happy valentines day

The light was so strongly lighting up our blinds that it seemed that they weren't even there by how much the light lit up the room this morning. I woke up around 8am which I was surprised by because I went to bed late but the heaviness of my eyes reminded me.

 I didn't realize till I was on google/reader for a while that today is valentines. The past few weeks I've been drawing heart shapes out of plants. I suppose because I knew valentines was coming up. I think it must be one of the most enjoyable holidays for kids. I always liked the time at school where you got to exchange your valentines, the candies and cartoon character themed pieces of perforated paper in reds and pinks. We're not much of celebrators of holidays or life events in the traditional sense. I think it is a part of our personalities to not plan things and just go with the flow of the day, doing what we feel lead in the moment, laid back. Last night I got some flowers though, Jamin got me some yellow daisy type ones when we first got here and last night I got some pale purple ones with green in the middle. That's one thing we thought we'd do now that we are here, always have some flowers. 

happy valentines day

current canvas

collection of rock formations, oddly shaped circles, dots and rainbows. definitely not finished. I feel like my style of abstract changes from one painting to the next in a progression and I can't really go back and continue a style even if I want to. So this will be interesting because I haven't worked on this piece in like a month and now I have this geometric itch. So hopefully this piece won't end up being really noticeably incohesive. It's been pretty fun so far. On 20"x 16" Ampersand Aquabord with 2" Deep Cradle with gouache, watercolor and inks.

3/19/2010

3/19/2010, originally uploaded by lilah_ward.

here is my progress today on 3/18/2010

rock face

rock face, originally uploaded by lilah_ward.

something I did recently. On 5x7 watercolor paper hot press with 03 Sakura Pigma Micron black pen.

red nose face

red, yellow & blue watercolor followed by pale mint gouache & back ink pen. on 140lbs 5"x7" cotton cold presses watercolor paper. I think he looks happy.

little face 2

My second little 4x4 inch watercolor board face illustration with brown watercolor, black ink, pale mint gouache. I'm out of watercolor board now and so want to run out to the store and buy some more but apart from not having the car today like most days hence the using my home like a studio and having the time to do so. The store would now be closed so I think i may order some online and wait in anticipation for it to arrive in mid January I would expect. I like him the little rock lines growing from everywhere are identical to some abstract drawing I did back in September. maybe I'll post some of the later. I was inspired to try some abstract sketches after being thoroughly inspired by an exhibit at the Austin art garage(an entirely local artist gallery in south Austin, it is pretty sweet, not pretentious at all and free lone star at their openings once a month) of Cathrine Hart's work. she also inspired me to start using gouache again since I hadn't used it since college (middle school) in France. I never knew it was opaque watercolor till recently or that it was available in the States having never heard of it in my 14 years I spent growing up in the US. I think he looks tired and like he is thinking while you talk.

little face

Mr with blue rocks on his face and sports a beard.

This yellow face process was watercolor, drawing with pen, then gouache over that with a small paint brush. On 4"x4" Ampersand Aquabord 1/8" Thick a watercolor board.

large nosed rock man

While looking at my blog I noticed that I forgot to post this. The half way point I posted but not the finished product, so here he is. If you look closely there are little dots for the eyes of the creatures on him.

I like him. It is interesting when creating that at least my creations have traits of the recent things I've made and looking at lets say the past 20 drawing I've done I can see my changes in interest and inspiration from other artists work that I like and technique gradually change.

finished face with mustache

OK so he's finished. mister with mustache. I've been drawing these bubble/rock formations that when looking at them see a resemblance to Nate Schnell's rock people and brandan Monroe's creatures. he's all right. tell me what you think.

man with mustache

OK, so here is what I've done so far. it doesn't feel finished yet. the left side seems neglected. but, there you have it.

my latest face illustrations

this last one I'm working on today and it's not finished yet. My interests cycle and currently it has switched to my drawing. these are all on 5"x7" 140lbs cotton watercolor paper from fabriano. I paint the watercolor first either from nothing as an example or from studying a potato. Then I go back and draw on it with 03 sakura pigma micron black pen. The process and the way the faces look has evolved over the past 3 years I've been drawing them. I have in the past used a calligraphy pen with bottled ink, acrylic with drops of ink, gouache, colored pencils and sharpies. I feel the less I think of the outcome or controlling the drawing the more I enjoy the finished product so I try to not think about what to draw when I draw and just go with instinct and what I see in the watercolor.