Day 177 Calle de Palafrugell Spain

September 7, 2020May 19, 2021Leave a comment

So relaxing after that abomination yesterday. This is on some Arches 280# cold press.Paint along with Vladislav Yesileyev

the photo

the Value sketch.

No of the drawing. But this is mostly the first washes. Was not thrilled with the sky wash which went streaky. Though I have had this arches for a while I don’t know that I have ever run a wash on it.

Adding bushes on the right which I swear looks like a huge pothos aka philodendron plant.

Lots of splattering on this one. I love to splatter.

Wires were fun to do too.

Painting the bougainvillea was way too much fun. Splattering the wet greenery with alizarin then cad red. Love to splatter. I think I like watching the colors interact when they are splattered. I might be a latent pointillist like Seurat.

Cad red added to the bougainvillea. FUN!!

Love the lush purpley dark of the alizarin under the cad red splatters. Wet on wet. Yum

I darkened the sky w cobalt Andrews turquoise and dioxzine purple.

And done for now. Have already started a fix it list like
What’s up with the guys pants hanging so low.
Touch up the upper lantern.
And somehow get the light on one of the rear buildings back.
OH Cobblestones on the Calle aka street.
And I am sure there will be more. I know take the tape off. Hahahahaha and
Try some washes on scrap arches 280.
Dark down the hill. Will make the top of the street pop.

Margaret ready to do nothing for a while. Xoxoxox

Candace Bohannon

October 24, 2019October 30, 2019Leave a comment

The other half of the dynamic duo that taught us this weekend. What a sweet heart and so talented. Can’t wait to see them both again next time.

I drew both of their sketches when they were standing mere feet from me. I think Candace looks a bit older than she does in real life. She’s glowingly 7 months pregnant but that didn’t slow her down a bit.

Everytime I see that delicious nude she painted on the first page of her website I wish I had bought the one she brought to class to sell. It just glowed. That’s what tempera does when it’s complete and polished.

Well I have completed my order of pigments from Natural pigments Wonder if I will like stirring up my own paints?! Something new in art I haven’t tried. Also need to finish my painting and polish her. Maybe tomorrow.

If not when I return from Daufuskie. Margaret ready for bed. Xoxoxox

Julio Reyes

October 23, 2019Leave a comment

A undercover spy drawing if the teacher Sunday – Julio Reyes. Really a great class. They taught us everything they know about how to mix paint and prepare surfaces for egg tempera. He and Candace his wife poured their generous hearts into this class.

They gave us the biggest most detailed handout I have ever gotten in a class outside of college, provided all the materials but the painting panel continually going beyond what is normally done in any class I have taken. I highly recommend them. Too bad we don’t have a picture of the amazing paintings turned out in this class. Can’t wait to polish mine. Yes they taught us how to do that too with a piece of old silk scarf.

These are powdered pigments that I bought today at CityArt over in Columbia also known as Art Express on the internet. The owner Randy is great so I do like to buy from him when I can.

You mix these pigments with water and egg to make egg tempera. I couldn’t resist. Not quite the colors we used in class but they were there. Gamblins a great reliable company soooo I scooped them up. More about that tomorrow when I post Candace.

Margaret who has driven all over NC and SC in the past two days and is Tahred now. Xoxoxox

Day 2122 So many windows with great views

August 1, 20192 Comments

A sketch of the cute bungalow next door. To say it’s a cottage is a misnomer. It’s big. Really big. The roof is rolled like one on a British cottage. Peachy brick with yellow ochre trim.

The sketch in ink. Done with my Lamy vista with Noodler eelskin ink. Painted with a waterbrush. Did I say I am not fond of them at all. Hard to move color around. And I used my tiny tiny whiskey painter brush. It does work but rally ended by larger brushes.

Always wonder if these type sketches are urban sketches. Well qualify as urban sketches. I think so but do the powers that be?

Time to hop in the shower and then head home. Margaret sitting on a front porch that is just becoming too muggy. Aka temps a sticky 78. Xoxox

Day 2119 Van Gogh did NOT commit suicide

July 29, 2019July 30, 2019Leave a comment

Auvers Van Goghs Blue Church on the hill my version

But I knew that.

Auver from the Oise River Bridge. Ravouxs Auberge (Inn) where Van Gogh died on far left

This article based on a forensic analysis of his death says otherwise.

Van Goghs famous blue church

Of course I can’t get to my sketchbook and share a map of Auvers. It’s in Augusta and I am not.

Go on a Viking Seine River cruise in the winter and they will take you to Auvers since Monets Giverny near Normandy closes in October.

Margaret in Atlanta with the grandkids. Xoxoxox

Day 2117 So many blues

July 27, 2019August 17, 20192 Comments

This painting is all about using different blues.

The High has several gun slit shaped wndows – tall and narrow- at the ends of corridors. They always have interesting views.

I had to think long and hard how to paint this one because basically all the buildings were a version of white and grey.

The sky is cobalt. I used cerulean and burnt sienna for greys onthe right hand building. the left building got more cobalt watered down.

Then I started adding black made with cerulean and burnt umber.

The changes are almost imperceptible.

Anyway grandkids time in Decatur. Ttyl

Xoxoxo Margaret

Day 2113 Court reporter time!!

July 24, 2019July 24, 20193 Comments

Best thing about congressional hearings is getting to draw the talking heads. My dear friend Ruth Pearl and I would LOVE to be court reporters of any needs us. Too much fun. Will share a couple of hers with you after I ask her.

Page 5&6

AND I finished this hahnemuhle journal. Now I can go back to stillman and birn. The hahnemuhle hated the tombow markers. When I tried to brush them out the paper peeled. WHAT?!!

And the spine is totally broken and falling apart. Last time that happened was when I first used Stillman and Birn. They sent me a stack of four to replace that one book. WHAT was I thinking changing even if it was to try out a nice non plastic covered journal. Sigh.

Page 1&2

Tombows. Always fun not as messy as watercolors BUT I think I will paint the other two pages I drew today. 11 heads all together.

Have to say he’s DIFFICULT to draw. Not sure why.

One tip. You can draw these guys in 5-10 min. If u start where he’s looking right and don’t finish wait. Sooner or later he will resume the same position and you can finish. Try it – it’s a lot of fun. That’s how I did the big one. Every time Schiff or Nunez questioned him I worked on the big one some more.

Page 3&4

Page three. Especially like the one on the bottom right.

Ink ones are my Lamy Ef a sweet writing pen with noodler brown ink.

Margaret who might have to listen to more news. Xoxoxox

Day2112 hmm that looks wrong

July 21, 20192 Comments

Out the second floor window at the High

This still needs work. Meant to do it today but went to Lion King instead. It was almost standing room only. The cgi was amazing. The animals looked so real.

And still haven’t decided if this is done. Maybe there’s too much yellow background?! Seemed like a good idea except I don’t seem to like one solid color. Will have to think about this.

When I was home I spent a lot of time looking for a sketch of Kate I did a while back. Finally found it in the FIRST palace I looked. And I looked there several times. How did I miss it. Now to get Miss Kate painted. Time is running OUT!!

Margaret who has to watch the first Fantastic Beasts so I can figure out what was going on in the second one. Of course I find all the cgi highly entertaining. Xoxoxo