Day 47 of the #jyportraitchallenge.Another watercolor I like. Getting to be a pattern. Hurrah!! She actually said she was done today.
Arches cold press 9×12”
Forgot to take process pics again. Too busy painting. Sorry!!
The photo
Quin scarlet and azo orange w dabs of the purple color background (why not spread the joy around?!) used for her hair otherwise Mary Whytes palette colors.
The pencil sketch Always a relief when the model shows up on the paper.
The purple on the background is a combo of ultramarine and perylene maroon a lovely combo. Painted w a Mary Whyte fav a cats paw, #10 Charles Reid kolinsky sable (both brushes at Cityart in Columbia, SC @cityartsc ) and 1/2” Robert Simons synthetic flat, arches 140 cp 9×12”.
Trinidad Day 441/4 sheet cp fluid. Mixed media #jyportraitchallenge on ig
My friend Ruth and I keep each other going. You can see her posts @britpeach on ig. When one flags the other says where’s your post today?!Our #jyportraitchallenge photo from IG. Judith Yaws is an Asheville NC area based artist who holds lifemodeling zoom sessions several times a month. Her models are world class and have kindly donated their photos to Judith for the challenge. Almost forgot to take pics. The beginning. Something is off. Omg and i can not lift on this piece of fluid. That’s a pickle to say the least. Her mouth is far too low which means everything from there down is too low!! 😵😵😵Trying to lift/move that mouth and getting into big trouble because quin pink is staining. And whats with the cross eyes?! For better or worse i moved it. The paper really was terrible. There were dots all over below her nose on her chin like there was no sizing on it. Did i say this was the back of the cp fluid 140?! Luckily she had a heavy shadow under her lip which helped disguise that I loved her mouth. Well i hope it did.
I added a lot of white gouache to her top w a 1/2” flat to give it texture. Lots of fun. Think i may need to do some acrylics again.
Anyway here she is done as she will get. Off the back deck this am. Gorgeous day on River Bend. Margaret xoxoxoxo
Trying to loosen up some. Posting the process of this drawing. Day 5 done. #jyportraitchallenge! @mychorrhizal_arts #stillmanandbirnalpha #prismacolorartstix #portrait #portraitchallenge #portrait #dailydrawingprompts #peoplesketching #sketchingideas #challenge When u arent invested in the subject its a good chance to loosen up. Hmm. As i said not invested and hanging loose. Almost done. Really should fix the ribbing on this sweater but why?! Rather play with the beard and udon’t want to spend too much time on this sketch. Calling him done at least for the moment. prismacolor art stixs faber Castell watercolor pencils and 1 white prismacolor pencil. Where oh were are they ?! Stillmanandbirn alpha 8×10” Worked on her some more trying to get rid of the yellow. Used a prismacolor pastel stick on her teeth. How dod i not notice i didn’t center her teeth on her nose. Duh?! The neck is not that dark. Chalking it ip to the stupid iphone. A presie from a friend. Love it. And doesn’t this photo of my grandmother remind you of the sketch of Emily metalksin Will repost it below! Grandmother always did think she was a vamp.
Judith Yaws @judithyaws is doing a 30 day portrait challenge on ig @jyportraitchallenge Shes posting awesome photo references for the challenge. Thought i would join my friend Ruth @britpeach in this challenge.
Day 1 done. 10-15 min drawing. 8×10” stillman and birn alpha w prismacolor artsticks #jyportraitchallenge #portraitchallenge #prismacolorartsticks #stillmanandbirnalpha Thanks @prettywackbeatsDay 2 Done. Did i say i started out three behind?! Hope to be caught up by Saturday. Took too long on this one but she is interesting so fun to do. Hard to maneuver the artsticks which are conte crayon shaped prismacolor pencils no wooden case. No sharp edges on them. Hmmm gotta be a way around that. Thanks!@artzkt83Cant wait to do this one tomorrow. Love her look. Using these prismacolor artstixs. Hard to tell where the flat edge is so that causes problems. Wondering of breaking them into pieces would help?! Might just get out my colored pencils and use them when i need a straight exact line like for the eyes or the edge of the face. Now where did i put my colored pencils. Hmmm.
These are done by drawing the large shapes first then the details. I am bad abt starting with the outline and details then filling it in like a color book so trying to change. If Mary Whyte can draw the big shapes first so can i?!
Peaches visiting at our house with our sister in law. Sweet puppy but big feet. You know what that means?!
Not what i meant to post today. have another painting to pour half way done but got sidetracked spring cleaning. Exhausted i noticed a sunflower volunteering from the bird seed out the den window and drew it. My silly tortie kept begging for kitty snacks instead of letting me take a nap when i was slowing down. She was below me on the floor so this is a wonky drawing. Tried out two new pens today that some people recommend for sketching. All are supposedly waterproof. I just felt odd drawing and writing w the bic and the zebra. I dont think the lines are thinner so will stick w my fav uniball micro pens.
Interesting recommendations for your ig feed to improve it from a woman who has a zillion followers. Thinking abt taking her class at the end of the april. Obviously she knows something i don’t know.
From Dina Brodsky! Her Ig is @ dinabrodsky and she has 772000 plus followers! So she must know what she’s talking about!!
Today, a few thoughts on your bio.
Why your bio is important and how to optimize it
Instagram is the platform of choice for the art world, and most galleries, collectors and critics will look at your instagram account before they look at your website or CV. Most people’s first impressions are formed instantly, so the first thing to do is to make sure your account is the best possible impression of you as an artist.
Your name/handle: make sure this is what you want to be known by in the art world. I would suggest sticking to your actual name, or, if that’s already taken, Yourname_artist, yourname_paintings, etc. Since this is your professional account, keep it professional, rather than charming/whimsical/clever.
