123 Days, Day 16 - Progress on Poodle Portrait

Today has been an average day with having a Calligraphy Class this morning at Tapp's Art Center in Barbie Mathis Studio, Studio 28, and then another Class for a couple of people tonight in my home.

In between classes, I made progress on the Pet Portrait of the Poodle whose name was Lace. She has passed away, but her owners loved her very much and wanted to remember her.

Yesterday I showed this photo: Raw Umber on Chair and back wall, and Raw Umber applied wet-into-wet on the fur along with Permanent Rose and Cobalt Blue.

Today here are some steps I accomplished...keep in mind that this is not finished, and that I work in layers of color called watercolor "glazes". The chair will eventually become maroon leather, and the background wall will become navy blue. I added Burnt Sienna to the chair and Cadmium Orange to the wall. Eyes got a little Orange and Burnt Sienna.
 

I added Alizarin Crimson to the back wall, to the dog's nose, tongue and mouth.  And, I took the masking fluid out of the eyes where I was saving the highlights, and added more layers of color to the eyes.  

I darkened the nose and mouth with a mix of Alizarin Crimson, Windsor Green/Blue Shade, and Windsor Blue/Green Shade. I also applied those colors around the eyes. You can see some of my color studies, the layers of glazes that I will be putting on top of others to create leather and a dark wall tomorrow. Click on the photo below to see more details.

Thank you so much for reading my blog. More this week on how this Pet Portrait is finished. 

Being Prolific,

Barbie

123 Days, Day 15 - Making Progress

The day started out with a Semi-Private Watercolor Class at my house. My students were interested in learning to paint a Rose from a photograph. Whenever I teach how to paint a flower, I talk about how to put the image on the paper with graphite paper. Then we talk about how to mix colors for the petals, leaves and background options. There is always more than one option for how to apply the paint. In this case we chose to use layers of glazes which is gradually layering one color on top of the other. These paintings aren't complete yet but you can see in the photo below that we use a black and white photo to see values, a color photo to compare color mixtures, and our color chart and glazing chart. Next week, I'll show my students with finished pieces.

     
  After class, I worked a little on my Pet portrait commission of this Poodle.

 I started the painting by wetting the 300 lb. Fabriano paper. Then using Winsor Newton Professional Grade Watercolors, I applied raw umber and started creating the curly fur texture. I then blocked in the background chair and wall with raw umber. I also used permanent rose mixed with cobalt blue and raw umber to start creating shadow areas, fur around eyes, nose, mouth an tongue. I then started layering colors on the irises of the eye. As you can see on the color charts next to the painting, I will layer colors (called glazing) to create deep rich colors that will cause the poodle to stand out.
I will be working on this more this week.

Happy Painting!

Being Prolific,

Barbie 
 

123 Days, Day 14 - Focus

"I  NEVER  COULD  HAVE  DONE  WITHOUT  THE  HABITS

OF  PUNCTUALITY,  ORDER,  AND  DILIGENCE...

THE  DETERMINATION  TO  CONCENTRATE  MYSELF  

                 ON  ONE  SUBJECT  AT  A  TIME. "                                                                                                                       --Charles Dickens 

In 2000, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Les Hewitt came out with a book that hit #1 on the New York Times  and USA Today Bestsellers List. It's called The Power of FOCUS, How To Hit Your Business, Personal, And Financial Targets With Absolute Certainty. I obviously have not read this book quite enough lately, but I reread parts of it tonight after procrastinating so much yesterday, I did figure out yesterday that one of the reasons I procrastinate is out of fear--fear of the blank page, fear of not knowing how to get started, fear that it will take a long time and then no one will, gasp, want it. But, once I put some paint down and just begin, I keep going and going. And, it usually turns out pretty well--if I can finish it.

