A question for you regarding Andrew Wyeth. . .

So yesterday I was out and about with Connor (18) and he took a quick peek into the current issue of MAD magazine while we were waiting to check out of the grocery.  He laughs at a political cartoon of Chris Christie saying, "Isn't this funny? - it is referencing Christina's World."  He saw my confused face and said - "You do know about Christina's World don't you?" and quickly googles a picture of it.  When I saw the artist was Andrew Wyeth I said, "Oh, he's the guy who painted lots and lots of portraits of the neighbor lady and nobody knew anything about it." (See Helga Pictures)  At that point it was Connor's turn to look confused.

The big scandal regarding the 247 Helga paintings hit when I was not much older than Connor is now and is the immediate reference my brain goes to when it hears the name Andrew Wyeth.  I knew that he had a history as a painter but I was a kid and we didn't have Google then so Helga is the only reference I have for him.  Connor says that my not knowing about Christina's World is on the same level as if someone didn't know about American Gothic.  So tell me - is it true that I've been living under a rock??  It's okay - I can take it. . .

BTW - this girl is for the Summer of Color Challenge 3 (two purples and one yellow),

Linking to Paint Party Friday,

Art It Friday - Show your Face, and

Art Journal Every Day

A plethora of pink

I'm not a huge fan of pink - in fact I often make fun of my friend Kim's love of that hue - but it is time for the Summer of Color Challenge and this week's palette consists of two pinks coupled with an orange.  This is exactly why I love this challenge - I'd never paint a picture like this if it weren't for the daunting task of using these colors together and frankly I kinda like it in all its glorious rosy hue - Go figure!  Thanks Kristin for making me stretch from my comfort zone! 

Linking to Paint Party Friday,

Art Journal Every Day and 

Art It Friday - Show Your Face

SOC - Week 6

This is the last week for Summer of Color - oh no - what will we do with ourselves now??   This week's challenge was Raspberry & Tangerine with a Smudge, Splash or Pop of Lemon.

While the finished pic doesn't seem to show much orange it was definitely evident at the beginning of my journey.

I love the inspiration that Kristin has been giving us every week - it is always a stretch for me to use color - I tend to gravitate to neutrals and earthy colors.  This challenge has made me step out of my box. . .

Only 46 more weeks until SOC 5!

Can you tell I'm still being inspired by the Alisa Burke Flower Power class?

Linking to Paint Party Friday, 

Friday Sketches and

Art Journal Every Day

SOC - Week 5

The Summer of Color Challenge this week is Red & Royal Blue

with a Smudge, Splash or Pop of Light Blue.   

This odd girl looks like she is painted for some kind of sports event - similar to those die-hard fans that support their teams to the bitter end!  Go team!

My vague reference to sports shows you how "non-sporty" my life is - I think I just like the idea of painting one's face with wild abandon and going out in public.  I'd never do it but you can scratch any weird itch in your art journal, right? 

Linking to Paint Party Friday, 

Friday Sketches, and

Art Journal Every Day

SOC - Week 4

The Summer of Color challenge coupled with the Illustration Friday theme of Beard makes for one weird art journal page!   I had decided to tackle the two challenges together before I found out the colors for the week - Pink & Apple Green with a Smudge, Splash or Pop of Dark Green.  What kind of bearded individual would sport those colors??

A hirsute Pringles guy - that's who!  We'd purchased retro Pringles at the store the other day but when I did a Google search I realized how they've jazzed him up over the years.  Mainly by losing the eyebrows and adding mousse/gel/texturizing cream to his hair!

Do you like the old book quote?

"Then there's a certain swing to his body as he walks along that seems to express confidence."

Yup, this fellow is chock full of joie de vivre! 

Linking to Summer of Color - Week 4 and

Illustration Friday - Beard

SOC - Week 3

This week's colors for the Summer of Color challenge are Lavender & Grey with a Smudge, Splash or Pop of Plum.  Besides my love of grey these colors weren't calling out to me - but that's what makes something a challenge, right? 

I ended up with some kind of pattern with what looks like abstract repeated wrenches.  It is possible that is inspired by our younger son's current desire to learn all there is to know about fixing lawnmowers.  He had kept our limping lawnmower alive long past its expiration date until it finally kicked the bucket last week.  Then we got a new lawnmower but he didn't want to get rid of the old one in case he could fix it again. 

Subsequently, a family friend "gifted" him with a broken lawnmower free of charge for him to try to fix and sell.  Now our shed is blessed with three lawnmowers - only one of which works.  Sigh. . . seems like a daughter with a collection of cosmetics would have taken up less space than a son obsessed with lawnmowers!! 

