Yes, even pencils have a day of their own. Today is National Pencil Day, and I figure that given how much time I spend holding a pencil (colored pencil, graphite pencil, watercolor pencil, and yes, a regular old #2 yellow pencil) I would give it a shout out on my blog. Here’s a fun link, with some activities at the bottom, about the Pencil Day.
I finished this graphite drawing, titled “Front Side/Back Side” over a week ago, and have been tending to art business details in the interim. I guess it should be pretty evident that this stone is reflected in a mirror, so one can see two sides (or more, since more than one side is showing on the rock in the foreground). In this series I always aspire to do a companion piece to each drawing, an opposite of sorts. For this one, I envision drawing a whiter rock on a darker background with a mirror image. But I’ve moved on to a yet larger colored pencil still life of stones in a vase with water, seen from straight on, rather than a bird’s eye view. It has a lot of green in it – I’m so happy it’s spring!
I’m very excited to share this new drawing in my Stones series. Will you look at those colors! It’s so stunning when the pale, discreet colors of the rocks become submerged in water. This still life has a straight above, bird’s eye view, and the bowl is cropped; in comparison to the Amber Bowl, which is viewed slightly at an angle, and the bowl is entirely contained in the composition. As a result, in this piece the water is less prominent, but different and interesting aspects are created. I had so much fun exploring the different ways light and reflection danced around the piece.
I’m starting a graphite drawing of stones reflecting in a mirror, and planning to resume work on the last oil painting I posted a while back. It’s been sitting on the back burner (in this case, my studio easel) for too long!
My colored pencil drawing “Amber Bowl” was awarded First Place in the Graphite, charcoal and colored pencil category of the Artists Magazine’s On-Line All Media competition. I am so honored to receive this recognition for my work, especially as there are so many fine entries for them to judge from. I spoke with Chris McHugh, the Managing Editor of The Artists Magazine, who told me that there were over 1,800 entries this year. You can see all of the first place winners and honorable mention award winners at The Artists Magazine.
In spite of my lack of blog entries lately I have been working hard. I’m planning to post a photograph of my latest drawing, last written about on February 11th, by next Monday. So please check back soon!
Powered by WordPress