tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45993800184431730412024-02-07T13:31:07.178-08:00Realm of the SeadragonAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-51691227367926372522016-04-22T11:17:00.000-07:002016-04-22T11:17:06.261-07:00Limited Palette<br />
Here's a little piece I've been working on for the past few months. My color theory has always been a little weak, so I purchased <a href="http://jamesgurney.com/site/books" target="_blank">James Gurney's Color and Light </a>and started this as an exercise.<br />
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I've limited myself to only four colors and have found that even with that limitation, a painter can still blend a huge range of values and hues. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0LuWtgNuQSOwsHfmKPhZYnSxdLpJ_TV4BACZpuRW1kOZ0IVIIC_00hEpZAIuJMAXGwvH6m26B_08pjwj9o0P3kT9AR8tfy31_vnlsPxWzNLDR5k_NSCnkn4ySMg8kWpIZZIyZMgAxCQ/s1600/Amanda_Zimmerman_Visitations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0LuWtgNuQSOwsHfmKPhZYnSxdLpJ_TV4BACZpuRW1kOZ0IVIIC_00hEpZAIuJMAXGwvH6m26B_08pjwj9o0P3kT9AR8tfy31_vnlsPxWzNLDR5k_NSCnkn4ySMg8kWpIZZIyZMgAxCQ/s400/Amanda_Zimmerman_Visitations.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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Not only does the glow of the moth affect the coloring but the different plant species will also be different values as well. This still needs a bit of work to bring it all together, but I've been delighted with the overall outcome. <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-40918065412561906672016-02-12T10:02:00.003-08:002016-02-20T15:31:06.004-08:00Commitment<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc516kA42AGPReEUgobQMDUkgQk07Et248rtJs0P7aHdB_4KAuN1jREbwhu2TF-lO2TdInQRaC81KSdSnIK5TZSD421cZd-UvcWo3GS4FQ4cJrSsuNyakkPNrGflOG3j1sOjPSZo7e48/s1600/Humminbird+Moth_Zimmerman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc516kA42AGPReEUgobQMDUkgQk07Et248rtJs0P7aHdB_4KAuN1jREbwhu2TF-lO2TdInQRaC81KSdSnIK5TZSD421cZd-UvcWo3GS4FQ4cJrSsuNyakkPNrGflOG3j1sOjPSZo7e48/s200/Humminbird+Moth_Zimmerman.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It is what holds me back as an artist. Commitment to style. Commitment to a subject<span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u>, </u></span></span>and commitment to a medium. I love working with watercolor, oils, pastels, pen and ink, and now </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/267344568/cicada?ref=shop_home_active_1" target="_blank">Gold Leaf</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">. Each subject and each medium creates a different style/feel in my work. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I keep telling myself that at some point, this will all accumulate in an incredible nexus of unique work that I'll be famous for<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> after my untimely death at the hands of a rabid <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">gopher, but...</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Amanda Zimmerman is a scientific/nature illustrator.</span></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-19172215163847594192015-11-13T17:57:00.000-08:002015-11-13T18:00:16.469-08:00MudSkippers and Mangroves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcMY9-eeLbdN5mYCIffujjtoVWi8SVa1WSy5FRv7HBIrMAz8pqKgyYHR1bB70uDjS_GtJalcrV5calLQkaUf3dND5nnelwHLUtpbttLd5Bj1LWnsm_U0BrE1wDQxOuhXAz5fC2BExw0g/s1600/Mudskipper_ZimmermanLR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcMY9-eeLbdN5mYCIffujjtoVWi8SVa1WSy5FRv7HBIrMAz8pqKgyYHR1bB70uDjS_GtJalcrV5calLQkaUf3dND5nnelwHLUtpbttLd5Bj1LWnsm_U0BrE1wDQxOuhXAz5fC2BExw0g/s640/Mudskipper_ZimmermanLR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Mudskippers are fascinating fish. They spend more time skipping and flipping around in the dense mud than in the water. Their front fins are elongated for 'walking' on land and they can breath through their skin as long as it remains damp. They can also retain water in their gills to help breath out of water. Once they used up all the oxygen in the water, they need to replace it with fresh supply.<br />
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When defending their territories, mudskippers display their dorsal fins and push each other around with their open mouths. <br />
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Shown: Blue-spotted mudskipper <i>(Boleophthalmus boddarti) </i>This particular species is very common in mangrove communities in India's west coast and Southeast Asia.<br />
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Amanda Zimmerman is a scientific illustrator. She has done work for Project Seagrass in </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-14312079777684610342015-09-14T14:55:00.000-07:002015-09-14T14:55:08.624-07:00Mapping the Sundarbans (would drive a cartographer mad)<style>
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The ecologically rich Sundarbans are one of the planets largest
mangrove communities. Here in Bangladesh, the Ganges, Padma, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers all
converge into the Bay of Bengal. It is a meeting of freshand saltwater; a
diverse place of forest, beaches, tidal flats, marsh and swamps lands. Once measuring around 16,700
square kilometres (6,400 sq mi), the Sundarbans have now reduced to one third its
previous size.</div>
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It is home to Bengal tigers, exotic birds, the <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">chital horin (</span>spotted deer)<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, the critically endangered estuarine crocodile and the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Indian python">Indian
python</a>. </span></div>
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The Sundarbans are also very time consuming to draw.<br />
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AMANDA ZIMMERMAN</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-4752138902099136172015-08-13T07:17:00.002-07:002015-08-13T07:17:40.503-07:00Monkey MadnessLast night I had a dream that I was Curious George! It was all from the first person point of view, so I was literally seeing the world through monkey eyes. (It was about the same as a human sees the world, since my brain has no concept of how a monkey <i>really</i> sees the world.) <br />
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In the dream I was sitting among a pile of stuffed animals, gazing out a picture window, waiting for the man in the yellow hat to come back. <br />
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This is not Curious George. This is a very big Silverback Gorilla. I would not recommend hugging or squeezing him. <br />
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This watercolor study was done from one of the dioramas at the <a href="http://carnegiemnh.org/">Carnegie Museum of Natural History</a>.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-44156299003962845012015-05-09T08:51:00.002-07:002015-05-09T08:51:25.844-07:00Tolkien was the Original Zentangle artist?Am I the only one that sees this?<br />
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I was recently visiting a friend in Miami who was talking about having been ensnared (happily) in zentangle art. It was a real departure from her botanical art, but I think she was really enjoying the freedom and whimsy of designing with the stylized patterns.<br />
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On the plane home I happened to cracked open The Hobbit for a light refresher since I haven't read the book since before the movies came out. (I suspect Peter Jackson hadn't either -at least, the final chapter- but that's another blog...)<br />
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In any event, this particular edition was graced with Tolkien's original drawings and I saw some similarities.<br />
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I think there is enough evidence to back up my claim.What do you think?<br />
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____________________________</div>
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AMANDA ZIMMERMAN</div>
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An illustrator of nature is an observer of form and behavior. My job is
to create illustrations that not only engage the general public with
vibrancy and motion, but educate the viewer about the subject and create
a connection of memory. It is these connections to nature that we make,
a sense of personal contact-even if only through an illustration- that
imparts a sense of responsibility to our natural world. http://salamandaz42.wix.com/sciart </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-49636043425104800172015-03-23T07:58:00.001-07:002015-03-23T07:58:34.674-07:00Elizabeth Gould-Woman in Scientific Illustration
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1SPq8avhGcokVG7b7t_gInQUKndxAXItsGH1yfRyNT0_fWN9BrN9vhB5xv2OxNbgwx4Ve3WiVfCA-lkPybhTq3a_ppbzvO8WsxDE7MU3C39G8SwLhyQrk22j9DSJ2B8q1sFShN_tbhI/s1600/Elizabeth+Gould_big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1SPq8avhGcokVG7b7t_gInQUKndxAXItsGH1yfRyNT0_fWN9BrN9vhB5xv2OxNbgwx4Ve3WiVfCA-lkPybhTq3a_ppbzvO8WsxDE7MU3C39G8SwLhyQrk22j9DSJ2B8q1sFShN_tbhI/s1600/Elizabeth+Gould_big.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a class="site" href="http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrB8pEFHRBVxkMAfr2jzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBxNG1oMmE2BHNlYwNmcC1hdHRyaWIEc2xrA3J1cmwEaXQD/RV=2/RE=1427148166/RO=11/RU=http%3a%2f%2faustralianmuseum.net.au%2fimage%2felizabeth-gould/RK=0/RS=nLf5W6gtNqctetgI_aET2dGdrYs-">from australianmuseum.net.au</a></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ELIZABETH
GOULD was born Elizabeth Coxen to an educated middle class family in1804. She
earned a living as a governess teaching Latin, French and music, but found the
whole situation not to her liking. After a chance meeting at the Aviary of the
Zoological Society, she married John Gould at age 24; a marriage that suited
them. Through hard work and skill, John worked his way to post of Animal
Preserver to the British Museum, and Ornithology Superintendent to the
Zoological Society. As for Elizabeth, she wasted no time in launching into her illustration
career beginning with drawings for the first volume of a 20 part series: <i><span style="font-family: Cambria;">A Century of Birds of the Himalaya Mountains. </span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Within
this time, she and John lost their first child at birth, but in 1830, she gave
birth to their second child, John Henry. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TM_7ekPZz3cEhVscRVADCZc9rYNeKtaRDLAXSQaEEV3eN2RAdSLFiXFlero9eN22C0Y-YzjFbRIyNEmSkjxbRxYGX_bs67gKx9tYIlp3k9kUx6EqSaymTOw65cjbC0sDFGOYcMt6aSk/s1600/ksrl_sc_gould_ep_1_1_0118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TM_7ekPZz3cEhVscRVADCZc9rYNeKtaRDLAXSQaEEV3eN2RAdSLFiXFlero9eN22C0Y-YzjFbRIyNEmSkjxbRxYGX_bs67gKx9tYIlp3k9kUx6EqSaymTOw65cjbC0sDFGOYcMt6aSk/s1600/ksrl_sc_gould_ep_1_1_0118.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From<i> Birds of Europe</i>, Elizabeth Gould</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At John’s request,
Elizabeth received tutelage under</span><i><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Edward Lear, the famed bird artist at the Zoological Society.
