365 days of drawing ~ day fifty-eight ~ Trees and Tents with Leigh

The last pencil stroke has been made.  I am so glad to share with you this portrait.  The abundance of love and pure joy radiates from this photo of two beautiful souls.  This marks the beginning of more portraits on the way that you can read about here .  When I repeatedly witnessed the love and light my friend Angela holds for her sister Leigh, I was touched.  Touched because I have a brother and we are not close as I would like.  But I know just how much pain, anguish and sorrow I would feel if he passed before his time.  So that led me to begin this portrait that started on day seven that you can read about here.  It was an amazing trip filled with so much healing, love, light, sadness, remembrance, friendship, and resulted in a masterpiece.  

I wanted Angela to have the last word and tell you about her sister.....

365 days of drawing ~ day fifty-six

Feeling accomplished.  Nothing but good energy, love and happiness put into this work of art.  I refused to work on it while under any negative influences.  This is the part where I stare at the drawing and compare it to the photo compulsively.  I am ecstatic, very pleased with this result.  I will stare intently, scrutinize all angles before I add my signature and date.  I will also say a prayer over it once completed.  Over the next two days you can expect to see the completed portrait with a story, call to action and original photograph.  Then I will be taking a little break over the weekend to spend some much needed time away with other mamas from my MOPS group.  I will return refreshed, full of giggles and ready to tackle my next masterpiece.....Houd, my dear friend.  I have been thinking of you and missing you.

365 days of drawing ~ day fifty-five

Nearly wrapped up.  Finished off the rest of the background except for one small, tiny area.  In the next few days I will let my OCD take over to fix all the minor imperfections.  The portrait is just a few short steps away from completion. 

365 days of drawing ~ day fifty-three

Still finishing up shading and details, not finished yet - but soon.  Almost ready.  Almost ready to reveal the photo, reveal the story - soon.

365 days of drawing ~ day fifty-two

Background, shading.....almost complete.  Pushing for my end of February deadline.  I am sure the owner is getting excited now.  Been working on the drawing turned 180 degrees clockwise lately, definitely helping to correct a lot of small things!  Very pleased up to this point.  Before I know it, I will be making prints and handing the original masterpiece off to the rightful owner, where I know it will be treasured and featured lovingly.

Getting anxious about my next big adventure!  This year is going to be filled with portraits full of love.

365 days of drawing ~ day fifty-one

As I near the end of the portrait, filling in the last of the background, adjusting the shading and fixing minor details, I am reminded of how short and precious life is.  Here today, gone tomorrow.  Sometimes it is of our own doing, sometimes it is our health, maybe an accident or the wrong doing of others or just our time to go.  We can give our love, light and strength to those who need it, but not so much that we enable them to take all we have.  At times we need to protect ourselves from the darkness, negativity and despair created by others so we too do not get caught in the downward spiral.  How will you be remembered?  To what did you pour forth all your heart and soul?  Did you love?  Did you forgive?  Were you happy?  Follow your heart, follow your soul, love all you can, give all you can, be yourself, love yourself, be someone to somebody, let your words heal and not hurt.  You are beautiful, you are loved, you are important, you are forgiven. 

365 days of drawing ~ day fifty

 It's all in the details.  And shading.  More shading. 

365 days of drawing ~ day forty-nine

Worked on the background today and from all angles.  When I am drawing and find a particular spot difficult, I turn the drawing upside down or at a different angle.  It forces my eye to ignore what my mind thinks it should look like.  Now its all about the light to dark, dark to light and details, details, details.

365 days of drawing ~ day forty-eight

Only a few more areas in the background to fill in, then I can concentrate on the gray scale and work on light to dark.  I accomplished almost two hours of drawing today, while the end is now visible, there are still lots of details to wrap up.

I can't believe where I started....365 days of drawing ~ day seven

365 days of drawing ~ day forty-seven

Been trying to squeeze other art projects into my schedule AND testing the waters by putting both my girls in one room for nap and bedtime.  Crazy, I know.  So I have been sewing a new pair of patchwork jeans for myself, doing some crafts with my mini-me, new blog posts, amongst regular house-wifey duties.  I had plenty of time to work on the portrait today, about an hour and forty-five minutes.  Spent today filling in love bugs pants, making fixes to her nose and darkening shadows on Aunt E's face, neck and fiddling around with her shirt.  Keep on keepin' on

365 days of drawing ~ day forty-six

Annnnnd, taking another fiesta....

365 days of drawing ~ day forty-five

Valentines day was a busy day, whiny children, grouchy husband, annoying kitty cats....but, I still made time for these two Valentines!  I only had about 15 minutes to spare, I managed to fix Aunt E's shirt and work on little love bugs upper lip, I can't seem to nail that one down.  One day it will just look "right" and I know I won't have to touch it again.  I added some shading to the landscape in the background.  And that is it for now.  Hoping to get more done Saturday!!  Seems like I have more time to myself when it's just me and the kids (probably because I don't have a little voice reminding me of all the things I have to do around the house).  Glad to have him home, I missed my love.

365 days of drawing ~ day forty-four

I got nothing. 

365 days of drawing ~ day forty-three

Worked late into the night, sometimes I just can't take my hands off it.  The energy surrounding this portrait is amazing.  I think I must have been drawing for at least two or more hours.  I am still anxious to get back at it now that I am viewing my progress.  I see lots of details to fix and some that need to be added. 

We are all works in progress, every day comes with its own challenges. 

365 days of drawing ~ day forty-two

Still working throughout the portrait, not concentrating on one particular area, just letting things flow through me.  Each day I study my progress and work in whatever area seems to need my attention.  It may seem as though the portrait is almost complete, however there is lots of shading, darkening and lightening to accomplish.  The end is in sight, but still a ways off.  I only had about 30 minutes to spare today, some days I have more and some days less.  I see lots of obsessing over small details in my near future....

I will have to say, there is nothing more fulfilling than giving your time, talent, love and light to a deserving soul.  And aren't we all deserving of those things...

365 days of drawing ~ day forty-one

Deepening and darkening shadows, filling in the background as I go along.  Making small fixes here and there...I realize it is never going to look EXACTLY like the photo, but I can get it pretty close I think.  I have not been using a grid for a very long time, I might get it back out to touch up some areas.  Detail is everything.  I see lots of areas that need to be lightened or darkened.  I am becoming very grateful to have to take photos everyday for the blog.  I don't have to physically stand back and scrutinize my drawing like the good ole' days.  I can compare the photo and drawing right here on my computer.  I feel fancy.

365 days of drawing ~ day forty *bonus

To take my mind off the new Walking Dead mid-season premier that I can't watch on TV, I decided to continue making progress.  I did know earlier today that I would be working on the portrait again later.

365 days of drawing ~ day forty

..........I've got to admit it's getting better, a little better all the time.

Evolution of a drawing PART II

Approximately 32 hours completed to this point.  What a journey!

Music: Tori Amos "Pretty good year"



Read about how it all started 365 days of drawing - day seven

365 days of drawing ~ day thirty-nine

 

Seeing the finish line in the distant future.....  Love, love, love drawing.  On the most difficult, stressed out days, just feeling the paper and hearing the pencil strokes.....is relief.