Rose Welty Art: colored pencil drawings

Photo Editing Tip - PS Elements

2012-01-26T13:06:00.000-05:00

I said at the end of last year that I was interested in improving my skills - one area of interest is in photography and photo editing. I have the chance to work on that right now - I took about 1200 pictures on our recent trip to CA. Now it's time to sort through and edit the good ones into a couple of photo books.

One PS Elements tip I've picked up:

if you click on that "quick fix" tab you can see the original photo and then your modifications all on one screen, so you can compare. I've found this helpful - it helps me to know if I want changes or not. In PSE5 (I'm terribly out of date), you have access to several of the general fix type tools - lighting, contrast, sharpness, red eye, etc.

Back to work! :-)

Some Special People

2012-01-23T22:31:00.001-05:00

I mentioned last time that I was just back from a trip to CA. That trip was in honor of these two special people - celebrating 50 years together!

They are just as wonderful as they look here - full of fun, love, devotion and warmth. I'm a very blessed daughter.

Congrats Mom and Dad!

Getting Back Into the Swing

2012-01-08T14:46:00.001-05:00

We had the opportunity to spend a few weeks in CA over the holidays. It was a wonderful time visiting family. But, of course when you drop out of your life for two weeks, it takes a while to get everything back to functioning order - that's where I'm at right now. The studio is calling and I am anxious to answer that call.

Merry Christmas from my family

2011-12-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

This is our family photo this year. I have made a card to send to the usual suspects but Snapfish says Walmart has them and Walmart says that Snapfish must have them, because they don't. Lovely.

This time of year is so busy, I think I'm letting it rest until the new year. When they turn up, I'll send them out.

I'm so thankful for all my guys - aren't they all handsome? :-)

What will I do in 2012?

2011-12-18T15:44:00.000-05:00

Lost in Thought

Last year all of my plans and goals were sidelined when lifestyle changes became medically necessary.

And you know what? I reached two dream goals I had begun to think would never be possible (they'd been on the list for several years):

Achieved my "ideal" weight (and have maintained it for several months)
Developed a personal style in my artwork.

I did not have big detailed plans for either one.

On day 1, we took the step that seemed best. On day 2, we took the step that looked best then. There was no guilt in not achieving a deadline. There was only simple and regular evaluation of what was working and what wasn't. I tried something - it worked and I kept doing it, it almost worked and I tweaked it and tried again, or it was a failure and I learned something.

And each day I had the freedom to enjoy what the day had to offer.

What does this all mean? Well, it means that I'm going to simply state a few things I'd like to see in the year. I'm not going to plot and plan. I'm going to follow my nose for the steps to achieving what I want. It worked last year and I believe it will work again.

I'm learning less is more.

In 2012, I'd like to:

Continue developing my style.
Share my art.
Build my skillset.

I have ideas for my next steps for each of those and that's as far as I'm going. The steps after that should be apparent when I get there - and at the end of the year, I'm sure I'll be able to evaluate how I did.

Now that I've gotten all the goal stuff out of the way I'm going to focus on enjoying the holidays!

What Have I Done in 2011?

2011-12-16T18:00:00.000-05:00

Absorbed
from September 2011

2011 was not the year I expected, the game changed in January and life was entirely different. So, I'm going to give you my highlights and then, to be transparent, the goals I stated in December 2010.

Princess from Carlin Workshop
July 2011

My highlights from 2011:

100 pounds lighter - that's 80 for Professor Incredible and 20 for me
5 hours/week devoted to exercise - that's huge for two people who have been largely sedentary in recent years.
Gluten Free - my diet has had to become GF - I feel better than I have in years, really.
1st public showing of my work - one piece in a group show, a great way to start.
Asked to demonstrate my CP technique to a group of CP artists - a real affirmation that I have developed a personal style that is working for me.
Entered a juried CP show - didn't get in, but got great feedback.
Regular Production - in the last quarter of the year I produced at least one new 5x7 piece a week and several larger ones - including two 11x14s.
Rhythm - I think I am finding a rhythm to how best to run my life with all of my responsibilities, that feels very good.

For A Moment
from November 2011

Below are my 2011 goals, in bold, and then how near or far I came to them.

100 blog posts: I hit just over 70.
12 Monthly newsletters: I did 3.
10 Portfolio pieces: I did 9 pieces that I loved, half of which wouldn't be out of place in a portfolio, the others I love but are only 5x7.
Build my FB fans to 100: Currently at 64, which is +13.
Sell 5 packs of notecards: Sold 0.
Hand out 60 business cards: About 10.
Join my local CPSA chapter: Done and even gave a demo at a meeting.
Enter a piece in CPSA competition: No, but I did enter my first group show with my CPSA chapter.

