Faces on Friday: missing in action

January Faces

At the beginning of this year I decided it was time to stop whining about how hard it was to draw people. Faces especially. Time to practice what I'm continually preaching and do the work, develop the skill, learn to draw faces. (That first post is here.)

5 second faces, getting barely
a glimpse of the subject

You've gotta start somewhere so I started at the beginning. A face a day on a little 3x5 index card. Mostly it has been fun if I just enjoy the process. If I start worrying about getting it "right" it's no longer fun - it's frustrating.

The almost resemble the subjects!
Progress!

And then for a while the pressure of having to do something and post it every week got to me - it was just too much to deal with on top of some of the family chaos of having five kids home all day over the summer.

Faces on Friday went missing in action.  I didn't stop drawing my faces but I did take a break from feeling that I MUST do them.

Time for a reset. The oldest is off to college (and thriving!) The youngest started kindergarten. I'm slowly adjusting to my new schedule. So here we go again.

The ones on the left - worked over about five minutes.
On the right - very quickly.

And guess what? Maybe taking something of a break can be a good thing. I have enough distance that I can see improvement.  Actual progress.

All the faces so far.

Artist Spotlight: Jill Berry

Sketchbook Artist, Jill Berry is recently returned from three fabulous weeks of teaching in Italy. 

I can't wait to hear more - I SOOOO want to do that some day.

Her book, due out soon, is called Personal Geographies: Explorations in Mixed-Media Mapmaking. I can't wait to see it, having a personal attraction to maps - and art that explores maps and plans. Maybe it's my (long ago) studies of architecture, maybe it's just that Jill's work is gorgeous. You can pre-order it here.

She has a review of Bead It Like You Mean It on her blog and is giving away a copy. 

Head over to her blog to leave a comment for your chance to win. 

Remember that the DVD is on sale only for the next few days. On October 12th the regular price will go into effect, so if you want it for $19.95 buy it soon. I think you will really like it. If you want your local shop to carry it please have them contact me!

Carol Sloan and Sue Bleiwiess also still have giveaways open so you can try your luck there as well.

For Your Inspiration: Apples

In honor of Steve Jobs.

Vinyl sticker on Etsy

Print by JoyStClaire on Etsy

cupcakes by hello my sweet at Etsy

Apple cozy by BesoDelSol at Etsy

Print by Lisa Russo Photography on Etsy

Artist Spotlight: Sue Belieweiss

Sue Bleiweiss is the brains behind the Sketchbook Challenge - a group of artists that has taken many of us on a fantastic journey for the past year. I have learned much and made wonderful friends over there, and it has been a great pleasure to work with Sue.

Fabric Collage II by Sue Bleiweiss
34" x 24"

Sue's work speaks to me - it is both richly textured and yet it is controlled and meticulously detailed. Love it.

Sue says: "I am fascinated with the challenge of creating texture both real and implied to a piece of fabric by using dyes, paints, and stitch to manipulate the surface of  the fabric.  My goal has never been to create a perfect and flawless surface. It is to create something that delights the eye, feeds the senses and fires the imagination." 

Sue also works in various media - I've loved her sculptural works and especially her hand made books for a long time. Beautiful stuff.

Sue has posted a review of my DVD, Bead It Like You Mean It on her blog and is giving away a copy. Please head over to her blog and read what she thinks. Leave a comment to win. 

Carol Sloane's giveaway is also still open if you haven't left a comment there.

Artist Spotlight: Carol Sloan

I'd like you to meet mixed media artist, Carol Sloan. I have truly enjoyed getting to know her through the Sketchbook Challenge. When I was reading her biography I was drawn to her lists. I like lists. I'm going to share her list with you.

In 2008 I started a blog, began teaching and submitted artwork for publication in two books.

I was on my way to achieving some of my lifelong goals and dreams: 

Be an artist. Be an author. Teach others to celebrate their creative spirit.

I have artwork in four books, with a project coming out this fall (I hope) in an e-book with Lark. I teach nationally and plan on teaching internationally soon. 

I want to write a book about mixed media book making. 

I love to teach. 

I love to see the spark in my students eyes that they can create beautiful art. 

I love to hear other people say that I helped them to look at the world in a different manner.

If I'm not knee deep in water, kayaking with my husband, then I am elbow deep in paint, paper and fiber, creating art that tells a great story.

(Do you love her list as much as I do?)

Carol has also reviewed Bead It Like You Mean It

Leave a comment on her BLOG 
if you'd like the chance to win it.

http://carolbsloan.blogspot.com/

Here is a little recap of the reviews so far - and the upcoming giveaways

Larkin VanHorn http://blog.larkinart.com/?p=174

 Susan Sorell http://www.creativechick.com/blog/ 

Kelli Nina Perkins http://ephemeralalchemy.blogspot.com/ 

Sharon Chapman http://wildflowerhouse.blogspot.com/ 

Leslie Jennison http://leslietuckerjenison.blogspot.com/ 

Carla Sonheim http://carlasonheim.wordpress.com/ 
Laura Wasilowski http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/ 

Gloria Hansen http://www.gloriahansen.com/weblog/?p=6424 

Oct 3  Carol Sloan http://carolbsloan.blogspot.com/ 

Oct 5 Sue Bleiweiss http://www.suebleiweiss.com/blog/ 

Oct 7  Jill Berry http://jillberrydesign.com/blog/ 

Oct 10 Jane LaFazio http://janeville.blogspot.com/ 

Oct 12 Tracie Lynn Huskamp http://thereddoor-studio.blogspot.com/

Artist Spotlight: Laura Wasilowski

Laura Walisowski has long been one of my favorite quilters and one of my favorite people. Her work and her personality are both full of whimsy and humor. In fact, she should come with a warning: do not try to drink when she is talking as sudden spraying through the nose is likely to occur.

Waffle Irons
32" x 37"

Laura is the revered and feared Dean of Corrections at the Chicago School of Fusing, (yes, I AM a proud graduate of that school.) I highly recommend a quick tour, especially a glance at the Rowenta Sports Arena, Home of the Iron Maidens, my favorite team.

She teaches all over the place and will also be vending her absolutely delicious - as in I have an extensive collection - ARTFABRIK embroidery threads and dyed fabric in Houston at the International Quilt Festival.

Blue Book on Blue Chairs
46" x 57"

Her new book, Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts is a delight to read and if you've wanted to add embroidery to your quilts I highly recommend it. I reviewed it here in case you are curious... and you know you are!

Today she has a review of Bead It Like You Mean It up on her blog

http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/

Today only - leave a comment over there for a chance to win

Student Spotlight: Playing With Paint

I'd love to share with you some of the wonderful work done by students in my class

Playing With Paint

Stamped by Sarah Stephens

These were from our online session earlier this year at

www.QuiltUniversity.com

Dry brush by Madalene Murphy

Monoprint by Sally Stites

Tiger Eyes by Kathy Edwards

http://kathyeplace.blogspot.com/

wet wash, stamp, shiva oil sticks  by Anne Fornicola

Monoprint by Cheryl Hansen