I find rocks to be really hard to draw.  I'm never quite satisfied with the texture or tone.  I drew these rock (boulders really) from our visit to Cannon Beach in Oregon.  These are not actually new.  I drew these before I decided to go back to college to get an art degree.  I'm sure you can see why I needed more instruction.  But before you think I'm being self-deprecating, I always think I need more instruction.  There's very little in this world that I'm not interested in and want to learn about.  I hope that I won't ever stop wanting to know more.  I think that is one of my better assets.

Something that makes me smile

Something that makes me smile is remembering this first time that Papa got to take a nap with our first and only grandson.

I Have a Praise!

Recently I convinced the homeschool group where I teach art to submit projects to the art contest at the state fair.  I am pleased and more than just a little proud that every one of my students (4 students) won ribbons.  Out of the 10 student projects submitted, they got 8 ribbons, 4 blue, 3 red and 1 white.  I have no new drawings to post today.  Today is dedicated to my students who have worked hard and reaped those rewards!

Symbolism

Here is a recent sketch I did with Fall symbolism.  I'm afraid the scan is pretty bad.  This is a preparatory sketch for another large art project at school.  Critique and comments are welcome.

Fall is coming!

We are having our first Fall weather day today.  So I thought I would post this Sycamore tree leaf that I found floating in a stream.  I just love Sycamore trees.  They are so beautiful year round.

A New Week

Last week ended on a disappointing note for me but I've had a really wonderful weekend and I'm ready to start anew.  I took two paintings in to the State Fair competition.  I know there isn't a lot of payoff in that but I really need to get more comfortable with competing.  My husband purchased a daily sketchbook for me at the art museum.  I'm already enjoying it.  I had forgotten the pure pleasure in the quick imperfect sketch.  Not that perfection is ever something I have to worry about, it is definitely freeing to not worry about what someone else is going to think of it.

Today I'm pulling out one of the older drawings.  I look back at some of them and wonder how I had the nerve to keep going.  But then I look at others and say, yeah, that's why I kept going.

I tried and tried to get this lion to wake up so I could get an upright photo of him.  He insisted on his cat nap and so that's how I painted him.

A little Whine with that Cheese?

Now I'm going to whine about what I'm cheesed off about.  It's hard sometimes to take critique, especially when you've worked so hard on something.  It's easier to take it when you feel that there is no malice and that it is well intended.  Like the critique I got here on the worker piece.  I got good advice and I took it.  Then I took the piece to class for critique and grade.

Everyone of my classmates made really good comments about it and then the teacher asked... Does anyone see anything wrong with it?  Fair question, right?  Long silence, no one wanted to say anything.  Again fair enough, be kind.  When the silence continued, the teacher said, "Come on, out with it, Kate really wants to hear what else you have to say."  Now I'm starting to think that's not so nice.  But still no one said anything.  Finally, she turned to me and said, "I know I told you not to do too much detail in the face but you really should have taken some close up shots and done more detail in the face."

Am I wrong in feeling a little sting with that?  Anyway, that's my cheese and my whine.  Again, thank you to everyone who critiqued on here and gave me really wonderful advice that helped me produce a piece that wow'd everyone except my teacher.  I have no intention of letting a little snarkiness get in the way of my goals.