SKETCHBOOK: MORE FACE STUDIES

SKETCHBOOK: IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME

SKETCHBOOK: HOLY SCRIPTURE AND FLOWERS

On the first Sunday after the New Year, the congregation I attend did something different and quite beautiful to welcome in 2014. Members of the church could text passages of scripture relating to love for all of us to read aloud in unison. Moving away from a traditional structure and reading about God's love was refreshing and while I recorded these verses that were being shared, I began drawing some flowers at the top of the page. What started out was individual little flowers began to morph into one. There have been a handful of times where I felt something organic and impulsive take over when drawing and this was such a time.

SKETCHBOOK: 20's

SKETCHBOOK: FLOATING ELEPHANT TOWN

SKETCHBOOK: SWEET LADY

Here is something that I have lately discovered: redrawing subjects is very much akin to rereading books. When I reread a book, I see a story differently. I see the devices, the imagery, the character traits, and the intricacies that I missed on the first go around. I think about how the story could be different. How little moments could turn a tale into something extraordinary. And when revisiting a subject, I see the same things. I see different elements. I see what a work could have been with a different set of choices. I get to be sharper and more detailed in loose places and loose and experimental in those detailed areas.

But the amazing thing about redrawing or repainting is that you can make those changes. You can recreate something that often times seems fixed. You can see what was once unseen right before your eyes. And you can fall in love again with something sweet or possibly sweeter.

SKETCHBOOK: PICTURES OF PEOPLE

This particular sketch is from my favorite statue on etsy. I can't seem to find the link or the shop right now, but when I do, I will share it. It's a gorgeous statue.

So, I love sketching people and interesting poses. Most of my inspiration comes directly from photography - I love turning the beauty of a specific portrait into something more ambiguous, where the emotional aspects can turn into anyone's experience. As far as specific photographers go, I've done a few sketches both from Sara Renee's work and also Sara Lynn Paige's. Thanks to my art  professors, I learned that being a good artist does not mean that you can just draw some object or person realistically out of your head - it means learning to use your eyes to see an object. I would eventually like to do some self-portraits and also some more from-life sketches; however, admiring beautiful photographs will always be a favorite.

SKETCHBOOK: COLORED PENCIL PORTRIATS

These are some older sketches that I have hanging in my studio area. I love working with colored pencils on toned paper. It makes the color pop more dramatically!

 Happy Thursday to everyone! I'm about to head off to work. Does anybody else feel like they need a vacation?

SKETCHBOOK: BROOKE FRASER PORTRAIT

Working on portraiture and sharpening my technical skills. And still wanting to be Brooke Fraser. Just a typical Sunday in the studio.