Stone Jug - Sketch

I have always referred to this item as a stone jug. Maybe it is pottery but one thing I do know it is a great shape to draw and has been part of my kitchen for at least thirty years.

There are some highly skilled artist out there that do incredible work using charcoal, carbon and graphite, not necessarily all together.

J. D. Hillberry is one of these artist that I honestly thought the drawings were computer generated using software like Photohop until I started reading the tutorial properly. There is also a second tutorial by J. D. Hillberry here as well.

Do you know of any good online tutorials using charcoal, carbon or graphite? If you care to share them please leave the links with a comment in this post.


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technorati tags: sketch, sketching, draw, drawing, art, artist, graphite

Horsing Around

Horse - Sketch
Copyright, Susan Borgas

The last day and a half I have done little painting. It isn't for lack of trying, just a lot happening in the background here that you guys know little about.

One thing that I was very happy with is a framing job that my husband and I did yesterday. Malcolm made the frame up and I did the mounting of the work. We also do my own framing as well and because I am so fussy we have had to learn how to achieve a professional finish to the job. As much as I would like to show you yesterdays finished framing job I don't have permission to take a photo so you are going to have to take my word for it.

As a landscape painter I do get very little opportunities to paint animals. To stretch my mind outside of my comfort zone, sketching an horse will certainly do that. Maybe I should concentrate on the family farms working dogs rather than a horse that we don't have so that I can study the animal a bit closer.


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technorati tags: sketch, sketching, draw, drawing, art, artist, horse drawing, horse sketch

Grisaille - What is it?

As some of you know I am working on an oil painting that is worked as a grisaille then glazes of transparent colour layered over the top. Because it is a landscape I am also introducing opaque colour as well with texture and the two seem to be work together; probably as the scene is water, smooth rock and native bush.

For those that wonder about the pronunciation of grisaille it is grizz-eye; French for grey.


The grisaille technique can be used in any colour that an artist wishes to choose although shades of grey or brown is more common. What you end up with is a monochromatic painting done entirely with a number of steps of values in one colour. This technique was common among the artists of the early Renaissance.

Using the grisaille technique the values are all worked out before any colour is added, not that hues are always introduced to the work. If you choose to go to the next step and add colour, the rest seems to take on a life of its own with changes happening very quickly because you don't have to concentrate quite so much on the values as they are already mapped out.

There are two artists at WetCanvas who's work I do admire. They are William F. Martin and Martin Clarke; both generously demonstrate there grisaille techniques on WetCanvas.

Samples of William's work in progress:

• Purple Iris

• New Rainbow Bridge

Samples of Martin's work in progress:

• The Shrine

• The Wrath of Grapes

I personally would like to study this grisaille technique in depth and if anyone has good links on this subject that they would like to share with me and my readers please leave them in the comments of this post. I have to admit I found searching the internet rather lacking when it comes to information on this subject.

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technorati tags: grisaille, grisaille technique, sketch, sketching, art, artist, draw, drawing, graphine

Sturt's Desert Pea - Sketch

This is going to be a very quick post because a short one is better than none at all, especially when this artist is up to her neck working in the studio.

While working on my Grisaille painting my mind is already planning the next painting. Sturt's Desert Pea has always been a favourite flower of mine and now that I am armed with a lot of reference photos; a few sketches will be put into action.

I had better get back to work, so until the next post...... be good!

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An Apple a Day

Bowl Fruit
copyright Susan Borgas

An apple a day keeps the doctor away or so the old saying says. Perhaps it should be draw a piece of fruit a day keeps the artist eye and hand cordination healthy.

My home is overflowing with items to draw and yet so often I sit like a stunned mullet wondering what to sketch. It sort of goes like this when I do make an effort.

• Open fridge door....... shut fridge door; scary stuff in there!

• Look inside my cupboards..... nope nothing to interest me but do take note of the dust over cupboard that needs cleaning.

• Walk around studio...... notice paintings that need to be completed.

• Poke my nose outdoors and nearly freeze in the process...... shelve that idea.

• Check my email and RSS feeds....... nope, no ideas there

• Back to the studio and do some work on a painting to avoid sketching.

Somewhere in all this confusion a drawing will sometimes materialise.

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Cuppa Time - Sketch

Good grief when is life going to slow down? I think perhaps with me the answer is never!

After a huge extended weekend in Adelaide I can say that there has been a number of jobs ticked off my list that had to be done towards my son's wedding, a meeting with a network of artist that I am involved with plus a job done on the Patrol that will have the 4WD ready for a trip up in Central Australia in mid August of this year. My hubby and I also attended a 21st birthday party; consequently it was a very tiring trip by the time we arrived home.

I hope I haven't missed answering comments that have been posted, as three of my blogs had comments while I was in Adelaide..... spam included! It is a shame that spammers make it so hard for us bloggers when we are away because I would prefer to allow comments with my blogs without moderation during those periods but just can't bring myself to do it.

