Out of chaos comes.... chaos

Last night I grabbed some time to draw, and I decided to look at a retro yellow alarm clock that I bought from e-bay last year.

I started off by taping down some pastel paper to a board, making a square about 14" across. Then, with soft pastels, I worked in the colours. The paper was grey, and the shadows were grey, with harsh light reflecting on the glass cover of the clock. I didn't like the pastel strokes, so I smudged it all with my finger working in an anti-clockwise direction, which caused a lovely dark area between the minute and hour hand. I sprayed it with fixative, then painted over with inks - black Indian, canary yellow, and an opaque white. Then I stopped, as I wasn't getting anywhere fast.

Looking at it this morning I can see that the yellow needs to be much warmer, the shadows need to describe the shape of the clock and I want more detail on it. It looks mucky at the moment, but I don't want to scrap it. What to do next, I wonder? Any suggestions?

Che Guevara lookalike

The similarity to Che wasn't at all intentional.

That aside, I love how this has come out, drips included. And it's very much like the image in my head during my nap today.

Lisa, at Eudaemonia has been talking about perfectionism being paralyzing, and she's right. Even though I've been very productive these last few days, I'm still shadowed by doubts and fears. Lisa, and all those who comment on my blog, or even those who just take the time to drop by, all have a positive effect on me and my work.

A dream of me

I had a nap this afternoon. I bet you're not surprised, as I had a busy morning. As I drifted off, an image developed in my mind's eye; dark staring eyes, a small sculptured nose, wild wiry hair radiating from the head, all on a hot yellow background.

still here, still making art

My apologies guys.

I'm know in trouble for not updating my blog for yonks.

What have I been doing all this time? Reading about art in Vienna, because I'm visiting there soon. Staring a journal, because of a great book I recently read called 'The Creative Licence, giving yourself permission to be the artist you really are', which is quite a light read, but has extended my concept of what a sketchbook is, what's it's there for. It's also widened what I 'allow' myself to put in mine.

There will be pictures to follow soon, but I just wanted to update my blog today. I'm working in bursts, but I'd like the blog to be a more regular thing I do. So I'm going to extend slightly what I include in it. Instead of just my drawings and paintings, I'm going to include a whole range of creative experiences I have - from books that inspire me, or exhibitions I visit, to ideas I have and what I'd like to do in the future creatively.

Wanted- inspiration & motivation

Why am I not painting? Or drawing? Why am I apprehensive again? Someone give me a prod up the buttocks please.
On the good side, I now have some photos of a male torso to work from. And a promise from another male to sit for some life studies for me. So now I need to make time to start working again. I also want to finish the canvas I started. I suppose it's only been about three weeks since I last painted but it feels like forever. I've been taking my sketchbook out with me, but I can't seem to 'see' anything to draw.

Inspired

Another inspiration for me is Hieronymus Bosch. He's a nutter. There's also a children's book (something I collect) called Pish Posh said Hieronymus Bosch. It's got the most amazing illustrations in it, where Bosch's creatures come tolife in a famil;y's house. I've ordered a copy as a treat for myself for my upcoming birthday. I've been collecting illustrated childrensbooks for some time, which I keep safe, away from the clutches of my own kids. Aren't I mean!