Artful Prayer in Mini Session

My thoughts have been going in the direction of art journaling a lot lately. For one thing I'm working on a really big project that involves my art journal. But more on that later.   But also I have been preparing to teach at a retreat this weekend and also another one next weekend. I will be teaching a mini session of my Artful Prayer Workshop at each of them.   For the Artful Prayer Workshop we use only artist pencils of various kinds and markers.  I love what I call "paint and paste" work.  But I find that when I work on something with that approach, I get so caught up in the technique of it that I fail at the journaling part.  But when working with the slow medium of artist pencils, my mind has the freedom and space to move forward with my prayer time.

You know I am a self professed paper snob. I have trouble finding a journal made just right with just the right paper to work with my various pencil supplies.  So I've made journals for the weekend participants.  Each one is different so they can choose and be unique.  When I teach classes I'm all about making choices and about being your unique self.

Here is a smidgen sneak peek at a small part of the example for the weekend class.  But one of the things I insist on whether my students are 5 or 75 is that no one can just copy mine.  I teach concepts and techniques not projects.  They must find a way to make it their own.  

 My penmanship is less that ideal.  And sometimes I have students who are naturals when it comes to lovely lettering.  I am not.  And I find that for me to spend too much time focusing on the penmanship can ruin the prayerful mood of the moment.  So, I just don't worry about it.

 

I've also been playing lately with Jennifer Frith's approach to journaling with a weekly calendar.  Its kind of fun and I am thinking about ways to incorporate it into my regular format.  Here are some of my first attempts.  These were created in a hardbound Moleskine using graphite, Derwent Inktense, and Faber Castell Pitt markers.

Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Let There Be Light - WBC Take 2

If you read my previous post, my original entry for the Where Bloggers Create Party, you'll know I had some electrical difficulties producing a dark studio. Since there was some interest in how I found ways to fit a 20' x 20' studio into a 9' x 9' room, I am sharing more, now that the lights are back on.   I have tried not to repeat what I already showed you in the WBC post.  So, if you didn't see those, you can do that here.

The biggest secret is to go UP with everything!

In moving from a spacious space where light and room were generous, to an itty space where everything seemed a frustration and challenge at first, I learned to look from a different perspective at what supplies should be out where they were visible.  In my large studio, I loved having everything out and visually available at all times.  That was no longer an option.  Well, actually at one point I did have my stainless steel shelves on one wall and the printer/scanner shelves (which is just like the cat's bunk beds) were out.  But I found that in this tiny space, all that utility felt very uninspiring.  So the closet houses the printer/scanner shelves and the large stainless shelves filled with mixed media supplies.  I also have some less than lovely plastic drawers in the closet holding decorative papers and odds and ends.  

My antique dental drawers filled with pencils

.

I had to think through what I really use on a regular basis.  Could this still be convenient in the closet or does it need to be in the room?  Maybe less than convenient in the closet (the printer and scanner) but maybe worth it to not look at it every day.  Does it really need to be on top of the work table or could it just be in a handy place close by?  I play with mixed media art but artist's pencils are my premium medium when I work professionally.  So having the pencils out and available is most important.

I use altoid tins to hold my most used colors of Derwent Artbar and Derwent Intense blocks.  They take up less table space and are great cases for travel when I want them.

   This is a vintage laundry table.  The top is porcelain so paint just washes right off.  The drawer holds markers.  

This little folding tray is so handy.  It extends my work table.  It is easily moved to the desk should I need it for drawing supplies or beside the sewing machine.  Or I can just fold it up and put it away if I need the room.  I have one more I use sometimes but I think its in another room right now.

Kenya and Rose in the bunk beds

This vintage ironing board folds up and takes up little space.  But I can easily set it up when I need an extended table top to spread out supplies or finished pieces.

My daughter's ballet shoes

 

The folding drawing board substitutes for my drafting table.  It works fairly well as I rarely work larger than 11" x 14" anyway.  I loved my drafting table and I did have it in here for a while.  But there was hardly any room to walk.  I realized the real need was for a drawing space that could be elevated at an angle and a safe place to leave the paper while a project is not yet finished.  The table top board solves that need without taking up 3' x 3' of the room and it can be moved should I need the desk for other purposes. 

