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"For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." - Colossians 3:3-4
Creativity Express
Posted on August 25, 2008
After winning the Best Artistic Content Blog in the HSBA last December, Madcap Logic asked me to review a computer program called "Creativity Express", their animated art curriculum.
You can view the trailer for Creativity Express here.
Here's my review:
You can view the trailer for Creativity Express here.
Here's my review:
"Creativity Express is an adventurous art course packed into an energetic computer program. The entertaining lessons, lighthearted quizzes and inspiring activities will help anyone young at heart to truly enjoy art and express themselves creatively. Not only is it incredibly easy to install, it is impossibly difficult to stop learning and having fun!
"The lessons include exploring line, color, mood, emphasis, and much more. As a homeschool student who has taken a college-level drawing/painting class, and loves to study everything about art, I was surprised to discover aspects about art that I had never learned or thought of before.
"Through each each lesson your "art guides", Ruby and Tickles (penguin sisters) and their polar bear friend Furnace, will give insight on the elements of art, take you through Art History, and introduce you to famous painters and sculptors of the past.
"Wanting to get in on this exciting new way of "studying", don't be surprised to find students of all ages begging to spend more time with Creativity Express!
"(Parents may want to be cautioned that in representing peace, there is an occasional image referencing Buddhist meditation. They base their history in the Old Earth Theory. And, even though there is an image of a lady with an exposed bellybutton, they do handle Classical works with discretion that may be otherwise unsuitable for young people.)"
And yes, I really did had fun with this program!
And yes, I really did had fun with this program!
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perhaps a blessing in disguise
Posted on August 15, 2008
I'd like to to begin this post by thanking all my faithful readers for their unending support. Even though I don't reply to all of your comments, please know that they are appreciated and I'm glad that you enjoy my work.
Many of you have left lovely comments on my drawings - because that is all I let you see. Well, my friends...
Today you're going to see my mistakes!
For example, here is a fine specimen of a thumbnail I drew. Rough, yet the idea is safe on paper. The composition is simple and quite appealing if I may say so.
It was based on a drawing I made last year. Desiring to maintain the original feel, I kept the straight-on shot, directly facing the bookcases.
Mistake #1 - I didn't experiment. I had an idea, felt comfortable, assumed it would work, and then took off.
Good Idea #1 - I made a color sketch, no bigger than 3"x4". Mapped out where I wanted the colors to go, and got a general feel for the finished look I was going for.
Norman Rockwell made a color sketch for every painting he made, and I highly recommend this step.
Many of you have left lovely comments on my drawings - because that is all I let you see. Well, my friends...
Today you're going to see my mistakes!
For example, here is a fine specimen of a thumbnail I drew. Rough, yet the idea is safe on paper. The composition is simple and quite appealing if I may say so.It was based on a drawing I made last year. Desiring to maintain the original feel, I kept the straight-on shot, directly facing the bookcases.
Mistake #1 - I didn't experiment. I had an idea, felt comfortable, assumed it would work, and then took off.
Good Idea #1 - I made a color sketch, no bigger than 3"x4". Mapped out where I wanted the colors to go, and got a general feel for the finished look I was going for.
Norman Rockwell made a color sketch for every painting he made, and I highly recommend this step.
When I posted about using water-soluble oils, I spoke too soon. Mistake #2 - I wasn't familiar enough with the medium to justify the expectation of a masterpiece. You can see the color sketch and beginning of the painting here.
After waiting, and waiting, and waiting for the paint to dry, Mom coaxed me out of my stubbornness and had me begin again. This time in watercolors.The base of the bookshelves had me worried for a while. I couldn't quite get it to appear in the shadows while maintaining the that old, warm, woody look. Eventually after painting layer over layer, scrubbing and reworking, I ended up with a very muddy, dissatisfying, crusty-looking angular mass dominating the lower portion of my painting.
Mistake #3 - Expecting the combination of cool and warm colors to not look muddy. I also believe the over-use of the ruler and painting within straight ink lines felt very oppressive. It literally felt like coloring in the lines with grainy mud rather than expressing a cozy, imaginative environment.
I felt depressed. I didn't even want to finish the books.
Mom talked with me a while, letting me pour out my troubles and woes. All of a sudden, she stood up and said, "Come on, let's go outside."
As we reached the oak tree, she told me run to the pine trees. I ran to the pine trees. When I returned, she told me to run to the grape vines. I ran to the grape vines. Knowing I needed the fresh air and therapy, I continued to follow orders, running here and there about about the yard.
Refreshed, and out of breath, we went back inside. Emily was working at the computers and needed to ask Mom's opinion on something. I lethargically sat at my drawing table and considered the possibilities of actually winning the battle of defeat.
Reaching for my black Prismacolor pencil, I jabbed at an idea. A happy stick person.
And then this emerged:
A humble thumbnail, no larger than a folded dollar bill. But it gave me hope. I proceeded to develop the new angle, a three-quarter shot of the bookcases. Inspired by Jesse Wilcox Smith's "Reading in Winter," I quickly drew another one, this time adding a younger (and cuter and more interesting) young fellow than before.
At that moment I began to adventurously wonder if this was "the one." I nearly screamed for joy. In fact, I did end up squealing very loudly.
Epiphany and inspiration had collided in one gigantic frenzy, proving that a phoenix can rise from the ashes. I ran back outside and danced around for shear joy. (I've become more emotional about my work lately.)
God is so good! To lead me to a point where I was so worn out, and then to lay in my lap a darling composition I am more than eager to work with could only be the Providential hand of God.
