The Challenge for June: Turn Your Back

This month we are challenged to pick a subject, study it carefully, then turn our back on it and draw or paint it. With no peeking.

Kathy's response to the challenge:
Source Photo: Grabbed this photo found on one of my favorite Facebook sites: "Birds." 

Process: Studied it. Turned my back.  Drew with some fun Tombow Dual Headed Brush Pens on 6"x4" Strathmore Toned Blue paper ... all from Ralph's Art Supply.
This is pretty much my default behavior. I usually study a plant, animal, etc. and then stylize without looking at the source, especially if it's a photo. Since I put him a little too close to the right of the paper, added a few weedy stems for him to add to his nest.

Kathy Garvey 

For more little birds, visit my Etsy shop. 

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"Adeline and Jake"

by Denette Schweikert

This is a "painting" of my grandchildren who live in Seattle.  As you tell, I don't do well painting without seeing a photo right next to me.   

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Carmen's response to the challenge:

I stared at this photo and thought I could remember all the elements in it, but in looking at my painting, I was surprised that I forgot all about the proportions of the building and the tree. Both are too tall! Also, I didn't remember that the treeline tapers down to the left of the tree. 

It's amazing what you don't remember even though you were concentrating. It can shake one's belief in eyewitness testimony!

Carmen Beecher

carmensart.etsy.com

carmenbeecher.com

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 Mary answer to the Challenge.  I loved this challenge as it really teaches one to be more observant.
I didn’t love my result, I need more practice.  For some reason the pictures will not upload.

The Scribble Challenge with Mary Warnick and Carmen Beecher

Mary's Scribble Challenge

Today the Pieces of Eight became the Pieces of Two. People had other places to be, so Mary got to challenge me with her exercise she called "Scribbles." It begins by making a loose and large scribble on a blank sheet, then figuring out what nonsensical painting can be made of it. 

Mary's painting is above, and I really enjoy the alligator that apparently has dentures. Mary didn't want him to have sharp teeth and possibly frighten children.

When I looked at my scribble I saw a bird and two people. I painted it with watercolors and threw in some Zentangle shapes. It was a very relaxing exercise. There is no erasing and no going back, so you just literally go with the flow. The woman looks like she went to Marge Simpson's hairdresser.

Carmen 

PIe in the eye day

Yesterday was Fay's birthday and she treated us all to pie and coffee at the Sweetie Pie bake shop before group.  When you start the day with pie you know it is going to be a good one.
It was Carmen's turn to lead us into something new and a good exercise it was.  It really gets your thought process flowing and forces you  to see things so they are not how you perceive them.  We all brought drawing materials, sketch pads, some photos and something to measure with.  After  you decided what you wanted to draw you turned the photo upside down and drew that way.  You couldn't just sketch either, you had to measure things in relation to each other.  By turning the photo upside down and eye is not an eye but a shape.
Donna Vines

Denette is into it

Mary's finished drawing

Oh, What a Tangled Drawing We Weave...

Madame X

What do I do when I'm sick and can't lift a brush? I lift a pen. I doodle away in my nest on the couch. The lady above is named for Sargent's famed Madame X, because I like her attitude. This is a Zentangle style (if you don't know what that is, look it up in Pinterest. There are Zentangles a-plenty).

Tangletree

 My tree is not really a true Zentangle-type drawing, though I did use patterns in the shading. I am fascinated by twisty trees, real or imagined.

I am over my vicious virus so it's back to the easel today. Yippee!

Carmen Beecher

Fancy Feathers, 5x7 Pen and Ink Drawing by Carmen Beecher

$38, Click to Purchase

Sometimes I feel a bit Seussical and Zentanglish at the same time, and this is the result, a flight of fancy (pardon the pun).

Baby Rachel, 6x6 Graphite Drawing by Carmen Beecher

I did this drawing of my granddaughter years ago, and now she is studying Biomedical and Chemical Engineering at Vanderbilt. Time flies! This sweet little baby grew into a sweet, smart and accomplished grownup and we are all very proud of her.

posted by Carmen Beecher

Sketch of Steve Jobs, 24x30

This is my sketch for my latest project, and it is no Daily Painting. This one is a brain-strainer. I am presently collaging it, and as a woman I know used to say, I am "plumb wore out." The effect I want takes a lot of deep thought. My brain needs a rest now, so I need to do a no-brainer activity. Watch a reality show? Play Angry Birds?

I've got it! A nap!

Mr & Mrs C Fly Away

I was gaining weight painting all that food so decided to take a break and finish something non-edible.  Under the creative instruction of Fran Hardy I had learned how to prepare this panel to be car-surface smooth with about 100 coats of gesso and acrylic.  It seemed the perfect place to put my cardinal friends.  Somedays the fine detail work of drawing is really very relaxing and I enjoyed working on this devoted bird pair.  After watercolor, acrylic, graphite and a touch of oil I guess it must be labeled multi-media.  Anyway I varnished it and grabbed it on the way out the door to a book signing.

Now here is the stumper: sometimes we artists work for weeks, even months on something that takes every bit of creative energy and emotion we have to give....and it hangs around and hangs around.  Other days we dash off a little something just for the pure fun of it, experimenting and playing with it...and it is sold before it dries.  Not that I am complaining...just wondering.

Anyway, such was the case with "Mr & Mrs C."  I barely put it on the easel before a lovely lady from Blowing Rock shared the story of her backyard cardinals and had to go home with the piece.  Wonderful.  And very good for the ego and back account.  But sometimes I have to think that as every pot has a lid, every painting has an owner...it's just a matter of connecting.  And maybe a matter of having a little more fun while painting and a little less angst!  Go figure.

Cindy Michaud
http://www.cindymichaudart.etsy.com/