"RUN FOR THE PRIZE"

I have been so busy today that I haven't created anything that I can post. Lori and I did go to our favorite shop, A Small CLeverness, and make a really darling sewn book but I didn't finish it so I couldn't post it. Then the rest of the day I have been setting up my Etsy shop. I will create someting tomorrow! Hopefully!

Anyway, I did post this on Etsy today so I will post it on my blog. It is my book, Run for the Prize. It is a Christian children's book. Hope I sell some!

"BY GRACE"

I got my Etsy shop up and running and I have had  my first sale!  I am so excited. This is what I sold today and if that sweet person who bought it sees this---THANKS!  It feels really good to sell something!!! Affirmation --mucho mucho.

Art Journals and Red Door

Today I have been working on my Etsy store trying to get the print files ready and hoping someone will buy something! Remember--www.marthalever.etsy.com

The first two pictures above are of my handmade art journals. I have a Rubicoil that coils the books (I love that thing!) so I try to put someting in my art journal every day. But since I have been blogging the art journal has fallen behind. I spray the pages with my favorite perfume so when I open one up---ummmmmm---so nice!

The third picture is my art studio--The Red Door! You can see why and you can also see my little buddy, Bucky, guarding the Red Door. Beware all intruders!!! You have to zoom in on him--he is just too cute.

I think this painting was partly due to Mattie Lou Muse. She likes to create fun stuff. Actually the lettering is another one of my fonts from Fontifier and the painting is acrylic on a 6x8 canvas board.  

Tomorrow I want to put up some pictures of my studio. 

 I have been creating my Etsy site today. I will add the link when I get it ready.

Who-hoo finally an Etsy site!

"BE INSPIRED!"

Today my funky-fun muse came for a visit. I like her because she is free and fun. She needs a name, I think I will call her "Mattie Lou the Funky Muse".. (Actually Mattie Lou was my grandmother's name and I came very close to being called Mattie Lou since my name is Martha Louise as well as hers). But--- So much for that.....This is all watercolor, Sharpie and gel pens. I added a few dots in Photoshop---just couldn't resist. I have been looking at other artist's blogs today and I get really inspired by their freedom and joy so I said to myself, "I wanna be like that!" So my quest is to--->be like that! Sometimes my "Fine Art Muse" will come out and we will paint still life in oil or acrylic; sometimes my "Sketchey Muse" will come and I will draw----and sometimes the "Calligraphy Muse" will come---she is very serious and uptight but she is beginning to loosen up a bit. She is actually my favorite because I have known her the longest. She needs a name---but I am not sure what that would be. Anyway, I was inspired today. Thank you, Mattie Lou!

Thought for the day---"Art has many different personalities!"

"RAINEY DAY DIDDY"

That's what it is---just a rainy day diddy---fun painting. It is a 9x12 acrylic on canvas board. The center is from my image file library since the checkerboard I painted didn't look quite as good. My lettering didn't turn out as well either so this is one of my fonts I created in Fontifier. What can I say---just fun. I love Photoshop.

"ABOUT TOMORROW..."

This is from my daily Bible reading and actually this one didn't take long. The flowers were from a practice sheet and I wrote the Scripture only once. I am into one time , no layout planning writing. You can write it out several times if you want to and fix the spacing and letterforms but sometimes the first time turns out the best. Plus, it is not intended to be a masterpiece anyway---just fun, free, unstressful calligraphy---the best kind! Art is fun!! Be free!! Don't take yourself so seriously! (I am speaking to myself)

"THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR..."

These boots were made for walking.... in puddles---not necessarily for sketching! It was very hard to draw and since they were black I thought I needed to fill it in  but then you lose the shadows. The little table was hard too. It's kinda deceiving when you start to draw something. Even though it looks so simple, it's really not but I am new at drawing so everything is a learning experience and this blog will keep a record of my improvements.

The first drawing is just a pencil with no ink and it was actually the second one I drew .  Maybe a bit better--the shapes are more defined.

"SUGGESTED READING"

"GERANIUMS?"

This is a watercolor of a pot of flowers I saw in a magazine. I drew it, then inked it, then painted. Hmmmm...this gets an APR of 61/2-7 out of a 10. A bit muddy in areas. But it is all a learning experience. Some days are good and others aren't so good. Plus, I wasn't at my studio, I was at home, so I will blame it on that. Got to blame it one something, right?

I am also studying up on color theory and the more I learn the more confused I get. My theory is this---if you mix two primary together you get a third color---and if you mix in the other primary in with that-- then you have mud. So the theory is---avoid the mud. Also I read that the "dreaded black" really can be used if you want to. So each theory will be different for each person---but I haven't figured out my theory yet but I am getting closer. Apparently different artists start with different "primarys".

