Learning More about Using Colored Pencils

There were 5 students in Carol Bradshaw's class.  A couple of them got very creative in how they did their flip-flops. So Carol said we can do more with our pictures such as filling in the white space with designs. It was fun seeing what others had done. This week we are doing a picture of hearts. She stated we could add more, put in a design, but this time with tertiary colors. These are colors using secondary and primary. So these are going to be softer colors. She told us which colors we could buy rather than mixing them. I went to Michael's and Aaron Brothers, but I was only able to get two of the colors.  So what I will have to do is mix them directly on the color wheel and on the hearts picture.   I sent an email to Carol about not getting the colors she asked us to get.  She will not be here this next week and said she would pick them up at another art store when visiting her daughter in Nevada.

When I did the color wheel, I used three colors to do the whole thing.  I did not use a blender.  Of course, the colors would have been truer if I just used one pencil which was already blended.  With the picture of hearts,  I had several of the tertiary  colors I needed (it is all done in tertiary colors).  I did use a blending pencil and a blending marker on some of it.  My plan is to do a design around the hearts.  I am also working on laying at the colors down on a color chart that I can refer to later with it in light, medium and dark.  That one is a work in progress.  I have to say that doing this is relaxing.  It really helps me deal with stress.

Color Wheel Using Individual Colors and Layering

A way to practice drawing flat color with tertiary colors

I met Janet at Mexcali's.  I had found a coloring book with owls in it last week and gave it to Janet. Janet loves owls and collects them, so I thought she would enjoy it. I just bought a 12 pack of colored pencils so she could get started.  Then, because our teacher Carol has told us of other tools to use, I went through what I had and was able to give her duplicates of most of what I had.  She had not started coloring yet, but I hold out high hopes for her doing it and enjoying it. 

I'm sure there are other sites that do this, but I found Memoryglass.com and their Facebook site. I have a girlfriend who said she wanted something on a necklace. She said it would be giving a little piece of me to her.  Here they put human or pet ashes in art and jewelry.  I also like the idea of pet ashes going here.

Memory glass.com

A wonderful saying I found on Facebook. I don't know who to give credit to, but it is true.  

Here are a couple of pictures of two of my great-grandchildren, Conner who is two and Nylah about 9 months old.

Conner, age 2, Meagan's and Billy's son

Nylah is about 9 months.  She just woke up!

Well, that is it for the week.  I hope your week went well and that next week will be good too!  See you next Sunday!            Rachel

Seeming to Get the Idea about Shading

My ex-neighbor Celeste called. The house she owned sold and the people who bought it are doing work on it before they move in.

 During our conversation, she brought up about a cat that may have been dropped off by her home.  Celeste said the cat is declawed.  She thinks it might be past youth. It is a male but he is not Neutered.  She calls him Clancy. He is white and black. He is not aggressive.  He has personality and needs to be an indoor cat and probably do better in a one cat home. She asked me to share this thinking maybe a person in Kern County might be interested. She lives near Tehachapi. 

Carol my art teacher could see how I'd grown in doing my art.  In particular, I really am doing better at shading.  She still had suggestions which were good and obvious as we looked at each one. So helpful!  I really appreciate it. Fellow student Linda also finds this so helpful.   So I worked on the pictures I posted last week. Next week I'll bring in pictures of snakes to choose my subject. 

More detail added and corrected the shading

Worked more on getting the eye on the feather corrected and
the downy feathers at the bottom, by showing some of the detail in the barbs.

Worked more on the head, the eye feathers and the shading.

I am considering cropping the picture also

Janet and I went to the Red Pepper.   She had told me of a rib eye steak that was very good. I don't eat meat the way I used to (daily or even weekly) but periodically it seems appealing. It was pretty good. Not the best, but better than I've had for a long time.  There were a couple of other choices and she thinks it may have been another way. 

I read everyday. I think I've been reading more this last week. Linda, who I have known since elementary school and is the main person planning our 50th reunion for our high school calls periodically . Linda calls me  and we talk about what we are reading. Linda recommended a series of books by C. J. Box, about a game warden Joe Pickett.  I think there are around 15 books. I'm starting book 9.  I can picture the mountains with his description. He is married and has two daughters. The females are strong. He loves his family and work and has had problems with some people especially in his work who are controlling and try to keep him out of things.  I've been enjoying it and in addition, there is some issue that you learn in each book. Fascinating. 

So that's my week. Temperatures are dropping some this week to the 90's. That may sound bad, but when it has been approaching 110, this sounds much better. I hope your week was good. I hope the next week is good for you.  I'll see you next Sunday.                   Rachel 

Contemplating and Reflecting, Getting Grounded

Billy, my grandson has gone back to school to get a better paying job to support his family. This is his first week at Bakersfield College. He stated he didn't care for school when he was younger, so this is a big change for him. I think he is finally ready and I expect he will do well because he is selecting this himself. 

Conner, Billy and Kason
In this picture, I can see their relative sizes much better

 

My granddaughter Crystal posted a picture of Nylah.  She is one month old now.  How time passes!

Nylah is one month old.  Her eyes
are open!

I was working further on the head of my horse.  I don't care for it, but I'm trying to get a sense of what I can do with what I have.  I have these 6 Derwent color pencils that can be used wet or dry.  So that is what I used on this picture.  Much better with just the pencil, at least in my hands.

While at chemotherapy, the social worker Robin dropped by. She asked me how the holidays went. I told her they are not the same as when Paul was alive, but I'm not upset like I used to be. It is just different now, but I think I've adjusted to it. When I had my hair cut, my hairdresser and I also had this discussion. His mother died of breast cancer when he was 20 and he had a hard time with grieving. He thinks age (as did Robin, my social worker) is a factor in being or not being so involved with the holidays. I think they are right. We all expressed relief when it was over, even if we enjoyed it. I feel like the pressure is off in feeling that we must be joyous and happy all the time.   I may feel happy, but I don't have to keep up the appearance of being upbeat, positive at all times.    We don't always feel so positive anyway.  I know I don't.

I feel so fortunate to have the family and friends I have.  They mean so much to me and they all have helped in their own way in my healing.  I think it is the openness of feelings.  We really do have a lot in common, but until we are willing to open up to each other, we may not know this.  That way we find out that we are not strange, (anymore than anyone else is).  

This was a week for contemplation, where I was and where I am going.  It was good, and necessary at times to stay grounded.  I expect my next blog will be reflecting on this.  I hope your week went well.  I felt mine did.  I will see you next Sunday.                                                    Rachel