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Saturday, May 31, 2008

Weekend Chat Line...Are you close to family?

Photo: This is my grandson and I several years ago.
Teddy was around 6 in this picture and is now entering 7th grade...I'm so very proud of the young man he's become.
He's added such joy to my life.


This weeks subject has nothing to do with art, but more about life and living. I'm in Illinois and my daughter and grandson live in New York. I don't get to see them nearly often enough and miss the every day connection terribly sometime. I guess this is just one of those times. We talk often, several times a week, but it's just not enough.

I have one daughter and one grandson...being this far away from each other is just the pits. A visit helps, but my "real job" and travel expenses get in the way. I've been swamped getting ready for my art fair season and now am coming down to the finish line...I'm to the point that my brain now has room for thoughts of other things and this terrible loneliness for my daughter and grandson is creeping in again. A visit at this time is just not possible.

So my question is this: I know many families are separated like this...how do you deal with it and how do you keep that close connection when separated by so many miles? What do you do to keep your mind off of just how bad you miss them?

The "Chat Line" is open...I'm anxious to here what you have to say. And as always, please feel free to comment on what others have to say.


Hope you're enjoying the wonderful weekend.
Marsha


Links:
Website ...Marsha Robinett Fine Art
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Milk and Cookies...carbon and graphite

...Milk and Cookies...
Carbon and graphite on paper, 7x8, double matted,
prints available
Sold

The Story Behind the Image: My daughter, Tamara, is a pastry chef in New York and these are some of her cookies. The bottle of milk was purchased special for this still life set-up...if you look closely you can see the cream that has floated to the top.

The photo was taken as the morning sun shown through the dining room window. I love the shadows on the glass and bottle of milk...expand the image and you can even see the shadows that the letters in the name "Ronnybrook" made on the milk in the bottle. And then there are of course the cookies...the one on top with the frosting is my favorite.

I took lots of photos as usual and improvised a back drop by using a drawing pad and my grandsons notebook. Oh Yes...I ate the cookies and drank the milk. After all, photography is hard work!

The drawing "Milk and Cookies" is on cream toned fine art paper, and offered in two sizes of Open Edition prints...check my Portfolio for availability of the Original and prices.


Links:
Website ...Marsha Robinett Fine Art
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques
"Milk and Cookies"...learn more



PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment

Monday, May 26, 2008

When You Feel The Pain

Written By: Sue Smith

"I'm stuck, in a rut."
"I'm frustrated and discouraged"
"I'm stressed out; everything's urgent."
"Maybe I just don't have what it takes."

These are a few of the opening sentences in Stephen R. Covey's new book, The 8th Habit, From Effectiveness to Greatness.

If you follow this blog, you know that I read a lot of books, and about 75% of them are not about art. But "Art" doesn't live in a vacuum, apart from the rest of our lives. What works and doesn't work in our "real" world is the same sort of stuff that works or doesn't work in our "Art" world.

If we were in our early 20's, our "Art" lives would be different. We'd have the time and freedom to explore ideas, themes, techniques, and problems with the enthusiasm of one who sees no end in sight. As we age, though, it's natural that "the end" begins creeping toward our horizon. I received an email recently from Casey Klahn who explained,

"One thing I've discovered as an older artist is that it is important for me to start "at the top". I am not a school kid, after all!"

I remember feeling times of great urgency, a limited window of opportunity that I was going to miss - and still do. I remember pushing myself nearly to the point of exhaustion and then feeling frustrated with the results - and still do. So how do we achieve a sense of balance between the urgency of the Muse and the realization there might not be enough time left to do all we dream about doing?

Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

  • Believe that there is enough time to do what you are supposed to do. Once I freed myself from the belief that time was working against me, my life became easier. I would walk into my studio and not feel the self-imposed pressure to create something that would "sell now!" In fact, I realized the more I tried to answer that demand of "sell now!" (which was a form of needing to justify what I was doing) the worse my work became - and the more frustrated I felt.
  • Realize that the "top" is only a marker on the spiral, just a "starting point" for the next growth cycle. I understand where Casey is coming from when he says he needs to start "at the top." Because we are entering the art market at a mature age, the art market expects a high level of competency. Our work can't be excused as young and brash, full of passion, short on technique, but loads of potential. So it's necessary to study artists working at the levels of competency to which we aspire in order to ensure that our work is comparable before we approach the market.
  • Growth requires us to "hate" our work periodically. I once had an exercise t-shirt that read : "No Pain, No Gain." I wasn't into pain, so I never saw much gain. Its the same with art. Being stuck, feeling anxious, frustrated, angry, experiencing the emotional pain of hating what I'm producing - I used to dread it. I still dread that moment of walking into the studio and looking at the painting I just finished and immediately "hating" it. But I've come to realize these are messages from my unconscious, my artistic soul, telling me, "hey, you gotta move on here! Your work was fine for where you were last year, but this is Now."
  • Become your own best mentor. Be kind to yourself. When you grow to the point of recognizing there is something missing in your work - rejoice. It means you've developed your "eye" to the point where you're able to progress, and that you're not suffering from what Robert Genn calls "Kalopsia" (an interesting read in the click-backs). And as your own best mentor, take on the responsibility of learning what else you might need to know at this point on the spiral - whether you watch instructional DVD's, read books, draw daily, paint daily -- whatever you do, begin to expand your practice consistently.
  • It's also okay to work within your comfort zone. Out of curiosity, I started reading art blogs coming out of the New York Art Scene. I quickly discovered that I didn't belong in that rarefied world of artspeak, critical laceration, bizarre theory, shock art, power plays, movers and shakers, blog wars, hoaxes and non-hoaxes pretending to be hoaxes...okay, too much hyperbole here. My point is only that it's better to focus energy where you know you want it and not spend it where it drains away your enthusiasm. Activism, while fondly remembered, might be better left to the young.

So what is Covey's 8th Habit?

The 8th Habit "is to Find Your Voice and Inspire Others to Find Theirs" (p. 5).

Interesting, huh?

_________________________________________

This article is reproduced with permission.

Copyright...2008 Sue Smith

To Get more of Sue Smith's thoughts about art visit her blog at:
Ancient Artist: developing an art career after 50
Sue Smith fine Art
...website

This article originally appeared at the following URL. http://ancientartist.typepad.com/ancient_artist_developing/2008/05/sunday-salon-wh.html


PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Weekend Chat Line...The "last minuet rush" syndrom?

Photo from...Decatur Arts in Central Park, '07

Every year it's the same...right before my art fair season starts I'm in this last minuet rush! I consider myself a well planned, well organized person yet the pattern is always the same. It's frustrating. I even schedule my "to do's" on a calender!! Because my my "Real Job" and my summer show reschedule somewhat collide during the summer months, I try to have all my show needs taken care of before hand. (so much to do and so little time)

My first show is in two weeks. Today I'm packaging prints and working on display signs. Doesn't seem like allot...but will probably take most of the day. I still have prints that I need to print but as luck would have it...my printer *&!?># out on me yesterday! So now I have this to deal with next week. (a trip out of town) Wasn't in the position to buy a new one and fixing the one I have will probably be unreasonable....GRRRRRR!

Am I having a bad week? YES! Sorry, I don't think this is a chat line question...perhaps simply a chat line groan. ( to make my day perfect...BLOGGER won't let me add an image to this post!!) What else would one expect?

Update...blogger had a change of heart, so there is now a photo!
So I ask you: Am I the only one that is in a dead run this time of the year? Are you in chaos before your show season begins? If not...what on earth do you do to avoid it?

The "Chat Line" is open...I'm anxious to here what you have to say. And as always, please feel free to comment on what others have to say.


Hope you're enjoying the wonderful weekend.

