TyQuilts Designs

I am learning so much from Laure Ferlita’s Visit to the beach class, and trying things that I would never have tried before, like this flamingo.  These are all homework assignments based on the photos and exercises provided in class so they are  not original works, but I am learning techniques and gaining confidence that will translate to other subjects when the class is done.

Watercolor with pan pastel background

Sunsets are one of my favorite subjects

Second version of the starfish assignment

Another subject I wouldn’t have been brave enough to try.

I am taking and imaginary visit to the beach with Laure Ferlita. This is the perfect time of year for this as February is always so cold and snowy and depressing and seems to last forever.  Overall I am quite pleased with my homework, although I did lose the highlights a bit. I should have used some frisket since I didn’t have a wax resist crayon. I have an order out for a signo uniball white gel pen that will hopefully do the trick.

This painting breaks all of the rules of composition, but I am pleased with it. It has the moody intense feeling that I was going for. Done on colorfix pastel paper with pan pastels, pastels pencils and a bit of soft stick pastels adapted from a reference photo with permission.

I  am tired of the gray and gloom, so even though the sun is shining today and it is warm– almost into the thirties!- I decided to add some color to my journal by journaling a picture from October. We didn’t have great color this year, but on a walk by nine mile creek the undergrowth was a golden glow. Very pretty. I did this journal entry in pan pastel in my watercolor moleskine. I think next I will do a spring painting or perhaps something tropical from our cruise  a few years back.

In one of the online art groups I am a member of there was a discussion about using reference photos and how you are using someone else’s artistic vision when you do so (unless of course the photo is one you took yourself)  This discussion resonated within me and has caused me to rethink my pan pastel and watercolor painting project a bit.

Many many years ago when I started to quilt, I  immediately started designing my own and have rarely in all of these years used a pattern.  First using graph paper and colored pencils, and then thankfully Electric quilt came along. Even when using a traditional pattern, I started the design from scratch and tended to change it here and there to always make it my own. I always liked process or design classes as opposed to a project class where we all worked on the same thing.

However, as I have shifted my focus to learning new art forms, I have become dependent on using reference photos. Sometimes these were my own, sometimes taken by someone else and used with permission or from a copyright free site.  So the conversation had me wondering why I, in this new medium, I wasn’t concentrating on my own vision. Part of it is a lack of confidence with my drawing abilities, and learning the new skills needed. Copying a photo exactly was just easier. Then there is also the problem that I love seascapes and want to learn to paint them, but don’t live by the sea.  so in this project going forth I will probably continue to use reference photos, but I will try to put a bit of myself into each of the paintings as opposed to just copying them exactly. I will change up the composition, elements or colors etc.  These two paintings are the start of that journey. They are both from the same photo, but I have tried to change things and add colors etc that speak to me.

Done with Pan pastels

Done with watercolor

Happy New Year to all!  I have been spending my day in carefree arty pursuits. Can’t think of a better way to start the new year.

In 2010 I want to continue my adventures in art. I am taking several classes in the upcoming months and have embarked on a self challenge to do paintings in both  pan pastel and watercolor media using the same reference photo so I can become familiar and comfortable with both media.  My first attempts are posted below.  I also want to get back into working with fabric and fibers so hope to be posting more of that here as well. My goal for the new year is to post twice a month here on the blog.  I also have a flickr account where I will be posting homework and practice pieces much more frequently than that http://www.flickr.com/photos/tyquilts/

The reference photo I have used for these golden sunset painting was found at http://www.morguefile.com which permits such use of photos.

The reference photo

Done with pan pastels on Mi-tientes paper

Yarka pan watercolors on Canson 140# cold press watercolor paper

In  the art Journal class I am taking, one of the exercises was to do a travel page. While mulling that over I came across a picture of Holland Michigan in a magazine which remind me of trips taken with my grandparents to the Tulip Festival there. This piece is done in pan pastel and pastel pencils and is actually 8 1/2″ x 11″.  I scanned it and added text to place in my journal and am going to frame this and hang it on my wall.  I am having a lot of fun playing with the pan pastels right now.

This is my first, crude attempt at painting with pan pastels. I have never tried the more traditional pastels, but have fallen in love with pan pastels for use in art journals etc. Since I really love the glowing, vibrant quality many pastel artists achieve, I thought I would give it a try. I wish I could find a book or better yet a class on painting with pan pastels. In the meantime, I guess I will have to look for how to’s on using regular pastels, and see if that helps me improve.

We were out on a sunday drive looking for interesting photography subjects and found this old church, then on our way home as the sun was setting came back to take the sunset photos from behind the church which is up on a hill.

This last picture was taken over the border near Hudson, WI at willow River state park. I will need to go back when the trees are green. The location was a bit challenging to get to. It looked so easy on the map, a mere three tenths of a mile each way from the parking lot…. What the map didn’t say was that it was steep downhill the whole way to reach the waterfall, and of course steep uphill to get back to the car.  At least it was a paved trail.

Autumn is my favorite time of the year. It is the time when I usually reflect and set my goals. I love the colors the reds, yellows, oranges and browns against the deep blue sky, the crisp feel to the air, and apples fresh from the orchard.
I have just finished the 3rd photography class in a series given online by Jessica Wesolek. She is a wonderful instructor and if you can stick to a deadline, I highly recommend these classes. I still have much to learn, but my photography skills have greatly increased as a result of these courses. I thought I would share some photos that portray my love of this season, and the beautiful state that I live in. Color wasn’t the best this year but I was still able to find pockets of loveliness to photograph and share. I will post my favorite photos in the next few blog entries.