This professional training increased her skills, depth and breath of work. Even
John James Audubon took notice. But as she was working on the next section of, <i><span style="font-family: Cambria;">A Century of Birds of the Himalaya Mountains</span></i>,
she suffered the lose of third child after another difficult pregnancy. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John
Gould is often seen as an artist in his own right, an illusion he encouraged.
In truth, his passion lie more with the production of the work, and it was
Elizabeth’s hand that provided the final product. After <i><span style="font-family: Cambria;">A Century of Birds of the Himalaya Mountains</span></i>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">was finished, she began work on</span><i><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> Birds of Europe. </span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">She and John traveled across
Europe together to study and collect specimens for the latest endeavor. During
this time she gave birth to three more children.</span><i><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On May
16<sup>th</sup> 1838, Elizabeth left all but the eldest child with her mother, and
set sail for Australia with John. They spent two years in Australia. During
this time, she worked on drawing hundreds of specimens for <i>Birds of
Australia</i> and <i>A Monograph of the Macropodidæ, </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">or<i> Family of Kangaroos</i></span>. She
also worked with Charles Darwin on illustrations for the Ornithology volume of <i>Zoology
of the Voyage of H. M. S. Beagle</i>. Their seventh child was born in Tasmania.
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
arrived back in London is 1840, but Elizabeth never had a chance to complete
her work on the animals of Australia. She died after giving birth to their
eighth child, at age 37. The preparation for lithography printing (transferring
to stone) of her last drawings was completed by illustrator H. C. Richter. She did
not receive credit at publication. John Gould went on to produce his bird
books, using H. C. Richter, Edward Lear, Joseph Wolf and William Hart as illustrators.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KfiUpv7guhLhOpea-81xvS3-wvOkJ9x6g_svzJYUML-FsXeI58Jp0K1w5b-F7W2_qMe7dIOdiYj0xEnIzB3JzqTbRlzSzdt6BfnpSqIllfv3X3dXtCEK2L-Kv-Weev4O1JRCkpFJqvw/s1600/d852e32b7d2f471453d3f9607f4c4fd2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KfiUpv7guhLhOpea-81xvS3-wvOkJ9x6g_svzJYUML-FsXeI58Jp0K1w5b-F7W2_qMe7dIOdiYj0xEnIzB3JzqTbRlzSzdt6BfnpSqIllfv3X3dXtCEK2L-Kv-Weev4O1JRCkpFJqvw/s1600/d852e32b7d2f471453d3f9607f4c4fd2.jpg" height="472" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Northern Quoll</b> (<i>Dasyurus hallucatus</i>), credited to John Gould</td></tr>
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AMANDA ZIMMERMAN</div>
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An illustrator of nature is an observer of form and behavior. My job is to create illustrations that not only engage the general public with vibrancy and motion, but educate the viewer about the subject and create a connection of memory. It is these connections to nature that we make, a sense of personal contact-even if only through an illustration- that imparts a sense of responsibility to our natural world. www.salamandaart.com</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-26313715089920205352014-11-22T08:38:00.000-08:002014-11-22T08:41:08.847-08:00Battle of Gettysburg Cyclorama<style>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt;">Born Too Late</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
(or why don’t we make this stuff anymore?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Battle of Gettysburg Cyclorama</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Discovered this gem a few weeks ago at the
Gettysburg Battlefield National Park Visitor Center. The canvas depicts
Pickette’s Charge, the crucial final offensive by the Confederate Army.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paul Dominique Philippoteaux and his team
of 2o artists worked for nearly a year to complete the epic battle. What a job,
right? Apparently, one artist would go along and paint the sky; another would
do uniforms; another, horses, and another, faces. Each had his or her
specialty. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqtv_KG3xJYjV-0KJ-2i6Ta6bA0HTOEBCNY8XOmr8gB1c36MnmDJRbMfqG-DRFSi11COXrr2JVgzlX0UPkMqUS5xASNF3eP-Nr04mbKCk-RBx7N9QYupUJMngHrnl01bSbu5KlA_6UGQ/s1600/Battle+of+Gettysburg+Cyclorama4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqtv_KG3xJYjV-0KJ-2i6Ta6bA0HTOEBCNY8XOmr8gB1c36MnmDJRbMfqG-DRFSi11COXrr2JVgzlX0UPkMqUS5xASNF3eP-Nr04mbKCk-RBx7N9QYupUJMngHrnl01bSbu5KlA_6UGQ/s1600/Battle+of+Gettysburg+Cyclorama4.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The grand scope of this work is amazing. Large
canvases were stitched together to form a 360 degree canvas housed in a
circular (cyclorama) house where the viewer could stand in the middle of the
building and simply by turning could enjoy the view as if he was really on
location. About 50 ft. high and 400 ft. in circumference; the canvas would be strung
up from rafters and weighed down and primed. Sketches were transferred via grid
system. The artists worked on tiered scaffolding. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The narration done by the Gettysburg
Battlefield National Park is superb too. Much care was taken to hide edge of
canvas with earthen works, props, plants etc. The image literally being in
three dimensions at the viewer’s feet and then stretches out into an amazing
panorama of the battlefield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Does anyone know of any other cycloramas
still in use?</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Philippoteaux"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Philippoteaux</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/researchers-in-museums/tag/paul-dominique-philippoteaux/">http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/researchers-in-museums/tag/paul-dominique-philippoteaux/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/13/see-the-cyclorama-and-film">http://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/13/see-the-cyclorama-and-film</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">PS Subscribe to my blog or <a href="http://eepurl.com/7zjir" target="_blank">mailing list</a>
and receive 10% off in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/RealmoftheSeadragon?ref=l2-shop-header-avatar" target="_blank">Etsy Store</a>. </span><br />
<a href="http://www.salamandaart.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.salamandaart.com</span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2vrhoDANOo6Doe4GaEhlhH5BBkfIBUIzcYsB4AQEQFTGyJ1WxYk0-Are0hlWDDnG5ASU6UgD3OiNmXRO3l9IVxle8jAKT7ipgelCYXRCDPkoNkehyphenhyphen71Ql8A69AGLvlQ32c4fWi3h13Q/s1600/Battle+of+Gettysburg+Cyclorama1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2vrhoDANOo6Doe4GaEhlhH5BBkfIBUIzcYsB4AQEQFTGyJ1WxYk0-Are0hlWDDnG5ASU6UgD3OiNmXRO3l9IVxle8jAKT7ipgelCYXRCDPkoNkehyphenhyphen71Ql8A69AGLvlQ32c4fWi3h13Q/s1600/Battle+of+Gettysburg+Cyclorama1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQm2WNQjU1RZRgAk2fVW8BDEycnu2zozZ34d3T9rReFJOT94Hhtr6WixmE5VeumW9vxDMZxV-XzsIgfSEAC2-zJmaeWedF4TBUTfMetdB6eRm3XhJkl2AwMJQaqz1om9taxoAF-Kjb-JE/s1600/Battle+of+Gettysburg+Cyclorama2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQm2WNQjU1RZRgAk2fVW8BDEycnu2zozZ34d3T9rReFJOT94Hhtr6WixmE5VeumW9vxDMZxV-XzsIgfSEAC2-zJmaeWedF4TBUTfMetdB6eRm3XhJkl2AwMJQaqz1om9taxoAF-Kjb-JE/s1600/Battle+of+Gettysburg+Cyclorama2.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_8rqYv2bpGUQxIYfROlahsfshjwbpxdOavQkOkM9leXfvZwH2ksfmfr_2BAuHpe4KeZ2nHjuMJHdqjUYZqxQGUoRk25FoNuTrDMYz1zDvm-8KsM5t9RpI-Ib4Byx-2Md63rcLVlSD7U/s1600/Battle+of+Gettysburg+Cyclorama3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_8rqYv2bpGUQxIYfROlahsfshjwbpxdOavQkOkM9leXfvZwH2ksfmfr_2BAuHpe4KeZ2nHjuMJHdqjUYZqxQGUoRk25FoNuTrDMYz1zDvm-8KsM5t9RpI-Ib4Byx-2Md63rcLVlSD7U/s1600/Battle+of+Gettysburg+Cyclorama3.