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Waiting

A number of months back I received a phone call from a lady to book a date for an outing for a group to visit my gallery and studio. A presentation by myself about what I do as an artist also would be included.

Today was the day the ladies turned up armed with a lovely afternoon tea. I had a great time with these visitors answering many questions that had me forgetting how it was a cold and drizzly day outdoors.

While waiting for the group to turn up I sat at my studio window staring at this plant outside in my garden and started to sketch it. Just as well I did or I may not have posted here today, which would make me feel guilty considering I won't be posting for the next few days. Malcolm (hubby) and I are heading to the city tomorrow to catch up with family & friends plus I do have a meeting to attend in the Big Smoke. Oh and shopping as well!

Until my return, please don't forget me.

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Lover of My Soul

Music plays a big role when I am working in my studio. Sometimes I will have the volume turned up with the room jumping with the sound of music and song in my studio. Yesterday was not one of those days; I was looking for something relaxing to play.

At these times I like listening to the acclaimed harpist Carol McClure playing hymns and worship songs on a Cd called "Lover of My Soul". Even for those that are not particularly religious would enjoy the soothing sounds of this cd.

Once the music had started I settle down to do this sketch because my mind seem to be pulled into different directions that I couldn't concentrate on the pastel that I am working on. The sketch isn't about trying to do a perfect drawing but more about making marks on paper without thought of how or what this line should be doing. Once done I was much more relaxed and able to concentrate on my pastel painting.

Do you ever find that you really have to push yourself to work as an artist because you lack inspiration and drive and if so what do you do to get your muse back?

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Ants and Laptop

What is it about ants and my laptop? For months now I get the odd ant that likes to crawl around over my laptop; thankfully not the whole nest wanting to take up residence, just one on its own.

It isn't the same little blighter because I have completely removed them to find another climbing up the power cord and if left makes its way to the monitor or keyboard of the laptop, which is downright distracting.

Hey here is a thought! The ant is a scout looking for food and if found will bring his friends for a meal? Uh Oh...... I better vacuum my keyboard because I am always catching up to my RSS feeds over my evening meal.

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Desktop Sketch

The only thing that I have done that is creative in the last couple of days is this five minute sketch over a coffee break because I have been busy working in the office. Do I dare say it.... I hate GST bookwork! I know I know; I'm always saying that!

The odd thing about this sketch, I wasn't in the office when putting pencil to paper and ended up with a desktop that is nothing like my own. Maybe is is my wishful thinking workspace.

Well there are some lovely comments to reply to on my blogs before my next stint in the office so I had better get on with it.

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Nose, eye and mouth sketches

It is really nice to come across sketches that I had done awhile ago during my time that I was studying a Commercial Art Course.

These little studies are very helpful to get ones head around the shapes and size to indicate if the person is a child or an adult.

Well it is a short post as there has been a lot of coming and going in my household over the last few days although did manage to get some work done in my studio today. Until next time....happy blogging!

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Mt Aleck, Elder Range

When fossicking around in my studio studio I came across a sketch book that had been using for an earlier paintings that I had completed. This sketch of Mt Aleck is part of the Elder Range in the Central Flinders Ranges. The resulting painting can be found on this page at my website.

Preparation in the way of a sketch is ideal to plan ahead to see if the main key elements will work before starting on a painting. It can save a lot of time and grief as you will see straight away if the design and perspective will work.

For those that do use reference photos; there can be a lucky shot of a scene where everything is located faultlessly. However nature isn't always accommodating with trees positioned perfectly to what you have in your own mind or the ideal place. It is up to you to replant it and what a better way than trying out new positions with a sketch. Works for me!

If you would like to try out some of my own photos for reference material for your paintings check out SnapShots and see if there is anything suitable..... you are very welcome to use these free images for your artworks. There are minor conditions for their use but for most people it won't effect them. Please read the 'Sticky Note' and 'Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License' on SnapShots before using these photos.

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Hints for Staying Focused

Staying focused in your work isn’t always easy, especially if there is a daunting amount of work to do over a period of a year and the next and so on. Time management is so important to stay focused on what needs to be done. This is how I try to stay focused and for the most part it does work.

1. List off the main jobs that have to be completed for the year. For artists that would be how many paintings you need to complete as well as exhibitions you are exhibiting in. Be sure to list any other major events, including non work related ones. Once you have a list, pencil each job into the years calendar at a pace that you know you can handle comfortably with room to spare for any hiccups that may arise and trust me they will. You will also be aware if you can handle anymore additional work for that year.

2. Write out a daily task list. I started doing this when I read Maggie’s post How to Juggle & Other Parlor Tricks on her blog. It is a great way of staying on track for your day, which then allows you to focus more on what you should be doing, creating art or whatever else your job is.

3. Your time is important so learnt to say no when someone else wants a slice of your day. If it can’t be avoided do a trade off. For example because my husband and I own a business there is sometimes a task that I can only do that wasn’t on the agenda. If my husband wants me to do a job for him he ends up doing a mundane job or two off my own list.

