Have you stopped by CreativeTherapy yet today?
No? Well, get over there to see some of the fabulous artwork for this week’s catalyst! I hinted that I participated this week, and the image is to the right. To learn about the story behind it, you’ll have to go to the CreativeTherapy blog!
Stop by and check it out! If you participate and post a link in the comments at CreativeTherapy, you’ll be in the drawing for this week’s RAK! Jump in now! Can’t make the Wednesday deadline? And, be sure to join our Flickr group, too!
June 9th, 2008
Posted by
Fran |
Creative Therapy, art, art challenge, journaling |
3 comments
I’ve 
kept up with my drawing for the Every Day in May challenge. I have been like a madwoman with my mannequin drawing this week! I think part of the appeal is being able to pose them - reminds me of playing with Barbie as a kid. Granted, it’s been a long time, and the mannequins are not as disproportionately built as Barbie! 
I don’t really want to post all of the pictures, (you’ll get bored rather quickly, I’m sure, since the subject is the same with just some difference in gestures, but here are a few of the highlights. 
For more, you can go to my Every Day in May set in Flickr. Some are good; some not so much! But it’s all practice and I see the proportions much better.
The hands need much more work, so that’ll be tomorrow’s plan, I think. I just posted here one of the hand pages that includes a full 
mannequin. It’s one of the best. I’m not sure I like the hand mannequins. That may be my problem. But I’ll continue to try and I might get brave and try to draw real hands, too!
Yesterday I arrived at an appointment early. The day was beautiful and I sat in my car blasting Michael Buble on my iPod while I drew the scene right in front of my car. It was the tree, in particular, that caught my eye, but the trash can next to it was an interesting juxtaposition.
I’m sure there will be more drawing tomorrow. Thanks for visiting and have a great day!
May 13th, 2008
Posted by
Fran |
Creative Every Day, art challenge, drawing, sketch |
2 comments
Today I decided to do some drawing for most of the day. I’m trying to figure out if I really like the feel of the Hand-Book travel journals, since I bought one for my trip to France. I’ll decide after I get some time in with the paper. It’s thinner than what I use when I make the books myself, and that’s a drawback. It means I can’t necessarily use both sides if I’m using watercolor. And, it doesn’t really take watercolor very well. VERY light
washes do OK, so if I decide to bring watercolor pencils, that could work. Today I used some graphite pencils, watercolor pencils and a Pigma Micron .05.
Anyway, here are today’s drawings. I don’t usually draw pictures of men. I decided I should get a sense of the proportions of men’s faces. I did several drawings from photos in a magazine. The drawing of the couple above is loosely based on an ad in a magazine. The man in the picture above I like. The woman’s face however, is a bit off. The drawing to the right is also based on ads in a magazine.
Left is a montage of three different faces from the magazine. I thought it was time to start playing with some color, so I added watercolor pencils for some color. I tried to stay somewhat true to the images in the magazines. 
I got brave from here and started doodling some faces. Those are to the right. The hand on the guy on the left of the page is in great need of some rework, but I decided that I probably just need to spend some time working with hands. I tend to freeze up when I look at them and try to add them. That’s something I want to change. Maybe that’ll be tomorrow’s drawings?
May 6th, 2008
Posted by
Fran |
Creative Every Day, EDM, art, art challenge, drawing, sketch, watercolor |
one comment
The 
past two days have been hard for me physically. Yesterday I spent most of the day in bed with fatigue and vertigo. I did draw yesterday - two things, so I’m going to count them as yesterday’s and today’s in case I can’t get drawing done today (but I’ll still try!).
Today I’m tired and achy. But at least I’m up to posting on my blog! 
To the right is EDM Challenge 23 - Draw your Foot. Since I went and had my manicure and pedicure while Eliana was here, I figured drawing the foot was a good thing to do. I drew the cool little flower and the lines at the top of the big toe - the only one you could really see (I have teensy toes and even more teensy toe nails!). I decided not to use any color in this and to see if I could create it with just the Pigma Micron 02 and 08 pens. I like how the pants leg came out, in particular. I rarely do this kind of shading, so it was a good challenge.