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-65011766294943189972013-08-07T15:20:00.000-07:002013-08-07T15:20:32.514-07:00Don't Give Up So Fast! Sketchbook Woes.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7dYDHrWkhAlIQYzdee2yiXkNbJRRKuGRtvLM0GsBXGP1TZp01bg2NJtqNetkAcC8ybklNFooOdab5Fmuxs1g9054toWRfRfa6tJI58oPwdzyG9rNgDmq4MoiFFGUwuX8d51Xy5Srxd8/s1600/IMG_1480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7dYDHrWkhAlIQYzdee2yiXkNbJRRKuGRtvLM0GsBXGP1TZp01bg2NJtqNetkAcC8ybklNFooOdab5Fmuxs1g9054toWRfRfa6tJI58oPwdzyG9rNgDmq4MoiFFGUwuX8d51Xy5Srxd8/s400/IMG_1480.JPG" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Subject Matter: Great Horned Owl (Bird Acre Sanctuary Maine)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We all have a collection. Those horrid, horrid sketchbook disasters. Oh we started out with good intentions, but then, we lost focus, or stiffened up because someone was looking over our shoulder or the subject matter was just too darn complicated. I would challenge any artist out there to show me a *perfect* sketch book from cover to cover. Oh. Ok. I do have a few...if you don't look too closely you wont notice the remnants of pages that have been torn out.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9smcXQRSy9uuRjejUpbvOuBEBurd3I5t_MIg1YpOeEKEgHu6d48pRDww-Cop82VLC02Mhza1FjsIwW-y5PNCDq63RZUmTskQCz_jVyawlLGf6cnQxK5F29UVOnaJqzvdK48kc34MQ6N4/s1600/IMG_1490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9smcXQRSy9uuRjejUpbvOuBEBurd3I5t_MIg1YpOeEKEgHu6d48pRDww-Cop82VLC02Mhza1FjsIwW-y5PNCDq63RZUmTskQCz_jVyawlLGf6cnQxK5F29UVOnaJqzvdK48kc34MQ6N4/s320/IMG_1490.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The offending attempt at sketching him</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well there is no perfect solution. A noted, professional, fantastically good artist instructor shared this bit of wisdom: When we go out with our camera and take pictures, only a few out of the dozen snapped are noteworthy. The more we snap the more we learn about taking pictures and slowly, but surely, more and more pictures are keepers. The same goes for sketch books. And hold onto those bad ones too, because even if what you did didn't work or turn out as you desired, you still learned something.<br />
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And sometimes not all hope is lost...<br />
<br />
Recently I had an opportunity to sketch some Birds of Prey at the <a href="http://www.birdsacre.com/">Stanbrooke /Bird Acre Sanctuary in Maine</a>.<br />
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As you can see, not all my drawings were masterpieces!<br />
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It wasn't until a few weeks later that I was able to sit back down and spend some time on my disaster. I was working with my traveling watercolor kit so there were some limitations with what I could do, but I just took the leap and started working unconventionally. Using watercolor like acrylics or gouache to help cover up my mistakes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENNhWGs8OIIHoP-eV9YexTdB3NFlmfttki9W9RMVZLAETcFp78Kyrfw4H8e29CcOdI7JMAyzu2YwhLWUcsmea2e_iYM2Q3UvkxFfKIe8SjVgYOTswmGAypXPmF2nbDQPcM4gNVELTuB0/s1600/owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENNhWGs8OIIHoP-eV9YexTdB3NFlmfttki9W9RMVZLAETcFp78Kyrfw4H8e29CcOdI7JMAyzu2YwhLWUcsmea2e_iYM2Q3UvkxFfKIe8SjVgYOTswmGAypXPmF2nbDQPcM4gNVELTuB0/s400/owl.jpg" width="255" /></a>As you can see, he's not something for the museum, and even now needs more work on those eyes, but a great improvement from the first attempt. All because I didn't give up on him!<br />
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Selecting good materials for a sketchbook can be a great passive assist on projects such as this, when you need your substrate/paper and medium to go beyond its intended use and still hold up.<br />
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Pentalic puts out a series of <a href="http://www.pentalic.com/sketchbooks-soft-cover/nature-sketch.asp">"Nature Sketch"</a> books that I adore. They come in a variety of sizes to scale to your comfort. The cream colored paper is thick and holds up to repeated washes and still drys pretty flat. It can take pencil, watercolor, pastels, oil pastels, pen and ink....the works...<br />
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My brushes, I admit are a little mixed. A few high quality ones for details so they hold there point, but I also have some medium grade ones that I am rather abusive with pushing color around and mushing paint into the surface.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">For water colors, I do like the <a href="http://www.holbeinhk.com/catalog/category.php?id_category=73">Holbein</a> series or <a href="http://mgraham.com/">M Graham</a> series. The tubes don't seem to be as messy as the thinner tubes.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Check out more of my portfolio at: </span><a href="http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-decoration: none;">http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-47506960905769609772013-07-24T09:09:00.001-07:002013-08-02T12:56:04.129-07:00Resources Tips for Drawing the Human Form....The Human Bean<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvT19jr2pZV97SU8ZilkHHsBEs3vhdLkVHJvxkMGIrWz4n9-Y5CSdw3UivmoFTIc82FzWPpY8Z0FnK2nCTkYQjUUnqKAVC9TbOcmDUIcbklZpCyPfaGOmu0d_y_rtp3FEHo_CIkOEd2CE/s1600/bean4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvT19jr2pZV97SU8ZilkHHsBEs3vhdLkVHJvxkMGIrWz4n9-Y5CSdw3UivmoFTIc82FzWPpY8Z0FnK2nCTkYQjUUnqKAVC9TbOcmDUIcbklZpCyPfaGOmu0d_y_rtp3FEHo_CIkOEd2CE/s400/bean4.jpg" title="bean Amanda Zimmerman" width="307" /></a>I've been absent for a little bit, but had spare time today, on my Birthday (!) to sit down and share some recently learned tips and tricks for drawing the human form. Humans often seem to be a tricky subject for artists, myself included. I am consciously looking for sketching tips and resources to improve my work.<br />
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The "Human Bean" is a fantastic technique for capturing the action, movement and shape of the torso. Everything hangs off the torso, so getting the core right is critical in our work with the human form. I'm not going to explain the technique here, but will send you over to <a href="http://www.proko.com/">Proko.com</a> .They do a much better job of explaining and giving examples than I possibly could. Once you are there you will notice an extensive library of other tutorials. Enjoy!<br />
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Once I did a little practice with this sketching technique I popped in one of my favorite action movie and paused the DVD occasionally to draw some "human beans" Within one sitting, I already felt my humans had improved by leaps and bounds.<br />
