming from.

 Believe me, I have made ALL the mistakes, trying to draw from photos where a flash was used, drawing still life objects from overhead lighting or lights from multiple sources etc. I am only now beginning to use charcoal again for value studies and sketching around. When young the family kitchen table didn't leave much room for 18x24 sketchbooks and charcoal just seemed so damned messy. Truth is I now realize when just sketching with charcoals I'm making value studies without even being conscious of it...that is awesome. I am trying to break free of my self taught lines-around-everything approach to drawing. Outlines, whether bold or no are not conducive to making accurate descriptive markings i.e. life sketches. Too much time reading and copying from comic books. Like anything else in life it is a habit that is hard to break, being aware of a habit is far better then continued ignorance though. As I work on working out some issues I have done a few small paintings over last two days.

  This lighthouse I had done for my sister as a gift to a friend. I started off with this as a study and did it in the bathroom in tube, why, space to splash. I had made the mistake of doing work at a desk for so long and working with too much control. I want to express colors and forms but want the water and paint to be what it is, so to say. I am not completely happy with how this one turned out but I fear going back into it now. I used an inferior paper and my fear is reworking now to darken below lighthouse and lighten water to right will damage the paper and actually detract from the over-all feel.

  Sadly, and a tip to anyone who might not know...even working at tub one should use a support. I was just messing about using some Dynasty squirrel quill brushes as I wanted lots of juice and color. If I thought I was about to make something I liked I would have taped the paper down...oh well, it has happened to more experienced then I! I also had done a watercolor sketch that, while not very pleasing to eye, was fun to do. I had worked on a small piece of paper, like 5x8 or so...to small to really do any washing as it was a sketch before anything but anything helps to get me back to painting.

 You'll notice I have a link for Dynasty Brush. I like their squirrel quill brushes, good quality real squirrel at half the price of Isabey! I have a Black Gold round as well but it is past its prime. When nest I need some synths I might check into their Faux Sable. The link is for the blog where Karyn will answer your questions personally, so read about their brushes on blog.