All in all, this year wasn't what I planned for, but now I am very glad that I had the year I did - it was better than what I had planned.

Looking Back
from May 2011

Next time, my plans for 2012.

Christmas Photo Funny

2011-12-06T06:30:00.000-05:00

We took some photos over the weekend for the annual Welty Christmas card. This was the first shot while setting up the camera - you can see the enthusiasm boiling over, can't you? :-)

New Artwork!

2011-11-30T21:27:00.001-05:00

For A Moment
14in x 11in
colored pencil on paper
copyright Rose Welty

A few months ago I took my sons out to a nearby lake for an afternoon. We spent a fair bit of time just walking along the water, looking at rocks, the water, and the trees. When I got home and found this picture I was struck by how my son is every day drawing closer to the man he will become. I can already see so much of that man - he's still a boy, but not for long. In some ways, it's sad to know the little boy is leaving, but it's also a happy feeling to know he's growing up - all in all, cherish each moment.

I'm going to give this a few more days and possibly a few more tweaks. One of my largest CP pieces - I quite like this size.

How I Work: Step One

2011-11-29T11:37:00.000-05:00

value drawing from A Place to Park

Ever wonder what goes into a colored pencil drawing?

Step One: Value Drawing
I draw the whole piece in one pencil. I just begin sketching and work out lights and darks. (In the piece above you bright sparks will notice that the door at the top of the stairs has two colors in it - that is what happens when you shut things down at 11pm and decide you just really need to make that one part a bit darker before going to bed!)

Most colored pencil work begins with a refined line drawing and then the artist colors it in. This is largely because colored pencils are transparent and you can't easily "paint over" or "wipe" a section that has gone awry like you can with oil paints and other opaque mediums.

For me, seeing an image build before my eyes is like magic. I just start off with a few shapes, keep adding them like a puzzle and then TADA, I have some thing recognizable. Coloring in a line drawing is just not as fun.

Or dangerous! :D

Thank You

2011-11-24T10:45:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to pop in and say thank you to all my art supporters - it means so much to me that you read, comment, and mention my art to your friends. My art is such a joy for me to create - to be able to share it with the world is one of the wonders of this age we live in. Thank you for sharing my joy.

Thinking Ahead

2011-11-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

Spring Cherry Blossoms
7in x 5in
Colored Pencil on Stonehenge
copyright Rose Welty

Somehow this time of year I always start thinking about next year - and all the things I'd like to get done in that bright shiny new year! Of course, I rarely get everything done in the year and many times I change the goal posts - but I always look forward to what new directions I want to take.

I did some brainstorming this past week - a few hours later it occurred to me that there are a few kinks to work out with what I want to achieve - but I have plenty of time to resolve those issues. One of my goals will definitely be to work larger on a more regular basis, I'm already starting that goal and have something in the works. I am working on that larger piece this week, but I'm not quite ready to show it. So I thought I'd show you an earlier change of season piece - those blossoms were overtaken by leaves and now those leaves are falling to the ground.

For my American readers, I wish you a happy Thanksgiving.

From a Few to a Flood

2011-11-18T11:05:00.001-05:00

Found these leaves on the path during a walk I took in October. Today the ground is littered with leaves! The boys and I raked up leaves for an hour the other day - needs to be done again soon. Everything was covered with a frost this morning - everyone bundled up for the bus stop without complaint!

My neighbor predicts that we might have lots of snow this year, we'll see.

Enjoy your weekend!

Drawing in Arles, France

2011-11-09T15:24:00.001-05:00

Bridge Keepers House
7in x 5in
colored pencil on paper
copyright Rose Welty

You can find these cheery shutters on a building right near a bridge with gorgeous views of a river in Arles, France. I was there, taking part in the Virtual Paintout, drawing from this view in Google Street View. Be sure to cross the bridge and turn to the side and look up and down the river!

For My Upcoming Demo

2011-11-04T15:06:00.002-04:00

Tulip
7in x 5in
colored pencil on paper
copyright Rose Welty

This week I've been focusing on creating a "demo" for an upcoming colored pencil meeting. Colored pencil is a slow medium - much like painting with a single haired brush. So, I'm going to present four different stages of a drawing and show a few strokes. This is the final drawing.

Have a great weekend everyone!