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At first I focused on just "the bean" but it was natural after the first couple pages to start adding on the limbs and head etc....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpxeq9RtSpGU6naBwlvrzdo0MFJ4brn7H0KjPSpXzG3YAgZDInZDk540ogGh0RqJKuIIr4Ftv8XaqYdSiaqd_osz2J5RID0oJxGFaksVPjZPENxpInXDDu0oCddi3beGZ9Huib0nRoV4/s1600/bean2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpxeq9RtSpGU6naBwlvrzdo0MFJ4brn7H0KjPSpXzG3YAgZDInZDk540ogGh0RqJKuIIr4Ftv8XaqYdSiaqd_osz2J5RID0oJxGFaksVPjZPENxpInXDDu0oCddi3beGZ9Huib0nRoV4/s320/bean2.jpg" width="274" /></a>This works very well for the human form and I'm thinking that it might be applicable in some fashion to the animal form as well. The bean would be more stretched out of course, but the concept is valid. I'll give it a try and post my results in the near future.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Check out more of my portfolio at: </span><a href="http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-decoration: none;">http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-48008688359999162952013-06-06T10:34:00.003-07:002013-08-02T12:56:30.058-07:00Working with Oil Pastels<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHfghCZCYe1gfXW3B0AX_36_WQJsEeQ0fyI6z_f3wLzne7yps3bh-hJufnHRxqrpsFOxrduHUUuBg3gK-MfyUaEEpE_9dcU2xtjcTb-QAkiPUe-HEqd2ksdXYepiaendZtYvR5waMx6I/s1600/AustraliaBeach_2_lr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHfghCZCYe1gfXW3B0AX_36_WQJsEeQ0fyI6z_f3wLzne7yps3bh-hJufnHRxqrpsFOxrduHUUuBg3gK-MfyUaEEpE_9dcU2xtjcTb-QAkiPUe-HEqd2ksdXYepiaendZtYvR5waMx6I/s320/AustraliaBeach_2_lr.jpg" width="320" /></a>Hello all-<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPP8oKB44ClnHKNXkKjF9iHGxAytyfsbAO7VrvVO-P3HA3WxvwCca4H86PspEoOSZWIW1Fl2ePV_wv-UAAx4vagXxbqV8_OkpiKS1479WLBxABpBlPYY8FW-gm6QCsLQLVbu6RO4f48Vo/s1600/AustraliaBeach_lr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPP8oKB44ClnHKNXkKjF9iHGxAytyfsbAO7VrvVO-P3HA3WxvwCca4H86PspEoOSZWIW1Fl2ePV_wv-UAAx4vagXxbqV8_OkpiKS1479WLBxABpBlPYY8FW-gm6QCsLQLVbu6RO4f48Vo/s320/AustraliaBeach_lr.jpg" width="320" /></a>I started working with oil pastels about a year ago with hit or miss results. There are a variety of ways to work with this medium, but I think the main issue to overcome is that oil pastels never really "dry out" I tend to frame mine with at least a single matte to keep the work from touching the glass. There are also several fixatives available. I have used the <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/sennelier-dartigny-pastel-fixative/">Sennelier brand</a> with good results.<br />
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My first experiments with oil pastels was on paper. I just grabbed what I had lying around, which happened to be watercolor paper. This is the same scene done twice (something I rarely do) on watercolor paper with different finishes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGj5cyPjceAwDbyVtkcytP9Mvuf3vAJVTO7_z0hoFKe8e9oo4V51Jre0bllQ27Wnx9bK7gaxlAhI8_7kuFMBgzNksrcfSSVwXrewTBbowIXdxoLo7B8GcAkxzoV07QxgK53f4Yq2W2pE/s1600/jim+byrnes_lr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>The paper with the smoother finish is very different that the same scene done on cold press paper. I used a scratch tool to draw in the branches on the shrubs. A big tip for working with oil pastel on paper: For archival purposes, you should apply a light coat of gesso to paper. Not everyone does this, but if you don't you run the risk of the oils seeping into the paper and discoloring it over time. Oil pastels can be loose or blended.<br />
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There are a variety of brands of pastels out there. They are all very different in texture and softness....additionally, they work very differently with each other as well. I find I can usually blend with Sennelier and Van gogh brands, but not cras pas.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://emptyeasel.com/2009/01/22/oil-pastels-101-a-comprehensive-guide-to-painting-with-oil-pastel/">For beginners, this is a nice resource for information.</a><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnw4YrWOwhqIBJ1mQP0pPQY5YuYSv4PmdgRhYarTdvIjxQWVO39j75gdgBd251mRNXDAhLyWqndb4eiklmxxW7OwC82luYHxcI10ybXCWZ4fPzsahzPA0O8Xa3oi2gAtjSeIdntAp_Hco/s1600/Hammerheads+start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnw4YrWOwhqIBJ1mQP0pPQY5YuYSv4PmdgRhYarTdvIjxQWVO39j75gdgBd251mRNXDAhLyWqndb4eiklmxxW7OwC82luYHxcI10ybXCWZ4fPzsahzPA0O8Xa3oi2gAtjSeIdntAp_Hco/s640/Hammerheads+start.jpg" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
This is a light smooth oil paint on gessoed illustration board. I don't use any thinner when working with oils. </div>
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Just blocking in basic shapes and color.</div>
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At one point, I realized that applying oil pastels over a loose smooth oil paint surface was a great way to work....I like the process a lot. Here is step by step process of hammerhead sharks:<br />
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Bit by bit, I work in the details with the oil pastels until I have the final piece:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Check out more of my portfolio at: </span><a href="http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-decoration: none;">http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwd59J94ZCtR_q-T3TLWcAYHZq6snr2X5ttl3S3bxxvwC6UJ8eRrs25KTj_fr_RJbbqz03nUHqREM6SJYwKx4z-sNh0UwmDE1qUK1hCQfXpXtoQZgXX4P1eRPipoHk1XZ923KubQcMBg/s1600/Hammerhead+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwd59J94ZCtR_q-T3TLWcAYHZq6snr2X5ttl3S3bxxvwC6UJ8eRrs25KTj_fr_RJbbqz03nUHqREM6SJYwKx4z-sNh0UwmDE1qUK1hCQfXpXtoQZgXX4P1eRPipoHk1XZ923KubQcMBg/s640/Hammerhead+final.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-566336318490958382013-05-05T11:20:00.004-07:002013-05-05T11:40:07.475-07:00Ducks for Dad<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ7Y_bJkKL3Rg14zwsg8YKlnGmAFMxirxwWkOfAbslyR_OlIh3l2jamGMO7YP-BbRjNp13KB0sPccdzJfcxXxcKKm7jDnYMCVcxvbcFcy7rBybREuK0cXsfbuEea9DndRJxRQwCTNWj4/s1600/Sketch_Duck3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ7Y_bJkKL3Rg14zwsg8YKlnGmAFMxirxwWkOfAbslyR_OlIh3l2jamGMO7YP-BbRjNp13KB0sPccdzJfcxXxcKKm7jDnYMCVcxvbcFcy7rBybREuK0cXsfbuEea9DndRJxRQwCTNWj4/s320/Sketch_Duck3.jpg" width="320" /></a>Right now I'm busy working on duck paintings for my Dad. You think it'd be easier working for family, but I know my Dad has a very keen eye and, being an avid duck hunter, will be able to tell the slight error.<br />
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I'm lucky enough to live by several streams and lakes, so finding mallards to sketch and study was easy. I also recently had a chance to photograph some other duck species up at <a href="http://seadragonrealm.blogspot.com/2013/03/duck-duck-goose.html">Presque Isle earlier this spring too. </a><br />
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Through a series of quick email conversations, we settled on a size and species (pintail) and then it's up to me to work out the details.<br />
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Ducks as it turns out can be very elegant and graceful. They can also be awkward and amusing and downright funny too. I wasn't a big duck lover at the start of this project, but by the end, I think I'm going to find these creatures charming and a permanent entry on the "like" list.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmbJ-oAdFeAWqlKTQkUyVDZ8ujNrHVpxfWOPSjbB9lbry4GoDrj3dgz9vxTenu2NuyhUudZOZAXHk-AmaIjyWRuiBWhHobQvGGodKFX5sanpL03m171LnCmFQewv4rc219IczcHMPDIY/s1600/Sketch_Duck1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmbJ-oAdFeAWqlKTQkUyVDZ8ujNrHVpxfWOPSjbB9lbry4GoDrj3dgz9vxTenu2NuyhUudZOZAXHk-AmaIjyWRuiBWhHobQvGGodKFX5sanpL03m171LnCmFQewv4rc219IczcHMPDIY/s320/Sketch_Duck1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A book that has also been of great assistance is <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ducks-of-north-america-and-the-northern-hemisphere-john-gooders/1000428649?ean=9780816014224">Ducks of North America</a>. Beautiful Illustrations!<br />
<br />
<br />
Check out more of my portfolio at: <a href="http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-decoration: none;">http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-43050365667159351342013-04-26T14:57:00.000-07:002013-04-26T14:57:15.412-07:00Sharks for Fun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-S8BzhXdjm8vuMdNtdrOXTBBADbuudaZx8nVyzxB6HinlECfPEYgkr_zvoyBq_Gyaid8O9hOjwi0hVPdGLgXhMFDDXsYsD6KfX0H9pQF0omgXfImGnaCz8lq5aYac7gHc7qiC6vnwLw/s1600/sharks1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-S8BzhXdjm8vuMdNtdrOXTBBADbuudaZx8nVyzxB6HinlECfPEYgkr_zvoyBq_Gyaid8O9hOjwi0hVPdGLgXhMFDDXsYsD6KfX0H9pQF0omgXfImGnaCz8lq5aYac7gHc7qiC6vnwLw/s400/sharks1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Been working on some shark sketches in my free time. Really, really incredible animals, I'm pleased more and more public awareness is being paid to these creatures. I know we have so much going on in the world today, famine, violence, war: Important issues that need our attention. But hopefully we don't over look the other creatures that share the planet with us. <br />
