Notes from the Drawing Board

Mother and Child Charcoal on paper


Nude: front recline Derwent drawing pencils on paper

Drawing doesn't come naturally to me. some people can sit for hours and just draw. Not me. I can paint like that but not sit with a pencil and draw. I have to work at drawing; work hard. So I'm very happy for the experience of Drawing 1. It has taught me not to be intimidated by the pencil; not to fear the line that isn't going to be administered in painting. I have learnt a lot and am still learning as I do my pieces for final assessment.

There have been so many challenges so far in my quest for artistic growth and development. But God has worked each one of them out in His way and I am thankful for the experience.

Just thought I'd share two pieces from my final assessment portfolio. The first one I am still working on. Got to do some tweaking on the mother's face. We had to take shots of people in gesture positions and use photoshop to turn them into black and whites and then draw. I lucked out on getting this mother and her daughter in an unguarded moment.

The second piece is from my themed work with the nude. I am looking at form and the effect of light on the body, especially the muscles. No males yet. Still a work in progress but this one is done! I just love these drawing pencils. They are like butter.

Still Here; Stll Standing

No I have not abandoned my blog and no I have not given up painting. I am still here. Right now I'm posting from my school's computer (which I really don't like using for my stuff) to say "hi" to you since mine has caught a cold and must be hospitalised for a season. BEWARE OF OTHER PEOPLE'S MEMORY STICKS!

I have some stuff to share that I've been doing in UWI ( University of the West Indies) as I read for my BFA. My drawing class is fun and I definitely love Art History- Its official. Will share with you as soon as I can. So bare with me as I deal with the patient and chomp at the bit to share with you what I've been doing in Art school.
Take care!

The Journey

I'm thinking that this experience I am having presently; going after my second degree, this time in visual arts, trying to follow that dream of switching careers at this stage of my life will definitely be a testimony of God's grace and perfecting work in my life. The very labour involved in attending classes, the time spent on the highway, the juggling of home and family, work and school... I get tired just thinking about it. Is it worth it, though? Definitely!

I'm having the time of my life! I'm doing Art History; something I have always enjoyed and I am learning a lot about who I am as an artist. Drawing class is great and the Art Education class is also interesting. I am learning and developing skills that will help me become a better artist and a better teacher.

Most important, though, at the end of it all I will also have a testimony

Testify!!!!

God is good!

Repeat after Me: You are Moving!

I have made one more step into the unknown, on my journey toward becoming a professional artist. I have now signed on to contribute to an art blog as a guest author.

This will be my first occasion writing anything art-related that wasn't just about my work and my experienceas an artist and a Christian. Now I have to come up with how tos and other tips that will help other people grow as artists. Daunting to say the least but you cannot get anywhere in life if you do not step out. So here I go. Say a prayer.
One... two... three... Step!

Here is the link to my first blog. I hope you read it and share your thoughts.

Breaking Away

Flower Garden
Oil
18x15
(This painting was chosen to be here
because it marked the beginning of my journey to become a serious artist)

I am involved in a lot of activities. From painting to writing to singing to involvement in women's ministeries, to practising culinary arts to teaching full time and from September, I am once more a student at UWI. St Augustine. I'll be going for my second degree this time in fine art. In addition I have my most important responsibilities as wife and mother.


Most recently (June) I added radio announcer to this list of activites. It was one of those thing s that I always wanted to experience and I felt I would be good at, so there I was.


There is some truth to the saying spreading yourself too thin. While I was announcing, my art was languishing, my writing was basking in the dimness of nowhere and my family, well they are very supportive. I had to drop out of the choir since I was on during choir paractice and I haven't seen the inside of a church in weeks.


I am the type of person who likes to be involved but I feel involvement must be, like everything else tempered by good sense. It makes no sense involving yourself in everthing and not flowing and being effective.


My focus shifted from where it should have been to something else entirely. I want to be an artist of note and a prolific writer. I view both of these as much ministry as working for a christian radio station. In order to be both these things I must give them their due. Therefore, I have made the decision to give up my announcer's responsibility to someone who will be able to give it their full attention.


It was an honor and privilege that I will always remember and be thankful for.

Abandoned

Abandoned
Oils
12x24 canvas panel

As I meandered through the little village of La Lune in Moruga I came across A cemetary; not a cemetary for people but for lorries, trucks cranes, tractors with and without the backhoe.
They must have been of use to someone at some point but now they lined the roadway, abandoned. Home for every kind of bush and grass and even little trees and whatever creature decide to set up home base.
Now it provides me with worthy subjects and a story to tell.