Salmon Brook Studio

When in Doubt…Doodle

Salmon Brook Studio — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 20:06:28 +0000

I’m in between projects right now and not sure which direction I want to take. I’ve been wanting to get back to my oil paints but beyond that, nothing is really grabbing my attention. So while I wait for inspiration to strike, I’m amusing myself with some Zentangle inspired doodling and maybe a craft project or two.

“Curvaceous”, pen and ink on paper, 5″ x 7″

Portrait in Colored Pencil

Salmon Brook Studio — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:59:07 +0000

My latest portrait — Emma II, colored pencil on Bristol vellum, 11″ x 14″.

Zen Paper Cutting

Salmon Brook Studio — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 20:37:17 +0000

Awhile back, Yael Michaeli contacted me asking permission to use one of my designs for a paper cutting. Her final piece was amazing, and I’ve been fascinated with paper cutting ever since. I took one of my ATC sized zen doodle designs, enlarged it to 8″ x 10″ and cut the design out of black card stock.

First Art of the New Year

Salmon Brook Studio — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:49:13 +0000

I’ve made a couple of art related New Year’s resolutions. For starters, I plan to spend a lot more time at it than I am currently and do more experimenting. To that end, I decided to try a graphite drawing from a photo I took during one of my walks. I love to photograph landscapes, but I haven’t really tried to draw or paint them yet. So here’s landscape experiment #1…

Beaver Marsh, 8″ x 10″, graphite on paper

Happy Holidays!

Salmon Brook Studio — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 22:54:37 +0000

“Merry and Bright”, pen & ink and colored pencil

Another Workshop, Another Painting

Salmon Brook Studio — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:16:27 +0000

I took a colored pencil workshop with Cecile Baird a few weeks ago, and all I can say is that is was awesome! Cecile is a warm, friendly, and so generous in sharing her techniques and experiences with us. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy working with colored pencils!

This is the project we did in the seminar, with some modification. The original drawing we were working from had a light background with trees in the distance…nice, but I wanted more of the drama that, to me, defines Cecile’s artwork. Instead of the trees, I opted for a black background, which I think took just as long as the rest of the drawing! Well worth it though, I think.

I’m calling this one finished…

Salmon Brook Studio — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 16:17:15 +0000

Although I could fiddle with this for a few more weeks, I’m calling it done. I learned a ton and I’m happy with the way it looks so I’m calling it a success…might even spring for a nice frame to put it in. Time to move on to the next project!

Finally, She has a Face

Salmon Brook Studio — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 20:23:59 +0000

Today was the final day of the workshop my friend did on painting Bourguereau’s “The Difficult Lesson”, and I’m relieved to report that my peasant girl finally has a face and that it’s not hideous. Having worked diligently on the painting and investing so much time in it since the last time we met in the workshop a couple of weeks ago, I was more than a little bit worried that I would ruin the whole thing once I started painting her face. I still have a lot more work to do, but I’m happy with what I have going so far. Yay!

My latest project

Salmon Brook Studio — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:02:42 +0000

I haven’t done much drawing or painting in weeks, but summer’s over now and it’s time to get back at it. This is the first stages of my version of William-Adolphe Bourguereau’s The Difficult Lesson, which I started during a workshop given by a friend of mine. This is the most fun I’ve had with oils so I’m anxious to share this WIP even though she still looks a bit like a zombie!

What I’ve Done on My Summer Vacation

Salmon Brook Studio — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 23:37:46 +0000

From the looks of this blog, it would appear that I’ve take a vacation from art this summer, but nothing could be further from the truth. I’ve been doing quite a bit of painting, but since painting is a new thing for me, most of what I’ve done is just experiment with different kinds of paint. This little painting is one of my experiments with watercolors. It’s nothing great as a painting, but I’m sharing it just to show I’ve been doing something this summer and also to prove to myself that I haven’t completely abandoned my blog.

I hope your enjoying your summer, and I hopefully be back fairly soon with something more substantial to share.