Next 3 portraits done

These were fun portraits to mix and match different photos to make the ultimate portrait of the child. Lani's is my fave because of the guinea pig, Adrian's hair was fun with all its curls, but Alec I am still not sure about. His hair and outfit is from a photo in France, but face is more recent from home goofing. His father liked the smile better. Vince will be by this week to check out if it worked.

There is so much to do today. I am so excited for the ideas flowing. I have Dad and Debbie's portrait set up to start, frames to decorate, collage to seal, pastel to shade out, etc. Oh yeah, I've gotta do housework sometime in that time period too lol. 

First 3 portraits done

They are just 8X10, so quicker to get finished. Once you get the layers of hair, the shading of the faces is pretty simple. These three are for Jill, they are her grandsons. I've got the matting done, now have to find frames tomorrow in Penrith.

Now the the last three..... they are a mix of photos to be put together- example: Lani with hair down, but with this smile and holding this Guinea pig. Finally a girl with hair to play with! Alec is going to be a bit more of a challenge, as most of his pictures there is only part of his face. I'll have to "imagine" where the ear and hair go for that side.

Cheers for now.... pencil moving moving, keep those pencils moving.....

Lost sight and now back

I have not been able to post a blog for awhile, one morning I woke up blind..literally. After several doctor visits I found out that I am diabetic. As I've gotten the sugar level down the sight has returned, but the eye specialist does not want to redo my prescription until everything stabolizes. It has been a nightmareish trip of different educators, specialists, exercise physio, dieticians, and support groups.

Things are slowing down and this is the first week I've been able to get back to work. I missed drawing! The thought of never being able to draw again (well the whole sight thing) has been making me push to get my life in order for it all. I am following all instructions to the letter.

At work this week I went back to the dragons. These drawings need to be finished ASAP as the author would like to publish by Christmas.

Poor Dragon is afraid of the dark.

Take my hand and be my friend.

In progress: fun at breakfast.

I hope to get the last pages out next week...we'll see how customers run at the servo.

There is also work to be done for the Springwood Art Show coming in August. I started a piece showing a girl sitting at Culburra beach, it is all done with dots. Each little detail with thousands of dots, ok maybe I was getting ahead of myself with this idea. The impressionists did it with paint, graphite pencil is time consuming, but hopefully rewarding in the end. Here is a corner closeup.

Have a great week!

Another zebra complete

Finally finished with the other zebra pair for a commission. The first one was with human eyes, this one is normal. I have wore my 4B pencils to the stub and fingers to the bone.

One more commission to finish....the dragons. This holiday seasons have been heck on me finding time to draw. The service station has been full on and husband has had a lot of time off. (When he is home work is almost impossible). I have two pieces sketched out to begin for the shows this year. I am itching to being them as well as get out the other ideas onto paper.

A lovely customer gave me 15 beautiful frames to use for my drawings. I just have to get them fitted with glass and backs. She has a friend that was a painter, so they are built for canvas inserts. There are some odd sizes I'd like to fill for the Springwood Art Show.

As my little pencil retires to its final resting place....I bring another young wood out to play.

Still working on Children's Book

Things are coming together for all the rough drafts of the children's book. It has been a busy week at the servo and that has slowed me down. I did one work-up for the dragon's lair, changes are already being made for author specifications.

This is quite the project to undertake while working a full-time job. I will have all the rough drafts sketches done up this week for the author to approve before working them up. As long as I can get to a point of seeing a final result the work will go quicker.

Meanwhile I have began the portraits for two other clients. I also have to find some time for Christmas printing, designing and framing to fill the card rack back up for the servo. Photographs and art print cards having been selling well so stock needs freshed up. I wanted to design some special Christmas cards for customers, but that may have to wait for a slower period. Juggling process is a learning curve as to how much time can allot for each to achieve great results all around. All good things come with pushing upward and onward.

We are taking a 4 day trip to the boss's beach house the first weekend of December. I'll be packing up my easel, pencils and camera supplies for some peaceful full day's working. It sits right off the beach on South Coast and he tells me that a short walk up the cliffside I may even spot whales in the sunrise. Here is to crossing fingers for great results....