Painting Class

My painting class is going well, although I feel really, really slow. This picture was my 'practice' sheet, which I am pretty sure was the teacher's attempt to a) assess my skill and b) teach me her methods of painting. I am feeling ridiculously rusty but despite that, it is really fun and relaxing but also a good brain workout. I must say that when the teacher was telling me to do cast shadows, she started sketching the shadow for the sphere to the right. I kept thinking...what is she doing?! That is on the wrong side! Am I that rusty that I can't remember what side the shadow goes on? But she is somewhat particular about certain things and I didn't want to question her method so I went with it. Once she sketched it in she said that she did it so the shadow would fit on the page. So I am not crazy after all. Now I am working on a painting of this nearby one room school house:

I had a few landscapes chosen that I thought were fairly simple, and she said no, not for my first painting. After rustling around in her avalanche of art books, she brought forth a watercolor rendering of this school house which she wants me to paint. I am not really sure why she chose this, because it is not simple, but I think I am up for the challenge. So far I have the sky nearly done, which I think is going to be the hardest part because you have to leave the white of the page for clouds. The bricks will be tedious but I enjoy tedious stuff. I will put up a picture of it when I finish, so long as I don't totally botch it! :)

Speaking of Art

So, my friend Trish left a comment on the previous post that got me thinking...or rather having disturbing flashbacks...of my art school days. We had to draw naked people, and a lot of them. Little known fact here, people: did you know that normal folks will not pose naked for an art class?! Shock!  $25 or $30 an hour is not enough to make people get nekkid in front of a room full of 19 year old art students. The type of people you get for models are probably fit into one of the following categories:

• Live in their parents' basement and tell them they are going to 'work at the library'
• Skeletal 60 year old men with the shakes who show up nursing the remains of a 2 liter bottle of Dr. Pepper (true story...and he was one of the regulars)
• Artsy-type girls who smell of patchouli and have dreadlocks
• People that can't hold a job anywhere else and need the $$

Here are a few other things you are just dying to know about our anatomy class models. (Is it sad I am writing about this or what? I should maybe get a life...) OK, so some models are divas. They are very strict about what poses they will do, and how long they will pose before taking a break. They even demand that the heat be turned up! And here I thought a birthday suit was rated down to -30 degrees. A lot of the models, disturbingly, would wander around and check out everyone's renditions of them. Is it just me, or is that just plain weird? I mean, what are they going to say 'Hey, I really like how you shaded that dimple in my left butt cheek!' or 'What?! I don't have lunch lady arms! Here, give me that eraser!' I always thought that was very, very odd. Another thing about the models: some would sit there and read, or stare off into space and never talk. Those are the ones you liked. Because its a lot easier to just focus on the academic drawing part when you aren't worried about someone telling you which bar they went to last night, or the latest book they are reading. If you look at the model as an object, it is a lot easier to manage. And the one thing I hoped for the most during my anatomy classes? Folds! Fat! Rolls! Because guess what? Rolls cover a multitude of...err...other things, things that I don't care to see, let alone draw. Yay for pleasantly plump models!

My Artsy Side

So I think you might know that I like to make stuff. Long ago, in a land far away, I went to school for Art. I spend glorious hours drawing and painting and developing photos in a dark room. (Very therapeutic by the way!) I even threw a few pots, although I never managed to turn out anything spectacular in that class. I went to school for art. And then I had kids. There is something about kids (maybe the noise? the constant needs?) that makes it difficult to get inspired and focus on a project. Sewing is one thing, because you can just sit down and sew a few seams here and there. Anyway, this part of me has been sad and neglected. Then I volunteered to do the Women's Retreat decorations. If you know me, you can laugh now. (Candi! ;) I HATE women's functions. Like, I reaaaaally hate them. They are not my thang, for numerous reasons. Anyhow, I must say that the women's functions at our new church have been quite enjoyable. They also have an 'in-house' retreat, which is the only reason I would go. Oh, that and I have to do the decorations. So, to get to the point (yes, I think I have one...) I am getting to bust out a wee bit of my artsy side and do some drawing! Nothing fancy, but it has been so much fun. Jeff thinks I am spending an inordinate amount of time when, and I quote, 'the computer could do the same thing.' Oh, sweet Jeffrey. He doesn't realize that a) I am having a blast, and b) this is where my OCD comes alive. I will always think there is a 'better' idea. Whatever I draw I will always look back on and say 'Oh, I should have done this,' or 'I don't like that.' Part of my issues. Nevertheless, it is fun, and I hope to find more excuses to use this side of me.