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<div>
If you want to be involved here are some websites:<br />
<a href="http://www.projectaware.org/">http://www.projectaware.org/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/Species-Adoptions/Great-White-Shark.aspx?q=SharkAdoption&sc=AWY1200WCGO1&searchen=google&gclid=CLuqj56n6bYCFcJo4Aody1UAZQ&mpch=ads">http://gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/Species-Adoptions/Great-White-Shark.aspx?q=SharkAdoption&sc=AWY1200WCGO1&searchen=google&gclid=CLuqj56n6bYCFcJo4Aody1UAZQ&mpch=ads</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7Vl1jHD6jHIHFh911WJ1Ucty41wowxkjEwW_qmoQBBpMTHdZ9SNUb8lLBs64V4iUrtLq2nC7J_CF4SXuzusV6Zd-sbocwfqWgM48hq-85kzlUfWVq5uxeM8K7HFVBju710B-fnClFAY/s1600/sharks2.jpg"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7Vl1jHD6jHIHFh911WJ1Ucty41wowxkjEwW_qmoQBBpMTHdZ9SNUb8lLBs64V4iUrtLq2nC7J_CF4SXuzusV6Zd-sbocwfqWgM48hq-85kzlUfWVq5uxeM8K7HFVBju710B-fnClFAY/s400/sharks2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<br />
These guys have been around since the dinosaurs. What a shame if the go extinct because we have no self control.<br />
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<a href="http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-decoration: none;">http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/</a><br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-25299099335355010502013-04-12T11:01:00.002-07:002013-04-26T14:57:33.271-07:00Advice to a young artist<style>
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</style>As artists, we are constantly striving to improve our skills. We might take classes, find a mentor, or spend arduous hours practicing. What I've discovered over the years, is that my mental blocks hold me back regardless of how much time and effort I commit to improvement.<br />
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We all have the voice of self doubt that whispers in our ear. They are our constant companions. Every interaction with other human beings provides these voices with an opportunity to derail us from the present here and now. 'What did that person mean by that? Are they angry with me? I wonder if I have broccoli stuck between my teeth?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZsB787rtABcTFRZStRmiE2_HRzX6dMAaFxKuTbxF-wvyk2LAuU-WjBHm3LiwCGjiDwMnb8F_PYXND4mYPxoby9Qs0JTIpksCXLrVaU3s7bLNjcCFyjjTDoEg3uQGta6I7596OOdlwmY/s1600/book_cover_the_artists_way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZsB787rtABcTFRZStRmiE2_HRzX6dMAaFxKuTbxF-wvyk2LAuU-WjBHm3LiwCGjiDwMnb8F_PYXND4mYPxoby9Qs0JTIpksCXLrVaU3s7bLNjcCFyjjTDoEg3uQGta6I7596OOdlwmY/s320/book_cover_the_artists_way.jpg" width="258" /></a>It's ok to listen to this voice moderately. Sometimes we do get
carried away and this voice can moderate us. 'Am I talking too much?' 'Is it time to listen?' ' Maybe I've hurt this persons feelings, I should touch base again and clarify what I mean...'</div>
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But often this voice is destructive: 'There's no way you are going to get this job.' 'You aren’t very good, you know.' 'Why am I so dull? and ugly? and stupid?'</div>
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These voices need to be excised. Not repressed, mind you. You need to
sit down with them and give them a very stern talking to and then find a way to come to terms with them. Another option, one that I find works well, is to journal and write. If
you are really struggling with the voices, this is a great way to send them packing. Find a quiet place, sit down and write. Write
down whatever pops into your head. Write it down. Doesn’t even have to
be legable. Once it's written down, you can burn it up, tear it apart, drown it down or let
the winds take it away. It's not going to solve any problems miraculously, but it does clarify and allow your mind to be clear.</div>
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These negative voices get in the way of your creativity. It's
almost as if your brain is <u>so</u> occupied with the worry, it can't spare anything to
relax, open up and allow the creativity to flow out.<br />
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Julie Cameron's book Artists Way is a fantastic tool for those of us struggling with those ultra-self destructive voices. Check out her website as well:<br />
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<a href="http://juliacameronlive.com/basic-tools/creative-clusters/">http://juliacameronlive.com/basic-tools/creative-clusters/ </a><br />
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Journaling in some way is like meditation. It's another way to quiet the mind and bring your focus into the here and now. Mediation is simply bringing the mind to the present moment and
each time it wanders off, bring it back again. There are specific breathing
techniques for meditation and posture. I don't recommend meditation without initally finding instruction. There are a few websites that can offer guidelines, but I find meditation with a group is more constructive for beginners. </div>
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<a href="http://www.shambhala.org/meditation/">http://www.shambhala.org/meditation/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.vipassanadhura.com/howto.htm">http://www.vipassanadhura.com/howto.htm </a></div>
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<a href="http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/">http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-58528053539311154342013-04-01T18:41:00.004-07:002013-04-12T09:53:16.732-07:00Sketching the Human Form<style>
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<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqyOl8gIc9eTw6nYeqzbqiD_Xj_yldlWS-rd_M5OlVa1oVZ2in7rYpKIRQ95mniLnO5MyDpt8ndn1Rj_H0VeVIEo91KzZ5tbOVBGhG7NE1_YjxUX9fvxskxvWK_EwMrz6ejDCUxJ7hfA/s1600/jim+byrnes_lr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqyOl8gIc9eTw6nYeqzbqiD_Xj_yldlWS-rd_M5OlVa1oVZ2in7rYpKIRQ95mniLnO5MyDpt8ndn1Rj_H0VeVIEo91KzZ5tbOVBGhG7NE1_YjxUX9fvxskxvWK_EwMrz6ejDCUxJ7hfA/s320/jim+byrnes_lr.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim Byrnes: Original photography done by Weitzel Studios</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One
subject matter that many artists struggle with is the human form. Drawing
people, whether in motion or at rest, can be a daunting task. I have often
resorted to begging friends to pose and model for still pictures for reference,
but these final paintings often lack the spontaneity and spirit of a live
model.Additionally, when working from someone else's photography, you are bound by copyright laws. I did the oil/oil pastel study of Jim Byrnes for an exercise, but I cna not sell the piece sinc eits not my original work. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Perhaps,
like me, you have dismissed this weak spot in our artistic abilities with
excuses like: “I’m an animal artist.” “I draw plants, I don’t need to learn how
to draw people” </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That
worked for a time, but as an older wiser (?) artist, I realize the need to be
well versed in rendering the entire world around us, people, animals, flowers the
whole enchilada etc.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So
here are some tips I’ve picked up from several teachers over the years. The
tips focus on sketching exercises, which are crucial in building an
understanding of the human form, before contemplating a finished
masterpiece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This first one though is
something I developed in order to continue drawing and sketching in the cold
