I am such a confused artist

 Okay. Not so very long ago I declared my love of Pan Pastels, pastels, pastel pencils and I have created many beautiful paintings with this medium. But, I recreated my YouTube channel to a Vlog and began re-collecting various mediums. I shared and revealed and shared again different media. I began a tiny infatuation with Neocolor 2 from Caran D'Ache but just yesterday morning,  while meditating on my next Neocolor project, Derwent Inktense marched loudly into the center of my mind and that was it. I'd created over 30 paintings with Inktense but stopped years ago as I moved into alcohol inks, watercolor, and pastels in all of its glorious variations. Oh there were oil paintings and acrylic paintings as well. And acrylic inks made a recent appearance in my art space. 

Now, I don't claim to be a creative genius although, sometimes I do have a creative spark.  But, I master every medium I use; become infatuated and, as a fickle lover sees the next pretty smile and moves on so do I. That's me, a fickle medium lover.  

So, what's this is all about? I only have videos on YouTube dating back a bit over 3 years. I have no videos of my Inktense paintings on YouTube. I decided this morning to find images of my Inktense work and create a respective intro of said images for my next, not-yet-taped YouTube video. There are a few of my Inktense paintings below this article.

 The colors are so vibrant. The pencils and block blend and cover so well. I used to have all 72 of the pencils and 30 something of the blocks but since I hadn't used them for so long, I gave them away. Well, I repurchased a twelve set of each and that's plenty to get me started because I have the knowledge and skill to blend these colors. Stay tuned to my YouTube channel to watch my next video featuring Derwent Inktense Pencils on Derwent Inktense paper.

Neocolor 2 portrait of a Bluejay

 I liked the drawing. I'm not pleased with the final result. I used Neocolor 2 on Stonehenge Kraft paper but realized into the project that I had to limit the amount of water I used because of buckling. This Kraft paper isn't meant to be used with watercolors. Hence, I ended up coloring for the most part and what I wanted was to have a loose, translucent image. I was able to achieve this with the branch the Bluejay is sitting on but I had to be very careful with the amount of water I was using. 

It's back to watercolor paper when I used any water-based medium.

I can't escape the politics

 In the 8th grade I questioned my Italian teacher who happened be truly Italian, accent and all, about something I don't recall.  He said to me "You would probably sit next to a Communist. You are like a poet sitting under a tree."  Well, I would sit next to a Communist. I would sit next to anyone. I remember thinking to myself. what is a Communist, someone with two heads who someone with different thoughts?

And as for being a poet, I am an artist. I've never really succeeded at poetry, though I've tried. And I'm not exactly a great success as an artist except that I love to create. l love to share pretty pictures. I love to raise the vibration of the planet with my artwork. That's what creative people do. 

Since this is an art blog, I'll give you a sneak peek at this year's Christmas card design. What comes next is not so peaceful or pretty.

This morning, teary eyed after a rant with Jesus about many social issues going on around me that I won't go into because they aren't quite as important as World Peace, I posted the following on my facebook page. 

Only .2 percent of the world's population is Jewish. How powerful must they be to instill such fear in the hearts of the Arab world. I used to wonder why the Chosen were so persecuted through time but now I realize that they are so blessed to survive all that's been done against them because they are Chosen.

I know that not all Jews agree on the issues of Israel and not all Israelis agree on their own political issues. Just like most citizens in the Western World. STOP trying to smit Israel and there will be peace in the Middle East. Remember who threw the first punch in this particular fight and ask them to stand down and make peace.

You don't have to agree with me and you are free to unfollow me but this is what I believe and your arguments can't change that.

I am a Lutheran Woman. I believe in a pure and loving Creator. I believe in the Trinity. I believe World Peace happens when the aggressor puts down their weapons.

Please remember that in this country, you can not only think what you wish, but you can say what you wish but please keep in mind what you say can come back and bite you in the ass. You may not yell fire in a crowded theatre. You may not slander others. and if you post it on social media you might not get that job. It's a different world than I grew up in. Sometimes I feel sorry for those who came after social media. Sometimes I don't.

Ink and watercolor

 

I've returned to watercolor still striving to create allowing the water to take charge. I chose to draw with waterproof ink and then color with Caran D'Ache Neo color 2 water soluble crayons. The three sleeping pigs were fun but the crayons aren't as free as watercolor paints. 

I met a crow and a robin in a supermarket parking lot and thought immediately they were a natural composition. I drew them in ink and painted with water color paint which allowed me to drop in blooms and color; to wash away darker  shades to create lighter areas. 

I saw an oak leaf on the ground and at first thought it was a feather. Instantly I had a flash in my mind of bird with leaves instead of feathers and again using ink and watercolor I created crow dressed as a robin for Halloween. 

But, that's what Halloween is all about really, aside from the candy. We get to be someone or something else for one evening. Unfortunately for us, probably most of us, we are oftern pretending to  be someone else and, if you think about it, ourt friends and family often help us with the fantasy. Or am I being too synical?

Just click on the images to watch the videos

Just a side note. I realized the other day, Tuesday, actually, while signing a card for a coworker, that my handwriting, once beautiful and controlled is shaky. I have arthritis in the fingers of my right hand and it is visible. Not so bad that it is beyond mildly uncomfortable but enough that fine drawing and detail is difficult for me. So, I guess, my Higher Consciousness has been guiding me to pen and wash and water media all along. I was just too sunconscious to recognize it, until Tuesday. So, it's time for me to stop punishing myself and let loose with pens and sketchy drawing and watercolor. It's fun. It's Whimsical. It can be serious if I so chose.