Hinderances...

Apologies to my followers. My husband slipped on black ice and broke his ankle in three places. So you know why I haven't blogged lately or been able to make progress on my art. Surgery a plate and lots of screws for the tibula, fibula and the little bone that sticks out usually ... unless it get chipped off as Jack's is ... and the ankle itself is fractured (the left foot goes the other way..it's dislocated). Lots of pain...8 weeks on crutches but boy we have fantastic surgeons thank the Lord.

Composition Notan Woman at the well

2-13-11 UPDATE:
It would be so interesting and helpful if those who view this blog pick the composition that you feel is the best and strongest. I have numbered the cards (click to see number) and invite your selection and comment if you wish. I'm in the process of deciding for myself and will post the steps that follow to the final painting.

Here are some of my Notan index cards. I finally get it . . . and wonder why this was made more difficult to understand than it is. That said, what I've learned is never to take the first idea for a composition that pops into one's head. I found so many more ways to say what I want to say. The exercise exploded my imagination and I soon began placing myself mentally into my imagination. This is definitely an exercise routine that will be used in designing ... yes DESIGNING ... any future paintings.

Samaritan Woman At the Well - John 4:4

Oh NO!!!!! not Notan

Always learning. I posted my Notan exercises on Cennini Form and was told to burn the book NOTAN the Dark-Light Principle of Design as a heretical book.

In fact here is the Moderator's post to me regarding this book:
"Patti, none are remotely related to notan. If that's in the book, it is among the plethora of misleading books available to sap away any possibility of artistic knowledge. It does real damage...as all bad ideas will do.

If you have a fire going, this should be used for tinder because it's so off-target that it's doing real, lasting damage. Excuse my passion but this is why I came out of my secure and profitable studio -- to teach... and not just to impart workable knowledge, but to to absolutely destroy, in no nice terms, the charlatans and hucksters who are drawn to this field and feel capable of teaching. The intent is identical to those creeps who lure children into cars.

This sort of misdirection makes me very angry. It's doing real harm. My advice to you is to never think about notan again. Just concentrate on your figure drawing and painting as you were before. The advice in that book will undo any advances you have already made.

Burn it now! You have let a pestilence into your house." -- Rob Howard, Moderator Cennini Forum

I stand corrected. Back to drawing my index cards. Frustrating for I thought these exercises would truly help me.

My apologies to my readers and followers. Live and learn. I trust Rob's judgment. -- Patti

Trying out some New Pastels....

Work in Progress...trying out pastels on little Roxie foxie (Pomeranian). Still have a bit to do.

Help...

I'm not sure if the contact feature is working. Have any of you submitted a contact form?

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

UPDATE: YES...the form works. Thanks for verifying that for me!!!

Patti

New Feature...contact me via email

Immediately to the right do see "To Contact " link ------------->

This is a new feature on my blog and I hope it works for it occurred to me that there is no way for visitors to contact me directly. Now, if any of you would rather comment privately and directly to me, I'm offering a way to do that and remain anonymous if you wish. Fill out the contact information form and submit it. I've provided an upload if you want to create a .pdf text file, or send a jpeg ... you may attach it using the "browse".

If you wish to remain anonymous you may do so; however, any information you decide to share will be held in confidence.

Besides the contact feature, I've included a "search this blog" for your convenience and a list of my labels on the right side bar.

--- Patti

December Drawings

The good the bad and the ugly . . . I've broken free from my artistic block for the moment. . .



This one is pretty good...

It is with a great deal of freedom, and oh so little time for art during this family & faith month of December, I manage to squeeze in a few drawings. I'm feeling so free and I am no longer afraid to show the world the good along with the not so good work.

Drawing is the key to all art and many artists today feel they have no need to develop this discipline ... and it is a discipline akin to practicing scales on a piano. I'm determined to keep drawing even in the most demanding month of the year.

The following are random sketches from my book that is always by my side.


This one is okay but not yet what I want ... a study of my daughter in view of her portrait in oils...



Fair accuracy .... quick drawing what is before me. a card table in the living room and a new set of pastels (I'm not quite ready to post that work) ... Ozzie, our white Schnauzer mix and our tree (unfinished)...I'm adding detail ... a quick sketch ... drawing what is before me.



