September 8,  2002

        i'm taking a few minutes from working to actually do another post!  Himself will be happy with me.

       So i've signed up for a beginner oil painting course.  The woman on the phone assured me i don't have to know how to draw - that in fact she's going to take the course herself and can't draw a stick either.  The weird part is i think with more work, i'd be okay at drawing.  Its just that i needed to reassure myself however, because of a lack of confidence and a fear of not being good enough.  And my friend mle agreed with an "awful teachers and criticism..."  comment when i was explaining how i hate people watching me when i'm trying to create.  i think i'll definitely insist on staying at the back of the room.  Yet, i keep realizing more and more how important it is for a parent not to discourage or criticize a child's creativity.  Even if they are truly not good at what they are trying to do.  "Trying" is a lesson unto itself.  And valuable.  (Thank you Sir :)

The following is the course description:

This course will introduce students to an overview of the materials, approaches, techniques and elements of oil painting. In addition to learning how to stretch and prime canvas, students learn basic colour theory and palette organization, methods of paint application, plus health and safety issues. Each class will highlight a stage of the successive development of the painted image on a 2-dimensional plane. Thorough demonstration of materials used in the course will be given as well as one on one instruction. Previous drawing is an asset although not a requirement.

       So that all sounds like practical and valid information to learn.  i hope so.  And now that my head is in the learning kind of space for this, i decided to scan what i've painted so far, so that later on i can look at the various stages of improvement (or non-improvement as the case may be.)  i think my head is in a healthier learning space though.  While i still fear making a fool of myself, i am definitely approaching this in a 'fun' way rather than ultra serious.  The discovery of how calm i feel, and how i'm able to 'zen' out for a few hours while painting has me believing that this is healthy.  It doesn't matter if i get "good" at the actual artwork - it's the act that's important.

      And now i'm going to get even braver and post my attempts here.  Two of the 'in progress' pieces are not shown yet - hopefully i get them finished soon.  i really need to make the time.  Especially since those pieces are not nudes!  So far that's all i've done!

      i'm laughingly calling these my "Little Women" series. i've put them in the order they were done, and thumb nailed them, so they are clickable to see bigger.

	Peaches 'n Cream  i stared at this pic in a magazine for the longest time - it seems like she's dreaming and i found that hugely appealing, so decided to try it.  Himself says it reminds him of something in pastels.
Two Women i don't think the second body on this one turned out that well
	Pregnant i found a picture of a pregnant woman on the 'net and only used this section of her as my 'model'.  People react strangely to this one.  It either makes them uncomfortable, or they really like it.  No in-betweener's so far.
Shy Another internet pose that looks absolutely nothing like the original photo.  i want to try that photo again some time.  This girl started out life sitting on a chair.  Both the chair and the legs were going badly - hence the skirt (heehee.)
	Kami i get a lot of photos from the net.  This one started life as a geisha, however the hair colour came out wrong. Sooooooooo ... she ended up a quasi Eurasian girl - my son wishes she was real, and Himself's daughter likes her a lot

      There's a couple of other ones that are truly awful.  And no i'm not being hard on myself.  They turned out bad.  Now i use them when i'm trying to discover a technique - so they are still useful to have.  But they can't come here!

       Okay - off to get the rest of my work done.  Then maybe so more painting.. or maybe just sketching........     

 

      Hint:  email

Note:  pics below are clickable for navigation