Monday, May 18, 2009

Updates and Drawing Class

It's been a while since I've posted but .... here I am.

The Calendar Show is over and the two-week extension show we stayed on for is over, too. It was fun, it was great exposure but I'm glad it's over. Working a full time job, then putting in hours at the show on my day off on the weekend, and usually a night during the week gets to be a lot. But it was all a great success! We were at the mall for a total of three weeks.

My sunflower (which is the one I use as my avatar now) will be on the calendar! Over 2,200 people voted for the calendar paintings. Twelve were chosen - the twelve with the highest number of votes. Calendars will be available in the fall. All twelve of us were given a certificate and had to show our painting at the last meeting. That was traumatic, standing in front of the group. For me, anyways.

I've also started a Drawing Class. Sandra Taylor is the instructor and by the end of the session, if we all do our homework, we're going to be good drawers! She's making us work! And that's a great thing - to get a teacher like Sandra that pushes you.

In lieu of any painting progress shots, I'll attach some of the drawing exercises we did. Last class, we drew for the entire three hours with our non-dominant hand, which was in my case, my left hand. This is to get the creative part of the brain to kick in. So, all the eyes you see below are done with the left hand. The books / pencil were also done left handed, as well as the plain bottle. The fireplace mantle and the Bacardi cooler were done right handed.

Our homework was to draw every day for at least 1/2 hour, using the left hand for a lot of it. Also, find magazine pics of eyes, cut them out, paste them into our sketchbook / drawing journal and draw each with the left hand.

I'm finding that drawing with the right hand sure is easier after you've been labouring away with the left hand for a long while! Your right hand just seems to fly over the paper. I love to draw but when it's using the left hand, it's hard work.

I'm in the process of drawing out the waterlily on a sheet of hotpressed paper and plan on doing it the same way as the sunflower. Poured to begin with.

Anyways, here's the shots. (Bottom two are right handed, the rest are left handed.) Tomorrow night (Tuesday) is the second class.









































































10 comments:

Ann Buckner said...

Deb, I have always loved the way you draw. I'm so impressed with your left handed drawings. Those eyes are really good. It sounds like you are really enjoying the new class.

Deb Léger said...

Hi Ann,

Thanks! Yes, I'm really enjoying the new class. The thing with left handed drawing is that you have to go so slow so you really SEE what you're drawing. lol.

ps - I've always loved the way you paint!

Teresa Palomar Lois said...

Here I was thinking you'd probably be offline because Zach would probably be back home and it' wasn't that at all!
You've been really bussy woth the show but hey, your painting was chosen for the calendar! YAY! I'm so proud of you!!!
Plus your drawings for the new class are outstanding, now, when do we get to see the waterlilies? ;P

cindi said...

hi deb.. i just found your blog.. really enjoying the drawing... great job!! can you share about drawing with your left hand??? what does that do in the process of learning to draw??? i've been taking a few drawing classes too.. i was so envious of anns drawing, it pusjed me to learn.. hope its ok for me to stop by and watch your progress, and learn from you too!! congrats on the calendar....

Cindi said...

deb.. just rereading your post and you already had the answer about the left hand in there and i missed it... duh!!! i will try that and see what happens!! thanks for the tip!!

RH Carpenter said...

Wow, I am very impressed with these left-handed drawings, Deb! Glad you're in the drawing class and happy you are enjoying it. Now I know why you haven't been around much - no time! ha ha

Deb Léger said...

Hi Teresa!

Yes, Zach's home and I love having him home! Yes, the show was a busy three weeks. Too much when you work full time to boot. But it was great exposure. I'm really tickled that my painting will be on the calendar, too, and especially because of the way it was voted in.

Thanks very much for your compliments on the drawing. It's fun. I've always loved drawing and thought this class would be a great way of taking it to another level.

The waterlilies are coming! I'm off two days this weekend. Two whole days! I plan to do a lot of painting and drawing. I'm really looking forward to painting with regular watercolours for a while.

So, this weekend. Either here or at pals.

Deb

Deb Léger said...

HI Cindi,

It sure IS okay that you stop by here! I was thinking that since I should post something at Friends that it could be about the drawing. Make sure you 'warm up' with your left hand first. As, for example, in drawing circles of all sizes. You can really feel it 'kick in' when you do that.

Thanks for stopping by!

Deb

Deb Léger said...

Hi Rhonda,

thanks! Do you still go to your drawing class??? I'm going to make more time to post and write.

I'll have to check your blog to see how your house painting is coming along.

Deb

Teresa Palomar Lois said...

Deal ;)