The lanterns languished. Finally, I reminded myself that I am the Mayor of Realville, the lanterns were too hard for me at that size (a paintbrush will never quite behave like a pencil), and it was time to make them go away. So, I turned the painting into one of pomegranates. Still, I wanted to […]
Barn Raising
Just kidding. I’m not raising a barn, just drawing it. Well, maybe I am raising it out of the vast whiteness of the paper. I received these 2 photos along with many instructions. The top photo is how the barn looks now; the lower one is how it looked when the customer was a child […]
Do Over
A customer brought me a pencil drawing from 1995 with the request that I turn it into notecards. In order to turn an original drawing into a printed piece, there are some tasks to be done on a computer. First, I scan it, then open it in Photoshop, convert it to grayscale, erase anything that […]
List of Activity
What a boring title – “List of Activity” – I’m sure that got people tripping over the Google to find this post. Not. But it has been active around my studio and art business lately with sales of oil paintings and pencil drawing commissions. Finished and sent to happy customer: Sold: Sketch approved and drawing […]
Further Pencilization
What is this “pencilization” that you’ve been saying lately? Just another made up word by your Central California artist, who specializes in pencil art, turning photos and ideas into pencil drawings. The print arrived from Shutterfly, so I was able to continue with the commissioned pencil drawing. An email arrived also, giving me the freedom […]
Pencilization
A friend sent me a photograph and asked if I thought it would make a better oil painting or a pencil drawing. Nothing to see here, folks; just move on. . . What I mean is that there is very little color to see, so I recommended a pencil drawing. I ordered a good print […]
Do-Over
I get another chance at a do-over! A customer asked to buy three of the original pencil drawings from The Cabins of Wilsonia. One of them is gone, so I offered to redraw it for him. He agreed. The one he wants redrawn isn’t one I felt very proud of. Maybe I got sloppy in the midst of […]
Dessert
First I ate my vegetables of fuzzy faces. I saved dessert for last. What is she talking about? I can hear you thinking. My customer brought me three commissions to draw in pencil. The first 2 were the fuzzy photos of faces with no discernible features. The 3rd was a beautiful building, designed by Julia Morgan, […]
What is That Thing?
Remember Henry and Dora in front of their tent last week? Here, have another look: I showed my drawing students, because it is good to learn from one another. They were kind and complimentary, but honest, as we are with one another. “What is that thing in the tent?” is something I heard a few […]
Hypocritical Artist
I am a hypocrite. I tell my drawing students to not attempt to draw faces smaller than eggs and to never draw from photos that are too fuzzy to see, because IF YOU CAN’T SEE IT, YOU CAN’T DRAW IT! (Yes, often said in all capital letters and sometimes even with a bit of bold […]