It's been forever...

...but I've been busy!!

I've taken watercolor classes! Here's my most recent watercolor portrait...

He kind of looks like my oldest son when he was a little guy! I'm not totally pleased with this painting...It looks a bit overworked (which means I overworked it!) But...I learned a lot from painting this. Mostly...to be very specific with the drawing...and to get in and out to avoid overworking! Although, on a positive note, I do love his eyes and mouth!

Next...I continue to sketch...here's a sketch (from life) of our granddaughter, Mia. It's from life...and, despite the fact that she agreed to be still, she stepped forward to look at the sketch about every 90 seconds! I actually sort of like this sketch...Mia had just woken up and she had crazy hair!

 
I also took a figure drawing class! Here are a couple of things I created in that class...

And here's "Rebecca" (one of our models)...

In the middle of all of this, I had the most wonderful opportunity to accompany our 8 year old granddaughter, Sophia, on her very first visit to an art museum (this was taken at the Phoenix Art Museum!)...

I continue to work with the very talented Rodney Davis (from Ani Academy, Waichulis) through the Long Distance Mentorship Program out of Wilkes-Barre, PA. I've made a couple of trips up there to work one-on-one with Rodney! I just completed my final Gradation Pattern (the reference photo is on the left...my rendering is on the right)...

And am now starting on the Form Box exercise. This is the configuration I chose (I love the shadow patterns):

In addition to working on the Ani "Language of Drawing" program, I continue taking classes here in Richmond with the very talented, classically trained, Lisa Fisher Johnson! I'm currently taking a drawing class where I'm learning pastels! And I'm taking an Indirect Oil Painting class! Here are a couple of things I've created...(the first one is after Jonathan Wurdeman)...

And this second one is after George Inness. Both were exercises in color mixing...and were "painted" with a palette knife!

And here are my current projects...a sphere (underpainting)...

And fruit! In charcoal & pastel...

...and oil! I'm still working on my underpaintings. More to come!!

And that's what I've been up to!! Stay tuned for more regular (I hope) updates....