Marsha


Links:
Website ...Marsha Robinett Fine Art
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

May Guest Artist...Karen Hargett

I first spoke with Karen a few years ago when I was setting up my portfolio on Starving Artists. Starving Artists is hosted in the UK...I had run into some difficulty and needed to ask questions of a “real person” and it was a little expensive to call overseas!

Karen was listed as a gold member and from the US...my perfect contact. We soon discovered that we had much in common and have kept in touch ever since. Karen was working mainly in graphite at the time, beautifully done I might add. She has since become quite proficient as a pastel artist. I’ve watched her grow in this new medium and been amazed with her progress as I’ve waited for each new painting.

I’m going to quit my ramblings and let Karen tell you a little about herself.

Marsha thanks for featuring me as your guest artist and for making that call to me a couple of years ago – you are a source of inspiration for me whether you realize it or not.

OK – a little about myself. I was born in San Antonio in 1950, one of four children – the oldest daughter. My dad was in the Air Force and although we didn’t travel and move around a whole lot we did live in Scotland, the Philippines and Hawaii. We always returned to San Antonio though where our family was.

I married shortly after graduating from John Marshall High School and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. About four years later my daughter was born. We lived in New Mexico, then back to San Antonio briefly before eventually moving to North Texas where we spent the next twenty some odd years.

At some point in our lives, some of us have “new beginnings” – I began mine (again) in 2004 and moved to the Buda area in South, Central Texas. My parents, sister and brother and their families live in the area too. I’m still trying to talk my daughter and her family to move down here so we can all be together. Anyway - I bought a small house on a couple of acres and me and my Appaloosa horse Billy Bob; Sassy, my Cairn terrier; and Samantha my cat settled in.

I work full time at a large medical association in Austin and work on my art in the evenings and on weekends. At 40 I took a couple of beginning college courses but that wasn’t where I wanted to be and I didn’t take it any further.

I’m a self-taught artist. All my life I loved drawing and painting. I have always enjoyed doing some sort of arts and crafts or home improvement – just being creative in some fashion or another for as long as I can remember. I watched art programs on TV and read books trying to learn what I could. Still do.

There is quite a story about the drawing that started your career, I wonder if you would mind relating how one drawing changed the direction of your life and how it makes you feel as you look back on that time.

Oh that was a wonderful time of my life – although it was during a very stressful time in my life – but isn’t’ that when we learn the most? I was no exception, I learned so much about myself as a person and an artist and fell in love with horses up close.

At 40 I took my first horseback riding lesson. It wasn’t long before I fell in love with reining after attending the Reining Horse Futurity in Oklahoma. I eventually ended up finding a reining horse trainer by the name of Gaetan Guthier. He was amazing. He was born in Quebec and spoke very broken English but amazingly enough he was able to communicate very well with humans and horses alike.

He found a horse for me, a four year old Appaloosa by the name of Billy Bob – yep Billy Bob is still with me today and just turned 20 in April.

Now at the time, I didn’t think Billy Bob was the horse of my dreams. I didn’t really want an Appaloosa as they had “bad” reputations and to top it off he was the wrong color – I wanted a buckskin! Gaetan in his wisdom said “he is the horse for you – you two are a match.” I took him at his word and bought him and began my training. You see Billy Bob was broke to ride but didn’t have a lot of training on him. Gaetan said we would learn together and he would “be mine.” He was right!

We began training and it was hard. Billy Bob (seen left) was tough and I had a lot to learn but with the help of Gaetan I learned how to train my horse and how to do reining. Reining is a very precise riding style – some call it the Western Dressage – the horse must be willing and show no resistance or hesitation to what you ask of it. The reining patterns include large fast circles done at a fast gallop and small slow circles done at a slow lope – the transition between the two is beautiful. Then there are the spins and sliding stops that will take your breath away. So as you can imagine training can get very intense for all involved.

One particular training session was one of those rather intense times but with Gaetan’s hard work both Billy Bob and I broke through a barrier and it was exhilarating. I was exhausted as I drove the 1 ½ hour trip home but kept replaying the success I had experienced in my head. I decided right then and there I had to do something special for Gaetan to thank him. His birthday was coming up and I decided to draw him a picture of a horse – one that had a reining horse and rider in the pupil.