To the left, you see a drawing of my reading glasses. I have several pairs of reading glasses - mostly from Target’s dollar spot! I buy them in bulk when they have them there. I have found that since my 38th birthday (yes, two and a half years ago!) I’ve needed to wear these reading glasses with my contacts to see up close. Reading without the is greatly straining on my eyes. So, I figure some funky glasses should be owned. The pair depicted here is actually black, clear and gray - sort of a plaid.
My husband is just finishing up doing his rounds at the hospital. He’s taking me out to lunch when he gets here. It will be my first time out of the house since last Monday. I’m sure I will be exhausted when we return home, but getting out of the house is really necessary right now. Have a great Sunday, everyone!
May 4th, 2008
Posted by
Fran |
Creative Every Day, EDM, art, art challenge, drawing, journaling, living with chronic illness, sketch |
3 comments
Today I am still feeling fatigued from the treatment. No surprise there… However, I am still challenging myself to keep up with at least one drawing each day. Today I did two challenges from the Every Day Matters Group.
EDM 31 - Draw something you collect.
I brought my grandmother’s vintage train case into the den, where I am sitting in front of the TV. I drew the train case open with the photos in it. My grandmother took very good care of it. Her address from The Bronx is still in it, easy to read! The mirror is still perfect, as well. It’s quite heavy, or I’d use it for travel. For now, however, it will remain in my studio as storage.
While the pictures and the train case were here, I posted more of my vintage photos and cabinet cards for sale on my “Supplies for Sale” page. Take a look. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, send me an email and I will see if I have what you need in my collection!
EDM 164 - Draw your camera.
I also drew my point and shoot Canon Powershot Elph. This camera has been with me for a while. It’s 4 mpx, which was huge a few years ago! It will be coming with me on all my trips, since it fits so easily into a purse or backpack.
Now it’s time to relax and try to keep from getting more fatigued. Hmmm… Perhaps a nap?
May 2nd, 2008
Posted by
Fran |
Creative Every Day, EDM, art, art challenge, drawing, living with chronic illness, sketch |
4 comments
I’ve decided to participate in the Every Day in May challenge. I’m going to try to create something every day. I already try that, but with family in town and my treatment yesterday, I’ve lagged behind. So, I’m committing to do it this month as much as possible. Some members of the challenge are choosing a theme. For me, the theme will be something from life or from the Every Day Matters challenge list. This morning, I drew a shoe. After the first attempt, I decided I needed to try again. I’ve only posted the second one here.
I had hoped to post more drawings from today, but, as usual, I have some major fatigue from yesterday’s treatment. I’m going to take a nap now…
May 1st, 2008
Posted by
Fran |
Creative Every Day, EDM, art challenge, drawing, sketch |
one comment
Friday I got up very early. DH decided not to exercise, but was still up at 5:00-ish. So he jumped in the shower and turned on all the lights, ran the hair dryer, etc…
So, I got up and showered, dressed for a day of volunteering for Cochlear at the Devonshire Senior Center. They were having a health fair. I was to meet Melanie, another volunteer, at the center. Melanie is lovely. We met last month at a volunteer luncheon and we hit it off. She uses cochlear implants and is as happy to share her story, as am I. We had a lovely time and met many people. By 12:30, I was exhausted. I knew I still needed to finish packing and I had to have lunch. The senior centers do offer us some lunch, but with my food allergies (and there are many!), I usually can’t eat what they are kind enough to offer. I brought a protein bar; it was just enough to hold me for the time I was there.
I came home, ate a salad, and finished up a drawing (sorry, can’t share it. You’ll see it on the creativeTherapy blog (link in the sidebar!) this evening!) and then I went to finish packing. I finished and had a quick dinner with Dave.
