Paint Party Friday and 29 Faces

I laughed so hard when I finished this journal page (and face#14). I normally paint in my journal on my knee and don't always realise I've gone wrong until I stand back.... that'll teach me.  I really need to practice profiles... ooops Mick Jagger comes to mind.... not a good look for a girl lol

The background was done with Dylusions inksprays and then I used watercolour pencils over the top.  I'm soooo glad they aren't MY chin and lips.   Oh well at least I can laugh about it!!

I'm happier with my sketch although she's a bit futuristic... my imagination works in mysterious ways! 

Along with 29 faces I'm linking up with Paint Party Friday today.
Thanks for looking
hugs
Chris x

Book of Faces

Remember this gorgeous book that my lovely friend Sandy Poppins made for me... well I pondered and pondered over what to do with it and eventually decided to fill it with faces to use as inspiration when my mojo gets stuck. I'm not happy with all of them but it was a bit of an experiment so I'm happy with how my little book turned out.  I decided to share them all in this post as I may not be around for a while... my laptop has died again and I'm hoping my lovely Brother can fix it but it could be a while.  I've borrowed DG's little one today for this post today but as I also broke my glasses by sitting on them!!! lol.... it's not the best option for me.  Anyway hope to see you soon and hope it's not too picture heavy for you.

Thanks for looking
hugs
Chris xx

Sketching again....

I go from one obsession to another but sometimes it's only a matter of changing the tools.  Doodling or sketching... the only difference is pens to pencils and maybe a little bit more time and patience... so right now I'm jumping from one to the other depending on my mood.  I don't always finish a sketch for months... I begin and get to a place when I like what I see and then can't be bothered to finish it...lol 

Hair is usually the stopper... after I've been sucked in to the concentration needed to do the facial details I think urggghhh I've had enough now.  Don't want to finish the barnett!!  So I give my ladies a name and then tell them to go hide somewhere until I'm in the right frame of mind to give them a hairdo. 

I guess if I worked from reference photos it would be easier but I kinda like seeing who pops up from my imagination.  It's cool to see those features turn into a 'person'  even when sometimes they aren't as 'pretty' as I may have liked (although I do like this one). 

So for now this little lady will remain as she is... one day I may go back and finish her hair... may even give her a different hairdo altogether but I'm not promising...lol

hugs

Chris xx

As She Sleeps....

she dreams....that the fairies have been and done all the housework.  In her dreams she has the energy to move everything that needs to be moved for the workmen to come and fit the eagerly awaited new kitchen and bathroom... that she will do it all in time and that she wants to do it.

She dreams that the clock stands still... giving her lots of hours to create to her hearts content and keep up with her blogging .  She also sees her sylph like figure appearing like magic without the healthy eating and hours of Zumba excercise...

But then.....

........................................... SHE WOKE UP (rofl)

hugs
Chris xx

The Bread Art Project

Have a little fun and join in with this worthwhile project.  I thoroughly enjoyed it... it's really easy and for a good cause.  Go to The Bread Art Project and upload your art or make some from scratch... I'd love to see what you do so do leave me a comment if you join in so I can come see YOUR art.
Have a fab weekend
hugs
Chris xx

Just Peeking

The pencils are out again...just felt like experimenting.

 

She was meant to be peeking out from behind the wavy edge but I don't think I managed to get enough depth. Back to the drawing board ? lol I'm happy with her face though and I don't think the adjustment will take long. Thought I'd share anyway.

Have a great day

Hugs

Chris xx

Springtime...

...makes me want to paint with pretty colours... so I did a background of acrylics and watercolour and created a pretty lady to enjoy the flowers.

The sun is glorious here so I may just have me a lovely creative weekend.  Hope you find time to play too.

hugs

Chris xx

All's well that ends well...

It's been a worrying couple of weeks but finally things are beginning to settle down.  I've come home today after staying with Mam while Dad was in hospital.  She is feeling loads better and we are all relieved that Dad's operation went well and for the first time in over 3 years he is pain free.  He came home today so they are happy to be back together and a lot more settled. 

  I've had no Internet access so I couldn't blog and also haven't really been in the mood to craft... but hopefully now things will begin to get back to normal and that includes me being able to be creative again.   So thank you for all your support it means a lot to me.

I will share a few sketches over the next couple of days  that I did before all the drama began... and will hopefully have something different to share soon.

This is Bonita ... and a close up of the sketch...

followed by a coloured version.

