I gots learned... by a still life.

So I'm finally over my sickness and have more energy to get stuff done; namely work on art and other various activities around the house one of which includes doing away with the hideous border wallpaper in the kitchen.

The Other Half and I are also getting ready to head off to Florida in a few weeks and we're trying to make sure that we have everything that we need since I am notorious for forgetting important items. In relation to that, one of the tasks I got done this week was book our car rental and I think it's fair to say that the Other Half is now more excited about that than the actual trip itself since I have supposedly rented us a Dodge Avenger. What I failed to mention to him was the fine print that said: 'Or vehicle of a similar class'... whatever that means.

I haven't done any more work on my equine piece but here's another one that I completed just before Christmas that I'm particularly pleased with:

"Simple Pleasures"

Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes

Copyright Rita Woodburne

I have this vessel out on display at home and I've always loved it. Love the colour, love the shape, love the glossiness... basically I just love everything about it. This is the first time I used it in a composition and I can say with certainly that I'll use it again. Even though the composition for this is really very simple it made me appreciate the difficulty in getting things 'just right' in terms of placement and lighting. That said, I enjoyed the process since I learned something. Yes, I am trainable.

So, I also have a few other projects on the go and one Top Secret project that will remain in that state until further notice. If I'm feeling cheeky I'll be sure to drop hints every now and then just to drive folks mad with wonder.

Stay tuned!  :)

Art vs. good weather

Just a small update this time. We had some unexpected snow yesterday and I couldn’t resist taking the dogs out to play, especially since it’s been quite mild the past few days making it very comfortable for getting outside (even if I do still have a cold). 

 Still un-named...

Coloured pencil on Colourfix

I’ve filled in more of the background and punched up some of the colour on the horse and am letting it sit for now. I need to mull over exactly how I’m going to finish up the background and I also need to figure out how to push the values more to make them “pop”.

I have another work that I finished up awhile ago that I’ll share in my next post. So just a small update and if you’ll excuse me now I’d really like to take the dogs out again.

Toodles!

Cough. Ack. Patooie!

Hi folks!

Sorry for the delay in updating. I've been sick the past few days and when my throat wasn't bothering me my body was aching and it felt like there was a troupe of dwarves performing a rendition of 'Riverdance' on my brain.

Good times, good times.


So below is part 3 of the yet un-named equine piece:

Still untitled and I'm open to suggestions...

Coloured pencil on Colourfix

I'm having quite a bit of fun with this one since, as I mentioned previously, it's been awhile since I worked on colourfix and to be able to whip out the yellows, oranges, hot pinks and purples at this time of year is always a treat! It's also been a good long while since I've done an equine piece and this particular one is just the thing I need to get back into it.

Oh, and here's part 4:

Really... suggestions for a title??

My apologies for the slight blurriness of this one but Gizmo, aka- the Thunderbolt Kitten, was milling about the desk and was knocking my pencils off and subsequently attacking them and carrying each one off to its imminent demise. If it were a mouse I wouldn't care but when the pencils go for about $2 a pop you better believe that the only demise they'll be meeting is from the wrath of my pencil sharpener.

So there's the update for now. I've had about 3 tablespoons of Buckley's, played with the dogs out in the snow (or "Snowmageddon" as one Kingston radio station referred to it), ate a piece of cheesecake and am now feeling significantly better and that my sickness is just about over. I'll have another update this weekend and perhaps even a rant over some of the idiotic things I've seen on the roadways as of late. After all, who doesn't love a good rant?

Until next time...   :)

Yay Colourfix!

So today's post contains the first 2 images of the other wip I have on the go. It's an equine piece and the reference picture is one that I've had for quite awhile... I just wasn't sure how to proceed with it.

Yet another un-named piece

11x14, coloured pencil on Colourfix

It's a pretty decent size, 11x14, and I'm using Colourfix for this one because 1- I seem to have an abundance of it hanging about and 2- I was initially thinking that I'd be doing a lot of layering for this one and, wouldn'tcha know it... I was right!

