Tag Archives: autumn landscape

No,No,No!!

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First off, a redo of “Full Moon in the Afternoon.

The original was meant to be minimalist. However, it turned out to be boring. It’s a lesson I learned long ago, sometimes what works in a small piece looks like hell when you enlarge it. So,I added a few patterns and designs that I could sink my teeth into! I think it turned out more interesting, although far from my original idea. So moving on…

I promised a look again at the boring titles of the category of not a chance. These are among the drawings for the show that I have entered to the jury. Not sure when I hear back.

This is “Number 35”,which I feel is a lackluster summertime drawing. With a lackluster title. I think I should rename it “Hidden Stairway “,which is the real subject of the drawing.
Some of these drawings I really like, but they don’t fit into the style or subject matter of my usual work. Such is the case with “Rocking Chair “. I think I will rename it “Rock, Rock, Rock!”. For no particular reason, except..it’s more interesting.
This is “Constellation “. Not a bad title, but a drawing that falls short of my usual quality. And so it goes.


“Cloudy Day ” Can you imagine anything more boring than that? Yes,the drawing itself. It was one of those drawings trying to find beauty in a sunless day. Failed miserably. But “Sunless ” is a better title.

This is “The Greening “. I like the name and the drawing. However, again it doesn’t fit with my usual style. All the advice I have gotten from career instruction is that I should be branding myself. I should ignore advice, I really, really should.

Anyway, the ayes have it. Let’s look into better titles for the ones I have chosen…next time

Another favorite subject

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So,I have done multiple drawings of cats and bicycles. But there is one darker subject that I haven’t mentioned. Dark in color and reputation, I find they add life and vitality to the gray days of late fall and early winter. Of course, crows.

The misunderstood critters are associated with Morrigan, pagan goddess of war and fate.

Quoth the raven “Nevermore “. Oh,yes. Death. Comes to us all.

Death makes way for new life. Also, for those who believe, as I do, death makes way for another existence, either in reincarnation or heaven.

But enough about death. Here’s a new drawing with crows in it!

Another rainy day picture. I lost the figure of the person in the raincoat scurrying to stay dry.

Another time.

Autumn Already?

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Yes, it’s fall, and I’m enjoying it.  Today was a crisp, bright day, with a sapphire sky.  I went to the local farmer’s market.  Apple and pears abounded-not to mention pumpkins. No, I’m not talking about my cat again.  I’m talking about the raw materials for jack-o-lanterns.

My very first autumn picture in colored pencil is this:  Autumn Song.

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Didn’t have the best of cameras when I did it. Or rather, photographed it.

And October Fruit Loops, for, why not?

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Or this:

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And this little nameless one:

 

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I used to hate fall.  It meant back to school, and the doorway into winter.  The ugly yellow of school busses was more dismal than ever.  Not to talk about the rain!  Okay, I will anyway.

But now I don’t  mind an occasional fall rain.  The purple sky clashes beautifully with the orange trees.  With a dash of red to tie it together.

(Please, Powers that Be, notice I said an OCCASIONAL fall rain)

So, my  latest, but not so greatest:  This is a little one, still nameless.

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What I do like about it is the little figure in a raincoat scurrying by.  My first try with that image was in a larger version of the rainbow drawing.  It came out awful.   Yes, offal.

But this makes me think that possibly or a least in the realm of possibilities, a good full sized drawing.  It better be good, I have one sheet of paper left until my next paycheck.  Gratefully, that’s coming up this Friday.  Thank God, for the day job.

 

Oh, yeah…and this one.

Sentinel

One more time

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I don’t like to repeat subject matter, but since I have done…just how many drawings of bicycles this year? I’m breaking my own rule once again. Rules are meant to be broken, even your own.

This time it’s after the storm pieces. For instance, this:

But one attempt at a rainbow, seemed okay, but not quite hitting the mark.

Btw,I did a long treatise on the false notions on the cheerful subject of rainbows. My picture came out kind of hhopeless. Not a good rendition of the time honored symbol of promise

So,I’m working on a rework of a rainbow.

