VALENTINE'S DAY BOUQUET

It's been our tradition that on Valentine's Day my husband buys me a bouquet of flowers and I've been painting their portrait.  Here's this year's.  This is 11" by 14" acrylic on canvas.

HORSES DONE

I spent most of the day finishing up the printing of my Year of the Horse Exchange print.  I still need to sort, cull, stamp and sign them.  Then they get stuffed into envelopes, addressed, stamped and mailed.   It could take a while for all of that.  

29 FACES - DAY 15

This is drawn from an uncredited photo on page A2 of the February 15, 2014 of the Seattle Times.

29 FACES - DAY 14

[My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Seattle Times from that day.]

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Here's my entry for today taken from today's front page.  This was first drawn out with my fountain pen, then colored with watercolors.  I got the paper too wet and had to wait for a while to let it dry out.  I came back later and added some darks.  I let it dry several times and tried putting in more darks and color.  The problem is I'm using sketchbook paper, not watercolor paper.  It will only take so much water and color before it just stops doing anything.

This was drawn from a uncredited photo in an article by Kyung M. Song of the Seattle Times Washington Bureau that was on the front page of the Seattle Times February 14, 2014.

My sweetheart and I went out for lunch to one of our favorite restaurants, Shangai Garden in the International District of Seattle.  I thought I should be posting a portrait of him today, so I sketched him while we waited for our lunch to arrive.  He wouldn't hold still.  I've sketched him so many times, I don't really need to look, but this one turned out not so good.  If you want to see a nice painting I did of him, go here.  

Happy Valentine's Day Darrell - I love you.

29 FACES - DAY 13

[My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Seattle Times from that day.]

Lucky 13!

On the front page today was a big story with pictures of the big snow storm hitting the southeast.

On page A2 there was several good choices.  I picked this one from a story of a fallen 'hero' who lost his way (or who never had a  way and finally got caught on his twisted path).

This was drawn from an uncredited photo accompanying a story written by Campbell Robertson of the New York Times that was on page A2 or the Seattle Times of February 13, 2014.

29 FACES - DAY 12

[My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Seattle Times from that day.]

Another day with a tough choice for faces on the front page.  It was either our state Governer, Jay, or Shirley Temple.  Both of these people are easily recognizable which means the pressure is on to do an accurate rendition - not my strong suit, especially if I'm doing a contour drawing.  I have a hard time with children's faces - it's a whole different thing, I'm not sure why though. You just draw what you see, right?  Okay, I'll give the Shirley Temple a try.  But, then I wimped out and decided to do a semi-blind contour drawing.  I really messed up the teeth, I should have never put the lines in with such a strong line as the ink pen.  Bad, bad, bad.

P.S. She was in black and white.

This drawing was sooo bad, I decided not to post it and drew the Governer also.  What the heck, post them both.

Governer Jay was drawn from a photo on the front page of the 2-13-2014 Seattle Times credited to Rachel La Corte/The Associated Press.

Shirley was drawn from a photo credited to Hulton Archive/Getty Images that was on the same front page.

29 FACES - DAY 11

[My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Seattle Times from that day.]

The Olympic Games are in the headlines and there was a big picture of a local gal, who had won a medal, on the front page.  She was screaming with joy and her mouth was wide open.  I couldn't bring myself to draw her.  I don't like doing teeth, they never look like they should.

But, there was a tiny little picture of this interesting looking guy.  I messed up one of his eyes... and with ink there's no going back.

This was drawn from an uncredited photo accompanying a story by Dominic Gates on the front page of the Seattle Times of February 11, 2014.

29 FACES - DAY 10

[My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Seattle Times from that day.]

This guy was at an odd angle.  I wouldn't have picked him, but I didn't get a choice.  I think it turned out okay.

This is a semi-blind contour drawing using a Lamy fountain pen with black Noodlers ink then colored with Derwent watercolor pens and left dry.

This was drawn from a photo on the front page of the Seattle Times of 2-10-2014, the photo is credited to Greg Gilbert of the Seattle Times.

29 FACES - DAY 9

[My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Seattle Times from that day.]

Today is Sunday, the paper is big.  There was a cute story on the front page that had something to do with young girls in some sort of camp.  The pictures didn't show the faces very well.  So I perused the rest of the paper, then went back to page one.  There was a little teeny picture of a very interesting looking guy.  And I love the way the photo was cropped.  Here he is.

I filled up my Lamy fountain pen (my fingers are inky even now) and used that to sketch him, then embellished him with layers of watercolors.  I had a dark almost black behind him, and several hours later I went back and covered that with Alizarin Crimson.  Much better now.

