Tuesday 29 January 2013

Big Hair



This is a quick little piece that I did the other night. Watercolours - ahhh, I'm back! I really love working in this medium for nudes. This is also an exploration of a new theme that I might delve into more: BIG HAIR. As my friend Heather says: "The higher the hair, the closer to Jesus."

Monday 21 January 2013

Studies and Studio Work

Cleaning out an old portfolio, I came across some old watercolour studies. Here are two from a life-drawing group in Ottawa, which I can't wait to get back into.



 And here are two from working at home. The first is a self portrait, the second inspired by a magazine ad.






I like that quick sketches like this can be imperfect - and that it's better if they are. You don't have to spend all day filling in the blanks; just focus on the part you like. Which I should probably do more often anyway. And, if you feel like adding something graphic, or make a mistake? Just take a pencil to it. Long live mixed media!


Thursday 17 January 2013

Small Studio?




For general interest, here is my current work area (I'm in the process of moving at the moment). If you are ever confined to a small work space, here are my recommendations. A wall makes a lovely easel, and a suitcase makes a fabulous table. Paper is also so, so portable, and if you have a small tubular portfolio you can just pack it up and go. All of my supplies fit in a small plastic case, except for my pencils, which have their own little metal jacket. Minimalistic chic!

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Hello, Ladies


It's been awhile since my last post, which is terrible, I know, but here is my latest project. While drawing this over the past few weeks I found myself creating a theme and fleshing out the characters culled from my innocent source photo. May I present the lovely interracial lesbians? I'm sure you could look at these ladies and see them differently - and please do! - but I'm putting it out there this way so that there's no confusion. They have a label and I'm sticking with it.

On a side note: Hi, Mom.

With this work I wanted to think about aesthetics first and foremost, and let the latent politics and identity issues and such sizzle away in the background. I wanted to think about overlap and contrast, and to keep up working with layers of colour and a mix of painting and drawing. I wish I were a better photographer (the pale cream of the jacket might not translate from paper to photo very well, but the black shawl does). 

Mostly, I wanted these two ladies (that's what I'm calling them now) to stare out at the viewer, like Frieda and her twin self.

I like the asymmetry, too. 

I'm going to make an effort to post more often. My sketchbook work is often more out there and more mixed and matched than my finicky, polished work, and that's what's going up next.