B is for Blocked

Its been a strange year for me in several ways - one of which included a strong case of artist's block. I was unmotivated, lacked the energy or focus to work. My attempts at painting in acrylic all felt like fails. So, on following some good advice, I decided to PLAY, not work at my art.

I love pens - thick, thin, double sided. I have a great collection. So - to keep everything as simple and unpressured as possible, I found a small notebook and my thin colored sharpie box, took myself outdoors into the sunshine and began a series of continuous line faces. This was my only rule - draw a face without lifting my black pen. Then, use color markers in ANY way I liked. I've done many. This is the latest.

The process is relaxing, needs very little equipment, requires no clean-up, can be done anywhere, and has been instrumental in easing me back into other, more complex, projects.

One thing that became immediately apparent is the influence of my fashion art training and the classes I teach, on the faces I am drawing.

V for Vermillion

And very little time. I am teaching Art of Fashion today - with a focus on using to express feelings and style. I drew this lovely dress colored in a lively green. Her accessories are complementary colors - including vermillion - a warm deep red.

Happy Thanksgiving one and all. I need to go cook before I teach.

B is for Blue

If flowers are my current focus, the color blue has been a constant inspiration throughout my work throughout this year.

This summer I taught a workshop for young teens on the Art of Fashion, this time teamed up with another instructor whose focus is natural dyes. She grows indigo and madder in her garden, and uses her plants to teach about dying and printing on fabric. Our collaboration resulted in a fascination with indigo – and the resulting blues it can create.

To prepare to teach my section of the workshop –which includes illustrating clothing designs and creating fabric designs and patterns, I spent time learning about not only indigo but many other blue pigments – and experimenting them in my work.

I’ve always been curious about the sources of pigments used by artists f the past - those who could not just hop to the art store for supplies. What I learned through Google searches and books, was a great enhancement to my understanding, my classes, and my respect for the incredible amount of work needed to create colors for paints and dyes.

Today's painting combines blue and florals - and is part of the series I am developing. The fashion figure is the work of a student who painted a pattern on paper and turned it into the fabric for her dress design. Good work.