I am in the middle of a watercolor workshop with Cheng Khee Chee so I may have some watercolors to post soon. I did finish another face. This one is inspired by the artist Ai Wei Wei. Once again the eyes grabbed me – old eyes, strong and wise. Once again tweeked – I start with a contour drawing from a photograph and then do the rest from my imagination and in response to what happens during the drawing process.
Bearded Man Drawing
After I finshed preparing for the State Fair I was sort of like a ballon deflating. I felt a strong need to take a rest and regroup. Now, like a bad penny, I’m back, a little shinier after spending several weeks reading, thinking and resting. I am ready to get back to painting, drawing and doodling. I started by immersing myself in faces. My old friends know that I love to find a face that fascinates me and then I change it to make it my own. I’ve noticed that it is usually the eyes that hook me. I put my toe back in the water and here’s the result…a face depraved and with the potential for evil. Wonder what that means!
Gangsta Man
The drawing was done with a set of warm gray markers and is about 10″ X 12″. I made the eyes green. I wanted them to glint like emeralds.
I have set aside my Yupo for the moment. I stumbled on a photograph of a man with the biggest smile I ever saw. It was enchanting. As many of you know I am fascinated by faces and frequently do rough sketches from magazines and then make them my own. I usually am intrigued by one facial feature that catches my eye. In this case it was the crinkly, laughing eyes. I started thinking about what could make him laugh – he’s having fun – why? – he’s at a festival – what’s happening? – fireworks – shazam! I can use my abstract palette of pthalo blue, quin magenta and cad yellow to make it took like he’s watching fireworks. What fun!!!!!! Are YOU smiling?
Laughing man
I have another face for your consideration. I think I was fascinated by the blowing, ruffled hair on this one and the last. 
Once again, this is a 30 minute sketch done in my Bee sketchbook with Pebeo pan watercolors and Aquastroke brushes (two of which are about worn out). Its a small book about 6″ X 9″. It tolerates wet media but I’ve noticed that I get “pilling” on the surface after several washes and I have to take it off with my finger tip.
Good morning everyone! I have been a little tired and distracted lately so I got out my sketchbook. You probably don’t remember but I worked primarily on loose sketches during the first three months of 2011. I think it helped relax my “little gray cells”, flex my painting and drawing muscles, and prepare me for more rigorous painting activity. I used my 6″ X 9″ Bee Deluxe sketchbook that will take wet media and an old copy of a magazine. I am using my Pebeo pan set of watercolor and my aquabrushes to paint faces. First I do a quick pencil sketch and then I put the magazine away and just paint. The intent is not to get a likeness of a specific person but just to achieve a face I like in about 30 minutes.
Face 03042012
Ken ended his life in peace and comfort at 9:00 pm on Christmas Eve at St Vincent’s Hospice. Appropriately It’s a Wonderful Life was playing on the TV in his room. He is no longer in pain. His fight is over.
When we received his diagnosis and were told that his cancer was aggressive and advanced I asked him if he wanted to start a bucket list. He said, “I am not afraid to die. I have no regrets. I have nothing left undone.” I pray we are all so lucky.
We both want to thank you for your kindness and generosity – for your blessings and prayers. You were our teachers and enriched our lives.
I want to thank all of my friends in the blogging world for your kindness and for sending blessings, prayers and positive thoughts our way. It has been a very trying and challenging period for us. To make a long story short I will tell you only that in the last two and a half weeks Ken has been in two hospitals and last Thursday he was admitted to inpatient hospice. His pain was uncontrolled and he has refused to eat and drink. At the hospice they have adjusted his pain management plan and he is painfree at this time. We have had two and a half days of comfort, quiet and peace. If this continues he will probably come home Monday afternoon. Hospice will be with us from here on out and they are wonderful and the facility is homelike and incredibly peaceful and comfortable.
I have only had the energy to do one drawing. It is in colored pencil and as you can see was done several days ago. It is my little Sami girl and I am still trying to capture the fact that she glows with light.
Sami Girl Redux in Colored Pencil
I don’t know how often I will be able to post. Ken will have my attention from here on out. Thank you all again for your kindness, generosity and support.
I’ve been doing some sketching and I love to work with faces. My first is done with black and gray Sharpie markers.
The Ancester
and the next one is just graphite pencils. Both are in my little 6″ X 9″ sketchbook. Both are inspired by photos in the latest Smithsonian magazine.
The Navigator
Yesterday was a long day. Ken’s first treatment was at 9:30 and, with all the testing done yesterday, we did not leave the Cancer Center until 4:00 in the afternoon. I took several magazines and some drawing materials. I just bought a new set of Sharpie markers. I wanted a set with pastel colors. Whew! let me say their pastels are not soft pastel colors! They are intense…anyway I had the latest National Geographic magazine with me and it has an article about the Sami people that herd reindeer in Norway. The article opens with a photograph of a beautiful young girl. She is bundled up in a scarf and is full of light. Incredible! Using my markers I did this drawing. I tried to lighten it this morning with white watercolor paint with so-so results. Anyway, I loved doing this one and learned how to layer these strong markers. Fun, distracting and challenging. Hope you have a copy of the magazine to see the remarkable original.
Sami Girl - Copied from National Geographic Magazine
WOW what a week…our biggest problem…a contractor was working on our roof in a high wind and his ladder crashed down taking out our cable, phone service and internet. Do you realize how much we depend on our phone and internet? I did use my cell to report the problem and schedule the repair…anyway we are finally back in communication with the outside world.
I had time to do a couple of small drawings while “out of touch”. We were in the office of Ken’s dentist who is an avid advocate of the Chicago Institute of Art. He had a book on the coffee table that described the origins of the museum. A driving force was Francis Hutchinson and her husband. I thought this early photo of her presented a face both sweet and curious so I couldn’t pass it up.
A Young Francis Hutchinson
Later the same day I was reading an article in the monthly magazine published by the Indiana Historical Society. The article was about the Ninth Indiana Infantry Regiment which was one of the original 3 month volunteer regiments later recommissioned to a 3 year regiment. They were active during the entire war and gained renown for their experience, bravery and effectiveness. I used a photo of one of the leaders of the regiment to set the outlines for this drawing but the eyes, nose and attitude are all mine. Hope you enjoy!
Civil War Warrior
