My (Hopefully) International RAOK - Finished!

Hi There

Well after a lot of posting about her, here she is - the finished pastel painting of a lady from Mozambique:

The only issue I'm having now is that I worry she isn't up to standard.  Not only that, I don't think she looks like my model.  See:

I *so* want to say a filthy word right now.  But I shall try my best to control myself. (*$!#&@#)

The idea of creating a painting of someone and then anonymously sending it to them is indeed a wonderful and noble Random Act of Kindness gesture.  However, I'm a tad worried that this isn't good enough and may well have the opposite effect and inadvertently impede world peace if I was to send this painting to Mozambique.  I'm thinking that maybe this is a good first attempt and to try again?

Sooooo.....In order to determine what I should do with this painting, I am going to conduct a wee poll.

You'll be able to vote if you look over to the side of the screen.  Voting closes Saturday, so be sure to have your say.  It's a simple case of majority winning!

Thanks for stopping by.  Talk to you soon!

Kate
x

POST EDIT:  The poll results were 80% in favour of sending the lady to Mozambique.  This shall happen over the next week or two - I'll provide you with an update if there ever is one.  Thanks so much for participating with my little poll!

My (Hopefully) International RAOK - Part 3

Hello There Beautiful People of the World!

Today's foray into 'Kate's Crazy Art World' (I so should copyright that phrase!) brings Part 3 of my quest to do something nice for someone I don't know. (For anyone who is not aware of the background story, click  here to read about my incredibly noble intentions.) I'm sad to say that whilst I still think this is a great idea, I'm starting to lose confidence that it is actually going to work.  Boo! Don't you just hate it when that happens?

The big thing is - I think the actual painting looks kinda OK so far.  The problem is more that I'm concerned my painting doesn't actually look like the lady I'm trying to render.  Here, have a look so you can see what I mean. Just here is my lady, to the stage where I've nearly finished her face (still a bit of hair and earring/ear rendering to go):

And here is the reference photo:

Botheration and <Sigh>!   Looking on the bright side, at least her eyes are looking a little more balanced than my earlier posts about this painting.  Surely that outweighs any "likeness" issues, right? ;-)

There's quite a way to go yet before I can call her finished, but I have to be honest with you all and say that much to my dismay, I'm not sure this one is gonna make it to the final grand post-office send off...  Still, I'm won't give up just yet, I'll see what a bit more pastel and hopefully a lot more inspiration can achieve.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Stay tuned for an update over the next few days where I hope to unveil the finished picture.  I think I may put it out to vote whether she flies across the ocean or flies across the room into the garbage bin.  Whatcha think?

Kate
x

Sometimes I Just Want To Be A Pretty Face...

You know, it's strange, but I caught myself saying "I'm not just a pretty face, you know!"  to a couple of people today after they complimented me on a speech I gave at school this morning.

I'm not really sure why this quote suddenly appeared in my consciousness and popped out of my mouth. I mean, it's not like I'm movie star gorgeous or anything (although my hubby thinks I am, bless him.  I consider that to be part of his husbandly job description duties though). I'd say I'm average.

The stranger thing about me saying my "pretty" comment is that the people who paid me the compliment on my speech know me well enough to realise that on occasion and when required, I have the capacity to be able to string more than (two) one-and-a-half words together.  Sometimes any_ _ _.

Anyhoo, after some serious thoughts aka "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" I realised it is likely I said it because I made a real effort with my hair and make up this morning and wore what I think is a pretty dress.  I think it was because I was having an odd "middle age is creeping up on me and my looks are fading" moment where I felt like just for a little while, darn it, if a hundred people are going to be looking at me, yes, I DO want to be a pretty face!  Well for five minutes anyway until the speech was over.

Today's post is a quick watercolour and pencil sketch titled "Just a Pretty Face".   She was quickly worked on ordinary paper, rather than watercolour paper, which is why the paper looks patchy. Nothing wrong with a blob here and a blob there though, in my opinion.   I'd say she was finished in fifteen minutes flat.  I was actually quite surprised that her face actually looks like a face.  Wonders will never cease!

Thanks for stopping by and reading about my mid-life crisis "fading looks" rant.

'till next time,

(I'm very much more than just a pretty face and a try hard wannabe artist) Kate
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Revising The Dream

Hello!

After my last post, where I talked about how much I enjoyed creating my picture of a lady on good old Reflex paper, I thought I'd try and improve her by recreating her using *gasp!* good quality paper and paint.  I know, I know, I know.  You come on here to see "new" and I've merely given you "Take 2". Sorry about that.  Anyway, here she is, new and improved:

In case you are feeling cross because you were sure I was going to post about an artwork featuring an apple or an apricot today, I have to confess that you're seeing "version 2.0" because I do have slightly perfectionistic tendencies.  I do manage to keep this personality "quirk" under control most of the time, however every now and then, like a toddler going into an unstoppable melt-down in the lolly aisle of the supermarket, I have the urge to re-do, re-create or resurrect an artwork until it is just "so".