Linking to Paint Party Friday and

Art Journal Every Day

SOC - Week 2

Coral and Teal with a splash of White were the colors this week for the SOC-Week 2 challenge.  I struggled with them for days and, while I had grandiose plans for something amazing, decided to settle with these painted flowers in my art journal.  

If you find any extra inspiration send it my way, 'kay?

Linking to Summer of Color,

Paint Party Friday and

Art Journal Every Day

Baby watch. . .

She was beginning to regret her vow to wear the crown until Will and Kate's royal offspring was born!

Linking to:

Summer of Color - Sage and Sepia,

Paint Party Friday,

Art Journal Every Day

Summer of Color (Week 5) - Candy Apple Red and Yellow - Lichtenstein-like

It is week 5 of the Summer of Color challenges - sadly, only one more week to go - this week's color combo is CANDY APPLE RED and YELLOW. 

I went for a Roy Lichtenstein comic book sort of approach to this girl - and I think she turned out pretty good although I had my struggles along the way!

Fans of Lichtenstein would be aware of his use of dots for the skintones in most of his paintings.  

Ben-Day dots are a technique (Named after Benjamin Day but since we are so "close" we can just call him Ben) dating from 1879 that give comic books their distinctive look - I call it retro printing. 

I read that Lichtenstein first made his dots with a dog brush dipped in paint and would fill in the splotchy areas by hand.  He eventually moved to using metal screens.  Roy worked really hard to make his handpainted work look mass produced.

I was afraid to attempt the dots - You can call me chicken but I was having serious marker issues. . . it wasn't quite dry when my hand tracked marker all over her face and hair - YIKES!! 

Once I got that issue resolved I wasn't about to mess with her again.  I'll let the dots on the Washi tape symbolically represent the face dots.  The marker took forever to apply. It is such a pleasing graphic look although I won't be attempting it again anytime soon.  Are you a fan of Roy Lichtenstein? 

Linking to Paint Party Friday,

Art Journal Every Day and

Paper Saturday

Pretty in Pink

This sweet girl with a faint blush is for the Summer of Color Challenge - Charcoal Grey and Light Pink.

Those of you that follow this blog know I am not a huge fan of pink - This girl was wearing a pink tank top but it was too much pink for me so I ripped it off up to the straps - I can commit to some pink but not too much!

One thing that I did differently when drawing her was to sketch her lips with a red pencil -  

I think that it helped to keep her lips more natural looking than when I use a regular pencil to sketch them  - Hope I remember this in the future!  

Linking to Art Journal Every Day,

Paint Party Friday,

Show and Tell Saturday and

Paper Saturday

Summer of Color (Week 3) - Lime Green and Purple

Last minute entry to the Week 3 of Summer of Color - Lime Green and Purple.

Busy, BUSY week means no time for drawing!  I had plans to do LOTS of crazy green/purple dots but gave it up about 5 minutes in - taking TOO long!   

Look at the fabulous prize pack that I won the very first week of Summer of Color!

Isn't it awesome how Kristin's little business card was the exact same colors?! 

Linking to Paint Party Friday and

Art Journal Every Day

SOC2 - Hot Pink and Orange

I am not a huge fan of pink - however, I do have an affinity for orange.  This week's color combo for the Summer of Color 3 (Week 2) is Orange and Hot Pink.  Therefore, there are several shades of orange in her hair but only one shade of pink - I only have one Magenta NeoColor crayon.  

There have been several times lately that a soft pretty pink would've come in handy - guess I will have to break down and get more colors!  Quirky book quotes and Washi tape (no, I did not buy pink Washi tape - it was part of the supplies I was given for a design commission some time back) finish up this girl that is eye-less for no particular reason.

Does it mean something creepy if you leave the eyes out?  I hope not. . .  Here are links to  a couple of my favorite cards that were made with this color combo - Bling-y Butterfly

and Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger.

Linking to Art Journal Every Day and

Paint Party Friday,

Paper Saturdays, and

Mandarin Orange Monday

Summer of Color (Week 1) - Citron Green and Turquoise

The Summer of Color is here!  This is my first summer playing and a favorite color combo is featured this first week - Citron Green and Turquoise.

Kristin of Twinkle, Twinkle sponsors this challenge and there are gobs of people playing along.  You can create whatever you like as long as you feature the weekly color combo.

I tried something new with this page - cut a girl from a advertisement. 

Cut her into three manageable parts and then used spray gesso on all three parts.  Painted each piece with a different color and reassembled and glued into my ledger journal. 

Painted on some long hair, added a headband and then added texture to the underskirt by stamping curving teardrops with a small handcarved stamp.   

Linking to Art Journal Every Day and

Paint Party Friday