I did realize when reading in The Power of FOCUS that part of my procrastination is unintentional because I'm doing what many people do everyday. I'm focusing the largest percentage of my time on what I'm not good at. The book suggests keeping a notepad by you and recording in 15 minute intervals how you spend your time. Most people will find that they are spending 80 - 90% of their time on things they aren't good at, or on time wasters, and only 10-15% of their time (if that much) on what they are really good at. The book suggests actually finding your area of "BRILLIANCE", spend your time perfecting it through "PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE", and delegate the rest if possible. When you think about the great Artists, Musicians, Business People, Athletes, etc...this is what they have done. So, you and I can now think about creating our day to spend the majority of our time on what we are good at. For me, that would be primarily painting and then teaching. I hope to further my expertise in just one area of painting as the year goes on.

Today, I did face the paper and pour some paint on. This is background color for some paintings that will emerge this week. These are Golden Fluid Acrylics on wet Fabiano 300 lb. Cold Press Paper.

This is also the beginning of the pet portrait. I have drawn the poodle onto the Fabriano 300 lb. Cold Press Paper, and applied masking fluid to a few light spots in the eyes and on the fur.

More tomorrow after I teach 2 wonderful people watercolor painting.  

Being Prolific,

Barbie  

123 Days, Day 13 - Procrastination

Hello. My name is Barbie and I'm a Procrastinator.

Yesterday, my blog was all about my system. I had cut the paper, put it on boards, gotten photo references ready, and made a plan of action so that today I'd be all ready to get lots of painting done. This is how today really went:

1. Got up at 10:30 am because I was up skyping with Faith until after 1 am last night since the time difference is 13 hours ahead in Korea. And, then I couldn't fall asleep until around 2:30 am.

2. Went to put something in the trashcan outside and noticed the mess that's been in the carport. Decided to bring paintings in from carport so they wouldn't get dusty. Noticed I needed to sweep the area that they'd been in. Then decided to rearrange the shelving that's been out there waiting to be put in the storage shed when it gets cooler. More sweeping and then bring things in house. 

3. On the way in the house, remembered there were towels in the dryer. Came back out to get the towels, and threw some clothes in the wash.

4. It was then Noon and I hadn't eaten, so I put on coffee and was going to make eggs, but I was out, so I made a health food smoothie and a toasted cheese sandwich in the pan that had the melted butter for the eggs. Ate my brunch.

5. Felt sticky from working in the carport, so I had to take a bath. Got dressed. Put on makeup. And, remembered the laundry in the wash, Had to put in dryer. 

6. Since  I was dressed, needed to go to the store to pick up eggs and cat litter.

7. Got home and was hungry again. Had leftover turkey and broccoli and a baked potato. While eating, I got to listening to my Dreambuilder CD's because after all, my dream of making a living as an Artist is important.

8. Oh yeah, there is laundry that needs to be taken out of the dryer and folded. And, clothes to put in the dryer...and check Facebook.

9. Okay, finally, I'm going to paint...but wait, I have an idea. Maybe I'll look through some more photos of the brightly colored cut flowers that I bought last year. Where did I put them. After another 15 minutes of looking for them I found them. Looked through my beautiful photographs.

10. Got tired of sitting looking at photos and needed a walk. Looked for my phone and a flashlight, opened the door and it was raining. Okay, now I should just pick one picture to start on. 

11. BUT, I HAVEN'T DONE MY BLOG! I committed to doing it everyday...TO SHOW MY PROGRESS!   

12. I DID make progress...on the carport, and cooking and shopping and laundry...
      ..................I'LL DO MY ART NEXT..................just after I look up Quotes on

                                               PROCRASTINATION! 
  
Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.

Napoleon Hill

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination: never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

Turning pro is a mindset. If we are struggling with fear, self-sabotage, procrastination, self-doubt, etc., the problem is, we're thinking like amateurs. Amateurs don't show up. Amateurs crap out. Amateurs let adversity defeat them. The pro thinks differently. He shows up, he does his work, he keeps on truckin', no matter what.

Steven Pressfield

I swing between procrastination and being really thorough so either way things aren't getting done quickly.

Freema Agyeman

I, for one, find writing excruciating. Some mornings, as I'm on my way to my desk, my hands actually tremble with fear. The fear, of course, is that I'll sit down at the desk and discover that what I've written is claptrap. Fear inevitably leads to procrastination.

