The Arm--In Pastels

Every week we receive an assignment to draw a body part.  This week I handed in my drawing of an arm which I drew (painted) with pastels.  I flipped through my library book and found an arm.  The book is about Florentine art, Drawing in Early Renaissance Italy.  I rendered my drawing and then, when crediting the original artist- Vivarini from the 1480's, I read that he did his drawing from Model books, rather than from a living model.  If I had searched further, I would have made a better choice with Michelangelo's arm on another page of the same book.

 I found that pastels are fun and difficult.  I liked my limited pallet choice.  I had recalled that my daughter in law- advised creating shadow with a complimentary color..so I went with orangey yellow and a blue background and blue for value.  I also learned that what I created is actually a painting not a drawing, because I filled in the whole page.  I probably should have left a border and will for the next.  I drawing in pastels is considered a drawing when the pastels are used just for the subject.

Pastels are so difficult because they don't erase well.  The task of creating this image was not as terrifying as working with ink, but there were a few moments where I was unsure if I would be able to fix an area of color.  The shadow on the biceps was not curved correctly and at one point I moved his hand upwards.

 My instructor told me to make sure I covered the piece which I did with tracing paper.

I really do like the final outcome of pastels!  Much more interesting than graphite!

First Day of Art School

When I grew up, my Mom used to say, "when I was in art school...." "In art school we did...." I am starting art school, Mom, I hope you would be proud. I once thought, "be your own person, Amy....don't reference your mother when you discuss your talent." Do I have talent? I don't know. But my mother was very talented. I thought about my favorite singer song writer Leonard Cohen..his son Adam is a musician and so is John Lennon's son. We cannot change the fact that our parents are a part of who we are. They help form our identity. So, Mom, I thought of you today when I listened to my sculpting professor, Barron, at my new adventure in "Art School." I thought, I bet my mom is right here with me. I will think of my mother, when I tell people. "hey, I am going to art school!"

"Art school" sounds bohemian. I attend FLCC, not too bohemian! Finger Lakes Community College. I am a firm believer in bargains and shopping locally! The college is 10 minutes away, even doable by bicycle.

The great thing about community colleges is that you can redo one's high school years. In high school I was all college prep/ math science. No time for art. The schedule was full. Art was a secret longing. In my twenties and thirties I was a farmer's wife/mom and then a nurse. My mother was alive and she was the artist. I was intimidated to try to even go there! So I focused on my career and motherhood.
Mom passed away 10 years ago this December. I wish I could have shown her more of my appreciation of her talent.

I have just one class on Mondays, Sculpting and Modeling--and this class is usually for second year students. The prof said not to worry, that the class would work along with the other classes that I am taking simultaneously. I am excited to try this out. I already have a plan for my first project, the wire sculpture assignment.

The other students are all young. I am fifty. Mid-life exploration. If I do well enough I might consider doing a double major with graphic arts, as I only have to do about 4 classes next year to fulfill my degree requirements. If I do a double major then there definitely might be career potential.

My plan is to do this web-log and give a chronological account of my education as it happens!