July 18, 2016
Working on a new large canvas – just got it underway. And another week of my July Daily Challenge.
This past week has not been productive. And in the time I was working creatively, I was plagued by self-doubt. Regardless, it’s here to see.
May 10, 2015
After a short vacation, I’m back with another blog post. I spent last weekend in Vancouver, BC running my sixth half marathon. It went well – it’s been two years since my last half marathon and I didn’t have high expectations. I surprised myself and ran my fastest race yet finishing in 2:06:55. Vancouver is a beautiful city and I enjoyed the trip very much. I have not painted at all for a couple weeks though. I haven’t had the chance and I haven’t really felt like it. I really need to find some new subject matter to inspire me. In the meantime, here are some drawings that I’ve done recently.
March 30, 2015
No painting done this weekend. Instead I enjoyed a lovely family ski trip to Banff with friends. The weather was warm and the snow was still great for spring skiing. I’m looking forward to the Easter long weekend and some quality time in my studio.
In the meantime, here are a couple of drawings I did this week. I’m still making a point of drawing everyday – even if the result is not something I’m proud of. I tell myself that if nothing else, I am gaining practice at being able to switch into that state of mind where art happens – I consider it an almost meditative sort of focus. Often I feel that I am too busy to take the time out to draw, but with my determination to spend time at it daily, I usually find that once I start I am able to stop thinking about time and what I still have to do and actually get out of my head and onto the paper and to enjoy it.
March 15, 2015
So I’ve started working on a commission based on A Crane Called Frank. And I thought I would play with some of the oil mediums to see if they might be something I want to use in this new painting (which I’m calling Francine at the moment). I tried out Galkyd, Neo Megilp and Galkyd Gel. And in the process this small storm ensued.
And here is the beginning of Francine. I’m just building the background now. Chances are very little of this will be visible in the final painting, but we’ll see. I just need to put on a few coats of clear gesso to seal it really well and I will be ready to go.
Lastly, here are a couple of drawings from this week. One from a figure drawing class that I’m doing – no, she did not have an inordinately large head, I just messed up the scale – and a small drawing I did during the week while thinking about folded paper in preparation to begin Francine.
March 8, 2015
March 1, 2015
February 16, 2015
Quote courtesy of Robert Genn’s website Art Quotes. Painting courtesy of my long weekend, drawings courtesy of my determination to draw every day – even if it’s nothing to be proud of…
January 25, 2015
“Your audacious life goals are fabulous. We’re proud of you for having them. But it’s possible that those goals are designed to distract you from the thing that’s really frightening you—the shift in daily habits that would mean a re–invention of how you see yourself.”
– Seth Godin
It’s almost the end of January and I am already behind. I have more items on my list than I have time to do them. That’s ok though. Good things are still happening regardless of my lists.
In an effort to improve my drawing skills, I am building the habit of drawing every day. I’m also trying to paint every week, although that just isn’t going to work out all the time. As much as I may have liked to, taking my easel and paints to Canmore last weekend to fit in a few strokes here and there between ski runs just didn’t seem all that practical. I did paint this weekend with the evidence below (still not finished…). And I have been drawing. Evidence of that below as well.
susanne semchuk 