Archive for February, 2008

digital drawing

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Before I begin, let me just say that this IS most definitely still a craft and sewing blog, just exploring other things too.

So, I have been working on my drawing, and I’m still learning the basics. I wish I had done art at school but hey, it’s never too late huh?

You might remember the drawing I did the other day of the Prime newsreader. I know it wasn’t great but for me and the level I’m at right now, it was good. One of my commenters didn’t agree: “No offense, but that picture is ghastly.” Gee, why don’t you tell me what you really think?!? I replied, reminding him that I was learning to draw!

Anyway, moving on… I took that same drawing today and redrew it digitally with my tablet and coloured it and shaded it.  I took the chance to fix up a few problem areas while I was at it so she looks a lot better, especially in the face.  Her arms, still a bit odd looking. Her hands - still working on that!

prime_news_again

Here they are side by side for comparison.

prime_news_together

Digital is very forgiving - love that Ctrl-Z.

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new collages

Today I made another two collages. They are available to buy at www.redinstead.com.au, of course!

I like the second one best. What do you think?

collage_remember
Remember this Moment

collage_trapped_love
Trapped Love

Hey, a few days ago, I joined up to deviantART - my username is JenRedinstead. Let me know in comments if you have a deviantART page so I can visit you.

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drawing

I have never thought of myself as a person who can draw. I am determined to work on this in the next few months (years?) though and train my brain. I bought some decent pencils in different hardnesses and checked a few drawing instruction books out of the library yesterday.

I got out an old drawing journal that hadn’t seen the light of day since 2005 and flicked through it. Some of the work in there was okay and some was just awful. They say that drawing is all about SEEING and I know that the worst examples I had done back then were the times that I stopped trying to see and just gave up - letting my left brain do it’s lumpy bumpy thing.

Drawing well (or rather, drawing what they see) comes easily to some people but I believe that this is something that can be learned. The techniques of drawing - the understanding of light and shade and how important this is to the realism of the piece, relative sizing and perspective, balance and all the rest.

Those techniques can all be learned and with practice may become second nature. It is harder to retrain your brain - to turn off the “I can’t draw” voice within and have the determination to follow through with the learning, even when it’s hard work.

While watching TV the other night I paused the machine and sat on the couch and drew the newsreader while she was in freeze frame. I really tried to draw only what I saw and I worked hard at not letting the left side of my brain in on any of the action. My drawing turned out okay - certainly not perfect but not too bad.

prime_news

(drawn with pencil and paper then scanned and coloured digitally)

There was one time in particular that I noticed the effect of left/right brainness: I had been going along quite well, doing a decent job of her hair, face, eyes (though they were a bit wonky) and clothing and then I came to her hands and I instantly felt myself tense up and then turn off. Before I knew it my left brain had kicked in and I had just drawn a blobby toddler’s version of a hand. I had to really stop and try hard to draw just what I saw and it turned out a lot better than giving up and letting my left brain take over.

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Birds and Fish

I did another two canvases today. This first one is called “Lost at Sea” and it tells the story of a fisherman who was never found. So sad…

collage_lost at sea

This next one is called “Urban Birds” and I am really very happy with this one too. A good day for art!

collage_urban birds

Before I started I sewed up a quick “art apron” using some bright green tea towels I bought a while ago with the intended use of making something of them! Finally, a use for them. I sewed a strip of three black and white fabrics at the waist to jazz it up a bit. I will probably end up adding pockets but I was in a rush to get started on my art today. It already has a few stains and marks on it which is a shame but at least my clothes stayed clean! Do you like my pink slippers? oops!

art_apron

ps. The above two art collage pieces are available to buy over at www.redinstead.com.au.  Just saying, y’know.
Paint, paper, ink, pencil, marking pen. Both on 10 x 12″ canvas with sawtooth hook mounted on reverse side, ready to hang.

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