Meeting the Art Challenge

I'm still catching up on work leftover from my boss's vacation but I did manage to paint a couple of ATCs or Artist Trading Cards. For those who aren't familiar with ATCs, they are small (2 1/2" by 3 1/2") paintings/drawings/art that are traded with other artists. There are some artists who also make these cards to sell (called ACEOs when sold), especially on eBay and other auction sites. They are a good way for the ordinary person to collect art without having deep pockets and I have seen some stunning little pieces of art.

It's difficult to get much detail into such a small space but I enjoy trying! The first painting was for a WIP (work in progress) demonstration for Let's Make Art, a site especially for self-taught artists. I don't consider this one of my better efforts but here it is.

The second effort is one I like better. I think that may be because of the subject. This is the Ocracoke Lighthouse on Ocracoke Island, Outer Banks, North Carolina one of my most favorite places!



Both paintings are the same size but I resized for uploading and did not size them equally. Also, both have been done with the Inktense pencils from Derwent. These pencils are a water-based ink in pencil form. You use them as you would colored pencil but you can make the color brighter and more intense by dampening with a little water on a brush. I waited for months for these pencils last fall and by the time they arrived, I was busy with other things and am just now beginning to use them. So far, I really like them but need to find a support that I like to use with them. Because we're so rural, most of my art supplies have to be mail-ordered so I like experimenting with materials I can get locally. But, no matter where the supplies come from, I do insist on archival, acid-free materials.

Well, my first posting of any art and I did post one painting that I'm not particularly proud of so maybe I am a little courageous! We'll just have to see how it goes as I experiment with other mediums and subjects that aren't exactly within my comfort zone!

Work Day

Happy First Day of Summer!

My boss was on vacation last week and this week has been busy for me. The work piled up for him and therefore for me too. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to finish any art for posting. I do have something in the works but it may take a while to get it finished.

Fortunately, this job will be ending soon as it's a temporary position through an agency. I think I'll refuse any new assignments and take a nice long vacation myself when the job finally ends! Maybe I'll even get a painting done!

Hello!

Well, it seems that everyone has a blog these days and I guess I've put off having one long enough. I'm not sure that I'll have anything to say that anyone will want to read but this is a fun way to share my life with anyone who does happen by here. I also plan to share any progress I make with my art and I hope you'll enjoy looking at both the failures as well as the successes!

I don't know the percentage of art that actually sees the light of day, but I thought it might be a good idea to have a record of growth (or, lack of it, as the case may be) in the various mediums as I experiment with them. I guess you could compare it to those yardstick marks on a child's bedroom wall that show how much they've grown over the years. I guess I can't use a real measuring device but maybe I can eventually come up with some sort of system for measuring progress.

I don't count myself proficient in any medium so this will be a definite journey of learning and I hope I really have the intestinal fortitude to post any of the really awful stuff I may paint!

Come to think of it - why should you be subjected to awful art - don't you see enough of it while browsing the web?

Tune in again to see if I'm courageous or just downright chicken!