Celebrate, Using Inspiration

Celebrate!!!

Where does inspirartion come from?? Anywhere!! Have a bit of fun . This is a painting I did years ago. I went out clubbing In Phoenix, Az. Yes I really did. I came back and did this with the idea that I took my totem animals along.  The swan and the alligator had a great night too.

Happy St. Patrick’s day to all!!!

Advertisement

Art lesson -Tonal shading

One of the most important and enjoyable techniques to practice is the freedom and fun of shading. You have heard people say  I cannot draw a straight line. In shading you do not have to. There are many ways to shade in a form with the side of a pencil or repated strokes to create depth. This is called crosshatching but it requires some continuity of application which can be demanding. The best way to learn about shading is with charcoal. Because of our education process, where we are taught in school to use pens and pencils, it is more difficult to free yourself while drawing from self criticism . Abandoning the pencil is an effective practice to achieve new levels of creativity and expertise. There are stumpy pieces of very black charcoal and longer pieces called vine charcoal. There are charcoal pencils but it is difficult to keep then sharp. I love the sound of vine charcoal on the paper. To create a 3-D shape find the light source and be consistent in applying the charcoal to the side that is not getting the light. In this picture of the interior of Newgrange passage tomb in Ireland I was not concerned  about a light source because it is  an interior without light. I am using the charcoal to create mystery and volume from my own imagination.  Charcoal can be smudged in with the side of a finger and eraser or a paper wadded sharpened wand. If you haven’t tried it  do begin  and enjoy the freedom it can give you.

 

 

Marsh Marigold Spring May flower quilted

Mayflower (marsh marigold) quilted with gold fish

When the Marsh Marigold appears in the springs and rivers it is a welcome sight.
This is from a quilt I made of the gardens here last year while recuperating.

The origin of the Easter Bunny

I love mythology. When I was in school it seemed hard to believe that reading stories of heroes, and gods and goddesses was a subject to study. I have always been intrigued by the origins of things. The Easter bunny and eggs seemed a bit strange but great fun to decorate and to see them hopping about holding baskets of eggs on cards and candy wrappers was a welcome sight after a long winter.  Lately I heard that the Easter Bunny legend comes from the goddess Oeaster, the ancient goddess of Spring.  She had great sadness while looking at a barren field where there was only one lone wren surviving the freezing  winter. So in her mercy she changed the wren to a rabbit . Rabbits were plentiful in the field.The wren was carrying eggs inside her little body so then also did the rabbit. So there you have it the Easter Bunny.

My garden taught me why the colours of Easter are lilac and yellow. Crocus, daffodils, may flowers,(marsh marigold)  heather, lilacs, wisteria, lungwort, dandelions– you can think of more I am sure.