#sfoxart

Correction, correction…

I should explain in my defense that I misspelled John Ruskin’s name because someone had misspelled in the quote I copied. So, even though I thought I had it right the first time, I spelled it this way “Rushkin”. Which is wrong. So I apologize to his estate and all his fans.

Photo by: Tom Viggars

  So here is Exercise #2. The instructions call for drawing from a line drawing of a plant but all of…

Practice, practice, practice…

I mentioned a few blogs back that I was thinking of focusing more on drawing and carrying a sketch book. I watched a documentary recently about a Japanese sushi aficionado named Jiro. At the beginning of the film he tells us we should never complain about our work. Instead we should work very hard to improve our skills. He has worked his whole life (now age 83) at perfecting sushi. As a result,…

The joy of color…

Well, this is (possibly) a first. I seldom make sketches, let alone color them in. I have an idea of how I want this to turn out color-wise but I needed a better idea of how to place the hues to achieve the optimum effect. I’m obviously not going for the traditional colors of nature which is probably why I needed to have some idea of color combinations. Really, though, until I have this piece…

Thinking big…

Here’s the big new canvas with a few sketches to get me started. I don’t normally do sketches first but I was feeling the need for some guidance and inspiration. This 30″x40″ canvas is larger than any I’ve used in a long time. I listened to my fellow artists who advised me to go big. Besides I like the challenge of making something big from something that only comes in a limited size. Eighteen…

How very…interesting

How to be interesting…

If you really want to know then simply read one of the many books out there that address just that. I believe most of us would like to think that when we tell one of our many life stories that we are not naively assuming that everyone else would find it interesting too. I’ve learned that as an artist, one of the things that helps, in reality is a necessityis to be…

Progress http://wp.me/s2kjJS-progress

Here’s what I have done so far with the latest piece. Those strips of foil are shaping into a tree. I went with a blue sky for now but that could change. I’m thinking I’ll keep with the more natural colors since this piece isn’t really as much of a statement about conservation as it just a tribute to the beauty and wonder of how things grow and survive.

Confucius say: “The green reed which bends…