Eyes are the windows of the soul

 Now practising drawing eyes.  Using either graphite or pen.  I know, keep practising!  I’m quite pleased with my progress so far, but I’m a very impatient person and need to see results quickly.  I must learn to slow down and draw mindfully.

I invested in the Bargue book to help me with my practice.  So far so good.  I intend to practice daily this week and then maybe move on to other features.

When I draw or paint a portrait I adore adding the eyes, they really bring the drawing to life!

I always feel that to get a good likeness you really have to get the eyes right especially.

Any thoughts or advice is gratefully received.

Best wishes

Shari 💕

Drawing Course

 I have started a new online course which I’m hoping will kickstart my creative mojo again!

For too long I have neglected my drawing and I felt it was time to rectify this.  I have only just begun the course, but here is an example of what I’m doing.  It’s very intense, so I have t have lots of breaks, but I’m really enjoying it so far.

Still a long way to go as you can see, but slow and steady wins the race!  I’m just glad to be back drawing.

If you get stuck creatively what do you do to get out of the slump and regain your mojo?  I would love to know.

For me, starting a new course really helps and I’m hoping it will this time too.

Best wishes

Shari 💕

Capturing Cary

Firstly, I apologise to Cary Grant for this abysmal rendering of him. He is my hero and represents for me a true gentleman. I adore his films (mostly because I like looking at him!) and among my favourites are of course An Affair to Remember, Arsenic & Old Lace and The Philadelphia Story. Of course that's just a few because I don't want to bore you with a huge list of my favourite Cary Grant films!

Anyway, back to art... I am trying again with portraits and as you can see by this one I really need to work on getting a likeness. I sure didn't get one this time! I will try again tomorrow and see what happens.

Back to Fitness

20 mins sketch graphite on sketchpad

Working my way back to fitness, both physically and creatively. Poor health has kept me from my artwork for too long.

No more time for tears. No more wallowing. Now is the time for action.

One day at a time... gently stretching myself a little further each time, always improving, growing stronger all the way. I will show them, I won't be beaten.

Girl Holding Lemons

Graphite sketch of Girl Holding Lemons

Inspired by the Bouguereau Challenge at WetCanvas (Classical forum) this month.

First of all using graphite I did this preliminary sketch of the painting by the French artist William-Adolphe Bouguereau. I want to do several sketches before I even attempt to paint so that I can work out any difficulties beforehand.

Getting the hands correct was a bit of a problem and I shall have to watch that when I come to paint this. The foreshortening on the hand to the right (or model's left hand!) in particular was awkward and I feel I must study this more thoroughly.

Sorry that the left of the sketch is dark but this is due to poor scan of my sketchbook.