Wednesday, April 29, 2009

"A Companion of Diana"

vine charcoal on sanded illustration board, 11x14

This is my entry for Karin Jurick's Different Strokes from Different Folks challenge.  I decided to try this in vine charcoal on sanded board, and after too much rubbing out, my fingers were bleeding.  I started drawing the head, thinking I had lots of space to fit the figure, and lo and behold, had no space for her beautiful feet.  I used to tell students: block in, adjust, re-measure, fit the whole figure in.  In my rush to finish the assignment, I didn't do it! Please visit the DSDF site to see the beautiful entries from dozens of talented artists, and to see Diana's companion's feet.

On another note, a special shout-out and thank you to R. Garriott, an amazing artist, and one of the truly good folks in the world.  If you want a visual treat, visit R.'s painting blog.  Need some digital photo editing tips? Check out R.'s Photoshop Tips for Artists.  Best explanation of "lossy" versus "non-lossy" formats I've heard.  Thanks, R! 

43 comments:

Kerri Settle said...

While the bleeding fingers part sounds like no fun, I really do love the way it came out in the end. It has a really romantic feel to it.

Unknown said...

This is beautiful, really catches the love of the dog too delivering that wet kiss!

jsicignano2.blogspot.com said...

It's beautiful Liz. You captured the movement and the emotion. Great job.

Tracey Clarke said...

Beautiful, Liz...

Dana Cooper said...

This is stunning Liz! You really captured the values beautifully in the charcoal, one of my favorite mediums!

Michelle said...

Ah...such delicate features. This is really beautiful Liz! I regret missing out on this challenge. I have some sanded paper, but haven't tried it yet. Guess I'll have to remember not to rub too much.

Paintings by Irit Bourla said...

This is really beautiful Liz! I am happy that you did it,at the last moment.You are too bz leaving me funny comments.LOL!
Thanks for all of them.
Big hug, Irit

Unknown said...

Sacrificing your body for your art again are ya? Well this is gorgeous. You know and your friends know you're a fine artist.

Peter Lee said...

Looks great even without the feet!
It must've been quite a challenge, but you did it so well.
Just great!

dominique eichi said...

What a lovely piece you did for DSFDF too bad about the feet but it's still a great pastel

Manon said...

Beautiful Liz even without the feet!

Leslie Saeta said...

Oh my - this is wonderful. She looks fantastic ... even without feet! I lvoe it. Sorry about your fingers though ...

Mona Diane Conner said...

I admire your doing it with vine charcoal Liz. I can only seem to do charcoal using a charcoal pencil. This has a lovely soft feeling to it.

L.Holm said...

Thank you all- I'm slow typing with the bandaids on. (not kidding). I really should have known better :)

Hi, Kerri of beautiful twilight painting fame - thanks! I think the soft vine charcoal gives it that romantic look.

Thanks, Barb! The dog is so wonderful in this statue, don't you think. Had trouble getting any indication of that tongue.

Thanks, Joan!
Tracey - you rock.
Thanks Dana - mine, too.
Thanks for visiting Michelle. See you next challenge!
Thanks, Irit-your blog's fun to hang out around!
Sheila- the sacrifices we make for our art, huh! lol. geesh. :-)
Peter, hi! Jump into the next one :-)
Thanks Dominique and Manon
Hi, Cathyann- thanks. Not painting is even tougher than painting sometimes! (it's late, does that make sense?)
thanks, Leslie!
Hi, Mona - that soft vine is tricky stuff..breath, and it moves. I've somehow misplaced my charc.pencils in a studio move, and keep thinking they'll turn up.Thanks for your comments.

Edward Burton said...

It's beautiful, Liz - I love the soft look of it.

rob ijbema said...

very impresive liz,
apart from the impresive craftmanship it has got a good feeling too

Vern Schwarz said...

Liz, good news is you didn't get any blood on this beautiful drawing. You really captured a wonderful mood here.

Ramesh Jhawar said...

Its beautiful Liz!

Carol Horzempa said...

Beautiful! I love the soft greys and mood you created with the vine charcoal. The dog is adorable even without his feet!

Cheryl Anderson said...

Hey, since she's a goddess, she doesn't need to have her feet touching the ground! Wonderful drawing, Liz!

