August 28, 2016

• August activities

  There's been a lot of rain in August, to make up for the earlier summer dryness and that has curtailed may of my outdoor plans. However, I was pleased that the 2 pictures that got into the Juried Show at the library both won ribbons. The pen & ink copperhead in autumn leaves won Second Place and the Indigo Bunting received Honorable Mention, ribbons and certificates accompanied their pretty colored ribbons. The show was up for most of August, so a lot of people got to see them, as they were in the hall by the meeting rooms and they have many groups which meet there. When I attended my monthly book group, quite a few of the other members had noticed my work and had compliments. I felt like a celebrity.
  At the end of July, I finally got to try my watercolor field kit, at a little park by a beach edging Lake Erie. I was able to have an entire picnic table to myself in the shade and there was a nice breeze coming off the water. I did 2 water scenes, and the experience was better than the paintings themselves. I forgot how hard it is to control watercolors and you can't paint over your mistakes as you can with acrylics, which is what I mostly use. The first picture with the trees ended up in the recycling bin, but I thought the second, just of the lake, was alright. The clouds were fun to do on that one.
  
  Next time I'd like to focus on just a tree or flowers, to give me a focal point. I've been looking out for unusually shaped trees or really pretty ones & as the weather gets cooler, will make another attempt at painting outdoors. I'm determined to get better at it and produce something decent. When the fall foliage starts, that should make for more colorful subjects.
  I've got several other pictures in progress at my drawing table. Plus, I'm trying to get prepared for my second go at "Inktober", where an artist does a certain amount of ink drawings during October. I am going to do the weekly installment like I did last year. Since I know about it ahead of time this year, I'd like to have them all transferred and backgrounds painted in, if necessary, before the month begins. I'm still finishing off some of the preliminary drawings for them & think I'll be ready to go when it starts. I've got my fist craft show of the year on Oct. 8th, so I'll have to work around that. I'm feeling good about what's going on artwise right now, with all of my plans and projects.

  • 10:01 pm
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