God, in all things #2

I'm finding that stippling hands takes a different approach than an element - say, the snail - that is made up entirely of dots.  Keeping so much white requires more sensitivity when deciding where to place the dots...and there is more 'consideration' involved.  So, the process is actually a little slower.

I'm trying to decide if i should use color (a light wash) on the snail.  That was part of the original idea...but it's also what ruined the first attempt with the tree frog.  I probably will use color...i'll just start with a super light wash and build it up slowly.

Blue Glass Bottle #2

I've made some progress on this piece.
This is a view of a small glass bottle that sits on the windowsill in my kitchen...and is based on a photo i took.  Since the camera was focusing on the bottle, the woods - in the background, well beyond the glass - are shown blurred, and i really like the interesting design/pattern that results.

God, in all things #1

In early June there will be a presentation at a local church called, "Choosing Compassion"...part of the ongoing Belko Peace Series.  There will be a couple speakers, music, and artwork.  I was asked to contribute any artwork that might fit the theme of compassion for one another, compassion for our earth, and tolerance for all who exist on our planet.

Two ideas came to mind and, below, is the first one...i've just gotten started on it.  To be honest, this is my 2nd attempt...i ruined the first piece. :(  Instead of a snail, i had used a tiny tree frog, and by the time i added a color wash (the last thing before calling it finished) it was no longer identifiable.  Bummer. Yup...thousands of dots down the drain.  But i'm actually liking the snail better.

This piece is about 5" square and i'll be stippling the entire thing with my Rapidograph .13mm pen

And yes, i'm still working on the blue glass bottle...it's just that this 'compassion' piece has a deadline.

While waiting...

My Blue Glass Bottle piece (see last post) is on hold.  I decided that i needed to order a Koh-i-noor .13mm Rapidograph in order to do the very light areas of the bottle.  I started the piece with the Koh-i-noor .18mm, which is fine for the dark areas, but i really wanted an even tinier dot for the light areas.

Now, true, i do have the Rotring Rapidograph in both the .13 and .18, but those pens take an ink cartridge, and the ink is not at all as waterproof as the Platinum Carbon fountain pen ink that i'm using to fill the Koh-i-noor.  It's really nice to have both the Rotring and the Koh-i-noor....they have advantages in different areas.

So, in the meantime i worked on this tiny automatic drawing piece...2.5" x 3.5".  Stippled with the Koh-i-noor .18mm and colored with Daler Rowney FW inks.  The first picture shows the piece before color...

Blue Glass Bottle #1

I attended a symposium, yesterday, called "Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream" led by my two sisters, Laura and Lisa.  The symposium focuses on bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just, human presence on the planet.  A very worthwhile 5 hours!

A couple websites for those who might be interested...

www.fouryearsgo.org  (play video)
www.storyofstuff.com
www.awakeningthedreamer.org

I've started a new stippled piece...it's of a blue glass bottle (which means i'll use watercolor near its completion) that sits on the windowsill in the kitchen.  I'm working from a photo, but i've used a grid system in drawing it freehand.  For those who aren't familiar with it, the grid allows you to, basically, work on one little square at a time.  The old masters used this technique and it works great!

I will post photos of its progress until it's done.

Geranium in Sun and Shadow, finished

Well, i will probably discover a needed dot, here and there, over the next few days...but i consider this piece to be finished...and i'm happy with how it turned out. :)

It became evident to me, while working on it, that this new direction for me - stippling - has amazing possibilities!  I feel like i've only scratched the surface.  I'm pretty sure my next piece will use black dots and areas of watercolor.  And i don't think i want to lock in to anything, content wise...but i'm really being pulled to work with images in the round...as a mandala.

World Thru a Teleidoscope

About 5 years ago i discovered just how amazing the world could look through a teleidoscope.  Unlike a kaleidoscope, which allows you to look at beads, buttons, etc. in a mandala effect...the teleidoscope does the same mandala effect to the world around you...at whatever you're looking at.  Very cool, to say the least!  And i found, right away, that my camera fit into the end of the scope so that i could take pictures!!

At the time, we had a lighted peace sign hanging on our garage...the green/white in the background is the tree canopy above the garage...

And here's a seed pod that i found on a walk.  I can't remember what the B&W background is...

I love the use of mandalas in artwork and go this direction now and then.  Here's the above seed pod done as a stippled piece, using a .18mm Rapidograph, on 2.5" x 3.5" illustration board.  I can see doing many more of these...and i like using the photo just as a starting point and then 'working it' in a more intuitive manner.

Geranium in Sun and Shadow #3

I'm getting close to finishing the leaves...then i'll work on the background.  I've decided that i want dots in the background - not leave it white - and i'll be experimenting with different colors before i choose.

Often i'm asked how long a piece takes me...no matter what medium i'm working in. Usually i don't have an answer 'cause i don't keep track.  The stippling really is time intensive...even i'm curious how long a piece takes me to make.  So, i'm going to buy a kitchen timer and try it on my next piece.