Mother's Lilies

In late November, I plucked these bulbs from my mother's garden, as we prepared to move her back to Missouri.  They flourish now in my garden growing and multiplying each year as I move them to other spaces.  As I paint, the memories of the move and all that surrounded it come back to me.  Though I am painting, my mind races on, reliving past days in vivid memory.  I'm so thankful to have Mom living close to me now, and happy to make so many new memories together with the family.  But each year as these bloom, I step back in time for a little while.  Painting number 3075 in 3075 days. 

Undiluted Love

Undiluted Love
Graphite on bristol, 12x16
not for sale

What is more sacred than the love for a child?  This drawing is of my oldest daughter with her first child, Alan.  Drawn from photo reference, this was truly a labor of love.  I can feel the warmth of those chubby little arms and the baby softness of those sweet little cheeks as I laid kisses upon them.  It is something one never forgets.  The smell of their skin, the wisp of their hair against the face as they are drawn near, each sweet moment is unforgettable.  When I work on something like this, time just fades away.  I lose track of all things around me, my focus is on the paper alone.  I could simply get lost in the work - and not resurface for days!  Well, I guess the kids would be bothering me for food - eventually.  Why does everyone expect to be fed?  This is my 198th artwork in 198 days.

Precious Bundle

Precious Bundle
Graphite on bristol, 16x20
sold

Graphite on vellum bristol is one of my very favorite mediums.  The first medium I can ever remember using was little old pencils kept in a waxy old cardboard box about the size of a double card deck.  My Grandma Frank had these and a large tablet of Big Chief writing paper - red with a black line drawing of the profile of a chief - majestic with his feather headdress.  There was a small child size desk and chair in the northwest corner of the kitchen, my own personal cubbie for drawing and creating anything I could imagine.  I could look right out of the big window as I worked, listening to the cheerful voices of my mom and grandma talking.  So many happy memories of childhood. With the little art supplies always at the ready, my family was fostering a love of creating for me that has lasted a lifetime.  Life is all about the ties of family and I absolutely love capturing these moments in graphite.  This portrait of mother and baby is my 57th artwork in 57 days (although I have worked on this for several days and have only finished today) :)

Newest Work in Progress

New Work in Progress
Graphite on Bristol

Today I am posting a commission that is in progress.  This is one of my very favorite subjects to draw - mother and baby.  I absolutely love the photo reference - so sweet!  When I start the drawing process, I first sketch out the composition. When I am happy with this, I start with the eyes, followed by noses, and then the lips.  Once I have brought the facial features up to the same level of finish, I move outward from there.  As I work, I will dot back and forth from details, adding depth and shadow while trying to leave the lights.  Here, I have only begun the hair, lightly shading in where needed as a background for the work to follow.  The blanket is hardly begun - there is a lot left to add.  I still have overall polish to do on both faces, and neck - although the fingers are getting close.  I was thinking I would start with a painting today, but maybe I'll get back to work on this - it is calling my name!

Kat and Chloe

Kat and Chloe
graphite on bristol - sold

It is so easy to draw someone I know - especially when she is one of the sweetest friends I have ever had the pleasure of knowing!  She is pictured here with her new little bundle of joy.  There is something about the bond of motherhood that draws me in like no other - almost as if I am compelled to capture it with pencil and paper.  I used my favorite vellum bristol and did the majority of work with my trusted 8B water-soluable pencil.  Perhaps as little as 5% of this drawing was executed with my other various pencils.  They are simply not needed.  When I reach the point where I can almost feel my subject breathe, I lay my pencil down, step back from the paper, and take a long look.  I let it rest until the next day, and look again.  If I am still satisfied, I sign it, and look towards the next piece.

No Greater Gift

No Greater Gift
graphite on bristol
sold

From beginning to end, this was an absolute joy to draw!  I have gently bumped up the contrast by deepening the darks, trying to keep   it all soft and balanced as I work.  If I apply too much, I simply pull it back out with my favorite pink eraser (yes - the one we used in grade school!)  I have many erasers - but this is my "go-to" one - always.  The very last thing I do is to take a small sable brush lightly dipped in water to the darkest lines.  I know it sounds crazy - but this is the real benefit of using water-soluable graphites.  It darkens the darks even more, for a more life-like result.  What better way to spend the day?

First Day of New Work

graphite on bristol - 11x14

It feels SO GOOD to pick up my tried and true graphites again!  It is just like slipping into a warm blanket with a hot cup of tea!  The "mother and child" subject matter is one of my absolute favorites - so this day has been very rewarding.  I begin with my line drawing, then I focus in on the most important facial features - eyes, lips, noses.  Once I am satisfied with this foundation, I spread out from there.  I use mainly an 8B water-soluable graphite pencil for this work.  I have dozens of others, and may pick up a different one for lashes and brows, but the creamy soft lead is by far my favorite.  Tomorrow, I will lay in the rest and start to deepen the darks for good contrast.

Mother & Babe

I drew this in graphite on bristol of my oldest daughter and my first grandchild, Alan.  She was comforting him in the front hall when I captured the reference image.  Drawing is very natural to me, it is as if I don't even have to think while I lay down the strokes.  It is the first medium I remember picking up long before preschool.  By the time I was in kindergarten, I had been drawing for years.  I love the feel of pencil on paper, the way it blends into the best skin shades.  It is the root of where all art begins for me.  Each piece begins with a sketch, and blossoms from there.

See this one on display at the Kansas City Club at the Missouri Valley Impressionist Society Juried Show, Public Openings Sept. 21 & Oct. 9, 6:00-9:00.

Mother & Babe
16x20 graphite on bristol
Print Now Available

A Mother's Love

This portrait was just awarded 1st Place in the HFAA Spring Show.