Belle ACEO

"Belle" 2.5 x3.5 Colored Pencil on Paper

This beautiful mare is owned by my Barn Manager, and I couldn't help but try my hand at painting her! She's a Champion Arabian Halter horse, and full of attitude! Around the stables we call her "Barbie" because of how she struts around! It's always amusing the personalities these creatures have, and that's most of the reason why I'm so drawn to horses. Their beauty and grace is just the perfect subject for a painting!

I also like completing these smaller works of art. They come in handy if there isn't a lot of time to complete a larger work, and they help keep things challenging. It's very hard to come up with a pleasing composition with such a tiny work space! Colors and contrasts become even more important than the subject matter as one trys to make the painting successful. With the time factor, I can usually have one of these completed in less than an hour. And in a busy work day between school, writing, music, and exercises- like I said, larger works just keep getting pushed back. This is especially true with school since I'm an art major, I have so many paintings due for different professors there just isn't time for personal work sometimes!

Back Into the Groove

"Sprinkled Petals" 3x5 Colored Pencil on Paper

Melody is still not 100% better yet, but she's getting there! Thank you for all the encouragement and prayers for my lovely horse. I am slowly getting back into the groove of things as my life starts to slow down again and thoughts that my beloved horse might die start to fade from my mind. School has once again started, and I'm very excited that I will be graduating in December!

I am taking an oil painting class this semester, and I'm not sure if the Professor and I are going to get along. I am pretty comparably with myself as an artist. I know my style isn't set, for these things are always changing, but the Professor doesn't like my work so far. She doesn't like my palette, or how I start my paintings. To say the least, this should be interesting. One thing we seem to be debating at the moment is the usage of black in a painting. I use it. She says I should throw it out.

The huge debate about the color black came about with the Impressionists, before then black was a very acceptable color to use in paintings. Used sparingly, I think black can greatly enhance a painting and the shadows within it. Yes, too much black and muddy and dull a painting I understand that, but there is also only so far a dark Prussian blue can shape a shadow.

The colored pencil work I posted has no black added to the shadows. Yes it does have depth and volume to it, it still feels a little flat in some areas. The shadows seem unrealistic to me. It was really only recently that I began to use black again in my work, but again, I use it only to help with my shadows.

Lack of Updates...

Sorry for the lack up updates everyone! My horse seriously hurt herself around May 26, and treatment is still going on. As soon as my horse is well again I have TONS of art to post for you guys. But, please keep Melody in your thoughts and prayers and hopefully she will be healed up within the next few weeks.

Compliments

Well, the semester with Feng is over, and I must say I am sad to have it end. I have learned so much from his watercolor class! Loosing up my style was a biggie for me, and I really hope I can continue and apply this to my other mediums as well.

I have lots of art I need to photograph and post up on here. Now that my classes are over this should happen soon!

Till then- Happy Creating!!

Improving

Simple Elegance II 12x 16 watercolor

I feel like every time I pick up my paint brush to do one of these watercolors it just keeps getting better and better! It's always exciting to know you are learning sometime and getting a nice dose of inspiration along the way!

I actually have several new paintings to show too! I've been a little slow in actually up loading the digital photos from my camera, but with exams and art reviews right around the corner- I might be a little slow to get them up. Although, with only 3 weeks left of the semester I might delay this until after finials!

As my semester end with Feng draws near I've been trying to lap up everything he says about techniques and how to pull in inspirations. After the class was over today he pulled me aside to congratulate me on my hard work and improving skills. This is very uplifting since watercolor has always been such a struggle for me! I knew this class was going to be hard from day one, but I stuck with it and I'm working very hard. All my efforts are paying off ten fold! So, here's today lesson: No matter how hard things are keep with it. Eventually the fruits of your labors will be apparent and they will be the sweetest ever!

Watercolor Continued

"Floating" 12 x16 watercolor

One of the biggest things I am learning in my watercolor class right now is to loosen up! And to stop trying to control the watercolor. By just letting the medium 'do its own thing' I am getting some beautiful washes. This was just a quick painting to put to use everything Feng and his other students have suggested to me, and really there is already a big difference between this one and the last.

Whenever I get really flustered with my art I have to do something fun. Something whimsical and off key for me. Thus a series of Wind Horses is slowly being born, and they are all wildly stylized like the horse in today's post. It is important for no matter what your line of work is to take a mental break and do something fun with it. As much as I love to draw and paint, the wind horses are how I keep things fresh and fun. I use them as an excuse to just explore and experiment with the medium.

The next painting I am working on is continuing on with the Dressage theme from the last painting- and boy do I think I bit off more than I can chew! The horse is a beautiful midnight black Friesian and he's proving very difficult to paint at the moment! I'm also a bit nervous with this as well because Feng wants me to paint in front of him this week. I might have to do some more of these wind horses to keep me sane!!

Watercolor

" Simple Elegance" 12 x 16 watercolor

I have a wonderful opportunity this year to spend six months with a watercolor master. It's a small group of five that meet with Feng once a week to go over our paintings. Now, his other students are hardcore watercolorists- I'm not. So I knew from the beginning that this was going to be a HUGE challenge for me. Seeing how watercolor is not exactly my strong point, and I have left the class several times to the point of tears because of frustrations. But I keep trucking, because I want to learn. Dedication is what makes the art student.

This particular work I have been slaving over for the past four weeks. Every time I thought it was done, Feng would tell me to wipe it and do it again. Now, he still hasn't seen this finial attempt, but I am VERY pleased with the results! (Don't mind the whole right side though, my camera completely washed it out) I can certainly say with all the blood, sweat, and plenty of tears I am learning! And I am learning from the best, and my watercolor is certainly going to the next level with the help of this class.

I have already started my next watercolor- another dressage piece. I will take everything I have learned from this painting and apply it to my next. Hopefully this make an even better painting!