New art supplies....

 So, yesterday I had the chance to work with a new surface, for me; drafting film. It's really kind of cool and I may even use it again someday. I was able to do the background with Pan Pastels although I found it difficult to build up the color or properly apply it with my sponges. I'd received my new Faber- Castell Polychromas pencils and was itching to try them on the film and on the Pan Pastels. Beautiful. Now this is the image I drew/painted/manifested.

I have to say that I really like the way my enamel-retractable blade worked to create blades of grass and fine fur on the stag. 

If I were going to do this project again with these materials, and I won't be, I would change my approach to the background simply because I was new to using Pan Pastels on the film. I would have taken a different direction with the trees as well. But for a first time with new media I am satisfied. 

But, and there is always a but, it seems, when I began I really questioned my need for more "new" art supplies. Well the drafting film. The colored pencils are superb with the Pan Pastels and I required more colors. But did I really need that paper? Sometimes I fell that I order new materials to slow myself down; to keep myself from moving forward although that never really works because I quickly know if the materials will work for me. And I have to say that all of this experimenting has brought me to the best medium for me at this time in my life. Pan Pastels and pencils. I don't want to draw in colored pencils. I want them to augment the Pan Pastels.  And truly, one brand would have been sufficient but this brand seems a bit easier with pastels than my other brand. And sometimes they work better than pastel pencils depending on the surface. 

Now that's my real issue; finding a surface that I will always use. Seems not to be happening. But I have to admit that I just can't always use one method; one medium; one paper. (If I'm overdoing the semi colons just ignore me. I like them and I'm not writing a term paper or an article for a magazine.) But I have paper and I really could go without buying supplies (any supplies) for a year. And that is my new years resolution. I didn't even know I had one but I do. I will only buy what I run out of and then only if I will use it. The things I ordered were before I made this resolution which was just now.

Deep down I really just want to use one method; one surface. But now, almost everything I own is a form of chalk or graphite except for the colored pencils and the water color pencils which I will include in my mind as components like rulers and erasers and blending tools. Except for the qouache and water color palettes I am pretending I don't own because I don't plan on using them but it could happen. 

My next project involves my imagination I decided. Like the comics I used to draw. Graphite. I love to draw. And glazing with Pan Pastels. And Bristol board. I have so much bristol board. Beautiful vellum bristol board. I love paper. Don't you just love paper. I am so set. I went a bit wild the end of last year stocking up on drawing paper. Again. no need to shop for a year.  I am so damn lucky. 

Taking a break from social media and changing my blog into an online journal...

 I just need a rest. Not from art, but from posting on social media; letting people see what I'm in the progress of doing. I'm done with working with a camcorder over by drawing table. I'm tired of narrating and editing. I'll be back but I just need to get back to basics; to creating art. I just started this this past weekend and so far I've experimented with my Pan Pastel applicators and other cosmetic applicators. In one weekend I've come to the conclusion that Pan Pastels, pastel and colored pencils (to augment the Pan Pastels) and graphite are all the media I need. I tried to use my beautiful Sennelier soft pastels and it just felt wrong. I'm not painting anymore in any medium except possibly watercolor pencils but  I call that glazing since I  apply the color over graphite.

This is the last drawing I did before my retreat. It is a portrait of Moose the Huskey; a gift for a coworker to give her sister. I used graphite and colored pencils on drawing paper. I'm not even going to mention brands. It matters but it doesn't matter. Some work better in different situations than others. No camcorder ergo no video. He's beautiful.

This is a portrait of Fiona, a beautiful Chorkie owned by my sister-in-law. It's not my best portrait of her and it's not my worst. I drew this freehand and used Pan Pastels and pastel pencils on pastel paper (not sanded paper). No updates on social media. No camcorder. Oh, but she does have such soulful eyes.

This is my second piece this weekend. A beautiful deer from a Wildlifereferencephoto contributor. Pan Pastels and pastel pencils on a sanded paper. Did you know you can use a fine sandpaper purchased at a hardware store? I'll have to try that sometime. I'm sure it's a lot cheaper. I love the way this portrait turned out. I used an egg shaped applicator from Sofft (yes, that's spelled correctly) Applicator Tools to create the background. The palette is limited; umber and sienna and green in the background and of course some black and white. This image is strong and beautiful and I could have done better but that's now, not two days ago. I'm always learning. Always stretching. 

There was a period after library school; I think during Library School actually, that I stopped painting and drawing. And when I went to work as a Librarian (should always be spelled with a capital L per me) I did very little except create crafts for children. Later on I went back to creating, using various media and experimenting. When I was ill in the late 90s I pulled my canvases and paints to my bed and painted. In time I tossed them all. They were bandages. They helped to heal me and they did. And I was finding my way back. I often wonder if I had had the courage to stick with art rather than become a librarian if I would have been a better artist today. Certainly, I would have been a different artist. Oh well, the road not travelled and all that.  

So, why am I posting on my blog? Isn't that social media? Well sort of but not. Not many people read my blog. When I post that I have posted on MeWe or FB most just like the post and never read the blog. That makes this practically an online journal where you can read my words and sometimes my thoughts but I don't have any angst over hits or likes. Read it if you wish. Comment if you wish. I'm really just writing this for me and if you'd like to tag along, I welcome the company.