New challenges

A new installment from my drawing class. Frank (our teacher) pulled this picture from the newspaper. He made copies for each of us to use and instructed us, for time's sake, to trace it first using pencil, then spend 30 minutes a day over the next week to "ink" it.


The hard parts were coloring the horses in (you'll notice both are the same color in the photo) and discerning their straps. Same on the sleigh: how to evoke various shades of the sleigh's panels while still showing the contrasting driver's coat and passenger blanket? Here's a closer look (and you can always click the photo too):


It was very interesting when we all got back to class last night and had a look at each other's versions of the same thing! Everyone's was different--how we all did the coloring in, the contours of the horses and sleigh. And we all had completely different backgrounds. I wish you could see what I mean for yourselves. This week, an exercise in all black and all white, no grays. You'll see what I mean in my next post!

Here's a fun banner I made for Paul's "birthday card" of 2010. It measures about 18 x 21 inches. (Can you believe I have a wall that color in my house????)


Today in the art studio I began a project that will hopefully lead to exhibition in the Art & Science show at the university, a small annual show sponsored by the college I work in at my day job. It is a show for scientists to show the art within their work, or for artists to demonstrate the science of their work. It took a lot of energy today to develop my concept, but I think I've got something I'll be proud to submit for jury, if all goes to plan. Don't worry, you'll hear all about it if I make it in. :)