G.M. said...

Beautiful, very soft and feminine. Thanks for stopping by my blog Liz!

Ann Rogers said...

Liz, the soft delicate strokes are exquisite...feet or no feet!

L.Holm said...

Thank you, Edward.
Rob - I feel a real affinity for the relationship between dogs and people, so I'm glad that good feeling came through.
Thanks, Vern (I covered it up) lol
thank you so much Ramesh and Carol.
Hi, Cheryl, thanks.,
Thanks for the return visit, Gretchen
Thanks Ann. I appreciate it!

Ann Buckner said...

Beautifully expressive. Love the feeling of wind/movement.

julie davis said...

This is lovely. I just started a drawing class, after painting for two years, and I'd forgotten the patience it requires to work in pencil or charcoal. You really convey a graceful quality in this piece.

Unknown said...

Hi Liz,
I love the movement you have created in the background of this work of art. It draws the eye around the figure, and has a beautiful pink glow about it. (Could that be the blood that you shed - worked into the sanded board???) I am not disturbed by her lack of feet - I have imagined them for myself, and I think that you left them out because they were too big for her delicate figure, so I commend you for your choice! Really - it is a very lovely piece. Congratulations!

L.Holm said...

Ann- Thank you. I appreciate your comments.

Hi, Julie - nice to meet you. thanks for visiting and for your kind comments.

Hi, Joanne - you're funny! lol! Thank you very much.

Arti said...

Great work, Liz..you have managed the strokes so well..it has a very soft look.

Galya said...

Hello Liz,

Very clean and fair job. As usual. Remins me of Shelly`s poetry somehow...

L.Holm said...

Thank you Arti!
Hi, Galina - that's a lovely thing to say. many thanks.

Anni Jones Photography said...

Hi Liz,
Oh man, what a treat!I want to learn how to do portraits and yours are inspiring me, Beautiful!
Thank You for your kind comments they are very encouraging to me.
I'll keep checking in to get inspired.
Keep up the beautiful work Liz, Anni

L.Holm said...

Hi Anni - thanks so much. Thanks for stopping in! :-)

Annelein said...

I admire anyone who can use pastels and charcoal...just reading about your fingers bleeding and the thought of the sanded pastel paper texture makes my teeth itch :) I'll stick to using my brushes and letting them take the brunt of my painting workout! Thanks for stopping by my blog! Lovely work...

L.Holm said...

Thanks for your comments Annelein! I learned my lesson about sanded paper.

Marco Folchi said...

Your drowing for DSFDF is really fine, i didn't have time for it this time... but next!

Christine said...

Thank you, Liz! You are so nice to leave that comment. I am lucky to have stumbled upon your blog too! I am always looking to find out what great artists in the Metro DC area are doing. Are you doing Artomatic this year? I cannot since I will be in New Hampshire for the summer, but I hope to next year.

This drawing is lovely, by the way. Although I mostly paint now, drawing will always be my "first love." I still have not done the Different Strokes for Different Folks challenge, as my day job is keeping me busy, but I intend to do the New York cityscape one for the month of May. I can't wait to see what you do!

L.Holm said...

Marco- you've been busy, no surprise you skipped this challenge! Look forward to seeing any future submissions.

Hi, Christine - no artomatic for me either. a summer in NH sure sounds like fun. lovely state! Thanks for visiting my blog. Look forward to seeing you NY cityscape :-)

Peggy Montano & Paintings said...

Liz, this is great work. I didn't get up the courage to try it. Even though, Karin says get out of that comfort zone. :-)

L.Holm said...

Thanks for visiting Peggy. I'm trying to build my courage for the cityscape--completely daunting to me.

Dean H. said...

Even without the feet, this is a mighty well done piece of art!

L.Holm said...

Dean! hello! thanks very much. I love the painting of your daughter! :-)

Renee said...

Liz to you know what it feels like for someone to tell you that they know someone with stage 4 cancer that has been alive for 14 years?

It feels incredible and hopeful. I wish, I truly do.

Liz I am sorry to hear about your cancer and I hope that bastard is gone from your life for ever.

Thank you so much Liz.

Love Renee xoxoxo

L.Holm said...

love you back, Renee. Keep up the good fight. xoxoxo