There was a piece I did a few years back, "Windy" (you can search for it with the search thingy on the side), that was a great learning curve for me in terms of incorporating more colour into my work and not being afraid of pushing the limits in terms of layering. There's a bit more of this piece below:

It's also been awhile since I've worked on Colourfix and doing this piece is reminding me how much I enjoy using it for certain works.

There's actually quite bit more that I've done on this piece but I'll hold off on posting more until later in the week. Two reasons: 1- I love keeping people in suspense and 2- I have a gimpy kitten I need to look after who is currently climbing on the desk and causing havoc in general, as kittens have a tendency to do.

So until later this week stay creative (and warm!)

Throwing caution to the wind

So as promised here’s some of what I’ve been working on. Staying true to form, I have several pieces on the go right now since I get bored easily.  ;)

I'm just going to post one since I have several shots of another and not a great deal of time to do this post. This one is actually an experimental piece in that the support I’m using is Masonite that’s been gessoed. I’ve tackled this particular subject before but I used oils and it was many years ago. I liked the image a lot but wasn’t quite sure if I was ready to try it in cp’s and what support I should use. Far be it from me to do anything easily so I figured why not make this as difficult for myself as possible and not only re-create the subject in cp's but also on a support I’ve never used before.

 Untitled

Coloured pencil on masonite

Copyright Rita Woodburne

So there she is in all her work-in-progress glory.

It's supposed to be the temperature of Hell freezing over this weekend (and by that I mean not even the dogs want to stay outside) so I'm planning on doing a lot of indoor activities such as art, reading and removing the hideous border wallpaper from our kitchen.

In my next post I'll have some pics of the other piece I've been working on and, if I'm brave enough and the wallpaper doesn't give me too much trouble in its removal, some updates to this piece as well.

I guess I could include the kitchen as a work-in-progress as well...

Blogging Anew

Please disregard my last post since clearly I had lost my mind and had no idea what I was talking about.

So it’s a New Year and time for a new approach to things and a fresh start with life in general. The first thing I’d like to mention that’s going to change is this blog (hey, didn’t I say that before??)

What is going to change is the focus of my blog. While art is still going to be a huge part of it I’ve decided to “broaden my horizons” as it were and would like to include writing and gardening, an art form in and of itself (those that had followed me for awhile and know my love of diggin' in the dirt). Right now, unfortunately, life is too busy for me to work on art as much as I’d like to; but not busy enough that I can’t indulge in writing about some of the inexplicable things that happen to me over the course of a day.

The other thing that slowed me down was that my beloved computer finally had enough of my not backing things up and leaving files of a ridiculous size on its hard drive and, well… it died. Tragic, I know, but it happens to the best of us.

So, as it happens, not too long ago I acquired another computer and am now back up and running with memory out the yin yang! I still have to transfer some things (specifically images, which is why there aren’t any in this post) over from the old hard drive and get myself something to back up all my files. I consider my lesson learned.

So I haven’t dropped off the face of the earth, I’ve just been wandering aimlessly on its surface trying to figure out what to do with my blog. I’ve figured it out and hope that you’ll join me for the ride…

There's the door, Winter.

I'll be honest, I'd really rather be outside right now but before I give into temptation I just wanted to post a quick update on the ACEO I had on the go. Here it is:

"Daybreak" ACEO
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes
Copyright Rita Woodburne

It was fun to break out the yellows and oranges again, and this little work rekindled my love of flowers as subject matter. Not that I ever really despised doing them, but (and I'm sure you other artists out there would agree), after awhile of doing the same subject matter over and over again you get a little tired. Yes, it's true, even flowers can lose their novelty.

So, on that note, I have done what I set out to do and now I must get outside and indulge in the wonderful weather we're having.

Dare I say it? Is Spring actually upon us?

How did you spend your Saturday morning?

