Drama in the Arts

Do you create drama in your life when you aren’t doing any artwork?  I know I do.  I get easily irritated over the smallest of things.  Give me 10 or 15 minutes of drawing and the restlessness goes away.  Those few minutes at the drawing board gives me strength to face the day.

It is not irritating to be where one is.  It is only irritating to think one would like to be somewhere else. ~ John Cage

Often we are restless, irritable, and discontent because we are not cherishing the life we have. ~ Julia Cameron

Make a list of things you cherish or are thankful for.  Keep the list limited to ten.  (ex: “I cherish my morning coffee.  I cherish alone time.  I cherish the beauty of flowers.”)

Lips in Colored Pencil

I thought I would share with you some of the lessons I teach to my students.  Last week in class, we drew lips in colored pencil.

Reference Photo

First, we used light washes for the skin tones around the lips.  The skin tones were created using the following Prismacolor colored pencils.

Cream, Light Peach, Jasmine, Pink Rose, Yellow Ochre, Beige, Peach, Peach, Blush Pink, Rosy Beige, Goldenrod, Blush Pink (again), Clay Rose.

In the darker areas of the face we used, Pink, Burnt Ochre, Mineral Orange.

We burnished the whole face with Light Peach.  After burnishing, we added a light layer of Greyed Lavender and blended with the Colorless Blender.

For the lips, we left the highlight area the white of the paper.  We then applied a light wash of Peach, Blush Pink, and Pink.  To the line where the lips meet, we added Dark Brown, Henna, Terra Cotta and Tuscan Red.  We also added Henna to the shadow parts of the lip. 

One thing to remember about lips, the upper lip curves in and the bottom lip curves out.  The upper lip is always darker than the bottom lip because it curves in and doesn’t receive the light.  The bottom part of the bottom lip is darker because it is curving down toward the face.

Print these off and try them for yourself!

The Intermission

"The Intermission"

copyright Valerie Jones

14"x11" Prismacolor Colored Pencils

on Stonehenge paper

Something I learned after I finished this piece is to not quit right before the miracle. Keep on keeping on. I kept on working on this piece after I thought it was done. My husband and friends critiqued it for me and found some things that could make it better. Unwillingly, I changed them. If I hadn't changed them, I would have been unsatisfied. I am thankful that I tweaked it to its finish.

I became so preoccupied with this piece because I wanted it finished in time for OKMozart that I let friendships slide. Too much busyness makes it difficult to have faith. Faith in God, faith in ourselves, and faith in our friends. As Julia Cameron says, "Faith thrives on routine." Well, my routine was definately off while I worked on getting this project accomplished. And all those above mentioned things, faith in God, faith in myself, and faith in friends wavered.

By keeping on regardless of the outcome is an act of faith. Faith that God will get us through the drought, through the project, etc. The outcome doesn't have to mean anything to anyone except ourselves. God wants us to go through the process. He didn't create us to quit. He created us to keep on keeping on. Your inner artist will survive. Keep the faith.

As I speak of keeping on, visit my friend Rose Welty's new website and blog. She is a person who keeps on keeping on even when she doesn't always feel like it. You'll be amazed at what she accomplishes.

Work in Progress

Prismacolor Colored Pencil on Stonehenge paper

14" x 11"

Copyright - Valerie Jones

As I mentioned in a previous post , several of my friends have new websites and blogs.

Belinda Lindhardt is an Australian artist, graphic designer and illustrator. She has some beautiful artwork on her webpage. Most of her work is for sale. Be sure to check it out. If you need some help with design, I'm sure she'd be happy to assist you!