This was drawn from an uncredited photo in the Seattle Sunday Times, February 9, 2014 written by a Seattle Times writer (I forgot to write his name down and the paper has been recycled already).

29 FACES - DAY 8

[My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Seattle Times from that day.]

This is not from the front page either though.  I found him on A2 of today's Seattle Times.  He looks like a judge in my drawing.  But, he's not.  He's a bad guy, or a good guy gone over the edge a little too far.  

This is a semi-blind contour drawing, meaning I only looked at where my pen was going occassionally to reorient myself.  I tried to keep my eyes on the contours and lines of the subject and 'feel' my way through the drawing.  I find you either get very interesting results, or really really embarrassingly bad results (if you're trying to do a portrait).

My fountain pen, that I usually use, ran out of ink just right after I started.  So, most of this drawing was done with a cheap black Bic pen.  Then I added layers of watercolor trying to build up the darks.  I was more patient this time.

This drawing was done from a photo on page A2 of the February 8, 2014 Seattle Times.  It is uncredited and accompanied a story from Dade City, Florida by Associated Press.

I was looking at some wonderful sketches on UrbanSketchers today.  Someone mentioned Sailor pens that have a caligraphy nib.  Note to self: It sounds like something I just gotta get.  Check it out.

29 FACES - DAY 7

[My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Seattle Times from that day.]

I started this challenge out doing blind contour drawings, and every day I've gotten less and less blind and more exacting trying to get the features correct.

This drawing I really tried to get it right.  I think this guy has a very interesting face with distinct planes, lines and angles.  I started with a pencil and worked at getting the planes and shapes correct.  Then I went over them with the ink pen.  Instead of the watercolor pencils I got out my regular watercolors and used them.  I can always use practice with watercolors.  They don't come easily to me.

This was drawn from a photo on the front page of the February 7, 2014 Seattle times.  The photo is credited to Karl Eisenhower/Kaiser Health News.

29 FACES - DAY 6

[My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Seattle Times from that day.]

Yesterday was the big Seahawks Parade, so there was a huge picture of the huge crowd on the front page today, which is no good for me (although I must say, it's a great thing for the city, and maybe even the state).

On page 2 I found this interesting face.

I was looking at someone else's sketches yesterday, and I realized they used a pencil first...hmmm.  I've always just started right out with the pen and if I made a big blunder it was just 'oh, well'.  I always hated that part of it.  It made it almost too stressful (not fun).

So, I used a pencil to sketch out this face and get the basics down first, then went at it quickly with the ink pen.  Then I colored it with the watercolor pencils and added water.  Now that I've posted it here, I can see the streaky-ness of the strokes where I went back into the wet paper with the watercolor pencils to add more shading.  I don't like that way that looks, so I'll try harder to get it more even next time.

This was drawn from an uncredited photo on page A2 of the February 6, 2014 of the Seattle Times.

29 FACES - DAY 5

[My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Seattle Times from that day.]

Like I said, I live in Seattle.  Other big news today is the new CEO of Microsoft.  His picture was on the front page today.  

This is a pen and ink drawing, kind of a little semi-blind, colored with Derwent watercolor pencils which I did not apply water to.  I discovered that unlike regular colored pencils, these don't like to many layers of color.  After I had gotten the skin color sort of like I wanted I was reluctant to add water for fear of ruining it, so I didn't.  (I don't like it as well as the watercolor ones though).

This was drawn from a photo on the front page of the Seattle Times February 5, 2014.  It was credited with Microsoft.

29 FACES - DAY 4

[My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Times for that day.]

Today's Seattle Times still has football coverage on the front page (see yesterday's post).  There was a big picture of a group of people, so all of the faces are too small to draw.  On the banner was an uncredited picture of coach Pete Carroll with the Lombardi Trophy.  So, today's drawing is again of Pete.

This is a pen and ink drawing, colored with Derwent watercolor pencils with a little water applied here and there to activate them.

This was drawn from an uncredited photo on the front page banner of the Seattle Times of February 4, 2014.

29 FACES - DAY 3

I live in Seattle.  If you are tuned into American happenings, then you should know that yesterday was the Superbowl and the Seattle Seahawks won.  So, you can guess what was on the front page of the Seattle Times.  [My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Times for that day.]

Yes, it was a full page color photo of the Quarterback holding the trophy with the coach standing next to him.  There was confetti falling down all around them.  I chose the coach.  

This is a pen and ink drawing, colored with Derwent watercolor pencils, with just a little water here and there, mostly the background.  After I messed up the face of yesterday's guy, I didn't want to put water on this face.

This is drawn from a photo on the front page of the Seattle Times, Monday, February 3, 2014.  The photo is credited to Jon Lok.