We went to bed early so we could catch a 7:20 flight. That was a rather short trip - 3 hours, much os which we both slept through. Arriving in Chicago was a shock to our heat-of-the-desert bodies for the first time in over a year I saw my breath. Egads! What werwe thinking?
We had reservations for dinner at Bice Ristorante with a group of friends and colleagues. Habing been cooped up in a plane and then a taxi, we chose to walk the short distance. There were a few flurries, but at our brisk pace, we didn’t feel too much of the cold. Dinner was lovely - good food, good friends, and good service.
As we headed out, our unhappy surprise was that it was sleeting. We hailed a taxi and went back to the hotel.
This morning we had a quiet breakfast together and Dave went off for a day of directing his neuromuscular course. I plan to take a walk later and to have a day of relaxation, drawing, and window shopping!
April 13th, 2008
Posted by
Fran |
Baha Implant, Creative Every Day, Creative Therapy, art, art challenge, health, travel |
4 comments
I’m a true believer that art can be a great form of therapy. It has always been a safe haven for me. And so, when I was asked to join a design team of creative bloggers who would work on weekly journal prompts I heartily jumped in! I am now a proud member of the Creative Therapy Design Team. We launched the first Catalyst today. You can see what my fellow team members and I did with this week’s catalyst, “Something I lost”. Please join in and enjoy!
March 16th, 2008
Posted by
Fran |
Creative Every Day, Creative Therapy, art, art challenge, drawing, group projects, journaling, life |
3 comments
I’m finaly feeling more like myself. I’ve completed some ATCs. It feels good to be back in the swing! And I love that my studio is still organized, so I can find things quickly.
I have been finishing up some pieces that have been sitting around in the studio for months, and I’ll be putting them on Etsy for sale tomorrow, so watch for more art soon! For now, I have the ATC to the left to share, “Hero”. This is for a “Red, White, & Blue” challenge on one of my art groups. The picture is from one of my Vintage Image collage sheets, which you can purchase here.
I’m working on some other art, but much of it is still drying. It’ll probably be dry soon, since this IS Arizona. But I’ll leave some of that to post tomorrow.
I got to see Angie today - the first time since my treatment over 10 days ago. I think that’s the longest we have gone without seeing each other without a vacation or travel as the reason. We were both suffering from talking withdrawl! It was great to see you, Ang. I’m looking forward to seeing you and the boys this weekend at our pool.
Today on Create a Connection, the challenge is to photograph something in your home that you love. Well, I couldn’t figure out just one thing. See, I love gadgets. I’ll say it again. I. LOVE. GADGETS. I always have. Even when I had no money to spend, I’d look at the gadgets longingly. So, it will be no surprise that my “loves” are gadgets! And it was rather difficult to pin them down to just a few so I don’t bore you with me geekiness! So, I chose my Treo 650 - aka, my connection to the world, my iPod Nano (black), and, of course, my MacBook.
May 17th, 2007
Posted by
Fran |
CaC - Create a Connection, art, art challenge, collage, health |
2 comments
This weekend I started another face for my practice. As it turns out the Artwords prompt for this week is “Woman” so I thought I would show you what I’m working on. Inspired by my recent trip to Hawaii, she just happened. I have been studying faces, and I’m getting a bit better about creating my own freeform after looking at several different ones. This means I am finally figuring out how to pull together elements of different faces and make my “own” images. I’m enjoying the process. I still have a long way to go, but I really find the painting meditative. This image is painted in acrylic on fabric.
I haven’t had time today in the studio, but I hope to have some time tomorrow. Dave and I leave for Boston on Thursday. He has his annual meeting and I’m going along for the ride. Boston is one of my favorite places to visit. Lots of amazing memories! I’ll take lots of photos and, if the weather permits, I’ll sit in the park and paint or draw.
April 23rd, 2007
Posted by
Fran |
art, art challenge, painting |
4 comments
