Thursday, March 26, 2015

Playing with Inspiration

Today I puttered. Today I played. Yesterday  Joyce Valenza's Facebook profile picture inspired me. I love the pose and the simple shadows. So I used it as a mentor text to sketch. If you don't follow her on Twitter, do. She's been on my ed-tech list for a long time--she teaches me something every time I dip into her stream.


I started the sketch yesterday and had time today to paint. I wasn't trying to copy the image of Joyce per se (I'm terrible painting actual people actually) but I was interested in the spirit and shape of the image. I was at a break in my Iona journal but had an idea. I wanted the piece to stretch across the divide. So I imitated Joyce's position from the profile picture on the left and on the right sketched a sky of flying books.  

I love how the artist that did Joyce's picture captured her hair. Since I took Paulette Insalls "All about Faces" painting class, I've struggled with hair. Seriously, there are three bald women on canvas in my studio. Sometimes I put off drafting decisions, especially when I creating with paint. 



 I got my tools ready and set up my space with freezer paper, an old rag, paper towels. I filled a spent Talenti ice cream container with water and tuned into the Three Tenors on Pandora.




I'm not quite finished but I'm well into the second draft.
The books still need details and I'm not sure about the dark outlines or her eyes. I'd like to try a layer of glaze and them add color to pop. The glasses need highlights too. The paper needs to rest and dry for now. Tomorrow is another day. And this week, I have a lot of time to play.


The Slice of Life Story Challenge is hosted by the talented team at Two Writing Teachers.
 Link up your slice everyday in March and on Tuesdays all year.
 Thanks Stacey, TaraDanaBetsyAnna and Beth.


10 comments:

  1. I love this. What a bright and lively painting. I've always wanted to paint, but have no idea where to begin. I guess at the beginning, and go from there. I like what you are doing here!

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  2. I love this. What a bright and lively painting. I've always wanted to paint, but have no idea where to begin. I guess at the beginning, and go from there. I like what you are doing here!

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  3. How wonderful to have a passion and a gift for this kind of creative outlet, Lee Ann - it adds richness to our lives, doesn't it, to have creative interests .

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  5. Your wonderful posts about art have inspired me to get out my markers and paints again. I love to draw and paint, but I seldom make time for it. Thank you for encouraging me to get back to doing something I've always loved.

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  6. Exercising your creativity! I am looking forward to going to a painting class during my spring break in 10 days! Thanks for giving a peek into your painting world!

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  7. WOW! I love how you play with paint and art! Every time I see one of your posts, you inspire me to be more free and playful in my journal!!! Looking forward to my spring break next week, so I can play! :) Beautiful work!

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  8. I like how you documented your journey here!

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  9. I like how you documented your journey here!

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  10. I love your art! We still have the piece you made for us hanging in our home. :(

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