29 FACES - DAY 2

There weren't any faces on the front page of the Sunday Seattle Times.  There were people, but most of them had their backs to the camera or were way off and too small to see.  There was one headshot of a columnist, but my paper had a smudge over him.  And there was a very small picture of the Fab Four, which I found just a little too intimidating.   

So, I found this picture on A3 and I liked the odd angle of the image.  I can definitely say I've never drawn anyone at this angle before.

This is a semi-blind contour with ink, then colored with Derwent watercolor pencils and water applied.  And, yes I overworked the nose.  I always do that with watercolors.  They take such a fine touch and I rush in too quickly.  Maybe by the end of the month I'll figure that out.

This is drawn from a photo credited to Hans Pennick/Associated Press that was in the Sunday Seattle Times, page A3, February 2, 2014.

29 FACES - DAY 1

Here I go again.  I've committed to the 29 Faces in February Challenge again.

This time the challenge for me will be to draw a face from the Seattle Times every day.  I'm going to try to do one from the front page, even if I don't like it.  

This one is a blind contour drawing of the face using my ink pen.  Then I looked while I filled in the rest of the drawing.  I used Derwent watercolor pencils and then applied a little water to blend it all.

This was drawn from a photo on the front page of the February 1, 2014 Seattle Times.  The photograph is credited to Mike Siegel.  (it doesn't look anything like the poor man in the photo).

PRINTING THE YEAR OF THE HORSE PRINT

I cut some paper and set everything up and printed about eight of the 'color' plate with Akua Carbon Black. Good thing I decided to check the registration with the 'line' plate, which turned out to be good, because it was the inks that weren't going to work.  I used Akua Mars Black, thinking it would be significantly darker and stand out over the Carbon Black, but it didn't.

I added a little Akua Titanium White to the Carbon Black and tried again.  It looked so great I was doing a little happy dance.

I took a picture of the first "Rupert".

Are you peeking?

I didn't have time to finish them all today.  I got only 8 made and this is a busy week.  I don't know when I'll get around to finishing the rest.  I was hoping I'd get them in the mail by this Friday, Chinese New Year, but it's not looking like that will happen.  But soon.

SECOND PLATE FOR YOT HORSE

The second plate will be a 'color' plate, although I'm thinking just different black inks.

I need to do a lot of scratching and crosshatching on the plate to make big sections of 'color.'

So, both plates are finished.  

NEED CONTACT PAPER

Once I got the template for registration made, I realized I didn't have any plastic contact paper to cover it with.  If you don't cover it with something that is wipable it will eventually get covered in ink, which will transfer onto your paper.  Not good.

I needed to make a trip to Target.

It's shelf liner with peelable paper so you can stick it down to whatever.  It works perfectly for my need, covering my mat board with the registration lines with clear plastic.  It will last a long time now.

TEMPLATE FOR PRINTING

I need to make a template to hold the acrylic plate when printing.  It will have marks to use to line up the paper.

I use mat board, cut a hold in the center the size of the plate, and then draw lines around the opening in various widths.

ACRYLIC? OKAY

After deciding on an image, the next hardest decision would be how I'm going to make this print.

Woodblock?  Moku hanga or oily?

Linoleum?  One plate or two? 

Hand rubbed or run it through the press?

Acrylic plates?...I just finished one and that went well...okay.  Let's go with that.

I didn't have a plate that hadn't been rolling around in my drawer and wasn't scratched all up.  So, where to buy - let's try the local hardware store.  Yes, they had some and it was cheap, but I have to cut it myself.

That's not too difficult,  score it and snap it.  The hard part is getting it really square, especially since I'm leaning towards using two plates, which means they need to be the same.

Let's just say, they ended up close.

Then it was just a matter of scratching the image into the plate - almost like drawing with a pencil.  

No peeking.

TIME TO THINK ABOUT YOT HORSE

It's time to start thinking about an image for my Year of the Horse print for the annual Chinese New Year exchange with Barenforum.  I drew up a couple of different ideas, but finally settled on this guy, who I'm calling Rupert.

I think he's very interesting.

FINISHING TOUCHES

This weekend I put the finishing touches on this year's Christmas cards.

I hand-colored each with colored pencils.

I tried several different blues for the sky and settled on a light blue because when it mixed with the grey plate tone it seemed like a sky that was threatening to snow.

Coloring each with colored pencils.

Then it was on to putting my stamp on the back, and signing, dating and numbering them all.

Positioning the stamp

The back of the card.

Then using commercial stamps I bought, using a few different blue inks, I stamped the insides with the sentiment "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow".

Signing the inside, too.

Here it is, all ready to be mailed out, as soon as Darrell writes our Christmas Letter.

An edition of 45 

Hoping you have a great Holiday Season

 and a Happy New Year!