I began drawing that very day and it was an amazing experience. It was as if the drawing bubbled up from deep inside of me – as corny as that sounds. I couldn’t draw fast enough. I had made a break through. Just like my lesson with Gaetan earlier. After several hours I was finished and was amazed at what I saw. I was afraid it was a fluke and drew another one. It came out just as well.

At Gaetan’s birthday celebration, I gave him the drawing that I matted and framed. When he opened the present he just looked at it. He didn’t say anything for several minutes. I was scared to death he didn’t like it. Then he looked at me and quietly said – “This is me isn’t it? This is me – I am the horse.” That was very emotional for me in so many ways and on so many levels – that was what I wanted to convey to him since I viewed him as a horse whisperer.

Today when I look at the drawing with a critical eye, I can see a lot of mistakes and things that could have been done better – but with all that it represents to me it really is perfect and I wouldn’t change a thing.

I learned some valuable lessons from that time in my life both from my lessons with Gaetan and that drawing I did. Life isn’t perfect. Life can be a challenge. It doesn’t matter how old we are we can learn something new. Look. Listen. Trust. Don’t let the fear of failure rule your life. Gaetan always said when training your horse “stop at a good place.” So whether you’re riding a horse, or working on a drawing, when you’re ready to put it away for the night it makes sense to stop at a good place even if you haven’t finished everything you set out to accomplish – it just makes it easier to pick it up the next time.

Since then, I haven’t stopped drawing.

When we first spoke, you were a graphite artist just starting to experiment with pastels. Your pastel paintings seem to have come so naturally...did you study with another artist or was this a hidden ability? And will we be honored with more graphite drawings in the future?

No, unfortunately I haven’t studied with any pastel artists – one of these days I’ll take a lesson. I have and still do, study the works of artists on ArtPapa.com. There are some very talented artists there in all mediums. Also, I have Lesley Harrison’s book on pastels – it was a great help.

Yes, there is always graphite in the future – can’t and don’t want to give that up. I seem to be obsessed with color right now though so I’m looking, listening and trusting those feelings deep inside me so that I can find my way to where I am supposed to be with my art. Ha – it can be a challenge and I always enjoy learning something new! No I didn’t plan on saying that but. . .

You offer both Limited and Open Edition prints. Myself, I’ve sometimes found it difficult deciding whether to offer a particular piece as Limited or Open Edition. Can you tell us the parameters you use as you make this decision?

That is a difficult question. I hate to say it but I go by instinct. Sometimes I take in to consideration the length of time it took to draw or the complexity of the drawing but that isn’t always the case. It’s just instinct. Some speak to me or they are “more” than my average drawing in one way or another. I don’t set out to draw a Limited Edition, but at some point I know during the drawing process that is what it is going to be.

I know you still work a full time job, how do you handle the challenge of carving out time for your art from a busy day?

It’s hard balancing a full time job, keeping up with the animals at home, the work around my place, and drawing and getting to the occasional art show. Drawing is a luxury, a passion – something I must do. The dishes can wait. No, really – I draw in the evenings when I’ve got other things squared away. It’s a relaxing time for me and something I look forward to every day.

Do you ever produce a painting or drawing that you don’t like...or go through a slump where it seems like nothing is working? If so, how do you get yourself back on track?

Oh yes – I do have a few of “those” drawings (both pastels & graphite) that have made it to the trash can! Graphite I tend to know pretty quick if I’ve goofed. Unlike graphite though, pastels have the nasty habit of looking really ugly before they begin to look good. If I hadn’t kept at it, I would have thrown out some really good pieces.

Even with the ones that I’ve thrown out they aren’t “failures” – I always learn something – hopefully I won’t repeat the mistakes but I do learn something.