The Artist's Son, colored pencil drawing

2011-10-27T15:29:00.002-04:00

The Artist's Son
9 in x 12in
colored pencil on paper
copyright Rose Welty

A few weeks ago I took my sons to Blue Jay Point - a gorgeous local park with a lake, hiking trails, nature center, etc. We just walked around but it was so beautiful we all felt relaxed and refreshed just soaking it in.

This is one of my sons in conversation that day.

Sketching the Autumn

2011-10-26T13:48:00.002-04:00

Leaves, leaves, leaves! It's that time of year.

I'm keeping up with my journaling, just a few minutes as I wait for the bus each day.

I did this sketch with a brush pen. I'm still getting used to it, but it is a fun tool.

Work In Progress and the plague

2011-10-20T11:01:00.000-04:00

Work in Progress
9in x 12in

Just started this fun one - my son in conversation by a local lake.

In other news, the plague has descended on our home - hope to make some progress with this today but might end up taking a nap!

Off To The Market, colored pencil drawing

2011-10-18T14:58:00.001-04:00

Off To The Market
7in x 5in
colored pencil on paper
copyright Rose Welty

Have you been to Sardinia?

I haven't been there, but the Google car has - so you can travel the streets and feel like you've visited. That's what I did this week when I participated in the Virtual Paint Out. For my picture, I used this link. But actually, I highly recommend you travel around - some of the coastal areas and mountains areas are unbelievably beautiful. The Google car captured some lovely early morning shots of the island.

A Place to Park, colored pencil drawing

2011-10-14T13:20:00.003-04:00

A Place to Park
7in x 5in
colored pencil on paper
copyright Rose Welty

When I saw the latest painting challenge over at Daily Paintworks, I just couldn't resist that wall. There is something terribly enchanting about light walls with dark windows and doors!

It's Friday, the pizza dough is rising for tonight's pizza and movie night, and so I'm back to the drawing board on my next adventure.

Shining Bright, colored pencil drawing

2011-10-12T20:08:00.000-04:00

Shining Bright
8in x 10in
colored pencil on paper
copyright Rose Welty

My son was in tears today.

Turns out he hasn't really understood the "reading music" part of his recorder class this year. He realized that he needs to be able to read the notes to progress to the next level (his test is next week). The longer he looked at it, the less sense it made.

You know, when you're 11 and you are taking piano lessons and your teacher tells you that you have to take regular music theory tests, you feel like it is an adult conspiracy to make music distasteful. You never guess that more than 25 years later, you are going to need that music theory in your back pocket - so you can pull it out and become a hero to your son.

Rarely in life is any learning ever wasted.

Here and There, colored pencil drawing

2011-10-11T13:11:00.001-04:00

Here and There
7in x 5in
colored pencil on paper
copyright Rose Welty

This view is from the porch of the mule barn at my local Joyner Park. As I stood there one morning recently, I was struck with how gnarled the wood was and what a contrast that was with the beauty of the trees beyond. It made me think of life, how we always see the hard stuff of today and look out to greener tomorrows. Of course, today isn't always hard and tomorrow isn't always easier but so often we think that way.

It was a challenge for me to try and convey beauty off in the hazy distance and convey difficulty in just a small area framing the fuzzy beauty. Sometimes just trying to meet a challenge brings it own reward!

I like a little kick

2011-10-10T13:38:00.000-04:00

Page from my journal

My husband said the sweetest thing the other day.

He was eating some jalapeno chips.

"I like these chips, they have a little kick. I like that. That's why I like you, you have a little kick. You have goals and dreams and you go after them. You aren't a usual woman, you are one with a little kick. And I like that."

How blessed am I! Below are some more pages from my journal, with sketches of the family.

The Noisy Neighbor, colored pencil drawing

2011-10-04T15:17:00.000-04:00

The Noisy Neighbor
7in x 5in
colored pencil on paper

This little fellow is my neighbor. In fact, he's my noisiest neighbor. He's lively, jumping to and fro - he seems to like the rail near the stairs on my deck. I've even caught him poking his head into my mint pot.

Peeking Over My Shoulder

2011-09-28T14:11:00.000-04:00

Work In Progress - crop

What are you working on today?

Another Sneak Peek

2011-09-21T14:46:00.000-04:00

work in progress - crop

A second sneak peek, this time with the flowers a little more developed.

Above, a few recent journal pages. I'm looking for a new pen. I spent my lunch break looking on the web, but it was fairly overwhelming - so I'm going to ask if any of my readers have a suggestion. I'd like one that can give me variation in line width (responds to pressure). I'd really like a brown or sepia ink. Waterproofing is not that important to me. Any ideas?