mARTa's Art: April 2009

Dylan at 3 months, pastel

Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 1:16 PM | Posted by mARTa

Dylan at 3 months, pastel, originally uploaded by martasart.

5 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches, pastel on pastel card.

While he was sleeping the other day I quickly sketches him in pastel pencil and blocked in the values. I took some photos for reference and continued building up the layers referring to the photo. It's a bit muddy as I had a hard time with the colors. He has really wild hair and I exaggerated that with movement and color!

I also got to practice cutting a double mat. I need to be a bit more careful but it turned out pretty good. I just need to get a frame for this.

ps: Dottie is doing better too!

| 6 comments |

Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 8:43 PM | Posted by mARTa

WIP master study Two Women Drinking Beer by Manet

The heat takes a lot out of me. Surprising that aside from wiping me out yesterday, I slept like a log to wake at 7 this morning. With the sun already hot and bright I set out for a long walk. When I got back I put on a pot of coffee and went out to peek at the garden. I know, a watched pot won't boil, but I was pleasantly surprised to find some radishes sprouting after just a few days of planting the seeds! Then I tended to our Dottie who is quite ill right now with something called "old dog vestibular syndrome". My heart is heavy hoping she gets better soon.

Then I had some breakfast, cleaned up the kitchen and not even 10 AM yet I did some light housework before beginning my next master study. I should have stretched the watercolor paper first so it did buckle some when I put on the pastel ground and acrylic medium.

Spent a little time nursing Dottie and having lunch while we watched a program we had recorded the other night. By then the day was as hot as yesterday but we were comfortable in the AC. When the show was over we put on swimsuits and went out back to relax by the pool. When I felt too warm I'd go in for a quick dip up to my knees. The water still too cold for swimming!

Early evening found me working on this Manet pastel of Two Women Drinking Beer. When I needed a break I went to the kitchen and made us 2 pizzas and a salad for dinner then back to work on the pastel a bit more.

It was a good day, productive. The only mar on it is old miss Dottie who looks so sad and is just not feeling well. The vet has her on medication but told us if she doesn't get better in about 5 days we might have to talk about putting her down. She adopted us about 13/14 years ago and she already was about 3 years old. We love her so much it's hard to even think she might not be around much longer.

Dottie 2 years ago.

Posted In other artist, pastel | 6 comments |

I want more spring!

Monday, April 20, 2009 at 4:04 PM | Posted by mARTa

I want more spring!, originally uploaded by martasart.

Sent from me and my cool iPhone

| 3 comments |

embarazada

Friday, April 10, 2009 at 7:18 PM | Posted by mARTa

embarazada, originally uploaded by martasart.

Pregnant model. Twin girls due in Sept. 2009
11x14 inches, oil on canvas.

This was the all day pose for today's figure painting class. As usual, the day runs out and none of us finish our painting. The model was sweet and said she really liked this painting I did of her.

| 8 comments |

Camelia y Plancha

Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 7:16 PM | Posted by mARTa

Camelia y Plancha, originally uploaded by martasart.

Pastel on masonite hardboard primed with gesso and pastel ground medium, 9x12 inches.
I'm awful at doing flowers, as can be attested to here. I didn't like working on the hardboard with the pastel ground. It was rougher than I expected. I might try again with subject matter that would be more amiable to a 'rough' depiction....like the old iron!

| 1 comments |

Ménage a trois, no. 1,

at 2:58 PM | Posted by mARTa

Ménage a trois, no. 1, pastel on pastel card, originally uploaded by martasart.

Pastel on pastel card, approx. 4 1/2 x 6 inches.

I am participating in an art exchange with some online artist friends. This is my first contribution and it went to Sherry at Late B(l)oomer in exchange for her beautiful rooster on yupo paper!

Posted In pastel | 7 comments |