The still un-named ACEO WIP
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes

I guess the real question that should be posed is: When was the last time that you made a snowman?

This was how I spent part of my Saturday morning because 1- it was snowing, 2- the dogs wanted to go outside and play and 3- so did I.

Mr. Snowypants

All in all I was quite pleased with him even though he has since suffered a collapse from the warm temps that came later in the day coupled with the rain. Let’s face it, it’s pretty rough being a snowman. Creating this fellow also reminded me of the fine art of snowman building.

Yes, there’s even an art to that.



You need to have a certain touch when getting those snowballs started and you must remember to rotate while rolling otherwise you wind up with a snow cylinder rather than a snowball. Also worth noting is that if you’re going to use sticks for arms and a carrot for a nose it would be best to put away dogs that like to chew on sticks and run around with them (Rosie) and eat carrots (Cutter). Also to demonstrate my artsy-fartsy-ness I shirked the ‘Frosty the Snowman’ tradition of using coal for eyes (mainly because I don’t have chunks of coal laying around) and instead opted for chocolate truffles.

Finally, I decided that since it’s the Olympics and Canada and the US men’s teams will be facing off in hockey tomorrow that it would be most appropriate to adorn Mr. Snowypants with my touque (acquired from a case of Canadian beer I might add) that clearly states where he is from and who he is. I couldn’t find a hockey stick so I had to settle for a manure fork. Oh well.


Oh, and yes, I am almost 31 years old and playing in the snow. GO CANADA!!!!

Salt with my foot would be fine, thank you.

Methinks I spoke too soon.

So, apparently this week we're getting nothing but snow, snow and more snow. I guess you folks in the USA are tired of looking at the white stuff in places it shouldn't even be (no, not there... get your mind out of the gutter!)

ACEO WIP- Unnamed as of yet.
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes

That said, after the wonky weather we've been having who knows how long it'll even stay on the ground. :/

So I've started a few more ACEO's and some larger pieces. Now, if I could just get around to completing one of them that would be super. I think I'm in one of those phases where I need to start a whole whack of art, realize that I have 53 pieces on the go and not one of them is done and then go through a period where all I do is complete pieces.

Yup, that sounds about right.

"Touch of Colour" ACEO
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes
Copyright Rita Woodburne

So, having said that I believe I should go work on some of said pieces. Back later this week with more art... providing we're not buried under 9 feet of snow.

Toodles!

Winter? What Winter?

Well, so much for Winter.

Over the past few weeks we’ve had normal or above normal temps, sunny skies and only the occasional flurry or two. Normally I wouldn’t be complaining about this but we’re only in the middle to end of February and there’s still at least a month left of Winter.

"Dynamic Duo" ACEO
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes
Copyright Rita Woodburne

I know, you say :”Well thank goodness there’s only about a month left!” But wait, dear reader, this is a problem. Why? Because there’s hardly any snow cover (and the little snow we did get yesterday will have melted by the end of the day today) and I have Spring bulbs poking up in my front flower bed.

Spring bulbs!!!

That's right, even Mother Nature has had enough
of the piddly Winter we've been having.

I love flowers and I’m looking forward to seeing them again but they’re not going to last if they’re trying to come up now and we get a cold snap. I have yet to venture towards our larger pond where the pussy- willows live but I plan on walking that way this week-end to see if they’ve started blooming as well.


Oh, who am I kidding. Bring on Spring! Winter has gotten tired and boring (and really, what fun is Winter without snow to play in) and I’m ready to see some flowers and colour.

More art this week-end!

February already!

A Happy New Year (albeit a bit late) and I hope that for everyone 2009 was a great year and that as we embark upon a new decade that 2010 promises to be even better.

I have some good and bad news to share.