winter months without resorting to still photos.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6M2C6XvjyLzuRtcBsGOaOj_Jq8vAVysuepAvRt6K6WguSwBD1isgY2vJ5Z_gFbvEhGtpNMWxszrSIR1rgwRrXkifYpzELBCLKOoY-7LrsEjG8qf9irIS9qlZ2vEriLb2If5-YhWUtF0/s1600/monks2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6M2C6XvjyLzuRtcBsGOaOj_Jq8vAVysuepAvRt6K6WguSwBD1isgY2vJ5Z_gFbvEhGtpNMWxszrSIR1rgwRrXkifYpzELBCLKOoY-7LrsEjG8qf9irIS9qlZ2vEriLb2If5-YhWUtF0/s400/monks2.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monks: Quick study sketches from DVD</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">DVD Sketching:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Take a DVD of your favorite movie and sit down with
your sketchbook. You can simply watch and sketch using a wire frame method
(more on that later) or you can pause the DVD at points you like and spend a
little more time on a more fleshed out sketch. One rule I have is that once the
pause time runs out and the DVD resumes normal play, then it's time to move on
to the next sketch. One quick note about copyright laws: I am advocating this
as an exercise, not as a way to create sell-able art. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOambBUwPIKisH1El7cYZWpC4QieRx23bAauG2mujUG-QKv8xN8IpSavQ6pHP1iEhhuVpMhka_fZBcesckp2OHKXdBTZcc7nyVp3BmQVqJqneIElH97F-qagzmXs-sMgxq5ZcqQGj3-hU/s1600/wireframe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOambBUwPIKisH1El7cYZWpC4QieRx23bAauG2mujUG-QKv8xN8IpSavQ6pHP1iEhhuVpMhka_fZBcesckp2OHKXdBTZcc7nyVp3BmQVqJqneIElH97F-qagzmXs-sMgxq5ZcqQGj3-hU/s640/wireframe.jpg" width="640" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Wireframe Sketching:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> This technique works well when sketching movement
such as people in a park or children at play. With a few quick strokes you can
practice capturing the essence of the person’s movements.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Performers
often repeat movements so it’s easy to start a quick sketch, move on to another
as the performer continues and then return to flesh out the first sketch as the
action is repeated: strumming a guitar, juggling, or delivering a passionate
line.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNoTtQw4RwrEXQ5ityJ9SyHY-ggjFRj0fpF2JKUv8S1v1-znw_-SIlVHIk6HnmUUNE9E8p1t0H8XY-xDuQ5clnf0XOlbb_fWbkMKGJJTZCiO2YUTBsqG4nd-PBBYbKjP39LJV0wFQVJk/s1600/ShawBlades+Rex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNoTtQw4RwrEXQ5ityJ9SyHY-ggjFRj0fpF2JKUv8S1v1-znw_-SIlVHIk6HnmUUNE9E8p1t0H8XY-xDuQ5clnf0XOlbb_fWbkMKGJJTZCiO2YUTBsqG4nd-PBBYbKjP39LJV0wFQVJk/s640/ShawBlades+Rex.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Don’t Forget:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Keep sketching using light pencil movements,
correcting as you continue to observe your subject. </span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></b><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><a href="http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/realm-of-the-seadragons.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/realm-of-the-seadragons.html</span></a></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-20828781385013066702013-03-25T19:51:00.000-07:002013-04-12T10:06:29.879-07:00Duck Duck Goose
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span><span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Recently
I had the opportunity to accompany fellow artist/illustrator and friend Mark
Klingler on a duck photo field trip to Presque Isle in Eerie, PA. Mark was one <span style="font-size: small;">o</span>f the first scientific illustrators I'd met, an excellent teacher and avid
ducker as well. Mark’s day job is rendering dinosaurs for various
paleontologists at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.</span></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.carnegiemnh.org/vp/klingler.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times;">http://www.carnegiemnh.org/vp/klingler.html</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wZeMM3nZq5nkR8L5npip0W-CBAAKsn0_EJ049qdg2gOCxwhgOU_M0z_7bvqwqRqo6rZwjCfnam0VEPB6L5OUfIL4kDQd0Eh5oHB8F5Xa4CJALMF2n9hK57HWzlVpaZ5_MCO5A8Dhj4U/s1600/Gizzard+Shad2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wZeMM3nZq5nkR8L5npip0W-CBAAKsn0_EJ049qdg2gOCxwhgOU_M0z_7bvqwqRqo6rZwjCfnam0VEPB6L5OUfIL4kDQd0Eh5oHB8F5Xa4CJALMF2n9hK57HWzlVpaZ5_MCO5A8Dhj4U/s400/Gizzard+Shad2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Millions of Gizzard Shad line the shoreline</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times;">It's
still pretty brisk out on the great lakes in mid-March, but the variety of
ducks was an eye opener. I've been aware (from reading bird books) that there
are a variety of ducks in the world beyond your standard mallard, but I was
pleasantly surprised to find such a rich diversity of geese and ducks so close
to home.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Because
of the cold temperatures and lack of ice on the lake, there was also a massive
die off of gizzard shad and the beaches were littered with dead fish for miles.
A little unsettling to think you are walking on a snowy beach only to find
frozen fish underfoot! This is a natural phenomenon brought on by the wintery
temperatures, but still very unsettling...and a bit smelly.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.thereporteronline.com/article/20130301/NEWS03/130309983/pa-dep-fish-kill-in-presque-isle-bay-natural-"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times;">http://www.thereporteronline.com/article/20130301/NEWS03/130309983/pa-dep-fish-kill-in-presque-isle-bay-natural-</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Since
it was so cold, we concentrated on recording duck behavior via camera for later
drawings. Mark's camera skills are superior to mine, but even my blurry photos
are enough to work from for quick studies. I mention this just in case you
might be thinking you need to be Ansel Adams as well as Picasso.<span style="font-size: small;"> Your own photos are excellent resources for drawing and painting<span style="font-size: small;">. I<span style="font-size: small;"> see so many of my students working from images from magazines,<span style="font-size: small;"> books</span> or other photographers work, which is a no-no. You can'<span style="font-size: small;">t sell a painting that is just a copy of another persons wor<span style="font-size: small;">k. But you don<span style="font-size: small;">t have to be an expert with a camera yourself. <span style="font-size: small;">And your skill will imp<span style="font-size: small;">ro<span style="font-size: small;">ve as you practice. </span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLMnfv8mV8vRUHr9cPBGJ7dcYLe5vWK5mbczObBs14kkPilcJS5XEQCn83hqc-ik5U16MoHb9q8yrmQHLVoCTe38x8pCiFIsMwLSrWZvcIw0-4QGKk10cCWa2llT9K_1xv4O-iqRGSZk/s1600/Red+Breasted+Merganser_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLMnfv8mV8vRUHr9cPBGJ7dcYLe5vWK5mbczObBs14kkPilcJS5XEQCn83hqc-ik5U16MoHb9q8yrmQHLVoCTe38x8pCiFIsMwLSrWZvcIw0-4QGKk10cCWa2llT9K_1xv4O-iqRGSZk/s640/Red+Breasted+Merganser_m.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-breasted Mergansers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times;">You'll
also notice I've taken the liberty to move the female<span style="font-size: small;"> ducks</span> a bit closer to the males
for the sake of composition. Don't feel married to the snapshot, as it is. You can take bits and pieces <span style="font-size: small;">from several of<span style="font-size: small;"> your photos to create a solid composition.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBE0RzXF6LgqFa-LIzw54FA2hUi6XqPBqE6HaEAmygq6bvdZTTJNoS5DHlWlUgHRvAhdbi8eyj5SjhyphenhyphennwE4VCXWN-8BHGzgQBIQjxhtlb-EAQhvPj2an-a6nqFKMec4JqSk-9h9tsOSM8/s1600/Northern+Shoveler_mf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBE0RzXF6LgqFa-LIzw54FA2hUi6XqPBqE6HaEAmygq6bvdZTTJNoS5DHlWlUgHRvAhdbi8eyj5SjhyphenhyphennwE4VCXWN-8BHGzgQBIQjxhtlb-EAQhvPj2an-a6nqFKMec4JqSk-9h9tsOSM8/s640/Northern+Shoveler_mf.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Shovelers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times;">You'll
notice the different bills on each species, but particularly the Northern
Shoveler which has a wide fat spoon shaped bill. Their common feeding habit is
