Pages

Friday, May 13, 2011

Sisterhood of the Traveling Sketch Books- May

Hopefully, this will end up being my Paint Party Friday post, but with Blogger being down for so long, their weekly check in isn't up yet.....
Anyway, this week I started working on the first traveling sketchbook I've received- Jennifer Pride's.  This one was a struggle for me, I'm not sure why, but it was!  It went from being one thing to another and finally, I gave up sketching and just started painting with gesso, water color and acrylics.  I was trying to do a take on Botticelli's dancing ladies in La Primavera but I kept having trouble with the spirals and how to have the design transition for me- this is a real learning process for me, which funnily enough, allowed me to just play and be loose.
I'm loving the white ladies especially because I was able to stay loose instead of over worrying the proportions

This is also my entry for this week's challenge at Inspiration Avenue- where the theme is Signs and Symbols which I mixed into my background imagery.
I wanted to have a suggestion of a Maypole.....lots of words and color

I painted the figures with gesso and once the whole spread had been painted, I spritzed it all with water....sometimes I like that effect in water color paintings, but not so much here (remember a learning experience:))  anyway, I will be going back over the white- just a little 'cause I really like the way the watercolor bled through the gesso.

Oh and in case anyone's wondering, here's what I got done on my rose this week- just a little more detail:

That's about it for me this week, we've been wrapping up the end of the school year, and things have been crazy hectic in my family!
Have a great weekend!
Stephanie
Be sure to stop by my Etsy shop to check out my BOGO sale!

36 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

Love your white ladies, they look so ethereal! Valerie

Kat W said...

Gorgeous ladies and the background is stunning. Very vibrant, sensual & beautiful.
Kat X

Crayotic Ramblings said...

Love the dancers! Sometimes loose is the perfect fit!

Terrie said...

Thanks for sharing - I'm just starting an art journal to capture ideas as I have them so I can revisit and develop later. Love your ladies and the reminder to loosen up and enjoy the process.
It's my first PPF so I'm really enjoying seeing everyone's contributions.

Å olanje na domu-Waldorf said...

Fantastic white silhuetes on red background! And I love that you added shadows as well.

Christine said...

the rose is really getting more beautiful if that's possible. Love the movement in the figures.

Pam Tucker said...

OH, I love your dancers! Gorgeous work on the background as well. I love seeing these journal pages as you work on them. Thanks for the peek into these. And your rose... beautiful work, as always! :)

GlorV1 said...

Your ladies are great and the rose is really looking great. Looks like you had a lot of fun with your journal pages. Thanks and have a great weekend.

Anne Butera said...

I think your sketchbook pages are looking wonderful! I'm loving all the text and how you've created a sense of movement with your ladies! Lovely!

And your ROSE!!! Gorgeous!!!

Anonymous said...

Love your white ladies - and I love that saying about dancing like nobodies watching - so perfectly apt for your carefree sketch!

The rose is coming along beautifully!

Rosie Kaplan said...

Lovely flow and colours

Unknown said...

I really enjoyed your white ladies, and your rose is beautiful!!!

Mary Hysong said...

Love the graceful movement of your ladies! You rose is coming along beautifully. Happy PPF!

Anonymous said...

I really like the white ladies! Lots of movement. Your rose is looking lovely, as well.

Yvonne said...

I was in a Maypole dance once when I was a little girl. Love your ladies. You do lovely work.

Heather Foust said...

Your rose is looking fantastic! And your ladies are just magical!

Hybrid J said...

Both works are fantastic. Well Done! ;)

Netty said...

Joining in the Party has really opened my eyes to many things and here am finding out you can paint in gesso.....have so got to try this.
Loving your dancing ladies and your fab background, the ladies really pop out beautifully.
Enjoy the weekend Stephanie, Annette x

Sinderella's Studio said...

Your journal pages are great ...inspiring to stretch and try different things. Your rose...I have no words sufficient! Can't wait to see it finished.
cheers, dana

Fallingladies said...

I gave up on the computer friday, haven't even done my post yet, but decided to check out everyone else's. Love the white ladies!

Jaime Haney said...

oooo... my kinda colors! I love the subtle suggestion of facial features on the white ladies and also the delicate way they are posed, great job Stephanie! I can't wait to see it! Beautiful!

EVA said...

I think the journal pages are looking great! And the rose - beautiful!!

Annabelle said...

Love your white ladies and the quote perfectly suited.
Loving the rose as it unfolds in its beauty....lovely work!

Annabelle

BahamaDawn said...

love your journal pages!!! and your rose looks like a photograph!

Carrie Martinez said...

The perfect painting for the "Sisterhood"...so feminine, and definitely hints at a Maypole. Vibrant and joyful:)

Carrie Martinez said...

The perfect painting for the "Sisterhood"...so feminine, and definitely hints at a Maypole. Vibrant and joyful:)

Victoria said...

Wondrous and Inspiring work...I love the flow and lightness of the figures..so gorgeous! I love everything you create..always such a feeling of harmony here...I love your work..you are Fabulous!
Victoria

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I only wish I could draw and paint like you. Your art is always fun, and these ladies are wonderful and very inspiring. Great IA challenge piece, too.

Also glad to see your updated rose. Hope your life slows a bit soon.

Priti Lisa said...

You are a wonder, Stephanie! The art journal page is beautiful! I immadiately thought May Pole when I saw it. And the rose. Well it's gorgeous! ♥♥♥

artangel said...

Love this!! The composition of the figures, the way their arms and legs make such wonderful shapes together, is a dance in itself!

There's also something in it that suggest Picassso to me.

I'm really fascinated by the almost seperate styles you're developing - the studied beauty of your rose and your free, flowing dancers are both wonderful but really different.

Abela said...

I like the ladies .... white plaster and watercolor? I think an interesting job. Saludos

Judy Goddard said...

My eyes see aspects of aboriginal art as well. It has a lot of movement. Well done!

and the rose is stunning even as it is!

gma said...

FANTASTIC journal pages. Love your rose painting as well Stephanie.
Have a creative joyful week.

Maggie said...

Steph, I love this journal spread, it's so free-flowing and full of movement. The color is wonderful...I love the touch of blue with the warm reds.

I'm with Angie re her comment about the two styles you are developing ~ different, yet both are "you"!

Your rose is looking great!

Andrea C said...

These are very lovely x

artbrat said...

Love your May entry!!! You've captured the essence of them moving and dancing and I just love the color contrast. Great job!
-Brandy