Dad Looking Like Ted

I worked a bit on the sea turtle wine holder design today, but it was difficult to simplify the coloring enough for mass production.  I will let my sister-in-law Joyce worry about it. She paints the wine holders that Ted makes with his jigsaw.

Next I worked on a watercolor painting of my Dad from an enlarged photo.  I refined the drawing, and then I painted in the color areas fairly lightly. I was shocked to see how much the painting of my Dad (at age 42) resembles my 58-year-old brother Ted.  Now that I look at it again, I think I made the head too small.
This is my first portrait of a person, and it isn't easy.  Back to the drawing board.  And back to reading Putting People into Paintings.

Art "To Do" List

Today I allowed 3 hours for my art time because I had a list of things I wanted to work on:

1. Touch up flamingo card
2. Work on sea turtle design
3. Do right-brain exercises
4. Work on Dad picture

Because I am working without a class or an instructor, I am trying to give myself a little structure and direction.  Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is a book suggested by a friend.  I found it at the library, and I am using its exercises.   My first exercise was to do 3 drawings: a self-portrait using a mirror, a portrait of someone from memory, and a drawing of my hand.

I am also working on a series of Florida designs--sea turtle, fish, alligator, and conch--for my brother's wine-amals business.  He makes holders for winebottles and wine glasses in the shape of animals to sell in tourist traps.

Beginnings and Endings

Last Friday I worked on my watercolor notecards and today I finished them.  I plan to make color copies of the ones I like to use on other types of cards as well.  The good thing about doing these cards is that I am learning to work quickly and to be more minimalist.  I did not have time to write in my Art Journal last week as we were heading out of town for the fourth weekend in a row.

Today I started working on a sketch of my father based on a photo taken in 1962.  He would have been 43 at the time.  He is sitting on the dock at his camp in the sun, looking very relaxed.  I hope to make a water color painting of this sketch one day. This is my first attempt at painting a person.

My other beginning is designing some Florida critters for my brother Ted's wine and glass holders in the shape of animals.  I am working on a sea turtle, a fish, an alligator, and a lizard--all done to his specific measurements.

Drawing of Dad on the Dock