Rosemary Mahoney

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/procrastination_2.html#1VV3tUAvMxOUMwPY.99

       
Perhaps tomorrow's blog should be on FOCUS!!! 

Becoming Prolific, 
Barbie

123 Days, Day 12 - A System

It seems that in the past few days, I've been doing a lot of writing and teaching classes, but not a lot of painting. With shows coming up and commissions to finish, it's time to get A System for getting it all done.

I like to work on several projects at once so that while one painting is drying, I can work on another.

Tomorrow is going to be a rainy day, and it will be a perfect day to work back and forth on 4 paintings.

1. Finishing this painting for Cousin Donna

2. Starting a Pet Portrait

3. Starting 2 Paintings for the State Fair.

In order to prepare for tomorrow, I have cut my 300 lb. Fabriano Paper to size and taped it to Foam Board. I preplanned the sizes because I had certain frame and mat sizes.


I have also gathered the photo references, and tomorrow I will draw or trace the references and transfer them to the paper using Wax Free Graphite Paper.




I'll show you more tomorrow. I can't wait to wake up and paint!

Becoming Prolific,

Barbie

123 Days, Day 11 - Remembering

I can't let this day go by without saying that I remember what happened when the USA had 4 separate attacks on September 11, 2001 by the terrorist group, al-Qaeda. As almost 3000 lives were lost, it was a day that changed our country and the course of history forever, and I shall never forget. Not only were families devastated, but buildings and businesses were in ruins. Ripples of loss spread throughout the nation.

I didn't know anyone personally who died on 9/11, but I can tell you how it effected me as an Artist. There was an immediate change in the Art World. There used to be Decor Shows held in large cities all around the country. Buyers from art galleries and frame shops would come to see all of the newly published posters and prints, old botanicals, frame equipment and supplies, etc...and place their orders. That year, I was going to go to the show in Atlanta. It was cancelled. And, I'm sure that it effected thousands of art and framing businesses in the the south alone. In the next few years, the Decor show never recovered. People stopped wanting to travel as much. Eventually, all of the Art Buyers shows ceased to exist except in Las Vegas and New York - that I know of. It was also a time in the years after that more people gained access to computers, and so orders were placed online. But, things are just not the same. However, people are still in need of beautiful surroundings now more than ever. And, we creatives are still painting and providing a service to others by creating our art.        

Never Forget, but Keep on Keepin' On.
God Bless the USA!

Becoming Prolific,

Barbie

123 Days, Day 10 - Consistency and Resilience

Yesterday, I was talking about consistency when forming letters in Calligraphy, and that that's what makes it beautiful--holding the pen at a certain angle, making letters a certain height and width, and even when you decide to get creative with the letters such as adding flourishes, it's compatible with the forms you've been creating.

The 2 definitions of Consistency from Wikipedia that I was referring to are these:  

-steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, form, etc.:There is 

consistency in his pattern of behavior.

-agreement, harmony, or compatibility, especially correspondence or 

uniformity among the parts of a complex thing:

consistency of colors throughout the house.

I've heard it said that to be successful in the Art World, it's important to be consistent with your style, the size of the art, or the style of framing; something that pulls it together, unifies the group and makes it identifiable, pleasing to the eye, and your own.  

After hearing "A Minute with Maxwell" today, I'm thinking that Consistency and having Resilience go hand and hand. John said, "You say many people don't achieve their Dream because it's out of Reach. They don't achieve their Dream because they QUIT. The moment you QUIT, EVERYTHING is out of Reach." He says it so well in this 1 minute video:

http://johnmaxwellteam.com/resilience/     

So, today, I thought about ART (my livelihood), Exercise, Friendships, Relationships, and more. How can I be more consistent? (And, keep going?) What can I do each day to build on what I've got and make it better? In the next few days, I will be painting a bit everyday, writing in this baby blog, doing a few more sit-ups, writing a few more texts and notes, and taking time for what life brings my way. Because, in Consistency, there is flow, security, a formation of style (even if your style is to have a random style), a level of skill, and even wealth and abundance. I'd be interested in knowing what you think about Consistency. Comments are always welcome.

Becoming Prolific,

Barbie