to filter food from water through their bills which have comb-like projections
along the edges. </span></span></div>
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</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzuVEnrMur0raZT1UowckcrMWE9lkDF0-GNxYFcKHQSzHLjWIdjY9ZKtXR4bpO0jnlB53TCMhlA6Eo12xz6NOLey3jGxWgK4m2oovXfad0CjI-5ndFY8kA8EDnK6Y88XSdRhyphenhyphenw9O2xTw/s1600/Hooded+Mergansers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzuVEnrMur0raZT1UowckcrMWE9lkDF0-GNxYFcKHQSzHLjWIdjY9ZKtXR4bpO0jnlB53TCMhlA6Eo12xz6NOLey3jGxWgK4m2oovXfad0CjI-5ndFY8kA8EDnK6Y88XSdRhyphenhyphenw9O2xTw/s640/Hooded+Mergansers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooded Mergansers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times;">A
nice surprise was these Hooded Mergansers. At the time we were snapping
pictures, this gathering was well away on the other side of the lake and my
telephoto lens was struggling to get a lock. At the time I thought they might
be Buffle heads, but zooming in on it in Photoshop, I think they are actually
Hooded Mergansers. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times;">These
quick studies were done with a variety of watercolor pencils. My favorites are
the Stabilo brand (which they unfortunately no longer make). The Derwent
Inktense line is a nice pencil too and I find I am often picking them up. </span></span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/derwent-inktense-pencils/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times;">http://www.dickblick.com/products/derwent-inktense-pencils/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Eventually<span style="font-size: small;">, I might work some of the sketches up to a final oil<span style="font-size: small;"> or watercolor painting, but right now this is all I had time to complete. If you are fe<span style="font-size: small;">eling frustrated by <span style="font-size: small;">the <span style="font-size: small;">time restraints of doing a f<span style="font-size: small;">ull <span style="font-size: small;">fledge <span style="font-size: small;">work, try and take a step back. Field sketching and studies might not<span style="font-size: small;"> seem so glorious, but having a solid sketching ability<span style="font-size: small;"> is a foundation for later success.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times;"><br />
</span></u></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times;">
</span></u><a href="http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/realm-of-the-seadragons.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times;">http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/realm-of-the-seadragons.html</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1142055624"><br /></a>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-66837681267178266392013-03-17T11:38:00.001-07:002013-03-27T09:38:31.630-07:00Fish facts: Spotted Drums (Equetus punctatus)Spotted Drums (Equetus punctatus) are surely one of the more overlooked coral reef habitants around. Which is too bad, as they are as visually striking and elegant as any Moorish Idol or Angel Fish...well as juveniles, that is. they are quick small and somewhat shy. It's tricky getting a good shot of these fellows. Check out soem links here from some more dediated photographers:<a href="http://www.uwphoto.net/pages/gallery_ci00-126.html">http://www.uwphoto.net/pages/gallery_ci00-126.html</a><br />
<br />
As adults, they are still very unique, but a little more clownish. They don't ever really grow into that <br />
<a href="http://reefbuilders.com/2010/09/14/spotted-drum-equetus-punctatus/">http://reefbuilders.com/2010/09/14/spotted-drum-equetus-punctatus/</a><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDnTGDFAR2YNVyKSpjGA3gBFw60TsxlZiJhZ6stHrSYPHhSHr7AoBTAY8lWZFaz2xEf8fwEWXRpoK1nKrrUIrLjjm0GGwb8HyoOkEMHACmeim9kwp6kYmCQYrJlNT88yv5xRxD4SmGy0/s1600/Spotted+Drums_LR.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDnTGDFAR2YNVyKSpjGA3gBFw60TsxlZiJhZ6stHrSYPHhSHr7AoBTAY8lWZFaz2xEf8fwEWXRpoK1nKrrUIrLjjm0GGwb8HyoOkEMHACmeim9kwp6kYmCQYrJlNT88yv5xRxD4SmGy0/s320/Spotted+Drums_LR.tif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted Drums (Juveniles) Amanda Zimmerman</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the wild, they are often found in Western Atlantic's warmer waters: Bermuda, Florida (USA), and Bahamas to the Antilles down to Yucatan (Mexico) to Brazil.<br />
<br />
I did have a chance to observe a few of these fellows while snorkeling in St Lucia last year. I'm glad I took the time to check them out, as I had a friend request a painting of the species shortly after. I was able to use memory to compose an interesting group portrait and video and other references to check my anatomy for accuracy. <br />
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<br />
Here is the finished piece.<br />
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<br />
These fish for remarkable to study. Its hard to believe that they eventually grow into the slow plodding adults. They are from a family of fish called Sciaenidae, which have some common names such as drums, croakers, or hardheads because of the repetitive throbbing or drumming sounds they make. <br />
<a href="http://www.ehow.com/video_4961478_coral-reef-fish-juvenile-spotted.html"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.ehow.com/video_4961478_coral-reef-fish-juvenile-spotted.html">http://www.ehow.com/video_4961478_coral-reef-fish-juvenile-spotted.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/realm-of-the-seadragons.html">http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/realm-of-the-seadragons.html</a> <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-71382279599764906842013-03-08T19:30:00.003-08:002013-03-27T09:38:58.458-07:00Sketching 101If you want to be a better sketcher, there is nothing to substitute for practice. Stop worrying about it being good. Stop judging and just start drawing and sketching. <br />
Sketch anything and everything. Sketch what you enjoy sketching but also practice more difficult subjects too. Its not just practicing the actual skill of the pencil on the paper, but we also need to train our brain and eye to observe quickly and accurately and record this information. It will take many many sketch books before you end up with elegant, graceful, motion-full images.<br />
<br />
Here are some links to some fun sketch exercises:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/10/20/4-silly-sketching-exercises-to-spark-your-creativity/">http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/10/20/4-silly-sketching-exercises-to-spark-your-creativity/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2027860246"><br /></a>
<a href="http://drawsketch.about.com/library/weekly/aa052003a.htm">http://drawsketch.about.com/library/weekly/aa052003a.htm</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMcuqPzl5tRejlYQIdLWpQwH3a8BijcGkok80ys7DJkzuStVoA5746MZUlPCd8j7DP9J1BS3gZfCoWCoZMkeuPeI8INkPe3Fg1z2m94qMaphXCMtYs9507JsQC8CWRWL_ULpRibAx75E/s1600/Bats+ink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMcuqPzl5tRejlYQIdLWpQwH3a8BijcGkok80ys7DJkzuStVoA5746MZUlPCd8j7DP9J1BS3gZfCoWCoZMkeuPeI8INkPe3Fg1z2m94qMaphXCMtYs9507JsQC8CWRWL_ULpRibAx75E/s400/Bats+ink.jpg" width="261" /></a>I greatly admired a fellow artist who did a great deal of sketching with a ball point pen. It sounds counter-intuitive, but once I made the leap and started working with pen, it ended up improving my sketching abilities three fold. <br />
<br />
It forces you to work lighter and ease into your lines. You can no longer back track, so you are forced to observe your subject more accurately. And when you do make a mistake there's no going back to fix it. You just have to move on. <br />
<br />
To get started, it might be easier to start from photos before trying to tackle a moving subject matter. <br />
<br />
These days I draw in colored pencil or pencil if I have a choice.<br />