I also need to do some lettering. I had good intention of lettering a small Scripture verse from my daily Bible reading but I haven't done that. Calligraphy lettering, even a small Scripture, takes more time than painting---believe it or not.

"MORE POPPY LOVE"

This is a small 4x6 acrylic on a panel with gold edges. I like these panels and might get some more but they don't work well at all for watercolor. I have painted these Poppies before with a different background and composition but similar in feel. I painted these last night so I thought I would post them today although I am planning to paint something today depending in the muse.
(I refer to the muse as my artist self that comes out sometimes and sometimes not).

"CUP A JO"

This is a cup from my studio kitchen.  It was a practice in drawing the cup then I decided to watercolor it. The cups are very cute--coffee tastes really good out of them! 

I am really enjoying drawing. 

Here I am with the one child that is still at home, Bucky. We are standing on the porch of my art studio after drawing class yesterday.  I am still trying to create something today but the my muse must be taking a day off today.  Maybe later. I did paint a birdhouse that I drew trying to use the warmer and cooler colors for values---just for practice.  Well ok---here it is.

"A BIRD'S HOUSE AND NEIGHBORS"

We had such fun in our drawing class today. Stephanie has really done a great job of giving us technique, shading and composition. It is amazing what you can do if you just LOOK!

"TWO MINUTE FLOWERS"

That's about all the time I had today was about two minutes to create something. When I have a day or two where I can't create something I get very antsy. My niece and her three small children have been visiting for a few days. It has been a fun, busy time with them. My daughter was also here with her dog, Dixie. The kids created great art at my studio. I should take a picture and post it. Maybe tomorrow. I love children's art. So creative and free!

This is a watercolor that is 11x14.

I drew it out first with non-smearing waterproof black ink (Black Cat Ink) then I watercolored it in. It was a bit intricate and next time I probably pencil it in then add the ink last. Trial and error but I really enjoyed painting this. I guess it was the fact that it was already inked in so it was just a matter of painting it in. I do love watercolor---but I like oils and acrylics too. All are different. Mixed-up media artist for sure. I need to calligraphy something like I sid I was but I guess I have been sidetracked with drawing and painting.

Ok, now for the Artist Approival rating--APR-------..........ummmmmm.....81/2.

"BEAUTIFUL POPPIES"

This is more of a graphic look. I painted the Poppies (I am into Poppies--you will surely see more) and then added the text in Photoshop. I do have my own Chinese chop but it is at the studio and I am at home now so I found this one online. Who knows what it says but I will use it for now and then transfer mine. I don't think it is anyone's name--but some sort of virtue, I think. (I hope)

I am going to rate my pieces from one 1-10 as to the artist (me)approval rate for each piece instead of talking negatively about any piece I do. I do not "love" all of them but some I like more than others. Anything under 5 probably won't be posted but 5 will be--not very satisfactory, 6--pretty good---worth posting with the work that went into it, 7-some really good elements but not as good as expected  8---good, I am pleased,  9--really good, worked out as expected and 10-- really, really good and worked out more than expected and I am extremely pleased. So there you have it.
Artist approval rating--or APR for "Beautiful Poppies"---(9)

I actually painted the Poppies last night about 10:30. This is a print on Arches Test Wove Paper so I might try and paint it again for practice. I think I will make the Poppies a bit more red. So again---Have a Happy 4th of July!

"POPPY SKETCH"

This is a sketch that is actually on notebook paper that I did while I was watching my favorite TV show, "So You Think You Can Dance." (Love that show) This is just a preliminary sketch for watercolor. I tried to get rid of the blue lines in Photoshop. If I have some time on the 4th tomorrow I might paint it. I have another layout also that I drew which I might use, but for now---this is today's creation.
HAPPY 4TH!

AHHHH...I love to paint pots. Love it love it. This is actually watercolor gouache which allowed me to lay the red and the yellow in after the leaves since it is an opaque watercolor. It blends great. I just might start to incorporate gouache for all my watercolors.  It's brighter and I really like it. We calligraphers, use gouache a lot for adding color to our letters because it is opaque and can go over backgrounds (as long as it is not watercolor--it bleeds). 

This is one of my favorite Scriptures. I wrote the word, "STRENGTH" in brush lettering and added the text graphically and combined all in Photoshop. I painted the flowers a while ago and saved them in my image file--- and from time to time they come out to live again.

This is not a new creation (I have been gone all weekend) but it is one of my favorites. I have also been busy uploading my gallery of images to the Zazzle site. Now I have lots of images online to buy. The web site gallery is www.zazzle.com/marthalever.

Please visit!

"ITALIAN NIGHT"

Another drawing from the drawing class. I am beginning to really enjoy drawing.  I am getting more confident. You just have to do it! 

