Blogging, BARI, Busy and Breaks.

Ok. This is the third day in a row that I've tried to post this. AND my forth attempt this morning. Let's hope that this time it works! Come on, Typepad!

I know you are probably sick of seeng this by now, but I had better show the finished piece! [click]

Some random facts about this one:

It's 47 x 28cm. The usual ink background and coloured pencil leaves and frog. I learned that I can put a stroppy background in the oven to dry, when all my heat gun does is steam it up. I also learned that I should use a timer next time, in case Steve isn't home to ask my why I have artwork in the oven, and I turn it into charcoal.

Sometimes I start with my favourite bit in an artwork, but then that can sometimes make the rest of it lag a little, because I've already got the best bit out of the way. This time I wasn't so impatient, and left the best bit 'til last, so I still had it to look forward to. I think this helped me keep the momentum up with the leaves - not that I didn't enjoy drawing them too. There was a lot of layering to do though, to get that thick, waxy colour, and the drawing in all took me about 30 hours (Eeek!), but I think having timed it will help me make better estimations in the future on how long something will take me. And I might time a few more, just out of curiosity.

And I went through a whole lotta greens:

Craziness. Lucky they're so cheap! Anyone tried putting their problem prismas in the microwave? I've read this on a few forums. Supposedly it stops them breaking so much. I'm not so sure. But I guess if I try it out and I totally nuke the thing, it's just a pencil. I also know that you're not supposed to sharpen then to a point, and you're not supposed to press so hard that you are practically trying to carve the board with them, but that's not how I roll.

I drew the frog from a couple of photos I had of a little guy that would plaster himself on our glass door out the back every night last summer. I think they're called pygmy green frogs? Something like that. Full size they're less than a few centimetres long, as opposed to this guy, who was a whopping 10cm tank-ass and completely terrified my much-larger-than-10cm dog.

But when all the other little frogs would pull their legs in and shut their eyes when you walked past, pretending to be nothing but little green pebbles, this guy would boldly turn his head around and stare right at you. Then if you moved to the other side of him he'd spin his head around to look at you that way as well (I may have stepped from side to side a few times whenever I saw him, just to see him do this - much more amusing than TV). Very inquisitive - he had character. Oh so cute. I liked him. I hope he's back this summer.

The BARI festival kicked off at Flipbook last night. Tonight is Jugglers'opening night, and there'll be an art/industry  forum on there tomorrow afternoon as well. I'm hoping I get enough work done to be able to make it to that, then there's KiLN's  opening night tomorrow night. The exhibitions all run through 'til the end of September.

I will have these works at KiLN:

 

I was disappointed to only get the one new piece finished in August, being so busy, but at least I've got the chance to show these other four again.

I've got a week off coming up soon. Looking forward to that. Hopefully, I'll get a bit of art time in then. I also need to learn to RELAX. Re-align. Rejuvinate. Re-evaluate. Re-everything. So posts may be a bit few and far between just while I get through the next week or so, but I'll be back on track soon.

Hopefully by then Typepad will be in a more polite mood too!

Comments

[ginevra (typepad community manager)]

loving these...especially the fish.

let me know if you're still having trouble with TypePad posting!

[andreaj]

Oh wow, Lexy! I LOVE that photo. That's almost what my green pencils look like. Especially with all the breakages. Brilliant shot.

Can't believe some of the textures you get with colour pencils. I'd never have thought this drawing was created with CP. Amazing light, too.

[Kim Spence]

Wow! I have just discovered your blog on a blog-hopping tour (isn't it addictive?) and it's going in my favourites, I can tell you that right now!

Beautiful drawings - you've inspired me to go and dig out my battered old Caran d'Ache and see what I can manage.

I love the drawing of the betta, by the way - looks just like my Mr Fussy Pants (may he rest in peace).

[Alex Louisa]

Thanks Kim! I know exactly what you mean about blog-hopping being very
addictive.

Have fun with your pencils!! I'm terrible at finding things that I haven't
used in a while, so I hope you find them easily enough!

And yes, may your Mr Fussy Pants rest in peace. Maybe he and my Psycho Billy
are beta buddies now ;)

You'll notice that my blog posts may be a bit few and far between lately,
but I'm playing catch up with everything now, and I'll be back to my daily
posts in a few weeks.

Thanks for stopping by :)