A few sketches...

Killing time waiting...

While waiting... 

and waiting...

Quick "portrait"...

This sketch is not very good and it's a bit messy in some way, and for me it doesn't feel "finished". But I rarely go back to work on my sketches after a session, I prefer leave it as it is and try to do better next time. This was a fast sketch so the result will have be enough, when done in the conditions it was painted. Enough, also because it makes me want to do better next time and paint again soon... What could be better than that? 

Watercolor sketch today...

Back from a long holiday week-end again (there a many of those the month of may, in France) and time for a figure drawing session to get concentrated on what I should do. Short pose for this watercolor sketch of today...

Watercolor figure sketches today...

I'm desperately searching for something... what? Difficult to know, a progress maybe but more just pleasure for now. Pleasure that can make me feel that what I do is worth it. I think I lost my eager to work right now, the eager I got inside me for a few years back. It makes me panic a little, but I try to tell myself it's just an empty period that will go away as soon as I get the chance to discover new and inspiring things... 

Study of branches...

Sketching again...

Feels better now, after some exercise! Quick sketches of short poses.

Engraving of today...

Glad I went to my engraving session today. I started this engraving this morning at home, just to get started, and I finished it in the afternoon. It's a dry point (again) and this time inspired from the drawing in my sketchbook I did in Bretagne. I rarely use my sketches to work with, which might be a pity as  many times it's the only way to get things done. Of course, I prefer to be on sight, but it's not always possible specially when engraving a plate. I will try sometime though, to see how it works out...

Drawings from Bretagne...

I have just for a week holiday in Bretagne...

It really did me good, and I feel the change in my soul. I feel as I got new energy and inspirations again. 

Weather was very unpredictable, which made it difficult to plan anything, but we managed to do lots of walking and visiting without getting too wet and we also had moments of warming sun. 

My son had a few days of sailing classes when waves and winds weren't too strong. I don't know how he managed to stand the cold though, even if he wore the outfit for it he must have been terribly cold out there. 

I tried my first swim one morning, I couldn't stand more than a few seconds completely under the water. I love cold waters, but this temperature was something I've never experienced before. Sadly I don't know exactly how cold it was, would be good to know where my limits are. 

As usual I managed to do just a little drawing during family vacations, here are a few of them... 

Testing paper...

I'm searching for the "perfect paper". This is a drawing paper actually, it can take washes but not to much corrections, I'll have to make an spontaneous execution. Gives me ideas but it seems quite difficult. I hope I'll have the possibility soon to make outdoor sketches on this paper to see what I can make out of it. I'll continue searching for the perfect "paper though"...

Watercolor in my sketchbook...

Watercolor figure sketches...

Figures in watercolor...

Dry point under progress...

Dry point under progress, or maybe not. I'll give it a thought for a week...

Watercolor figure sketch...

"Still life with green bottle I"...

Feeling like I'm loosing it all lately, for a while now, and it's difficult for me to work. So today I really forced myself to get something concrete done. 

I'm not sure weather I like this kind of painting, but it's good exercise, and my goal would be to "loose it up" a bit more. 

I'm questioning myself a lot about what I want to paint in general and in the future. Some ideas are taking form in my mind and I will have to work harder if I want to get there. I will also have to forget about being afraid of what is going to come out in that research, or if nothing good comes out at all. 

It's difficult sometime to say to oneself; "this is what's most important right now", today, the next days (or my for rest of my existence), whatever, but at least right now. 

What I believe is hardest in life, is to keep the faith in what I do. Many times I feel that what I do is so unimportant for those around me. That's when we better have at least a few friends who also think art is part of a decent life. 

Exercise to be continued... I hope!

Today's watercolor figure sketches...

Watercolor sketch... "Against the light"

Dry point... "The tube"

My Moleskine today...

Watercolor sketch... "Woman from behind"

Dry point...

A finished dry point print, today... 

I wonder if you see what it is? 

For me it couldn't be clearer, but some people said they liked it although they couldn't see what it was. 

Well, I should rather be glad if that's the case, it might ad some mystery. : )

If you're interested in the evolution of this work I've showed it in an earlier post, the 10th or january: http://helenstrom.blogspot.com/2012/01/sticking-to-my-good-habits.html

"Drawing mode"...

A small drawing just to get warmed up and into "drawing mode" again. Nothing much but I feel much better already...

My Moleskine today...

Had a break from drawing the last two weeks, but a little doodling in my Moleskine is hard to resist...

Men in red...

Watercolor today...

Watercolor portrait done during figure drawing session today. Did a second one of the man to my left, but he asked if he could have it, so I gave it away.

Watercolor sketch today...

Watercolor figure sketches (9)...

Watercolor figure sketches (8)...

Not an easy session today (again), but who said it's easy to paint nude human beings?
As long as I know what is making it difficult it should lead to progress. This time the poses where mostly static and classical. The model locked like one of Michel Angelo's subjects, so nothing to complain about, but personally I've reach a point where I need a real "action" from the model. Any expression, state or posture expressing something particular would inspire me, and if possibly adding some beautiful light it would be marvelous.
A part from that, I'm quite satisfied with the colors and fusion of the pigments on the top one. Something to explore further. I like when a drawing makes me think and makes me want to go for the next drawing, next session and next day. That's what's it's all about isn't it?

Just another page in my Moleskine...

I'm ill, have no energy left. Hope medication will make wonders during the week to come, for now it only makes me dizzy and weak. I think I've never been sick this long ever. If no progress, soon a few days off in warmer areas, it will do me good. 

Watercolor figure sketches (7)...

After getting mad at myself today during figure drawing session, I decided to radically change colors as I'm rarely satisfied with the final result. I also need to avoid this red and orange skin I keep doing, which always turns out or too red or too orange. 

For the last hour of short poses I did the three top ones, here below, and finally I'm surprised and quite happy with the result comparing with before, it seems more "dramatic" and natural at the same time. The "soft and too sweet" impression of the two bottom ones is gone. For a while I'll try to keep to my new and different mixes to see what comes out of it...