sepia and red ink

The third image in mwwm (my week with Marilyn) sketchbook..this doesn't look much like her, but the pose was interesting..the words around the outside were taken at random from the book I was working with...things about Marilyn and her life.  I tried for another technique, working with a red sharpie and sepia watercolor.

climbing the curve

The second sketch in my week with Marilyn journal...I think this one really looks like her..It certainly helps with proportions and just learning how the face is laid out..you think you know..but the eyes are wider apart than you think..the mouth is closer to the bottom of the nose etc..etc..a constant learning curve to climb!

new sketchbook

I just finished a new project...just for fun.  I made a little accordion fold sketchbook and decided to call it "my week with Marilyn"...I used several books about Marilyn Monroe and chose a few images to draw in the sketchbook...it did take me a week and I tried to go for different looks.  I think this first one looks like Michelle Williams in the movie where she played Marilyn.. (the book measures 6.5"x5.5")

fresh palette

Peony portrait...always a favorite subject.  I have tons of photographs of peonies and always look through them on a dark, snowy or frosty day to get that hit of early summer and to get inspired for another painting.  January is a good time to clean your palette and squeeze out new color or chisel out old, dried up or cracked bits of color.

organizing

A quick unfinished sunflower study...trying to organize my photo references and in doing so finding inspiration for future paintings.  Luckily tulips are popping up in stores already so I can buy some bouquets to have "live" models around!

highlights

I like the way the white of the paper indicates the strong lighting on her cheek, nose, forehead and eyelid.  That's been the hardest thing for me to train my eyes to "see"...the lights and darks, but that is what it's all about...value.  That contrast between, in which form takes shape.

summer photos

A small little pop of color to spark the winter season.  I will be figuring out when to have my annual peony painting workshop this June..the last several years the season came early..so I'll keep that in mind this year.  Now it's working from photos of summer blooms in the studio!

New goals

Happy New Year everyone!  Thank you for checking out my blog, following my work, taking workshops, commenting or sending me nice emails in 2012!  2013 is here and I will continue with my figure/portrait work and try for increased drawing and sketching time...I also have a solo show to work for in June so I best get started!