Next Project!

Okay, I’m posting this just so you all won’t think I’m plummeting into the depths of despair over my last project. I’m actually taking the mishap a whole lot better than I would have expected, which is wonderful progress at keeping perfectionism from defeating me. But mostly, I just want to say that I found a new project.

You may have noticed on my writing blog that I’ve somehow managed to secure a place in the Notes From Underground anthology, over at The Literary Lab. If I don’t use up all my 10 pages with words, I can include a bit of artwork. It would have to be black and white, but a watercolor painting will be easy enough to convert to an 8-bit gray scale. Actually, black and white will work well, since I want it to resemble a black and white photo—which means I will be shooting for ultra-realism. Why not use a black and white photo, you ask? Well, first, I don’t have one I can put my name to, and I have found the perfect photo to work from. Yes, it’s sort of a backward way to go about it, and well…I have no defense there…except I think it's supposed to be my work in the anthology.

I will post the photo and credits once I have progressed a bit…

...it also occurs to me that since this will eventually be converted to B&W, it should teach me something about the reverse process, which I would really like to master...

Haying Abandoned

I hadn’t intended to introduce a UFO into this project, but my indelible black ink pen exploded. And just when I was beginning to think it might turn out okay...I suppose it does give the boy something to look at...

Oh well—off to the abandoned projects file with it…

Haying: Progress—Sort Of

Well, this is a woeful pace I’m working at—but it’s all I got. Todd’s been hovering over my shoulder saying, “Now, remember about overworking it—what have you learned from past experiences?” To which I reply, “ta not ta” (but I don’t really mean it).

It turns out my brown ‘waterproof’ ink is not so waterproof—(I think a waterproof ink should have a longer-than-twenty-year shelf life before it starts breaking down). Well, at least hay looks brownish at harvest time. At this point, it’s hard for me to take this piece seriously, so at least I’m not all in a bunch over it anymore. I’m just posting this so you won’t think I hacked it to bits or lined the proverbial hamster cage with it. I think I’ll just call it what it is—experimental—and play with some more color and then call it done. To be honest, I’m itching to start something more along the lines of my usual—just have to find the right subject…

…and I don’t know what happened over there on the right-hand horizon—okay, well, I do know what happened but I don’t feel like elaborating…
 
...and I sort of fixed the problem grass under the guys arm—not that anyone but me notices...

I’m Kinda Regretting This One…

…maybe it’s just that point I get to in most projects where I feel dissatisfied, but I’m not liking the way this is turning out. I don’t like that clump of trees on the horizon, it's a pointless interruption. And I messed up on the grass under the harvester’s extended arm; it should match the rest of the grass at that distance—I guess I just wasn’t thinking. With indelible in, there simply isn't any getting rid of it...



I don’t know…maybe if I add some color. To be honest, I feel like canning it…

More Hay

Well, I figured I ought to post this now that I feel as if I accomplished a little bit. Besides, I need something to show for this crink in my neck.

I find I can only work at it for a few minutes at a time before I start going cross eyed—Suddenly I'll realize I’m massaging my neck and need to back off till later. Oh, the hazards!

Oh come on now—you knew I couldn't resist all that grass!

Haying Started

Okay, this is another one of those posts where I hope I don’t regret it…I decided, ‘Oh what the heck, just start it—what’s the worst that could happen, right?’ To be honest, I’m not really sure what result I’m looking for. I am completely winging it and it may be a total flop. As you can see, I’m going with pen and ink for right now, and I don’t know but that I might switch over to some black ink at some point. I may even go for some color other than blacks or browns…

You may have also noticed that I altered the placement of some objects, and eliminated others…artist’s prerogative. And that line down the center is because my scanner is too small for this 9" x 16" image—had to do it in two parts.

Pondering a Project

I have been thinking about my next project, and feeling very undecided. I keep coming back to a painting I haven’t finished—the old woman on my Projects Waiting page—but I simply can’t seem to muster up the confidence to finish it. I know, you’re probably thinking what’s the big deal? But interpreting black and white is harder than I estimated. I have learned from experience that there are so many subtle colors in what appears to be something rather monochromatic—like skin for instance. Look closely at some of my portraits, and you’ll see not only the expected reds and browns, but yellow, blue, green, violet—basically the whole gamut of the rainbow.

In the past, when I felt stumped (for lack of better word to describe that thing in my head that keeps me from starting or finishing something—pretty sad for a writer to not come up with the perfect word), I have eased back into it by choosing a monochromatic photo, and simply painting it as is.

Here are a couple examples:

 

 

These felt relatively unintimidating at the time I undertook them, which is what I feel like I need right now…but…I still want to find it challenging, something to spur a little growth…
Anyway, I keep coming back to this tiny snapshot from a collection of farm pictures from my Iowa kin-of-old.

I thought I might attempt a combination pen and ink and watercolor...I may have to think on it a little longer before I post an update…

Oh, and for you lovers of old photos, I stumbled across this blog, Tattered and Lost VERNACULAR PHOTOGRAPHY,via Google Images. She has quite a collection, and her remarks are witty and imaginative—well worth the visit!

Just Thought I'd Mention...

...that I updated my watercolor Website with all the projects I've completed here on this blog. Even though I personally designed the Website, I couldn't remember just how I did it all those years ago—okay it's probably only been 4 years—and I practically had to relearn the program, which is why it's taken me so long.

 Anyway, in case you feel like it, here’s the link to JBChicoine.com.


...Oh, and I also updated this blog with some pages, while I was at it...