Right now I’ve been in a slump of sorts, but I believe it’s that obsession with color that is brewing something. What does that mean? I’m not sure but I will let you know when something new comes of it ;-)

What has been the biggest artistic risk you’ve ever taken...and what accomplishment are you most proud of?

Gee – the biggest artistic risk? That is ongoing – just putting my work out there for people to see, critique, to buy or not.

The accomplishment that I’m most proud of? Well that first year that I had decided to do this for money, I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish during that year – having a website, getting set up to exhibit and actually exhibiting at several art shows, buying my Epson printer. I checked them all off my list before the year was done! That was very satisfying.

I know you show your work at art fairs. What advise do you have for others thinking about trying this venue? And, I have to ask...how did you get those display walls into your trunk!?

The best advice I could give to someone is to have someone you can truly rely on to help you with the art fairs. As you know, they are hard work. Setting up and taking down everything is a job in itself. Also, make a good check list and most of all - have fun!

Ha – when I only had 5 screens I could get them into my trunk – they come apart in the center and stack nicely. My brother made them especially to fit in the trunk of my Volvo. However, I have 10 screens now and even though they come apart my trunk just isn’t large enough to hold them all – darn!

Lastly Karen, a question I always enjoy asking...What do you know now that you wish someone had told you before starting this career?

That’s easy – don’t wait until you are in your 50s! But if you do – go for it!

_________________________________________


Just a few things Karen didn't tell you:
In 2006...Karen was honored by being juried into the Creative Art Society exhibit at the Texas State Capitol Rotunda and the Creative Art Society exhibit at theCorridor of Art.

In 2007...her pastel painting, "Breaking Point", was awarded "Editors Choice" by Mike Sibley of Starving Artists.

2007-2008...Karen successfully juried for The Texas Arts & Craft Fair and presently serves as a juror for new artists at this exhibition.

The Texas Arts and Craft Fair is Karen's biggest show of the season, with more than 200 artists participating. The fair grounds are set in the beautiful hill country of Kerrville, Texas...May 23-26. If you're in the area stop in and view Karen's work in person. Her booth number is (T5-13)

Thank you Karen for letting us get to know you better...if you're not from Texas and can't get there this weekend you can see more of Karen's beautiful art work at the links below.

Links:
Karen Hargett Fine Art
Karen Hargett Fine Art Journal...blog
Karen's Starving Artists Page


PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Weekend Chat Line...Limited Edition or Open Edition ?

...The Chosen One...

I struggle with this question with every drawing I do. In my frustration, trying to figure out how to do this, I've done a lot of reading. It seems that there is a growing trend by some artists to eliminate Limited Editions all together because of the new "digital" era...feeling that the word limited no longer applies. I understand totally where they are coming from.

There was a time when "prints" were made by using a plate and after the "edition" was finished the plate was destroyed. Today artists use the "giclee" method for creating their prints...some are using a "print house" and yet others, like myself, are "self producing". The word "limited" is self imposed and at the discression of the artist...it's no longer a limitation of the printing process.

I guess, at least for now, I've set some guide lines for myself...but I still question them. In the beginning, every thing was a "Limited Edition". Today however for the market I'm in, (which is more to the "low end" of things) I am tending to offer more and more Open Editions. The other things I take into consideration is whether I did the photography and how popular I think a print will be... asking myself, do I think it will do better as a collectible or will it be more attractive to the person "decorating" their home?

This means that I'm offering what I think will be my most "commercial" prints as "Open Editions"...and this is what I'm questioning most.


So I ask you: What guide lines do you use when deciding whether to offer a particular piece as an "Open or Limited Edition"? Do you produce your own prints on demand or use a "print house"? And lastly, what is your opinion of eliminating Limited Editions all together as some artists are now doing?

The "Chat Line" is open...I'm anxious to here what you have to say. And as always, please feel free to comment on what others have to say.


Hope you're enjoying the wonderful weekend.

