Laura Kate

100 Day Project: Days 22 to 26

Posted on April 17, 2023 by Laura Kate

It seems that I’m drawing and/or painting just about every day, but not finishing very much. In the interest of keeping my progress on this project going, I’m posting some works that may not be quite done.

As usual, Bill’s photographs are wonderful. I chose two that focus on springtime, one vacation photo and an outdoor snapshot of the grand kids.

Day 22: Daffodil “Geranium.

This is an early morning shot. Besides the freshness and beauty of the flower trio, I am also attracted to the backlighting and the colors that lie in the shadows.

Day 23: An alley in Assisi.

I chose to make a pencil sketch. My main goal was to render the perspective accurately. After a few hours of work, I stopped with only contour lines in place – no attempt was made to capture values.

Oh, I did add a little figure to the picture, at its focal point. He is wearing a cloak and carrying a staff. Perhaps he is the saint himself?

Day 24 – 25: The grands at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in November.

This photograph totally captivated me, to the point that I’m intimidated to paint it. This week I got started.

UNFINISHED. I transferred the figures, laid down the first washes and one layer of second wash. I like where I’m going but feel the need to develop the painting slowly.

Day 26: Molting goldfinch

This little guy is transitioning to his summer plumage. Bill truly captured the moment.

I chose to make a sketchbook page, adding to the bird a few sprigs of plants that I gathered up from the back yard and brought into my studio. It’s a style I learned from Jean MacKay.

To learn more about Jean, check out her blog:

https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/20723534

See you next time!

knitting

WIP: Child Sweater

Posted on April 13, 2023 by Laura Kate

It’s been awhile since I showed my progress on a sweater for Lu. In my last post, I shared the fun experience of watching Lu select a skein of yarn.

With her selection in mind, I chose this pattern, available from http://www.redheartco/uk.

Since this last post, I ordered two additional skeins of Elysian yarn in the colorway Ultraviolet. The three I purchased in St Louis didn’t provide enough yardage. Also, I needed a dark shade to balance out the tones of the variegated yarn.

I started by knitting the sleeves. This allows me to test out my color plan.

Encouraged by the way the gradation worked out, I cast on the body of the sweater and knit up to the body/sleeve split.

The project is on pause while I await some measurements of the giftee. But I am pleased so far.

Here is a link to this (very easy) pattern.

Click to access LW3852EN.pdf

painting

100-Day Project: Days 18 to 21

Posted on April 6, 2023 by Laura Kate

My selection today is all watercolor, of varying qualities.

Day 18: Amanda’s Shawl

This week I slipped in a photograph taken by me. Last August I had started painting a close-up version in watercolor. The painting has been in time-out for several months. This week I finished it.

The theme is texture, and I’m fairly happy with most of what I did. I’d like to try again using a larger piece of paper and the full view.

Day 19:

Again, I was drawn to the texture, and the points of the barbed wire which look almost white to me.

I didn’t achieve a good range of value. I plan to try again, maybe in a monotone, so I can focus the value contrasts.

Day 20: Sharp-shinned hawk.

Yesterday was First Wednesday Open Studio at the arts center. Cheryl Bryan’s lesson focused on lost and found edges. I chose this photograph because the hawk’s coloration allows it to blend in with its environment. And there are cool shadows.

The lesson started with creating a three-color background in a random fashion. After it dried, we determined the subject’s position in the background and penciled it in lightly. In addition to making a lost and found edge at the bird’s wing and tail, I also practiced negative painting around the right edge and the talons. I enjoyed it and the work went quickly.

Day 21: Sonoma view

Bill took this photo from the upper deck of his brother’s house in Petaluma, CA. It could almost be a view of Oklahoma last week, when, pushed by high winds, fire raged barely five miles from our home.

I brightened up the foreground to see what exactly made up all those plants. Using three different mixes of green and some yellow ochre, I just played around with shapes until it looked done.

The first painting is 8 by 8. The other three are postcard sized. All were painted on Arches cold press paper.

drawing

Sunday Sketching – Live Model

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Laura Kate

Yesterday I had my second opportunity to sketch from a live model. And what an interesting model he was.

Nate arrived somewhat breathless, resplendently dressed in Victorian garb from head to toe: black cloak lined in plum wool, waistcoat with satin lapels, brocade vest and ascot scarf around his neck.

The poses were held for fifteen minutes, with breaks in between each stretch. I sketched this first one fairly quickly in pencil, adding just enough detail to give the right impression.

Later in the session I focused on his face.

How was your Sunday?

drawing, painting

100 Day Project: Days 13 to 17

Posted on March 29, 2023March 29, 2023 by Laura Kate

I had hoped to make more art objects in the week after my return from vacation. But then I decided it’s better to keep posting what’s done than wait for more progress.

If you are following this subject, you know that I am working with husband Bill. He selects the photos, I make art objects inspired by them. This week I selected five photos that feature interesting textures.

Day 13: Mosaic floor in Roman church

What struck me about this image was its illustration of single point perspective. As you look down and away, the medallions morph from circles to ovals. I started by drawing two straight lines, narrowing towards the vanishing point. For my texture, I went with Zentangles.

**Fun and meditative drawing with Micron pen on bristol smooth paper**

Day 14: What would you do with this object?

In case you can’t tell, it’s beachball floating in a pool. I found myself drawn to the reflection in the northern hemisphere of the ball.

Using pencil, I did my best to draw the shapes. Next, I combined it with this photograph of an orchid.

Day 15:

I added the orchid to the lower right corner of my pencil drawing, overlapping the edge of the circle. Then I dropped in color washes to the sphere. After that dried, I painted the orchid with darker shades.

Day 16: Ghost leaf

This is one of Bill’s favorites. The light is from behind, filtering through the oak leaf. The back leaf, peeking out between the lobes of the large front leaf, is casting its shadow.

I adore the color and texture of this image. It was impossible for me to do justice to the lacey network of golden veins. Instead, after painting on a golden wash, I lightly tapped the surface with a sponge dipped in masking fluid.

I also intensified the color of the background using orange’s complement, blue. The two hues side-by-side seem to throb.

Day 17: Shells

This photo was chosen for making a quick study in my sketchbook. I drew the shells free hand using a watercolor pencil in a neutral brown. Using that and other watercolor pencils, I added detail, color and texture. Finally, I dissolved and blended the pigments with a wet brush.

I recently read Painting Light & Shadow in Watercolor, by William B. Lawrence. Inspired by his work, my next set of photos will be chosen for the presence of interesting shadows. I’m excited to see what happens.