Al Mansur Primo
Coloured pencil on Colourfix
Copyright Rita Woodburne

First, the bad. My 2009 ended on a very unpleasant note when, two days before Christmas, my beloved horse very unexpectedly passed away. Al was truly one of a kind and I suspect it will be a very, very long time before I find another horse that can hold a candle to him. Shortly after he passed I wrote this small tribute to him because, to be honest, it’s hard to read what you’ve typed when you’ve been crying. :(

“When your time ended, my heart broke.

You are irreplaceable and will be forever loved. I miss you immeasurably and you will always be my “best guy”. Thank you for teaching me so many life lessons in your own life and beyond.

Many hugs, snuggles and knickers.”

I still miss him a lot and suspect that I will for quite awhile. That said, each day gets a bit easier and I hope that one day I will find another horse that I can find joy with.


Now I think it’s time for some good news.

"3 Times Tempted"
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes
Copyright Rita Woodburne

My art website will be updated later this year and since I don’t have a wedding to plan or school to concentrate on I will have more time to dedicate to my art. The Other Half and I had a wonderful honeymoon in Mexico and got oodles of pics, some of which I plan on using for a few pieces I have in mind.

So that's the news for now. I would write more but I have some artwork that's calling me! ;)

You know you're an artist when...

"Green Grapes and Blue Satin" ACEO
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes
Copyright Rita Woodburne

You know you’re an artist when:

- You giggle uncontrollably after receiving a book about Rembrandt with a portrait of him on the cover (and folks, he’s no Johnny Depp, so there’s really no reason to giggle).
- You refer to well stocked art stores as “Mecca”.
- You’re hanging out with friends and the topic turns to ‘tertiary colours’.
- You spend 20 minutes in the produce section of the grocery store inspecting each and every apple to find the best possible model.
- You can explain to people, in painstaking depth (more pain for them, not you), the importance of good lighting for taking reference photos.
- If you know when the scientific element “cadmium” should come in front of the name of a basic colour like red.
- You look at works from the Baroque era that feature nudes and think you’d look better if you put on a few pounds.

After Vermeer-" Girl with a Pearl Earring" ACEO
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes
Copyright Rita Woodburne

Yes, this is when you know you’re an artist. Gotta love it! ;)

FINALLY!!

Yes, we finally got a sprinkling of snow. All I have to say is : "It's about flippin' time!"

Granted, these pics were taken quite early in the morning and the majority of this snow has since melted, but it was nice to finally see some of the white stuff on the ground. After all, it's December 1st and Christmas is slowly creeping up on us and I know I certainly wasn't the only one that was waiting on a bit of snow to add a little more to the Christmas spirit.

Heck, even the dogs were in a giddy mood:


Granted, much like people driving in the first snow of the season, they wiped out on more than one occasion but all in all they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Thankfully I did not share in their excitement of face-planting in the first dusting of snow.

Rejuvenated with a new sense of Christmas-yness (English teachers everywhere are cringing right now) I must be off to create a themed ACEO or two... which I will be more than happy to share later this week.

Until then, keep on art-ing!

The Joys of the Season...

Back again for another posting and to share some art. Before I get started though I would like to wish our neighbours South of the border and very happy Turkey Day!

"Pieces of Autumn" ACEO
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes
Copyright Rita Woodburne

So despite the warmer weather things around here are starting to get Christmas-y. I've done some decorating outside and this week-end the tree will be going up and all the other little holiday knick-knacks will be making their yearly appearance. Even with the joy and festivity surrounding holiday decorating though there is one gripe that I simply must get out of my system: Christmas tree lights.

Why is it that from one year to the next I cannot have each strand light up again? There always has to be that one trouble-making bulb in the middle of the strand that has to go out and then I have to spend about an hour of my life that I will never get back again trying to find the little bugger and replace it.
While this is happening, the cat if watching the strand of lights wriggle around on the floor and decides that the best thing to do is attack the strand of lights (while still plugged into the outlet, I might add) at which point I am forced to drop the lights and shoo the cat away. This in turn gets the dogs wound up and as they chase the cat around the house they race close to a box of glass ornaments that teeters precariously on the edge of the sofa. They have muddy feet from being outside so, of course, now I'm yelling at them to stop chasing the cat while at the same time cursing the fact that I'm going to have to mop the floor from one end of the house to the other.