Roxie & Ozzie ... I plan to sculpt them in the Winter Session of City Arts with Glen Thomas as instructor starting next week. I will photograph them tomorrow. I'm thinking something on this order posed together for they are literally inseparable ... maybe change the head positions ... a quick sketch.



Lots of watching football ... and I do love football ... sometimes the television is too prominent at times in our lives.



I enjoy drawing heavier women for them seem just as this drawing's feel almost free from the bondage of vanity.




Quick gestures from a book of figures.

Growing again hinds' feet . . .

CORRECTED RE-WRITE OF THIS POST…

(I mistakenly thought David on Cennini Forum and then Jon who has posted on my blog for suggesting this book when all the time it was actually Eugene who suggested it. After reading my blog, there were so many mistakes I decided to re-write it completely.)

RE: Hinds' Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard

This is to EUGENE .... thank you for the suggestion to read this book!!!

After blogging about my fears in the previous post, Eugene suggested I read this Christian classic; an allegory about a very fearful girl and how the Shepherd from the High Places of the mountain (the Lord) helped her gain new feet (she was crippled) like those of a hind (female deer). As you know the hind is able to leap and bound across the roughest terrain … and in this case the rough terrain is the difficulties found in this life ... leaping above difficult circumstances.

What is written in this book is what I have experience throughout my life for I have met many difficulties and disappointments. At 66 years of age, I have been trotting on my own "hinds' feet” … romping with the LORD on the mountain tops through many a difficult circumstances for many years. That is why, when a Christian grows hinds' feet it is possible to declare, “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. " (James 1:2).

Yet those who’ve grown “hinds’ feet” are not exempt from self-deception from time to time. Seeking the Lord is what I practice on any everything that troubles me for I've learned that answers will come eventually. I had been seeking an answer to why I was so un-productive as an artist. I thought it might just be mere laziness, or that there was a lack of skill. I did not see fear. This self deception had resulted in an artistic block. How wonderful to have been nudged by the Lord to get this book. Meanwhile, in desperation, I poured out my plight in a private message to the moderator, Rob Howard on the Cennini Forum. He stunned me when he suggested that my problem was fear. He said, "You must overcome your fears" and he gave me some advice for doing that.

Then that little book came and along with it a conformation from the Lord. None of this is happening by accident. The Lord is orchestrating an answer and a solution. This is His way. I am gaining some strategies as how to battle what I recognize is my crippling fears. Fear is the opposite of faith.

For such a long time I had been blocked and I literally could not finish much art. I was overly critical of myself and set unrealistic standards. A fear of failing worked on my pride. I hurled brutal self-criticism upon my work. Nothing I did was good enough. A fear welled deep inside questioning, “Will my work ever be of any value? Will I ever be nothing more than an amateur? Will I fail?” Clearly, now I see that I was lusting after worldly success forgetting that it is the LORD God who gave all the talent I will ever possess at birth. How can I add an inch to my height; why am I worrying about talent or skill? It is not God that causes us to prosper (Det. 8) on this planet? All we are to do is be faithful .... not successful ....to do the best we can and to take advantage of every opportunity. Finally, I am free. What a heavy burden has been lifted off my shoulders.

Oh how long, LORD will I struggle and lust after the success of this world and the approval of mankind?

Scripture says, that if we will judge ourselves then we can avoid the disciplines from our Father in heaven. Those disciplines allow our problems to fester (Romans 4:2 - the Goodness of God leads man to repent ... waiting patiently and mercifully for the festering process to mature). When pain cannot be borne a minute longer, it must be lanced in order that the pussy sore can be drained completely and the wound healed. Our scares should remind us to deal with problems quickly to avoid such pain in the future ... but as with my case, deception clouds the truth.

As I'd stated before, just because one has been given "hinds'" feet (the hoofs of a deer) doesn't mean that one will never struggle again with the flesh. This is what scripture calls ... spiritual strongholds. My artistic block was the result of self-deception from false pride ... and repentance sets us free. Repentance simply means “to have a change in thinking, to agree with God and turn from that attitude.”

Proverbs 23:7 "For as he thinketh in his heart, so [is] he: ..."

The deception: I didn't want to examine my pride issue and selfish ambition for the things of this world. I still struggle with wanting man's acceptance but at last I have insight now. The opposite of pride is humility...genuine humility. What does God allow, my flesh to be humbled ... to bring me into submission ... I'm so okay with that and the pain is going away.

