365 days of drawing ~ day seven

So.  I've decided to start a portrait.  Not for me.  For someone else.  I just felt so motivated, called, led, whatever you want to call it, to draw this portrait today.  I have drawn portraits of children for fathers that are continents apart, beloved dogs in heaven for heartbroken masters, spirit animals,  pet fishys that have seen everything, guitars that have heard it all, and now I draw a pair of loved ones for a sad face. I don't know why I do it, I just do.  I don't know how long it will take, or how it will turn out.  I don't know if it will end up with color in it or if it will stay black and white.  All I know is that it feels right.  I usually have trouble with the eyes, but already they look good so far.

This portrait will undergo lots of changes, sometimes I will erase large portions that make me unhappy and re-draw them.  I use a grid-like method when I draw portraits to keep me from feeling overwhelmed at all the large space. That way I can break it all down to smaller squares.  My art teacher in high school taught me this method of drawing with large spaces and it works quite well for me.  I will update the blog each day with my progress.

I have NEVER shown ANYONE my portraits in progress before, besides my high school art teacher.  Drawings undergo so many changes, good and bad, before the completed masterpiece.  I don't really even show anyone my drawings, period.  So this is new for me too.  Bear with me.

I apologize for the poor quality of my photos, I take most of them at night because my children do not afford me time in the mornings when the light is better.

365 days of drawing ~ day six

This morning I was dreaming of when The Walking Dead on AMC would be back on television, then I glanced up at my Walking Dead zombie figurine and got lost for a few minutes.....I was haltingly brought back to reality by my children demanding strawberry pancakes (darn that Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood).  Didn't they know it's January and NOT strawberry season????  When I kindly explained the strawberry situation to my oldest daughter, she promptly threw a tantrum, which cued the baby to start crying as well.  This was just a hint to what the day had in store for this mama.  All day I wanted to stick a screw driver in my eye....just like my zombie friend here - how fitting.

P.S.  We did have pancakes, blueberry ones using frozen blueberries....the next best thing to strawberries.

365 days of drawing ~ day five

Done in 10 minute increments, sketching and shading very quickly, 20 minutes was about all the time I had for this beauty.  Certainly not one great brewery or one great taste, but certainly cheap.  I managed to eek this drawing out late night, before bed.  My husband holding one of his least favorite beers, good ole' Genesee.....ghastly!!

365 days of drawing ~ day four

Just needed to kick up and relax today.  Not bad for being bumped repeatedly by my little artist, while she worked diligently next to me with her own pencils and paper.  "Drawing feet" she says, "mamas feet."  I've always been fond of feet and hands.  Only spent about 35 minutes on this one, proud that my talent is reappearing quickly.  Getting very hungry for more, sometimes I consider sketching before bedtime.  Already thinking about whose portrait I am going to work on first....I have so many loved ones in heaven..

365 days of drawing ~ day three

If you are a parent, then you know what this is - relief torture, I like to call it.  This handy, dandy, bulb syringe has given our children many a night of peaceful slumber - after screaming, kicking, crying, flailing episodes.  All the children start shaking their heads no when they see us holding it, waving their hands stay away as we chase them down, crying as we near their faces....it should come with a warning: Children will run, conceal device for best results.  And it should read: Two adults required for smooth operation.  One parent holds them down and the other parent operates snot sucking.  Our children have had little colds this past two weeks and this torture is necessary for normal breathing to accomplish naps and full nights sleep. 

365 days of drawing ~ day two

Today was a difficult day with only about an hour to myself.  I only used about 30 minutes to study and draw, I didn't get to finish and my perspective was off on the darker block.  Feels great to be back on a drawing schedule again though.  After thinking about it, I used to draw every day for four years for at least an hour a day, when I was in High School.  But really it was more like two or three hours a day, since I had several art classes in one day.

I happened to see the Hape Twist and Turnables that our youngest just got for Christmas this year.  I was thinking about how my children were clingy and whiny today, when I saw the twist and turnables, I giggled.  As the world turns....

365 days of drawing ~ day one

I have a lot of things to accomplish in 2014, getting back to drawing is one of them.  I am going to draw something each day, even if it's just a partial sketch.  I am sure I will have quite a few unfinished drawings, but better than none at all.  Being able to draw well comes with lots of practice.

Do or do not, there is no try  ~ Yoda

It is the start of a new year.  My youngest turned one yesterday and we are embarking on new frontiers with both girls.  We have a lot of hopes and dreams for 2014.  Family, friends, job hunting, camping, festivals, tie dye, music, drawing, more exercise, are all on the list.  I managed to sneak in a bit of drawing during nap time today.  This little fellow is one of the astronauts that came with The Early Learning Centre lift off rocket.  I thought, what better than to start off our year with the dreams of adventure....