Marsha


Links:
Website ...Marsha Robinett Fine Art
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques

Thursday, May 15, 2008

"Crab Apple Tea"...work in progress

"Crab Apple Tea" is the last of the new pieces for this season. I usually do 8 to 10 each year during the winter months but this year I had more commissions than usual and spent allot time on the marketing end of the business. As it turned out I'm satisfied that I did the right thing.

I offer prints of most all my drawings. This adds to the overall money invested each season...with the economy the way it is, I've tried to keep my show costs down this year.

For those interested, "Crab Apple Tea" took close to 40 hours to complete, which is why you haven't heard from me much this week. I had to get it done because I had an appointment to have everything high resolution scanned on Wednesday. Made it by the skin of my teeth!

I've done some corrections in photo shop elements and but can't tell what they will look like until posted...so will come back and do subtle corrections at a later date and add more text. It's been a long week so far, going to try to get to bed before midnight for a change.

Hope you enjoy seeing the process,
Marsha


Crab Apple Tea...work in progress photos

Step One...You can see here how exact the line drawing is that I start with. Because I'm using carbon pencil this initial drawing needs to be as exact as possible. I've started laying down 6B carbon in the upper left...blending it until the paper is 100% covered using a stump. You can also see part of the glass outlined...when I'm going to make the background dark like this, I always outline the adjacent subjects using a B or 2B carbon pencil so as to preserve the edges.


Step Two...You can see in this photo how I've progressed around the glass of tea and on down to the table. Outlining the adjacent subjects as I mentioned, will maintain the accuracy of the glass shape, assuring that you don't loose this line while blending.


Step Three...I've begun on the glass (my favorite subject). If you check the image above you will see that this is all about identifying and drawing the shadow shapes. From here on out I will be shading the various smaller shadow shapes found within the the larger shapes outlined in the initial drawing. The darkest areas are applied directly to the paper using a 4 or 6B carbon pencil while the lighter areas are applied with a stump. The base color for the tea was applied using an artist brush.


Step Four...I continued applying carbon with an artist brush, creating the subtle shadows and highlights in the tea and sculpting the shape of the crab apple in the glass. I've started on the cinnamon sticks, making sure not to leave out the reflected highlights on the front of the glass.


Step Five...The glass and the crab apple on the table are pretty well defined at this point. There are still some subtle shadows to incorporate but for the most part I'm satisfied.


Step Six...starting again on the left, I've defined the table and begun on the cut lace doily. To render the wood table, I first made marks with a 6B pencil for the wood grain...then added a solid flow of carbon using first a stump (loaded with carbon) then a chamois. Carbon was applied to the doily, defining the shadow shapes, using a brush. I've also worked a little more on the glass of tea and deepened the shadows on the crab apple laying on the table.


Finished Drawing...This is a camera photo, not the final scan. I should have this drawing posted to my website in the next couple of weeks. The scans are done, I just have to upload and correct them in photo shop. The difference in the amount of detail a high resolution scan captures compared to a photograph is amazing. My camera lens does a good job but just can't compete with the final scan.

Crab Apple Tea will be offered as a print...check my website later for price and availability.


Links:
Website ...Marsha Robinett Fine Art
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques


PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Weekend Chat Line...When did you first say "I am an artist"?

...The Fork and Spoon Club...
Sold

I've spoken to many emerging an artist and found referring to themselves as an artist is difficult. I had the same problem and in some circles, still find myself shying away from saying "I am an artist".

Just this past week I was at a funeral visitation and around family members that I hadn't seen in years. When ask what I was doing now, I responded by saying I was a hairdresser and did some pencil drawings...I was so angry with myself. What was wrong with me, why didn't I just simply say..."I am an artist"?

When I'm with my peers I don't have any problem calling myself an artist! I'll never forget the first time I said it out loud. I felt as though I had arrived.

My work was part of a group exhibit and several women were admiring "The Fork and Spoon Club". I heard one of the women ask, "I wonder where the artist is, I'd like to meet her?" I walked over and introduced myself as "the artist"...I felt so good.