Consider this, if there is a blessing for being an obedient child to our earthly parents might there is scripturally speaking .... (Proverbs says to honor your mother and father "that things will go well with thee and your life will be long upon the earth) .... how much more then .... will things go well for us on this planet when we agree with our Heavenly Father and do things His way!!!!

The Proverbs speaks wisdom: "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they [shall be] an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck." and ...."My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son [in whom] he delighteth."

Thank you Eugene . . . you certainly were an instrument of God's will for me ... the Lord richly bless you and reward you my friend.

---Patti

Confessions of a fearful artist...

I've just discovered that I have an enemy; his name is Fear. What does fear do to an artist? In my own world, one product fear produces is a negative attitude and that is a prescription for a very big artistic block.

In my own meditation searching for a way to conquer this fear in me I had to look honestly at my ego and pride. I have such a great fear of failing; a fear that someone more knowledgeable more professional will pronounce my work as the worst sort of amateurish work. All that is ... is fear of embarrassment rising from false pride. So I am confessing.

Repentance from false pride....
Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."

Lord, forgive me and deliver me from false pride and arrogancy and the love of this world and all the false success of it. Remind me daily that all that is good in me is from you. Amen

Searching scripture this morning I came across these passages where the Lord admonished his children to not fear. There are two types of fear in scripture: one good one bad. Good fear is the awesome respect for the Power and Awesomeness of our Creator i.e. the fear of God is good for man. Bad fear is the opposite of faith.

These are the admonitions of the Lord:
• To Abraham God said..... Fear not, Abram: I [am] thy shield, [and] thy exceeding great reward.... also...fear not, for I [am] with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.

• To Simeon ... Peace [be] to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks:

• To Moses ... And the LORD, he [it is] that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

• To Isaiah ...For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

• To Israel ... Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine.

• To Jacob ... Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, [which] will help thee; Fear not...

• Jesus said to believers ...But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

• This is the confidence we can have through faith ...In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

Since coming to understand my enemy, the negativity has gone for when an axe is put to the root of the problem, negativity is turned to positive attitudes full of faith that I am not my own; that the Lord has a purpose for my life and it is He that is directing it. What ever ability I have was given me upon my birth and may I diligently pursue to ever be mindful that I am learning, developing and discovering these abilities. I will have failure but it is in failure that often the greatest lessons are learned; that false pride will plant fear and we are debilitated. Fear is torment.

If I succeed in anything in this life, let it be to the praise of the Lord for this is what I believe:

Ephesians 2:6
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

I have been saved, I am being saved daily, and I shall be saved at the end of this life; this is the walk of faith of every believer. All of the works of our hands are directed by the Lord...therefore, fear not.

Stars on my figuritive gestures!

A 20 minutes drawing on newsprint with vine charcoal.

I received a star on my drawing last night from my instructor. He doesn't give them out often.

This drawing is moving toward artistic express. I was given a star for the artistic line and achieving what he has been drilling for the last five gesture classes.

I am truly at a turning point now. This is what I have been working for; not that I think for a minute I have "arrived" rather this is a break through. From this point forward Glen will be emphasizing artist expression and aesthetic beauty of the figure...and likenesses.

I'm more energized than ever. How fortunate I am.



The following drawings are 45 second gestures. My instructor says "you must learn to achieve the figure in less than a minute. It should be in proportion, the figure balanced, and it should have movement showing exactly what the figure is doing."

I got stars on these drawings.


The second figure especially. This is not about a finished drawing ... it is getting the structure solid. As you see, you have to draw quickly.





These are all good.


Here I use simple pink sidewalk chalk and have 15 seconds to first gesture the figure using the flat side of the chalk. Then I drew the figure in the remaining 45 seconds with as few lines as possible the figure ... achieving the same three criteria as stated above.

These are a total of one minute drawings. See how they read as a complete figure allowing your mind to fill in.





My instructor, Glen Thomas, says this to his student artists, "If you do not gesture first you run the risk of having to keep correcting your figure because the gesture assures that your figure will be convincing in the end because it will be balanced, in proportion, and dynamic ... that it will show exactly what the figure is doing regardless of whether the figure is still or in motion. Even a motionless figure has weight."

He is right. Now begins working on likenesses, aesthetics, and not in just getting the features correct and recognizable but in showing the real person and intent of the figure.