After this, I expect to be working on a fall or winter theme. In case I haven’t mentioned it,I seem to do my best work in the winter.

Why? Because I get sick of flowers and foliage! I was moaning about my boredom wwith this a few years ago.

So,bring on the change of seasons!

Of course I had my failures too.

Now that I have reminded you ,let’s forget about this:

Yet another learning curve

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Okay, I finished another small, masterpiece…sort of.  Thing is, these small works are not as successful as I’d like.

In the past, I’ve done little work, as preliminary sketch for bigger drawings.  For instance:

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I got this:

 

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From this:

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I got this:

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In the past, I’ve managed to put in lot of detail in the small drawings

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And this is the latest one:

Bough bows

 

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So, what am I doing wrong?

I guess, when I finally got around to drawing the large pictures, I planned them with a black and white sketch, then a color sketch.  I worked on the large drawing slowly, paying attention to detail.  Can I still do that in small size?

I guess it’s another learning curve.  I tell you, my art career would make a good design for a roller coaster.

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Sunshine, Lollipops, Rainbows, Everything….

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The title is lyrics to a song, way back when I was a child. I wonder how many of my readers remember that song, and wish they didn’t.

So, here’s the complete on the rainbow drawing.

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Misses the mark in a few ways. I wanted to make the rainbow more pastel, and light, as I was complaining about in my previous post.  I didn’t quite get it.  Also, the sky is kind of a hodge podge of lines and swirls.  I’m not sure how I feel about that. Who knows, I may look at this drawing weeks from now, and say “Wow, that works well!”. Or I may say, “Oooops, better hide that drawing for the rest of my life”.  I don’t know yet.

Anyway, speaking of titles, I was debating what to do.  Then it occurred to me, I had a drawing from a beautiful time in my life,entitled “Cloud Over Greenwich”.

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If I project an intention of good times into this drawing as well?  Then I certainly can call it: “Rainbow Over Danbury”.  So then, I will.

It was a dark and stormy day…

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Typical November day here…gray, rainy, brown leaves….a totally depressing mess.  Around the corner lurks the (gasp) winter holidays…which some love, some hate,  depending on your life and/or disposition.  Or your job….hello to my fellow retail workers!

So, no wonder I had to make peace with November.

Having left my day job in an ambulance, no less (I really like to go in style), I have lessened my schedule.  Listen, I love doing my artwork, but I need something to break it up…and hopefully find inspiration for the next drawing.

So, here is: Making Peace with November:

novemberSo, see you during the Christmas rush!  I’ll be the one wearing a rhinestone wreath and hawking olive oil….once again.

Life is a badly written soap opera

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Did I use that title before?  I think I either used it, or something similar.  Anyway, I guess repeating yourself comes with age.  So, if I did, my apologies.

The soap opera has been at my day job….yes, I’m still there, filling in while the manager takes vacation time.  Intrigues and plot twists galore….only not all that interesting.  Like a bad soap opera.

So, I’ve been away from my artwork due to lack of time.  I’m getting back into it, and as promised, I’m working on “Making Peace with Novemeber”  Here’s the sketch.

 

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Seems like it needs a color punch up of some sort.  Stay tuned for the next episode…or not.

October Fruit Loops

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It’s been a while since I’ve posted, but my autumn landscape has been finished for a while.  I like it..wasn’t sure if I did.  But that’s an artist’s constant conflict, so no matter.

I looked at it, and what came to mind is a bowl of Fruit Loops, my secret passion.  So, here it is: October Fruit Loops.

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Yummy!

Where have I been all this time?  Mostly working the day job, but I’ve made some new friends and new connections.

November is always my worst, most depressing month.  For my next drawing, I was going to do something called “Making Peace with November” but didn’t have a clue how that concept would interpret itself in a drawing.  Well, November is almost here, I’m not depressed so, to heck with it.

As often happens with an artist I saw something that just stuck…a tranquil and healing image I’d like to explore.  So once I get over this hullabalo of short handedness and sales at the store…..I’m going to work on it.

So if I don’t post before then…..Happy Halloween!