How Do You Spend Your Time?

Copyright 2009 Valerie Jones

I took this picture the other day of a tree at work.  It was a picture perfect day outside and the reds just shone on this tree.

My question to you today is - “How do you spend your time during the day?”  Are you doing things you want to do, (art for example) or are you spending more time with things  you feel you should do? 

I made a list of 5 things I spend my time doing during the day and as it turns out, they are all things I have to do, work, cook, clean, raise children, and I forgot the other one!  There is no time for creativity.  Oh, I remember the 5th one now.  It is watching television in the evenings.  Watching television isn’t something I have to do.  It’s what I do to wind down after a hurried and flurried day of constant activity.  I usually draw while watching TV, so it’s not a total loss of time.

I’d like to hear if you spend your day in a creative way…

Commission Finished

Graphite on Strathmore Series 500 Bristol Plate

Copyright Valerie Jones

Word of caution – Don’t finish a piece of artwork late at night…it leads to sleep apnea.  That’s what happened to me anyway.  I finished this commissioned piece last night around bedtime.  Well, I had to stay up awhile to wind down!   I’m still only showing a partial of the drawing because it is a gift.  I might show the whole thing in January.  You all will have to remind me.

I really enjoyed working on the Strathmore 500 Bristol Plate drawing paper.  I was able to achieve a realistic texture for the skin.  It also let me erase and re-apply without any differences in the texture of the paper.  The Strathmore Series 300 Bristol Smooth won’t allow much erasing before it messes up the tooth of the paper.  It’s more student grade, so that’s to be expected, I guess.  Also, the Series 500 Bristol Plate is 4-ply.  I like to work with thicker papers because they are easier to control.

I didn’t realize how much of myself was put into this drawing.  After I was done, tons of tasks came to mind that I’d shoved to the back burner.  So, today was a busy, busy day.  I got a lot accomplished, which I am thankful for.

Have a beautiful day!!

Cat Portrait Complete

“Shorty”

Colored Pencil on Stonehenge Paper 8” x 10”

Copyright Valerie Jones

I am finishing up a class on pet portraits.  We drew “Shorty” over a period of 9 weekly classes.   Some students are still working on her but most of them have finished.  She was fun to paint.  This is our family pet, but I based the lessons from Anne deMille Flood's Realistic Pet Portrait book.   One of my students brought some white India ink to class and we used it for the whiskers.  We had impressed the whiskers first using a stylus.  Then, as a finishing touch, we added the ink.  It was an awesome tool to use.  It works better than a white colored pencil and isn’t as thick as acrylic paint.

Work in Progress #2

Work in Progress – Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol

Copyright Valerie Jones

I have been steadily working on this piece.  I usually spend at least one hour of an evening.  Last night was not a good evening to draw.  I was exhausted from working at my day job, working on this drawing, and getting ready for an art sale with my local art association.  I’m in charge of getting the art sale together for the art association’s members this year.  Thankfully, the dear lady who worked with it last year has been a huge help.  I’m still tired this evening, so I’m not sure if any good drawing skills will abound tonight.

Happy drawing!

Principles of Creativity

Work in Progress

Graphite on Strathmore Bristol 500

copyright Valerie Jones

I am revisiting The Artist's Way and thought I’d share with you the Basic Principles that every artist has within them.

BASIC PRINCIPLES

The Artist's Way

By Julia Cameron

1. Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy: pure creative energy.

2. There is an underlying, in-dwelling creative force infusing all of life – including ourselves.

3. When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator’s creativity within us and our lives.

4. We are, ourselves, creations. And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves.

5. Creativity is God’s gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God.

6. The refusal to be creative is self-will and is counter to our true nature.

7. When we open ourselves to exploring our creativity, we open ourselves to God: good orderly direction.

8. As we open our creative channel to the creator, many gentle but powerful changes are to be expected.

9. It is safe to open ourselves up to greater and greater creativity.

10. Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source. As we move toward our dreams, we move toward our divinity.

Cat Portrait

I am currently teaching my students how to draw a cat.   I have detailed instructions on how they need to layer each color, how sharp their pencil needs to be, and how light or heavy of a pressure they need to use with their pencil.  I also have work-in-progress pictures of each step for their reference as they go along.

Here is an example of a step.

Step 17 - Demo 11 – Color: Henna - Point: Very Sharp – Pressure: Medium

Apply Henna to the darkest areas of the ears, pressing harder in places to give shape to the ear.

Here is one of the work-in-progress pictures.

I am toying with the idea of possibly making project kits for you to purchase and try for yourself.  Let me know if this is something you’d like to see from me.

I had the best thing happen to me today while teaching at my new job.  One of the participants must of had a great art day because when we were finished, she gave me the biggest hug.  Don’t you just love it?

Work In Progress – Graphite Gerber Daisy #2

Copyright  Valerie Jones / Graphite – Carbon  Drawing 

Things took on a new chapter in my life this week.  I started a new job working at a daycare facility for the elderly.  My job duties are that of an art coordinator.  The first few days were extremely overwhelming as I try to figure out everything that is required of me and what is needed by the people that participate in this wonderful program.  I’m excited about all the new things I get to learn about Alzheimer’s and the effects of aging.  There are great things that these people can achieve through our world of art.  I don’t know yet if I will be posting my experiences here or not.

Anyway, above is my latest attempt at relaxation.  I have another work in progress that is colored pencil.  I haven’t worked on it much lately.  Time is precious these days.  The kiddos started school this week, so routines are starting to fall into place.  Maybe in a few weeks, things will settle down some.