4. Delegate jobs to other members in the family or staff rather than trying to be ‘super work hero’ that ends up coming to an almighty crash from overload. It takes a long time to climb back out of that hole that you created. I learnt that at an earlier time in my life where I ended up so ill that I was useless to those around me.

5. Consider using your answering machine to take your calls. This I have done when I see ‘private numbers’ showing up on the ID screen. 99% of the time ‘private numbers’ are either a fax or somebody wanting to sell me something; perhaps I should try and sell them a painting.

6. As an artist I know I lose focus when painting. This is when it is time to have some refreshments or do one of those smaller jobs on the list that take no longer than ten or so minutes. That break for me will help me refocus once more on the painting.

7. I love my email and the contact I have with family and friends but like phone calls, it is distracting from work and rarely touch my email during my work hours. If you have time, check your email & blog feeds first thing in the morning (I do while having my breakfast) and once more during the evening when finished my list for the day. Over my midday meal I sometimes will check my blog feeds. Once the clock says back to work, it really means back to work and I get on and do just that. On the subject of rss feeds, do you use a Feed Reader (for example Bloglines or Google Reader) to check your favourite blogs? You should! They save a lot of time as updated blog post drop into the same place and so much quicker to read. Many blogs offer email subscriptions if you prefer not to use a Feed Reader.

8. Listen to music while you work. It tends to help your mind settled on what is in front of you instead of all the other stuff that is going on in your life.

9. If you write to a blog, consider drafting your post rather than leaving it to the last minute then feeling rushed about what you want to write. I paint from the screen of my laptop, hence if an idea pops into my head for a post I make a note of it on the laptop. If the momentum takes off with that post, I do tend to go with it so that I don’t forget what I want to say, then once more able to concentrate on the main task for the day. This is especially so when painting WIP’s as it is easy to write about what I have done while I am painting. After all the blog is on my list of things to do for most days and can post without any loss of time then.

10. I do have a very messy studio but my immediate working space is very organised. This save me time and the most important factor is no loss of focus when searching for an item because I can lay my hands straight away on what is needed.

11. Don’t be a perfectionist with your ‘home’ chores. You will be the only one that knows if you missed cleaning the floor. If you do the cooking; a ‘gone out of your way to make’ meal will be appreciated more by not serving them up regularly. Cook in bulk when you can and place extra cooked meals in the fridge or freezer for ‘fast food’ meals.

12. For artist, keep the bookwork up to day so that it does not intrude on your creative time. My trade off with this is no blog posting for the day. As some of you know I have a real dislike for the GST bookwork that I have to do and because it is left brain thinking, it upsets my focus on the creative right side.

13. Don’t get bogged down with what this and that person says you should be doing. Listen and learn and weed out what isn’t suitable for your direction in life. Do what is right for you and you will have a very good focus on completing tasks that you have set out for yourself. This goes for anything in life, not just work. Sometimes your decision might seem selfish but if it means keeping your head above water, so be it.

14. Allow some time at the end of the day to reflect on what you have achieved. This will put you in the right frame of mind to get out of bed the next day and start all over again.

There you have it, this is how I stay focused for the most part. Yes things in life do get in the way of best laid plans but have learnt with maturity to step back and look at the bigger picture and reroute my plan of attack. If this happens to often I then become a very cranky artist, which my husband has found isn’t an ideal person to live with. Maybe that is the temperamental artist surfacing.

There must be many more ways to stay focused on tasks that need to be completed and would love to hear about them. Once more use the comments option to share your thoughts.


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Staying Focused feed readers time management

Strange Things

What strange things comes from this head of mine when extremely tired; in fact exhausted. Yesterday I spent at a meeting with a network of artist who promote the Flinders Ranges in South Australia.

The day started with a bus load of about forty artists (The Peninsular Art Group) who wanted to meet the 'Painters of the Flinders Ranges' with samples of our work on display. This get together plus the AGM meeting was combined so that distant members of the group I am a member of, could save on time and costs that are involved.

Once the visiting artist left it was time for a quick lunch then start the meeting. Proudly I am once more Vice President of the 'Painters of the Flinders Ranges' and thanks must go to those that support me to be able to continue on with this job.

Anyway getting back to the 'strange things' that I started rambling on about in the beginning of this post. As much as feeling exhausted my head was still running a mile a minute. For me picking up pencil and pad and start sketching is the best way to slow down to a very relaxed frame of mind. You can see that these sketches changed from very stilted to something that has a bit more creative imagination to it once I was calm, although it is some strange looking tube of paint. This was over a period of about ten minutes. It was soon afterwards I headed off to bed and slept the best nights sleep I have had for about a week.

Do you find sketching relaxing so that you yourself can settle down to a good nights sleep or even perhaps help you to get into the 'creative' frame of mind so that you can work on a painting? Please feel free to use the comments option to let us know.


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sketching sketch Flinders Ranges strange things