RE-PURPOSED

Sometimes, in life, things outlive their usefulness and are pushed aside by better, faster, slicker.

Sometimes, they are perfect for another purpose.

Weighing down the damp prints so they dry flat.

THAT TIME OF YEAR

Yes, it's time to start on my annual Christmas Card, so making quilts and other things will have to wait.

My biggest hurdle is always the image.  I see such clever things out there, and I think, why didn't I do that?

So, this year I'm going to blatantly steal someone else's idea.

The image I'm using is drawn by me, but it is a direct ripoff of Viza Arlington's image, which you can see at this page on her blog, VIZart.blogspot.com.  Viza is a very talented and creative artist, I love her work.  She also has an Etsy shop, where you can buy her little snowman print.  

I'm using an acrylic plate.  I've done a few zinc plate etchings, but this is a first time with acrylic.  It was really quite simple, and I like that you can paste your image on the back and just trace it, something you can't do with zinc.  I also like using an etching needle because when you make a line on the plate, you get a line of ink on the print.  It's just like drawing.

Last night I made some initial prints and made some adjustments and changes to the plate.

This morning I cut the paper, and after lunch I got about half of them printed.

The plate on the left waiting to be inked up.

I don't use my press very often, this is it an Ettan 24" - very nice.

I place the inked plate into a little cut out in a template on the press bed.

The template has lines on where to place the paper.

The press has several blankets which go over the plate and paper.  When the wheel is cranked the bed moves under the roller and the blankets push the paper down into the lines etched into the plate where the ink is waiting to be picked up.

Here's my stack for the day.  Half way done with the printing of the image.

I originally planned to hand color them with watercolors, but I'm really liking them just like this. 

But, then again, color can really makes things sing....

I don't know....

Stay tuned.

CHANGE OF PLANS

I had originally thought I'd need to put all of the pieces up on the design wall - which would have been very difficult, because it's not really big enough, and the pieces are easy to fall off.  But I don't want to make up a bunch of blocks and then try to arrange them either because I need to see the whole quilt all at once to get a good color flow and balance since I have such a strange assortment of fabrics to work with.

Once I realized that my orignal plan wouldn't work, for the above stated reasons, I realized I could make the block into it's three separate unit-parts (well, nine parts in all).  That way, I could put the pieces up on the wall and still be able to move them around to get the optimum color flow.

So, that's what I'm doing.

It's still pretty slow going, but still fun.

Only two of these are sewn together blocks, the rest are just the separate units - the 4 corner parts, which you can easily see here, the 4 arcs, and the center diamond.  Should be fun to mix and match when I get a bunch made up.

BIRTHDAY DINNER AT ENDOLYNE JOE'S

Endolyne Joe's Restaurant has quarterly themes.  Tonight's was 'Quebec'.  There was a giant loon flying through the restaurant with lots of maple leaves and other Canadian things.

The food was simple and excellent.

Happy Birthday Darrell.

MAKING THE FIRST BLOCK

I thought it best to make one block to see how it would go.

Luckily I read the instructions from the magazine.  I was all set to do it in a different order.  Their instructions make more sense.  You sew all of the straight lines together first.  You are then left with several long arcs to piece. 

I haven't done much curved piecing.  It's slow going.

First, the center section, all straight seams.

Next, the other two sections, still all straight seams.

Then add the arc to the corner pieces.

Lastly sewing the corner pieces to the center.

Actually, it's not difficult, it's just slow.

And, it turned out exactly the right size - 14-1/2" square (finished size will be 14").


This quilt should keep me busy all winter.  


Remember:  enjoy the process.

CUTTING OUT THE ARCS

I'm not sure I'm going to have enough of the whites and lights of the original fabrics to do all of the arcs and X's.  So, I'm cutting them first.

Only 392 pieces needed.  Here we go.

CUSTOM MADE TEMPLATES

I finally decided on the pattern for my Kentucky fabrics.

The pattern was found in a magazine, Quilt Life, April 2013 issue.

I redrew the block in Electric Quilt, making it smaller, so there could be more blocks on the quilt.  

It has lots of curves and odd shapes, necessatating templates.

I asked my wonderful husband if he could cut them out for me.

I printed the templates out with Electric Quilt.  I was thinking acrylic, but he asked if masonite would work, and I couldn't think of reason it wouldn't.  After all, they are just for this one project.  The masonite is easier to cut with his woodworking tools, whereas the acrylic requires special (expensive) blades.  We glued the paper onto the masonite then he cut them out with the bandsaw and sanded them down to the line.  He made it look really easy.

So, here they are:

Weird shapes, huh?

P.S.  I'm such a lucky gal.  Thank you, Darrell.