What happened to me this week with my family, I don't know...but what I do know is this, by saying "I do some pencil drawings" instead of saying that I was an artist, I diminished the importance of my art and devalued it in the eyes of others.

I haven't found myself in this position for a long time and it will be a long time before I let it happen again...but I am still disgusted with myself yet today.


So I ask you: When did you realize that you were really an artist? Do you remember the first time you introduced yourself as an artist...how did you feel? Why do you think it is so difficult at times to say "I am an Artist?

The "Chat Line" is open...I'm anxious to here what you have to say. And as always, please feel free to comment on what others have to say.


To all Mothers...Have a Happy Mothers Day,
and a blessed weekend,

Marsha


Links:
Website ...Marsha Robinett Fine Art
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques


PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

"Old Glory"...work in progress

I've been working on this new piece the last few days. I felt the name was perfect for both the flag and the old basketball and shoes. I hate to admit it but these are the type of basketball shoes that the guys wore when I was in high school! The older I get the more "dated" I feel...and I don't mean that "dinner date" feeling!

...Old Glory...

I took some WIP photos while I was working on the drawing,
but didn't take time to computer edit and post until I was finished. I was really in a zone with this one and didn't want to break the rhythm. Hope you enjoy. I realize the lighting isn't very good...had to take these in my studio as I was working at night, still don't have that lighting figured out very well yet! I may come back and use this for a tutorial at a later date, if I do I will work some more on the WIP photos that you see here. The color is a little off and the contrast could be improved...the photos simply need more work, but I wanted to get this posted.

"Old Glory"...step one
You can't tell too much here because this is only the top portion of the drawing...but it is an American Flag draped behind an old worn basket ball with a pair of old basket ball shoes in front. I have the top portion fairly done (for now), and starting to do the shadowed folds of the white stripe behind the basket ball.

"Old Glory"...step 2
I've worked on down the paper, finishing the flag and basket ball (the flag was hard, the ball was fun), and am starting on the shoes to the left. From here on I will be working pretty much left to right in order to keep my hand out of what I've already drawn. These shoes are going to be really time consuming.

"Old Glory"...step three
Well, as you can see "shoe #1, to the left is almost done", I have filled in more of the flag in the background and done some on the toe of the other tennis shoe...working my way down the paper adding some tone value to the foreground.


"Old Glory"...finished drawing
This is the finished drawing...it will sit around a few days before I spray it with fixative. There's aways some final tweaking to be done. Also, keep in mind that these are photos corrected by a not so good "photo shop" person. You'd think that I would eventually get better at correcting the color and lighting...honestly, I don't find it enjoyable, I would rather be drawing!

I'm having all my new pieces high resolution scanned in a couple of weeks and should have them posted on my website by June 1st...then you will be able to see a much better photo with all the subtle detail that a camera photo just cant capture. This one will for sure be offered in Open Edition Prints.

Gotta head back to the drawing board...want to get two more drawings done before I do the scans. Will keep you updated.



Links:
Website ...Marsha Robinett Fine Art
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques


PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment

Friday, May 2, 2008

Weekend Chat Line...Do you include video clips on your blog?



I see more and more videos being made by artists and included in their blog posts. This is a new and exciting way for us to show our creative process and to connect with others in a more personal way.

I, for one, am very interested in knowing more about this process. I would like to post an occasional WIP video on my blog and possibly have the option of doing some complete Video Tutorials on DVD...to retail as an additional source of income.

So, I ask you this...What can you tell us, who are "video impaired", about how to do this?

What equipment do we need...what do we need to know...where do we start? Is this something we can set up and record ourselves or do we need assistance? I'm especially interested not only in good picture quality but good audio as well.

Oh Dear!! There are just so many questions.

Your wisdom and experience is valuable.

The "Chat Line" is open...There's no better place to learn than from each other. I'm anxious to hear your experiences and recommendations. And as always, please feel free to comment on what others have to say.


Links:
Website ...Marsha Robinett Fine Art
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques


PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment

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