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<a href="http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/realm-of-the-seadragons.html">http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/realm-of-the-seadragons.html</a><br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-13988867017321037892013-03-03T16:54:00.000-08:002013-03-27T13:55:17.969-07:00Get Inspired!I know as artists we keep rather caught up in practicing our medium of choice, but every now and then its healthy to step outside our artistic comfort zone and try something really different. If you are a sculpture artist-try printmaking? Oil painter? Try taking piano lessons. If you draw animals, practice drawing people for a change...even if you know the results will not be as good as your usual subject matter. It's this time spent just messing around and creative play without expectations that allows growth as an artist.<br />
<br />
Being inspired needs to come from all facets of your life. From the moment you wake up to the moment your head hits the pillow...AND then of course your dreams are reprocessing of thoughts, feelings and visuals. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM39OKCqv-aw_7aIYdKmR0x02I7M92Qwg-Wo39Q29kGLAh5EFoZdCZgz6C61AdFtIF3s5iUhxuzEMNPYUVCW3dKzzjGD3-hzG9V_FV_UGSHuKNGv0dUoa-QJU8xz92_AG8t1dnJKFkxI/s1600/LA+waves_DZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM39OKCqv-aw_7aIYdKmR0x02I7M92Qwg-Wo39Q29kGLAh5EFoZdCZgz6C61AdFtIF3s5iUhxuzEMNPYUVCW3dKzzjGD3-hzG9V_FV_UGSHuKNGv0dUoa-QJU8xz92_AG8t1dnJKFkxI/s320/LA+waves_DZ.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Redondo Beach photo Dan Zimmerman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Try spending a day with your camera phone on stand-by, ready to click away those interesting fleeting moments of your day. Look for interesting angles to everyday subject matter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrVYQyb9O4wz5X5nzoD_e9ygrkLdyAVwlzhZs2Sa5W_qOY1jGS-dNTsT6-IsjBdGNaG2B2_ICN6cTAjazYwL0uT_x8RFrF5R3me2oVmjcYNYT5ibvxpFY83MjkSyDEb7UcTjBhvaiXJo/s1600/catalina+musicians.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrVYQyb9O4wz5X5nzoD_e9ygrkLdyAVwlzhZs2Sa5W_qOY1jGS-dNTsT6-IsjBdGNaG2B2_ICN6cTAjazYwL0uT_x8RFrF5R3me2oVmjcYNYT5ibvxpFY83MjkSyDEb7UcTjBhvaiXJo/s400/catalina+musicians.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSFvY302KJexIhM0NtH1JFy7gxnvtH-tWguS2zQ4r9Et3SnAmycG2gAoGuSEQDIWJEwOETDEKmK_EqPrAA5LfDqlDMyBHSJCwHqoHZ5D6lnj7ATuh-DhBSX0SgUohDHygWfB1djgXdmg/s1600/IMG_1020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSFvY302KJexIhM0NtH1JFy7gxnvtH-tWguS2zQ4r9Et3SnAmycG2gAoGuSEQDIWJEwOETDEKmK_EqPrAA5LfDqlDMyBHSJCwHqoHZ5D6lnj7ATuh-DhBSX0SgUohDHygWfB1djgXdmg/s320/IMG_1020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catalina Island photo Dan Zimmerman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Or perhaps a venue or scene where you can edit or delete parts to make a more interesting finished piece. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUI1gyS0_mmtFFF00Maa8ifouhrtNtR1SABaKfTs4WU4PTap59FFjns6u_t7J-glz2Ih2QdzIYNMV1wIg_JnIJvN0Jlzt5xHvcSIZL9vYmmszc58CWgzrVmtpXzjJ1kqiOR77_76qr72Y/s1600/IMG00071-20090814-0906+(94).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUI1gyS0_mmtFFF00Maa8ifouhrtNtR1SABaKfTs4WU4PTap59FFjns6u_t7J-glz2Ih2QdzIYNMV1wIg_JnIJvN0Jlzt5xHvcSIZL9vYmmszc58CWgzrVmtpXzjJ1kqiOR77_76qr72Y/s320/IMG00071-20090814-0906+(94).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Redondo Beach photo Dan Zimmerman</td></tr>
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<a href="http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/realm-of-the-seadragons.html">http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/realm-of-the-seadragons.html</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599380018443173041.post-44297585927266141832013-02-27T12:28:00.001-08:002013-03-27T09:40:20.552-07:00Working with Chalk Pastel: Just the BasicsI've recently been doing a great deal of work with chalk pastels and have found them to be the bomb! I have numberous past pastel works that have been abandoned due to lack of a successful end. All because I wasn't willing to take time to learn a few basics.<br />
<br />
Patricia Savage, an excellent pastel artist (<a href="http://psavageart.com/">http://psavageart.com/</a>) taught a fantastic workshop a few years back in Raliegh, NC and much of this basic knowledge is thanks to her!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwbpspPZsO9TfddBfSOXUY6AR17dUkBKUddOZ_15EshGNjD6cz5Docf8E3-yiVEJTwdYH_3Ztom01nHSQO2kYDlu7XtEocQpDGmB2QV_PLa2hnrm3_GTvEi7gsBlWhbfM081cYkrxy-I/s1600/Carcharias+taurus+sand+tiger_web.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwbpspPZsO9TfddBfSOXUY6AR17dUkBKUddOZ_15EshGNjD6cz5Docf8E3-yiVEJTwdYH_3Ztom01nHSQO2kYDlu7XtEocQpDGmB2QV_PLa2hnrm3_GTvEi7gsBlWhbfM081cYkrxy-I/s400/Carcharias+taurus+sand+tiger_web.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcharias taurus, sand tiger shark</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
What you work on is critical with pastels. Some of the pastel papers have a slightly rough surface but its very limiting on the amount of pastels one can apply. I prefer:<br />
<br />
1) Paper with tooth to hold pastels. This can be store bought or make your own. (http://www.explore-drawing-and-painting.com/pastel-papers.html) has excellent instructions. I have been working with Sennelier pastel card and really like the level of tooth. (<a href="http://www.cheapjoes.com/catalog/product/view/id/27116/">http://www.cheapjoes.com/catalog/product/view/id/27116/</a>)<br />
<br />
2) Chalk pastels are all often refered to as "soft" pastels, but in truth there are three basic soft pastels grades:<br />
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Hardest of the soft pastels: such as Nupastels and Art stitcks<br />
Medium soft (Grumbacher, Winsor & Newton)<br />
Super soft (Sennelier)<br />
Not sure what your pastel grade would be? As a rule, if it looks like its going to rumble in your hand, its super soft, if its edges are very clean and precise, its a much harder "soft" pastel.<br />
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The grade is really important because the harder pastels such as nupastels and art sticks will not work on top of the super soft pastels. I really only use the harder soft pastels for preliminary sketches.<br />
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3) Work BIG. You can actually do fantastic detail with pastel, but its much easier if you work big. I prefer 20 x 24 or so...<br />
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One thing is its hard to convince people to just start
drawing sketching with the pastels instead of working from a pencil
drawing. Roughing in the image in a neutral color and the blocking and refining as you continue to work.<br />
<br />
I like to lay down colors with the soft and medium pastels and then use a medium grade pastel to blend the colors together loosely with quick crosshatching strokes. But you can also use a gum erasure or vinyl erasure cut into a wedge or point.<br />
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I hope to post a video shortly with a demo has that's much easier to show technique than trying to describe it.<br />
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Now you can get started too! Have fun!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzj5ji_9ZeB1FaxEjsL21TTcyiFENNebR6wydsunFy-P8lmztzfVb0d7Abdeuac2Y4PdoomxXD_dpIA-ISYwSajZK4ohenh0CSS8WM_68xiJX80FyAhQEF0gn4dNmZmktuMfsOO14gYI/s1600/Hamadryas+amphinome+RedCracker_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzj5ji_9ZeB1FaxEjsL21TTcyiFENNebR6wydsunFy-P8lmztzfVb0d7Abdeuac2Y4PdoomxXD_dpIA-ISYwSajZK4ohenh0CSS8WM_68xiJX80FyAhQEF0gn4dNmZmktuMfsOO14gYI/s400/Hamadryas+amphinome+RedCracker_web.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hamadryas amphinome, Red Cracker</td></tr>
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<a href="http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/realm-of-the-seadragons.html">http://seadragonrealmcom.businesscatalyst.com/realm-of-the-seadragons.html</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288714513408215578noreply@blogger.com0