I can't tell you how much I like this painting I'm working on now! It will require lots of focus, but it will be a cheerful one, striving for just the look I'm going for.
painting "the library"
Posted on July 22, 2008
Several weeks ago I heard of a new type of paint called water-soluble oils. Turns out, they're not so new, but their popularity has been picking up speed. I am used to watercolors, and being new to oils, I was sure that these paints, "the best of both worlds" as they are called, would be a great medium for me to branch out into. So naturally, I begged Mom to buy me some.I love them!
I am using them to paint "The Library" for HomeschoolShare's Lapbooking contest. One of the prizes is a FREE copy of my painting. It was so gracious of them not to require the finished product any sooner, as I can only imagine what it would look like in watercolor.
I've been having fun getting used to water-soluble oils, and now its time to put them to the test! I'll give you a little sneak-peek to the updated thumbnail and first layer of painting!
This is the thumbnail. I started off with a small colorsketch to help keep me focused on the finished product.This is me and my supplies at my new art table. I have so much more space now!
Here's the painting! Notice the glass palette I mix the oils on.my first four-generation portrait
Posted on July 11, 2008
This past week I had the opportunity to create a 4-generation portrait for a new dear friend of mine. I especially enjoyed drawing the younger girls because they are so cute! I'm pretty happy with the way it tuned out.
So, that was one of my big summer projects, and it's finally done! This is the second family potrait I've done like this (combining photos), and I think it'll be awhile before I do any more. I'd like to finish highschool before I start devoting much more time to portraits.
Boreas
Posted on June 13, 2008
Close-up of drawing based on painting by J.W. Waterhouse.
Swinging James
Posted on May 22, 2008
I don't remember if I had mentioned this before, but, I am working on writing and illustrating a children's book. This is the main character, Prince James. I thought I'd go with "Price Peter," but it sounds a little old for this darling boy, and reminds me of another nobility. Prince James was from another story that never was fully figured out, but now I have a different story, and James likes it more than the first. (You may remember this rascal from some posts I did this winter.)
Coming Soon - The Drawing Blog!
Posted on April 3, 2008
I will be setting up "the drawing blog" pretty soon and I am so excited to be able to give a little insight on what I've learned about drawing.
I've decided that I won't be using this template for it, so it'll be a surprise.
Before I get officially started on it, I would like to hear your thoughts. I already have several lesson ideas stashed in my cranium, but I would like an idea of what you want to learn about.
There will be lessons on faces, hands, the clothed figure, perspective, nature, etc.
I'll warn you, I am not an expert, and I don't know every thing about drawing. It's going to be a growing experience for all of us, especially me. So feel free to ask questions, submit ideas, and enjoy the ride!
*gasp! gasp!* I was kidnapped by aliens!
Posted on February 26, 2008
Okay, okay, so I wasn't really kidnapped by aliens, per se. But, I'm finally back in the land of the, um, existing.
Well, as you may know, I've been working on some art projects. For the IAHE art contest to be exact. Now that the deadline has passed, I can finally show you what I've been up to! (Mmwahahahahaaa!)
I wanted to do a "Copy the Masters" but I couldn't find a nice-enough print to copy from.
Boreas, by J. W. Waterhouse
Instead, we found the artist's preliminary sketch, and I copied that for fun.
My three other entries include:
above, color sketch. below, final piece.
above, thumbnail. below, final piece.
my copy of the original sketch
After much ponderence, I decided I'd send a portfolio for the contest, and include the above drawing. A portfolio (for this particular contest) consists of four pieces of art work, all in different media. The Boreas sketch (above) is in sanguine Conté crayon (a chalk-like pastel in the form of a thick pencil).My three other entries include:
- an illustration from "The Secret Garden." The extra messy one is a "color sketch." It's only 3½"x 4½". I scanned it then blew it up via slide show and traced right off the computer screen. I did it in Prismacolor colored pencils, and a Prismacolor olive green marker to fill in the first layer of the background. In case you are wondering (because I'm pretty sure you are), the flowers around their heads are their imaginings of the secret Garden. The light source is actually a fireplace we can't see.
above, color sketch. below, final piece.- Number three; a little piece I call "Good Night, Baby Birdies." It was completed in pen, brush, and ink. Once again, I used the scandolous yet perfectly legal trick of enlarging the thumbnail, but this time tracing off the copy held up to a glaring window.
above, thumbnail. below, final piece.- And last, but not least - number four. I illuminated the poem "How Doth the Little Busy Bee" by Isaac Watts in watercolor, with a wee bit of Prismacolor pencils.
*deep sigh* and they're off! I hope they get to the "officials" safely.
I get to take a little breather, then I'll start on another large project. (I'll give you a hint: I'm doing an illustration for a magazine!)
I get to take a little breather, then I'll start on another large project. (I'll give you a hint: I'm doing an illustration for a magazine!)
"...positively Medieval."
Posted on February 8, 2008
can you see the fairies hiding?
Posted on January 14, 2008
a bond between...
Posted on January 10, 2008
...friends.
Original artwork by BreezyTulip, 2008.
someday. . .
Posted on December 14, 2007
I drew this before I knew how an easel was really built, but it still conveys the message. Ahhh, oil painting, on a huge canvass, in my own studio. . . :)
This portrait of my sister Emily was drawn almost a year ago. It was waaaaay past our bedtime, and we were pretty sleepy. This was before she chopped of her long flowing tresses. :(
. . .and some more little people! Can you believe it! Seriously, you weren't expecting these, were you!
. . . and they even get to trapse through the woods and wade in streams. Aren't pollywogs and minnows too fun?!
I think all of these were drawn in January or February.
Oh! And I forgot to show you. I had another little drawing on the back of my Granny's card - the wise men you may have wondered about.
Merry Christmas!
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