 Just draw it and quit whining!  (I am talking to myself)

"SUNFLOWERS IN A VASE"

The first is the line drawing and the second is the acrylic painting. Enjoyed creating both of them. Not sure about the glass vase --I need to practice painting glass. It's hard. Stephanie, my drawing teacher, suggested that the shadow might be too bold and some light source might be needed on the right hand side. I agree! So I will work on it more tomorrow---and possibly change the green on the bottom part to another color. Or---maybe start it again with other angles since I have the still life set up. The painting is actually much brighter in real life. I needed to curve and brighten it in Photoshop.

"TOMATOES"

Ok well, this is what I have done today and if I am to post something everyday then---I have to post. I am taking a drawing class and am learning about shade, shadows, proportions etc.  If anyone is thinking they would ever like to paint anything they see---well, then you have to draw. So for today, it's tomatoes in a brown very wonderful bowl (which didn't work with the watercolor).  So the first is the drawing and the second is a watercolor of the printed first one. Not very successful as a watercolor. Some drawings just need to stay a drawing---period.

  But...Maybe I will try to paint it in acrylic---or maybe oil tomorrow.  We'll see what the muse says.  :)

"ANGELS UNAWARES"

This is another background I did but I just used regular watercolor rather than FW inks. I made a rectangle on watercolor paper with painters tape and layed in the color. This is always fun. I love peeling off the tape to see crisp borders after it dries.

I wrote this layout of Roman letters many years ago in a Master Calligraphy class. Again, I used PhotoShop to combine the background and the lettering that I have saved as a file on my computer.

The Roman letters are difficult to write with the corrrect spacing, pressure and consistency but this was a successful layout and the letters were pretty good.

I love this Scripture and used it a lot.

Makes you wonder doesn't it???

"FLOWERS REFRESH!"

AHHHHH.... I do love painting these little watercolor pots of flowers. Again---instant gratification for sure. No need to worry about shades, value or proportions. At least for today anyway.  And the lettering was fun too---

This is a background that I did with FW inks.  I scanned all these backgrounds I did with the FW inks (you might see more) and I can print them and letter on them. This is actually lettering that i did previously of this verse that I love and combined it in Photoshop. I love Photoshop. I feel sorry for any artist that hasn't tackled the steep learning curve of Photoshop. It is a must---in my opinion.

"THE HEAVENS DECLARE"

I had an idea which I will try to institute at least while I can. I am still going to paint but my real love is for lettering so I have decided to pick out a verse from my daily Bible reading in Psalms and attempt to make a little calligraphy piece and post it everyday. We'll see what happens. I get antsy doing the same thing everyday---that's why I am a "mixed-up media" artist! 

I scanned a background I had painted on Yupo paper.  In PhotoShop I cropped a portion that looked interesting and printed it on Arches  Text Wove paper.  Then I can write on it with watercolor or gouache.  This is written with Dr. Martins Hydrus watercolor from the bottles.  I have never written with this watercolor but it works great. I will use it again. The size of this is 2 x 5. It would probably make a good bookmark.

"A LITTLE FLOWER"

Ok, well... I was having some calligraphy withdrawals. This was just about a 10 minute piece. No layout-- just write---and no warm up either (I can tell).

And I have to admit--the flower is a stamp. I lay on magic marker color and spritz with water then embellish with a sepia pen.  It's a fun little instant gratification thing which I like. 

I tried to paint another pear today but failed miserably. I ended up just laying on color with a pallet knife to make an abstract.   That's actually very fun. 

 Maybe I will photograph it and post it later today.

"PEPPER 'N PEAR"

This is an 8 x 8 oil painting that I just finished. Pears are hard to paint for some reason.

You would think that the pepper would be harder but not for me. I am feeling a bit better with the oils and I will continue to press on.  I might do some flowers soon.

I didn't get a chance to sketch a thing on my Charleston trip because it was just too hot!  I did get some great pictures that I will attempt to paint---perhaps.

"POPPIES"

I actually did this painting several months ago but wanted to post it. It is on a 5 x 5 canvas board and it's acrylic.

I am very excited today. I just learned on YouTube how to make a grid on an image I want to paint and print it with the grids from PhotoShop. Then I will use the transfer the image onto the canvas by using the grid method. That is how I painted the still life for yesterday's post but I will try and post some things that I have painted by the grid method---perhaps...

I will be going to Charleston, SC, for the weekend and I am taking my watercolors and my journal. I am planning to draw some of the wonderful buildings and scenery and watercolor them.  If I am successful...perhaps I will post them when I get home on Monday.

