One day I was trying to get a good photo of myself since I didn't have any recent ones - but each one I took just got uglier and uglier.  So-o-o-o I said to myself "OK let's see how ugly we can get - I got some really ugly pictures and the experiment is on going.  See picture.  The saving grace is that if I make enough changes it will be hard to tell who it is. - I can now make paintings from these photos  - 

Learning Acrylic

My first love is painting with oil, but it takes so long to dry; so I am trying acrylics.  I read somewhere that you can make acrylics look like oils with glazes etc.  The bunny above is a 4 x 6" painting.  My other challenge was getting the camera to get just the painting.  Next time I will try a bigger painting. 

The wonderful pencil

This is a sketch of a goat - my next step is going to be working in paint - although sketching with graphite pencils can be enjoyable and can be done anywhere and anytime. Could have saved myself a lot of money if I knew I was going to start with pencil only.  I never appreciated working in pencil when I was in art school - what a shame.  From what I understand it is drawing that will help make the painting better - something we all learn in our art class - but think we want some medium with a little more to it - finally I am getting to appreciate the pencil.

Today's drawing

I think the pig is cute and smart and fun to draw.  I just got a book on animal anatomy the other day - so will start drawing the legs, bones etc. these are not pretty by themselves - but when put together look pretty good.   The anatomy drawings I think I will keep to myself till I get the hang of it all.

Starting with something I love

I love animals - so animals it is. I can see I will need to learn the anatomy for all of them - you know - legs, feet, tails etc.   I figure  as long as I keep drawing the better it is - and then I can try other subjects.  I love to draw people's faces - but they all end up looking the same - but people are fascinating.  I will not give up but probably will not be a portrait artist.  There are always flowers, landscapes and still lives to challenge me - with an occasional face thrown in - to check if any improvement is coming along.

A Sketch a day

I've started sketching everyday which I feel is breaking down the artistic block - like an apple a day helps to keep us healthy - I can feel my artistic yearnings returning like a slow burning ember - I'm sure there will be good days and bad. But the thing is to just do it.  I realize doing my art is as important as any regular spiritual practice is for my soul.