Cigar box for drawing supplies

I love vintage objects.  Previously I had the luxury of being able to place them in my studio just for the purpose of inspiration.  Many boxes and jars were empty.  I just loved looking at them.  But in my new small space everything has to have a purpose.  So if there was something I really wanted in the room I found a job for it.

Matchstick holder for drawing brushes

Lydia, Studio Supervisor in charge of holding the floor down

I love rocking chairs.  I found that I neeeeded a rocking chair in my studio for it to feel right to me.  But, of course, there is no room for it.  I do kind of have a thing for rocking chairs.  I have 7.  This one is the most light weight one making it easier to move about if necessary.  My sweet husband, the Poet, bought me a keyboard that I can hold on my lap in my rocking chair and a large monitor.  So, this can be my desk chair.     ---I know, I know........

Kenya, my muse

As I said before, the sewing machine tucks away neatly on the typewriter shelf.  And there is room underneath inside for my light box.  

 

The bookshelves are hardly seen but are still available.  They are behind the door and beside the desk.  They hold up the chair my daughter Kate made that holds the tv.  

Some finished pieces available to purchase.

 

I want to recover this chair but don't have the sewing skills to do it properly.  I welcome suggestions or ideas!!!

 

And then when all the necessary things were in place I found a few places, mostly on the walls, to add a bit of decorative fluff just to make me smile.  

Bo.  The Old Man.  

 Thank you for indulging me this 2nd run through.  I am still learning how to make this space work more efficiently and yet maintain an air of creative whimsey.  It is a growing experience.




Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Journal Pages and a Thank You

Here are two journal pages that are quite different.  They are pages that were not created to be shared with a class but rather my own personal pages.   When I create journal pages for class examples I am careful to guard my privacy.  And, of course, we should all maintain our privacy.  But I have tended to be more guarded than most artists I see with blogs.  

Why?  Well, I'm sure some of it has to do with stuff in my past.  But I think some of it is just part of the "how" that I am.  As a result, I don't share my work nearly as much as I should and I have tons of things I've never shared.  I am currently working on a rather large project that is the culmination of lots of small projects.  I've mentioned that before.  And I will share more later when the time is appropriate.  Right now, it is too soon.  But as I've been working on this project, things have been stirring inside me.  Feelings that call me to share more, to be more transparent.  Or maybe transparent isn't the right word.  Maybe just less invisible.  

So, anyway, I've had the creeping crud for several days and have spent most of my time in either the recliner or on the couch with my attention in my laptop.  Although my nose and cough have not enjoyed these days, they have gifted me with abundant time to look around at other artists.  I'm always in such a hurry that this feels quite the luxury.   It was in this time of exploring that I discovered Jennifer Frith of Jenny's Sketchbook.  Go look at her site.  It is fun.  

Jennifer shares lots of her journal pages.  And she has some demonstration videos that are fun to watch.  Although my style and Jennifer's are not exactly the same, they seem to have a similar heart to them.  We share a love and closeness to animals and I see in her art the delight I hope my art also emits.  I felt quite drawn (no pun intended, haha!) to her journal images and found parts of myself on her pages.  I kept wondering if this is my long lost sister.   LOL!  The funny thing is that, although my name is not "Jennifer", my first name IS Jennie.  -just spelled differently.

So, thank you to Jennifer Frith, whom I have never actually met or spoken to.  

I will be sharing more now.  

I will dare to be out there more.   

And these pages are the beginning.    The elephant began with a compelling urge one day to draw an elephant.  The colored designs came later and took days and days.  I usually only journal for about 20 minutes at a time.  And I do it as a part of my prayer life.  Artist's pencils were used for everything on the page except the writing and the black outlines on the elephant.  Those were done with various markers - Pitt and Sharpie colored pens.  The background was done with watercolor pencils.  I rarely use anything but various pencils in journal pages.  I find it a challenge to get the looks I want using only pencils.  If one is not trying to accomplish a fine art watercolor painting, watercolor pencils will do most of what you want on a journal page.  And, frankly for me, it is about using what I have rather than investing in more supplies.

The vase was drawn in graphite about a year ago.  I'm not sure what was going on that day that I drew a wonky lopsided vase with flowers leaning the other direction.  Freud would probably have a hay day with that!  Just recently I've added the watercolor.  This is very different than my usual style and I am really surprised at how much I like it. 

Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

New Faces and More

This winter has been one of pondering and looking at old things with a new eye. I am moving in a slightly different direction with my art and it has brought about some necessary introspection.  Now, in the description of this blog I say that my art focuses on the delights of life, mostly on the relationship between children and animals.  And that continues to be true.   And in recent years I have spent much more time creating pencil art than painting or working in collage.   And that continues to be true.   The truth is the changes stirring now may seem much bigger to me than to the one viewing the art.   We'll see what you think in time.   As my pondering has been on a very personal level, I've not shared the process.  But soon I will begin sharing the artistic results.

In the meantime, I have completed two more faces for the 100 Faces in 365 Days project.  These faces are quite imperfect as they are journal faces and not polished completed portraits.   But as I perpetually tell my students, journal pages should be fun and free from the confines of perfection. And so I share them here.

This tiger cub is Derwent Graphic Pencil on Moleskine soft cover journal.  The paper is not the best for blending graphite and it is buckled as a layer of paint was added to the back of the page on another day.  I do like the expression in his sweet curious eyes.

This is a pretty small drawing (about 3" x 4") done with Derwent Tinted Charcoal on Strathmore 500 Charcoal Paper.  I've never been fond of charcoal paper as I don't like the grid-like texture.  I was hoping the 500 charcoal paper would have a less invasive texture than what I had experienced previously in lesser charcoal papers.  And it was better.  But the grid still shows more than I prefer.  

I usually use Vellum Bristol Board paper or Mixed Media Paper for charcoal.  It has enough tooth to cooperate with the charcoal but has no distinctive texture to distract from the drawing.  But its white and I yearn to draw on colors.  

I love the colors of the Strathmore Toned Paper.  The particular gray and Kraft brown are so pretty and they look amazing with the Tinted Charcoal.  But the paper is just a bit too smooth to work as well as I would like with charcoal, especially to get detail in shading.   I contacted Strathmore pleading with them to make Bristol Board Vellum in the Toned Paper colors.  They said they would consider it but asked me to consider their 500 Charcoal papers.  Besides the ever present charcoal grid texture, the charcoal paper colors are not the same as the nice pretty Toned Paper colors.  And so, I am back at square one.   So, that's my 2 cents on that matter.  

I am joining the bandwagon for Bloglovin'.  I know, I know.... I'm a little late on this.  But, better late than not at all, right?  I'd love for you to join me there.    Follow my blog with Bloglovin


 
Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

On My Worktable

This week I am enjoying the process of bringing these small canvases to life. They have been sitting in my closet for a very long time.  I have too many supplies sitting in that closet.  I've decided  it is time to stop waiting and time to start using those supplies.




It is funny how the creative process goes. I envisioned one thing and they are turning out very different that I imagined.  Sometimes you just have to go with the whirl of creativity as it comes through the room.   I like the new ideas better. I bet that's how it works for you too.

These are a combination of paint, artist's pencils of various kinds, ink, vintage paper, and more.   The lion is all original on the canvas.  But the sleepy tabby is a print of one of my graphite drawings.  Then he has been embellished further with paint, pencils, and ink.  I am thinking about doing more canvases that utilize my pencil drawings.  What do you think?

 

 
Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Black Friday Weekend Sale

In an attempt to do my part to help you avoid the crowds this Black Friday weekend, I am offering my Cat and Dog Portrait Workshops at a one time amazing price.  You can enroll in the Cat Portrait Workshop or you can enroll in the Dog Portrait Workshop.  And if you are really enthusiastic about both, you can enroll in Both of Them! for an even better bundled price.  

These workshops are cram packed with information about how I draw portraits with a simple graphite pencil. 









I include all my special techniques. I will walk you through each and every step from a plain white piece of paper to a splendid portrait created only in graphite. I will teach you the tricks to create a portrait that will come off the page with depth and with personality.

And the icing on the cake is that you can email me with your questions and with pictures of your work so I can help you along the way. These workshops are so much fun and students that have preceded you have had wonderful success. You can see some of the portraits accomplished by my students here in this video.

These workshops are open "forever".  So, if you are a beginner, you can purchase the workshops at this one time amazing price and save them for when you have completed my Pencils Series.  The Pencils Series 101, 201, & 301 will prepare you thoroughly for these Portrait Workshops.

So, hurry over to Creative Workshops for more information and to sign up.

Sign yourself up, sign your friends and family up.

Just think, you could be finished with your shopping with one click. And then you can spend this hectic weekend reading a good book.

Ahhhhhh!!!!!




Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons