Friday, May 22, 2009

"Brushes" on iPhone












Something I've been enjoying, and which I've read is all the rage, is using the "Brushes" app for the iPhone. Just download it from the app store and even if you forget your sketchpad, as long as you have your phone, you're ready to go.

Brushes has 3 different brush types with adjustable widths. Infinite colors AND you can vary the transparency for layering. Pinch to zoom in to create detail. Only one color at a time, but use the eyedropper to grab a previous color you painted. Fun and a challenge! I purchased a special stylus to go with my iPhone. It helps a bit - although I mostly use it for the keyboard for sending messages.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Keep Trying!

I was re-reading the book "The Joy Diet" by Martha Beck when I came across this passage:
Uncomfortable Truth #2: Creation is Hard
...Aha, I remember thinking. Here is one of those artistically ambitious people who believe that talent means success without effort. Benjamin had been searching vainly for his own genius all his life, because he didn't know what it would look like. He thought he'd recognize it by the magnificent work that would spill out of him spontaneously, perhaps while he was napping. He never expected talent to come wrapped in the slow, messy, awkward, humbling work every creator will sooner or later have to face. Michelangelo once said, "If people knew how hard I work, they wouldn't find my achievements so remarkable." Like Benjamin, most people attribute creative achievement to great ease, when in fact it comes from great effort.


That reminds me of something my drawing teacher spoke of during last term's class. He quoted some other teacher who declared that one must draw at least 1000 figures before drawing one good one (or something to that effect.)

In other words, I should stop crying because my painting didn't turn out. Paint 100 or so, then let us know how it's going for you!

Of course, the joy is supposed to be in the process, in the creating, and we're not supposed to worry so much about the outcome. It's just that - time is money, baby! If I spend 5 hours on a painting and it's crap, maybe I should have been working instead. Of course, I don't feel like I'm wasting time when I'm watching television. But I consider that re-charging my batteries - and getting my allotment of witty repartee!

Current art progress: I spent yesterday trying different materials for filling incised lines in an encaustic painting. Oil sticks are okay, but they are kind of dull. I bought a tube of Indigo Oil Paint. That was quite beautiful, actually. I'm planning various paintings to try it on. First, I just need to get the work hours in to pay the mortgage - and my husband's dental bills, and the dog's arthritis medicine - and the cat's flea drops...

Monday, May 4, 2009

Keep trying?

I started this to keep motivated, but I haven't been maintaining my enthusiasm. It's just so hard to do what I want to do! I spend a lot of time experimenting and playing, but that means I end up with a pile of messy, ugly work.

I'm posting a few drawings I've done over the past few months. Today is Speedy the Cat day (aka Speed Racer.)