"STILL LIFE"

This is a 16x20 oil painting I finished up last night. I followed Tom Brown's CD instructional book  and this is the result. I love his paintings and the way he paints with such chunky strokes.  His web site is

www.tombrownstudio.com

I really enjoyed painting this because his directions were clear and easy to follow. Who knows what this would be left to my own devices!  But this is a very good way for me to learn about oil painting. I have other instructional books from his CD and I will do more. If you want to learn to oil paint--I would highly suggest to look into his site.

"GERANIUM POTS"

This is acrylic on a 5x5 canvas.

"COPPER POT OF FLOWERS"

This is a 6x8 oil painting. I have been out of town so I haven't painted in a couple of days. I painted this one last Monday.  I like the oils also but still think I like acrylic better.  I will continue to paint with both until I feel that I am getting comfortable with one or the other---or maybe both.

"TWO LEMONS"

Since I will be out of town and won't get to paint for a few days I thought I would go ahead and post this painting I did today along with the other posting for today. It is the study of lemons I guess. This one was from a still life I set up in my studio with a light coming from the right side-- which I see that it might need some more highlights on that side. I'm learning.

This is a 5x5 acrylic.

"LEMON JUICY FRUIT"

I painted this lemon half at 10:30 last night. Actually I had previously posted it earlier this morning with a purple background but my drawing teacher, Stephanie, suggested I soften the color so here it is---back to my favorite background---blue!

It's a 5x7 on canvas board. 

"ORANGES AND GRAPES"

I am working through Tom Brown's workshop in a book and this is a section of the still life that I am planning to paint. He uses oils and I used acrylic. The oil paints and acrylic paints have the same name but the colors are different on the canvas. I will try the whole still life in oils from his workbook and maybe I will post it next week. It has a white vase and more leaves.

By posting my paintings I am not suggesting that they are great paintings---it will be a reference for me as I hopefully continue to paint and improve.

6 hours later:

I just looked at this painting and realized that it really is not good at all. Maybe the light is going in the right direction and the left hand orange has some pretty good highlights on it but the painting looks like it is floating on a plank at night with the moonlight shining in it. I am trying not to be too negative because to improve I have to paint some crappy things. I guess I didn't have to post it. Just as my previous acrylic teacher says---"what do you like about your painting--nothing negative please?" Well, as I said maybe the highlights are pretty good and I learned that grapes are not complicated actually.

So, hopefully the next painting will be better.

"LONE LEMON" and "SEARCH ME, O GOD"

This is a 5x7 acrylic on canvas board. I think for me I just need to paint and paint and paint and get familiar with the process. I like the oil paint also but I am leaning toward the acrylic so far as my favorite.  This was a real lemon and today I am going to cut it in half and paint it. We'll see what happens. 

I also always try to write something in calligraphy. This was just a scrap of paste paper. I love to do calligraphy on scrap paper. I guess the pressure is off since it is a scrap. I just wrote it out with no planning.

 This is one of my favorite Scriptures. It is my prayer.

"THE VALUE OF AN APPLE"

Here is an apple that I painted with acrylic. It is a 5x7 on canvas board. I had painted the apple in watercolor but since watercolor does not do well at all with canvas board I decided to paint over it with acrylic trying to bring the values darker as it moved from the left shaded part of the apple to the highlighted part on the right. It seems that I choose the same colors each time. I should venture out next time and try and different color background.

I was talking to my very good friend and artist pal, Lori ,and she commented about how hard I say everything is to paint. We discussed this feeling that I have and she has suggested to me (she knows me very well) maybe the reason that painting sees so hard for me is that I am trying to emulate other painters that I see and admire and I am not being successful at painting their style. I have a style of my own that I need to embrace. I need to quit comparing my paintings with other paintings which leads me to the feeling that mine is inferior. She is so right. And actually I enjoy painting and yes, sometimes it's hard,especially in the drawing stage---(drawing stage!---well, that's another matter altogether!)

So I will just paint and enjoy it and just see what happens. So here is the apple.

"THREE POPPIES"

Ok, it's 11:00 PM and I should have long put up my paint brush and told the muse that's enough for one day---- but I just had to paint something today that I felt better about. Since my oil painting couldn't scan because it was wet---and the camera battery was empty--I painted these Poppies in acrylic at 10:00. So far I think acrylic is easier for me.

But so much for one day...

"I HAVE CLOTHED MY THOUGHTS IN WORDS"

Today I purposed myself to oil paint by painting a simple pear from still life. Well, a pear apparently isn't simple. It was terrible---so I went on to a lemon---from memory and, well,  not much better. Then I decided to paint a pot of geraniums from a picture that I got from Wet Canvas images. That was a little bit better. I would have posted it but my camera battery was dry.  Too bad..........

so here is a little ditty I did recently--watercolor---and calligraphy------AHHHHHH.......