2013 ALL MEDIA PHOTO CHALLENGE---January #27

Alexandra Spencer wrote

on 2 Jan 2013 8:45 PM

Yikes! I'm redoing my drawing of the blue hay and will post it tomorrow. I know better than to do something in a rush! Apologies!

Berkenstock wrote

on 2 Jan 2013 9:07 PM

Alex I can't see the picture of your blue jay but it showed up on my E-mail And it looks very nice.  Glad to see an early poster.

Alexandra Spencer wrote

on 2 Jan 2013 9:15 PM

Am so embarrassed! Deleted the blue jay and am redoing. Thank you for your reassuring words, but I want to take my time with it and do justice to Geri's photo and the magnificent bird.

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 3 Jan 2013 8:43 AM

Alex, I like your new avatar a lot.  It's a well done drawing.  However, I miss seeing your smiling face.

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 3 Jan 2013 9:09 AM

I have prepared the support and completed the drawing of the newest member of our family when she was a new born.  It will be Tuesday before I get back to it.  In the meantime, here is a colored pencil painting that I did of my daughter eating a popsicle using a black and white photo taken in 1961.  The size is 12"X12"   Some of you may have seen it before.

J.V.Schaffer wrote

on 3 Jan 2013 9:20 AM

Sam great pencil drawing it must take hours and hours to do these my attention span has deterierated to much for colored pencils I'm afraid

Geri great photos I'm still sorting through to get one to start on

holland2 wrote

on 3 Jan 2013 9:21 AM

Sammy - This is just too adorable!  I can just hear her giggling and I'm glad I don't have to clean up those carrot drools!

Sheila Phelps wrote

on 3 Jan 2013 9:34 AM

Sam - OH MY!!!!  You definitely captured the sparkling personality of your baby daughter!!!  You are a master of the colored pencil!!!

Sheila Phelps wrote

on 3 Jan 2013 9:36 AM

Sam - OH MY!!!  What a spectacular painting of your baby daughter - You've really captured her sparkeling personality!!!  You definitely have mastery of the colored pencil.  Well done!!!

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 3 Jan 2013 11:41 AM

Thank you Jim, Holly and Sheila.  She was eating a popsicle and I couldn't tell what color it was in the black and white photo so I chose orange.  Many people mistake it for a carrot.

Some people debate this but it is my understanding that if a work is a sketch, it is a drawing.  If most of the paper is covered, it is a painting.  Even if it is done with colored pencil, pastel, etc., it is a painting.  Some people have a problem with calling pencil work a painting.

Alexandra Spencer wrote

on 3 Jan 2013 1:30 PM

Sam, this is WONDERFUL. I'm always amazed at your genious with CPs -- have never seen anyone else use them so so exquisitely. And the expression!

Thank you, too, for clarifying the difference between paintings and drawings -- I've always been unsure what to call various pieces.

wetpaperfan wrote

on 3 Jan 2013 7:36 PM

Sammy:   Love the adorable painting of Nancy,  she looks like she is sooooo enjoying that orange popcycle.   This show me how long you have been doing CP's .  my my ,  you have an amazing ability to use those pencils...      

You mentioned getting your ground ready ( I just found out last month what ground meant)  .   What do you do  to prepare your ground?   I just bought some "Golden Acrylic Ground for Pastel" but don't have a clue what I am supposed to do with it......    ok "Teacher"   teach me..... tee hee

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 3 Jan 2013 7:59 PM

Thank you Jen, Alex and Marsha.

Marsha, I have never used the product that you mentioned so I looked it up on Dick Blick and here is what I found.

"Apply this translucent acrylic ground to paper, board, or any surface you wish. It provides a rough, "gritty" tooth, making it perfect for use with pastel, graphite, chalk or charcoal, and for the preparation of canvas and other supports for pastels.

It can be blended with Golden Acrylic colors for colored grounds, or with Golden Fine or Coarse Pumice Gel to increase tooth."

If I do an underpainting in preparation for pastels or oil pastels, I will apply either clear gesso or clear Colorfix Primer over the underpainting.  After applying with a brush, I use a sponge roller to smooth it.  The roller will give texture to the gesso but the Colorfix already has a sandy tooth.  The product you have apparently also has a sandy tooth.  If I don't do an underpainting, I may mix an acrylic color with the white gesso.

You don't want a real gritty surface for colored pencils.  It will eat up your pencils.  The sandy texture is great for soft pastels and oil pastels.