Your Profile Photo
Since most people are looking at instagram on their phone, your profile photo might be too small for them to make out. That being said, make sure its a photo of your art, you, or you and your art.
Your Bio
This is a place to say a few words about yourself as a person and as an artist. Also, a place to direct people to what’s happening in the link in your bio, which is the most important part of your profile
Link in bio/website
Why it’s important:
This is the only place on Instagram you can place a live link. This should be the place you direct people to the most important thing happening in your career at the moment – your next exhibition, a write-up in a major publication, or something actionable like a workshop you’re trying to fill or a studio sale.
Why it’s really important:
Did you know that the Instagram algorithm puts a disproportionate weight on whether people click on your link in bio? This means that if you direct people to the link in your post/reel, and they click on it, that post will get prioritized by the algorithm and become visible to more people.
DON’T put lots of links in your bio with tools like Linktree. Less than 1% of your audience will click your link–send them to the ONE place that’s most important to you.
Pro tip: if you do want your link in bio to direct people to several places, don’t do it via Linktree, Lnk.bio or other third party apps. Instead make a Links page on your website, like this: https://www.dinabrodsky.com/links
That way you are driving people to your website instead of a third party app.
Pumpkin 300# cp Fabriano Artistico may be done. Shes aging right now.The paper masked and first pour of a variety of purples and blues. Second pour. I also added some burnt sienna on the left. Third pourPainting before i removed the masking. Biggest decision. How to paint all that fur and keep it soft?! 😵💫Found a Liz Steele @lizsteelart post on instagram where she used four colors today all of which i happened to have -Daniel Smith French Ultramarine Blue, DS Buff Titanium, DS Monte Amiata and DS Red Iron Oxide which i thought would be perfect for Miss Pumpkin. This is my test page in my Stillman and Birn Alpha. Lots of wet on wet for the fur test. Before i stripped off the masking. Not a big fan of masking. You have to soften alot of edges after you remove it. Lots of sharp edges now on her face. I had to lift out some of them by rubbing them w a nylon flat and remove the rest of the masking. And here she is now. The watermark lettering does not show like that when you look at the painting. I also had tto wet the back of the paper toto wet the back to try to flatten the paper which was
Pumpkin 300# cp Fabriano Artistico may be done. Shes aging right now.The cat masked. I drew the whiskers and the furry hairs on the left w a fine indian ink pen. It can be a bear removing so much masking. Lots of rubbing required. Second pour. I also added some burnt sienna on the left. Biggest decision. How to paint all that fur and keep it soft?! 😵💫Found a Liz Steele @lizsteelart post on instagram where she used four colors today all of which i happened to have -Daniel Smith French Ultramarine Blue, DS Buff Titanium, DS Monte Amiata and DS Red Iron Oxide which i thought would be perfect for Miss Pumpkin. This is my test page in my Stillman and Birn Alpha. Lots of wet on wet for the fur test. And here she is now. The watermark lettering does not show like that when you look at the painting. I also had to wet the back of the paper to wet the back to try to flatten the paper which was anything but flat when i was done.
Alex Murdaugh take 2. Now I am tired. Watercolor pencil superaquabee sketchbookThe pencils. The loose colors are the ones i used alot. I mostly use Faber Castell and or Inktense. Better get them sharpened for Monday.
Maggie henceforth known as Mags ready for bed. hmm never heard that as a knickname for Margaret. Xoxoxo
Have finally had the honor and privilege of taking classes with her. I don’t think you can ask for a better hard working sharing teacher. If she knows it she will tell you.
Mary Whytes painting. Took her an hour and a half. Not quite a half sheet
Outside of a college art class the atmosphere is hard working and on your toes kind of environment. Lecture and Mary painting in the am then it’s your turn. If you work hard u can turn out two paintings in one day. Since my rotator cuff is shot I didn’t try that in the second class.
Full sheet Arches 300# done in Mary’s class in St Simons. Of course I can’t remember the lovely models name. No doubt in my notes.
The first one I took from her I did a full sheet in under two hours. That’s a lot of fast painting. Since the studio floors were concrete as I told Mary I limped out in both feet. OUCH. But I would do it again if I had too.
The sweet UGA student who modeled and played the guitar. Last time I will use fabriano. Sucked up the color like a sponge. I gave it to him and he was delighted. His dad Ken was our workshop helper and they were both delightful. Mary’s painting. Oh so much better than mine. I am always tight on my first attempt in a class. Painting #1. Tight but not as tight as the guitar player
Second time I sat. I really don’t like to and the floor was wooden BUT I didn’t want to limp the blocks to much car after class so I sat.
A quick sketch of Teesha. Something I do during class when I take notes. I listen better. St Johannes Lutheran church
So since Mary says the secret to painting is to paint I signed up for a two day class in Charleston with her at Gudger Hall at St Johnnes Lutheran south of Broad on the Charleston peninsula.
Out the north facing windows at Gudger Hall
A lovely old building. Of course the paint flew during the day and the evenings on Edisto were heavenly.
The great Teesha by Mary Whyte painted in class. She’s the model in a lot of Mary’s books and is like Mary just a sweet heart. My painting of Teesha the last afternoon. Then we were off home. If you can’t take a class with Mary there’s a Northlight video for $15 that you can buy and it’s almost as good as being there and her book on how to paint portraits. She leaves nothing out. Bytw Mary’s assistant thought this was Mary’s for a minute when I showed it to her. Made my day as well as my husbands.
Oh one last nite before I close. When you take Marys class in Charleston she and Sharon treat the class and a plus one with a reception in her studio. Heavy hors d’ouevres and the wine flows.
Margaret in rainy Georgialina curled up on the sofa reading when she should be painting. xoxoxo
Margaret McCarthy Hunt Art 