Thanks for popping by... see you again soon
hugs
Chris xx

Another sketch

to share.. I haven't been around for a few days as my Mam was taken into hospital at the weekend... it turned out to be nothing serious and she is now home... but it's always a worry when parents are poorly.  Mine aren't in the best of health now they are older which isn't surprising... but panic always sets in when hospitals come into the equation.  I know they won't be around forever but I wish they could be... the thought of losing either of them absolutely terrifies me.   My Dad has to go in for an op next week so I guess the worry will last a bit longer so I hope you won't mind if I am not around as much as normal.   I may get chance to postdate a few things...well I will try anyway.

Been playing with eyelashes.... think I got carried away...lol

Thanks for popping by.
hugs
Chris xx

Tissue paper...

is my best friend when I'm drawing... I have tried paper stumps, a brush and fingers for blending but the tissue just gives a much more delicate result.  I've also been playing with white tack (same as blu tack but white) as an eraser and it's so cool and cheap as chips.  It makes getting those highlights in the eyes mega easy.

I know her hair is a bit wierd but I'm experimenting :D

hugs
Chris xx

My first PROPER sketch pad...

by that I mean A4 size... purposely meant for sketching and here's my first sketch in it.  I use all sorts to draw on but up to now have mainly used A5 spiral bound sketch books of the 99p variety...lol  Not quite what a REAL artist would use I'll bet.

 So I thought if I am to take myself and my art seriously it is time to play with the big girls and use Artist quality supplies. 

It won't stop me using my cheapy bits and pieces...cos I do like them... but I want to improve and I need to learn to draw on a larger scale I think.  Mind you the surface of this paper is sooooo different from the ones I usually use that it brings up new challenges all of it's own.   I'm getting  another step nearer to braving that first 'real' portrait ... which is why I took up sketching again. Wish me luck ;-)
hugs
Chris xx

The Sketchbook challenge-February-Opposites

The pencils just WON'T stay in their box...lol  So it's just as well that it's time for February's Sketchbook Challenge.  I had lots of ideas for this theme but I couldn't resist doing another face.  I wanted to experiment with coloured pencil and graphite in a combined sketch.  It was quite difficult because my eye kept being drawn to the coloured part when I was trying to draw the grayscale bits.  I really enjoyed the challenge though and was quite happy with the result.

When I had finished I couldn't resist a little play in photoshop so that I could change the placement of each side and I think I like this even better :D

Have a great weekend all
hugs
Chris xx

Let's face it...

I'm a face-a- holic...I just love faces...lol   Big ones... small ones... cute ones... pretty ones... and sometimes not so pretty ones too. 

I am also my own worst critic when I'm drawing them... sometimes the lips are too big... the noses too long...the eyes too far apart or too close together... but they are all emerging from deep within my noggin so to me they are all wonderful... it's a learning curve and the curve is getting shorter day by day.  I have no problem with that.. I am enjoying the journey.  Each sketch has me so involved that I end up in an almost hypnotic place... calm and serene... that can only be a good thing right :D
hugs
Chris xx

Face-journal pages

Ohhhhh I AM a happy bunny.... I've been having soooo much fun doing Tam's...  Art, Heart and Healing free course.  I have learned so much in just one short week and found a new passion.  I've always wanted to be able to paint faces properly (you may remember some of my first attempts from previous blog posts weren't anything to write home about though lol)

This is my first attempt at painting one...with instructions from the course... and using watercolour crayons (which I think are amazing).  The pages aren't complete... I have stamping and words to add but I ended up continuing to paint more faces so got a bit sidetracked. (I will share the others with you later).

The face is supposed to be me... well I know I look older ha ha ha.... but hey I feel this young inside so I guess it is me in a sense :D
I've just come home after a couple of lovely weeks with friends so will catch up with you all as soon as I can :D
hugs
Chris xx

The humble pencil...........

Oh how I have neglected that glorious implement in my crafting and arty endeavours :D I have used a fine liner pen for most of my doodles and it is soooooo long since I have used a pencil that it seems completely alien to me. The other day I came across a bag full and got it into my head that I wanted to try once again to draw a face.One of my biggest regrets in life is that I am unable to draw lifelike portraits of people. I would so love to be able to look at a photograph and realistically recreate it. I have tried and tried believe me but somehow the capacity to do this escapes me. Maybe I haven't got the patience it deserves to create a masterpiece of my Grandson or Daughter or maybe this talent is born to us. Whichever it is I will have to content myself for the time being with re-acquainting myself with the grey matter (the one in my hand and the one in my brain...lol) and seeing where the journey takes me.

This one ended up a wee bit freaky but Que Sera, Sera :D

hugs

Chris xx