Getting Balance

No, I don't do Yoga. I'm a wimp. I admire those dedicated souls who commune with their bodies with this form of exercise.

I'm still working on my Silhouette Sky series. The last few I've added the human figure. My thoughts were on balance when doing this piece. I'm a lover of balance. Life is all about balance.

Fortune and fate, justice and power, debit and credit, mental and emotional, proportional, equilibrium, harmony.... these thoughts all come to mind when thinking about keeping balance in the matters of life.

As artists, we use balance in our designs and paintings to bring about harmonious compositions. Ah, to compose our lives the same way....

Have a grand day!

Back to the Sketchbook

As many of you know, I'm a sketchbook lover and generally carry one around with me most of the time. I'd gotten a bit out of the habit the last few months because of the multitude of other things going on.

Yesterday I participated in a wonderful little Sketchbook workshop that Patti Casteel held down in the Kerrytown area of Ann Arbor. It was an absolute delight. A perfect day to get me back on track with my sketchbook adventures.

It was so inspiring to ponder through other artists' sketchbooks and share ideas and purposes. Then we were turned loose onto Kerrytown and the Farmers Market to find a spot to plop and sketch away.

If you've cruised that area at all, then you probably know where this orange staircase is located. It was like heaven to sit with my little book, some pens and colored pencils, and sip on a cup of latte. It is indeed like meditation for me. Life doesn't get any better.

Our Diversity: Chelsea Painters Group Show

I'm part of the Chelsea Painters, a group of 25 men and women who work in a variety of mediums. We meet weekly in Chelsea, Michigan, and are actively involved in art on local, regional, and national levels.

We have an exhibit in the Gifts of Art series. One of my pieces in the show is Seasonal Compliments, done in colored pencil on sand paper.


Gifts of Art Gallery – Taubman Health Center South Lobby, Floor 1.

Open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Exhibit runs through October 12, 2009.

International Colored Pencil Exhibit

17th CPSA International Exhibition
Jacqueline C. Hudgens Center for the Arts
Duluth, GA
July 9 - August 29, 2009

That's me, standing underneath "Crossing the Elements." It is such an honor to get accepted into this CPSA exhibit. I feel so blessed. This show is getting more difficult all the time.

This year there were nearly 700 pieces entered with only 122 chosen. During one evening of the convention, we watched a slide show of all the entries. There was so much amazing artwork; the choosing process must have been mind boggling.

There was a five day convention that ended with an artist reception at the gallery in Duluth. We had workshops, meetings, a banquet and lots of interaction and getting to know other artists. Very fun time. I plan on going to another one. Thanks for reading. Have a grand day!

Another Obama Drawing

More ink pen scribbles. I'm using a set of Prismacolor pens, the finest point they make. (.005) Since the set only has eight pens, this is an obvious series using the same colors.

I've discovered there are sites out there dedicated to artwork of the President. Check out this popular one, ArtOfObama.com. They have added my work to their collection.

Thanks for stopping by.
Have a grand day!

A Guide for Posing for Fine Artists and Art Classes

If you've read my blog at all, you know that I'm a big fan of figure drawing. I go to life drawing sessions when I can and belong to online figure drawing groups. If this is a topic that interests you at all than you need to check out this new read.

This is quite a unique book. At first glance it's obvious it should be read by anyone who is thinking about modeling for artists. It certainly covers every aspect of what a model should know in order to properly function in this specialized business.

But it's even bigger than that. This 141 page paperback guide is written through the eyes of a model. An unusual perspective in comparison with what has been available on the topic. And it contains valuable information for everyone involved with this art process.

Drawing the nude figure has been a subject for artists for centuries. And it will always be so. If you are an art student, an art model, an art instructor, a nude photographer, or a working artist and love life drawing, you will find value in this wonderful resource book.

Learn more about it on the Art Model's Handbook website.

Ann Arbor Women Artists Summer Juried Exhibit

This art exhibit is showing through the month of June at the Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron, Ypsilanti, MI. Lynda Schumacher had a camera ready to take my pic with my colored pencil piece "Griffith Park in 1944." There is some fabulous work in this exhibit, so if you are in the area, do stop by.

Congrats to the award winners: 1st place went to "Butter and Margarine" by Kristen Letts Kovak, 2nd place to "Catching Air" by Bill Knudstrup, and 3rd place to "Hands over Time" by Joan Miller. The juror, Beth Steinkellner, also choice Honorable Mentions for the artwork of Barbara Melnick Carson, Marie Glysson, Marilyn Marsh, Sandi Miller, Vickie Peterson-Michalak, and Marty Walker.