New Work - Layering Mylar

"Sun Ripened"

Colored pencil on Dura-lar Mylar layered over watercolor paper

8 x 10"

This piece was done on two layers: The top layer is a colored pencil drawing on Dura-lar Mylar; the second layer is a watercolor pencil painting on hot press watercolor paper.

On the watercolor paper layer, I started layering colors which would be complimentary to the colors which would be used for the front layer of the final image. After some experimenting, I used a magenta for the shadow and various blues and greens for the tomato. After wetting the initial layer, I realized that the magenta color wouldn't give me the dark value I needed so I added an indigo blue. (I used Faber-Castel wc pencils.)

As you can see in the first image, I began layering color on both sides of the surface, where I keep layering color on the reverse side to compliment and deepen the final color on the front. For example, with the tomato, the reds and oranges were kept to the front; the greens, blues and yellows on the reverse.

It's rather hard to see from this image, but when you combine the finished layers, a greater sense of depth is achieved and thus I was able to capture the illusion of translucent layers of flesh of the tomato.

While I am pleased with the color and the effect of the layering process, I am not sure about the composition. It seems that the shadow has become an overwhelming element in the piece and therefore, I am thinking strongly of cropping this baby. However, after all the work I have in it, I'll let it rest for a few days before I take it to the chopping block. And, too, the beauty of being an artist today is you can see your work cropped with a photo program before you ever send it to surgery. I'll keep you posted.

Slightly Slacking

Sketching from Life

Project on Wetcanvas

May 2008, Week 1: Flowers

My solution: lilacs from my yard in my 5 x 7" moleskin sketchbook

It may seem that I have been slacking, and, in Blog-World, I have. But, I have been very, very busy in:

Art world -

• Started and finished a new piece on layered Mylar (I'll show you, I promise), with plans for a few more.
• Got word that "Sticky Situation" was accepted into the July National Exhibition in Southport, North Carolina at Franklin Square Gallery. Beautiful gallery; beautiful part of the country.
• Came up with some new ideas for a new series of work. (You'll see it as it develops).

Home world -

• Son home from Army training! (More on that later, too.)
• Constantly reminding children (especially grown ones) that Sunday is Mother's Day. (I'll let you know if they remember.)

Social world (AKA "Spending-Time-With-Other-Adults" World) -

• Gala fundraising event (had to dress up),
• Focus group for a fair trade organization (didn't have to dress up)
• The Police (Sting is STILL hot!) Concert (just wore my favorite jeans). (Yes, yes, more there, too.)

Rhonda world - (Where I live in a quiet, well-organized house, with a highly paid and competent staff who tend to my every need. Right....)

• New camera! New computer! (My argument that these are tools for my trade really worked!)
• Training! I have made the commitment to run the Columbus Half Marathon in October. Yes, it's hard on the body; great for the mind. Keeps me sane and very good for my disposition.

BUT one the biggest excuses I have for not blogging recently is that I, too, was flagged as a spammer (as if!) and put on hold for a couple of days. (NOT good for my disposition.) Looks like the folks at Blogger are working out some of the bugs on this matter, as I didn't have to be down as long as some other blogging art friends. Whew. Still, mighty annoying. I barely have time for all the stuff I do now - how the hell would I find time to spam? Let alone learn how to? Jeesh. (Has this happened to anyone else in the last week or so? Anyone know WHY this happens? Is there a rampant sabateur out there lurking and ready to flag wee art bloggers?)

Oh, maybe I just needed to take a week or so off from posting. Sometimes time off from something, even something you enjoy, can refresh and clear the cobwebs from the attic, so to speak. Then again maybe pushing away from the keyboard gave me some time to just go do stuff so I can come back to tell you all about it. Mmmm.