That's what happened here.  I mean, why have a "Dream" painting that is OK, or good even, when I can hopefully create something that is better or even (wishfully) great?

(In case you are wondering, perfectionistic is a word.  In my mind anyhow.  Ignore your spell checker and the rational, literate angst and protests going on inside your head as you fight the notion that "perfectionist" is a word "perfectionistic" is not.  If I use it enough, surely it will be recognised eventually by the Oxford.)

This time 'round I used Archers Watercolour paper "smooth" (because I'm not rough around the edges) and re-created her using a combo of watercolour, pencil and ink.  I liked her so much I framed her.

So... what do you think?  Like her better than "version 1.0"?

Hubby does.  He says he finds her "restful".  I'm hoping he means that in a nice way, not as in "puts him to sleep".

Thanks so much for stopping by - I'll see you soon!

Kate
x
PS:  Don't mind my arm in the bottom of the photo.  One day I'll work out how to photograph glass.  

How to Embarrass Your Children in One Easy Step - Part 3

Hello!

I thought you may be interested to see how my nudie-rudie lady has come along in recent days.  Here, have a look:

What do you think?  Like how she is turning out?

Sadly, I must confess there is one aspect of this painting that is continuing to really bother me and cause me great angst. Now, before I go on, I need to disclose that I'm aware this particular issue is rather like an elephant in a closet - however, I've decided regardless that I am going to be upfront and honest and will just put it out there and say it as it is.  Here I go:

I just can't "do" boobies.  Oh, sorry, I actually meant to say, paint breasts. (Sorry about that.  Sometimes I know I lack a little decorum.)

I am *so* *frustrated*.  In my mind, they should be easy to paint.  Afterall, I have a pair - I grew them myself.  And I see them every day.  I've even spent years putting them to good use. (Now don't go having a dirty mind, I meant feeding my children when they were babies.)

Yet despite these incredibly important facts, for the life of me, I just just can't seem to paint them.  (On a canvas I mean, not my own pair. That, I probably could do if I wanted.  Except I don't think I want to go there.)

Be honest with me here, when you look at her and notice her breasts, don't you agree that they are *so* incredibly pert that you feel like you just want to hate her?   I mean, who on earth has a real set of breasts as pert and gravity-defying as this?  Certainly not anyone I know.

Oh well.

I think I've nearly finished painting this lady.  The biggest thing I've got to decide is whether I leave her as a perfect vision of a "reclining implant" or whether I try yet again to paint her breasts in a way to make them look more realistic and natural.  What do you think?

In Pursuit of Pastel Perfection - Part 1

Hello!

I am suddenly feeling so inspired to just draw women from all different eras.  I loved my 1920's lady in yesterday's post so much, that I just had to use my pastels to draw another one.  This lady has also been drawn freehand on the same Canson paper, using my Art Spectrum and Conte pastels.  I looked at a couple of photos for how to draw the hats and then had fun creating my own.  I decided she needed a glamorous fur across her shoulders.

Here, have a look at the portrait so far (probably around two hours worth of work):

Do you like her?  I have to be honest with you and say even if you don't, so far I am utterly thrilled with how she is turning out.  I love the fact that she has a look in her eyes that says "Just you try me you scoundrel and I'll knock your socks to kingdom come!".  Or something like that.

Of course, as you may have guessed by the Part 1 in the title, she isn't finished yet.  I need to do some more work to do around her neck and chest.  I need to get the skin tone correct; emphasise the collar bones and hollows of the neck, strengthen the shoulder line a little and making the fur look even more furry.  Oh, and colour in the background.  I was thinking of going for a dark olive green, to really make the red pop.  What do you think?  Do you like the colour choice?

 I just really hope I can finish her tomorrow and that I don't muck her up!

Take care and I hope you'll stop by to see the finished product!


Kate
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Cool or Not?

I can't figure out whether this pencil drawing has worked and my lady looks cool and edgy or whether the whole image looks Just.  Plain. Strange.   Here, have a look:

So, what do you think? Is this too cool for school?  Or have I just got myself sent straight to the Principal's office for a stern rap over the knuckles?

I have to wonder about the inner workings of my mind sometimes.  Particularly when I think of my drawing in relation to this week's quote by Albert Camus (above right).  I wonder what I am confessing about myself? Well, whatever it may be, I am most certainly not gonna tell.  You'll just have to guess! :-)

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, I'll see you next week!

Kate
x

PS:  I haven't quite given up on my pastel fad yet, it's just that I want to make sure I don't go backwards with my drawing abilities.  Oh and I like to have a bit of variety as well - it is the spice of life after-all!