Oh, those damn Christmas tree lights. Always causing problems.

"Before and After" ACEO
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes
Copyright Rita Woodburne

Anyway, I look forward to the fun and frivolity of decorating the tree this week-end, I'm sure it will be an adventure.

On a blogger- related note I have turned the comment mods off since I'm hoping a suitable amount of time has passed to discourage people from countries I have yet to visit from posting naughty links in the comments. So feel free to comment away.

Again, a happy Thanksgiving to folks in the USA... stuff yourselves with turkey for me! :)

I Just Need A Little Nudge

How I spent my Monday Afternoon...

So it's almost Friday and when the week-end rolls around it'll be time for working on some more art and, hopefully, posting more works.

Lately it's been difficult to get art done because, as many of you know, life tends to get in the way of doing fun and enjoyable things and, as I mentioned in my previous post, because of the weather.

I hate to say this given the lousy Summer we had, but I'm kind of wishing we would have a rainy day or, even better, a snow day. While I generally enjoy getting outside in the cooler weather, for the most part this time of year always feels like a time to hibernate indoors and (for me anyway) work on oodles of art. Small pieces, big pieces, still life's, equestrian pieces or even reading some art history books. I've started on some pieces, the WIP's I'm planning on posting soon, and even started re-reading one of my art history books from university.

"Dramapple" ACEO
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes
Copyright Rita Woodburne

It's all very good and well, but I think I need that little kick from Mother Nature where she says: "Hey! Look at what I brought you... a snowstorm! Go ahead, stay inside and drink ridiculous amounts of hot chocolate and play with your coloured pencils. Have fun!

Oh, and tell your husband to get the snowblower warmed up because this one's going to be a doozy!"

Yup, that's what I need. And to remind the Other Half to get the snowblower tuned up. :p


Back this week-end with more art!

What time of year is it anyway?

"Potential Candidates" ACEO
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes
Copyright Rita Woodburne

Hi there folks,

Well, Halloween has come and gone and we're well into November and you know what that means? We're being bombarded with commercials drilling "Jingle Bells" into our skulls and store flyers featuring images of over-indulged children surrounded by toys requiring every type of battery known to mankind and houses that look like one of the National Lampoon movie sets exploded.

Yup, as they say, "Tis' the season!"

Despite the aforementioned points, Christmas is one of my favourite seasons since I enjoy decorating the tree and making cards and eating massive amounts of butter and sugar... all of which I rarely do the rest of the year. AlthoughI suppose I could, but the neighbours would probably think I was even stranger than how I normally present myself.

This year, though, there is one thing that is greatly hindering me from getting into that Christmas-y spirit. The weather.

"Bowl of Good Taste" ACEO
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes
Copyright Rita Woodburne

That's right. Autumn started off pretty darn chilly here in our neck of the woods and I figured that, much like last year, we would be almost knee-deep in snow by the beginning to middle of December. However, if things keep going the way they are, we'll be showing off our knees by the beginning to middle of December because it'll be so warm! The past few weeks, dare I say it, have been downright balmy and while most people seem to be enjoying it (myself included since I've been able to get caught up on my outdoor chores without dressing up like Natoonook of the North) I can't help but wonder... how do you folks in the Southern States do it!?

I mean, really, how on earth can you possibly get into the Christmas mode without cold weather and snow? Clearly you've mastered some kind of Jedi mind-control ability that the rest of us have yet to tap into.

If you wouldn't mind sharing your skills I'd greatly appreciate it because, starting this Friday, the barrage of Santa Claus parades in our area begins and I just think it's kinda odd that most kids might be in shorts and t-shirts drinking Kool-Aid rather than Winter coats and mittens drinking hot chocolate. Maybe it's just me though...

... right?