Jadetree

My first drawing of Jade was so bad, I made her arms look so muscular. She was performing her set.

She’s a very beautiful girl, and I find beautiful girls very hard to get right. I tried three times. This is my third try.

I hope she forgives me.

Monday

Drew for 6 hours or so. Really getting into the groove. It’s easier when I just draw and not think “Ok, so this one is going to count, this one will be good!” I get a better result when I relax and just do it, and it’s more fun. No pressure. Hmmm…maybe that means I can’t perform under pressure.

The first drawing.

The Last drawing

First day on my own

Personally I think I didn’t do that well…I’m not used to colour. I’m going to keep at it of course! It took me two years to get the hang of anatomy, and I’m still not great but I’m not afraid of figures. So now I’m getting over my fear of colour.

I have to stick with 1 base colour and go from cool to warm with it. Right now, I feel if I can get the hang of that I’ll be satisfied for the time being. Anything more I get overwhelmed. Here are a few examples.

First, without limiting my palette

Second, sticking with one colour and going from warm to cool

A bit hard to see on the scan.

 

Colour Girl

Went to my friends place to learn about colour. She works with it all the time whereas I have very little idea. My colour work as it is now is very basic, I use it straight out of the bottle. She wants me to start mixing so I achieve more depth in my drawings. I agree.

This is what I did during my colour lesson.

Sincere work

Thinking about what I have to do to prepare for the Townsville show scares me a little. When I get through it, it will be the hardest I have ever worked in my life!! I have to draw at least 4 A2 sized works, another 4 A3, produce prints and cards for each work, finish 3 separate commissions and make a business card.

I have to remember to be sincere. That word gets me through everything.

July

So I was meant to have a little solo exhibition in July, my very first one ever. It is due to my curator not having her contract renewed and so the engagements past 30 June will not be honoured. I missed it by one month.

Not to worry. I will be joining my friend in Townsville. She will have some space at an Easter show type thing so I will fly up to have a half holiday, half business engagement with her.

This has now made me busier. It’s doable though. I will get through it and it will be so much fun.

The First Stroke

The brush stroke is the first and the deciding step in all Chinese painting. One might even say that the first style stroke of the brush decides the whole fate of a painting, for its style will be determined by whether the brush stroke is made with light or heavy ink, with a wet or dry brush, with an even or varying pressure of the hand, with a brush held perpendicularly or at an angle. It is not true, as most suppose, that a brush stroke cannot be corrected; it can, especially if it has been done in light ink and with a dry brush. Nevertheless, this first brush stroke is presumably made with great deliberation and  care, so that actually it is a decisive one.