Jan Weaver's Art Journal

Terry's Girls

2012-01-03T15:06:00.002-06:00

This is from photos taken this summer in Oregon, where we visited Janet and Terry with their two grey kitties, Bruzer and Bella. This is Bella, the lovely.

Grackle Urn

2011-12-17T15:52:00.003-06:00

This is the second urn I finished this winter. I was looking for a design for the ashes of my male corgi, and these two male grackles have the macho I was looking for.

The images were inspired by some clay black birds I saw in Oaxaca this summer.

funerary urn

2011-12-06T12:07:00.005-06:00

this is the finished ceramics project I was working on this fall. It is in memory of my Mom. The female grizzly represents the fierce mother love she had for us.

I had a great time in the ceramics studio, and have another project in the kiln.

Cardinal Self Portrait

2011-11-05T18:22:00.000-05:00

This is the finished painting. I like the wistful look.

2011-10-25T17:05:00.000-05:00

New drawing

2011-10-24T11:16:00.001-05:00

I am starting a new self-portrait. I'm getting tired of looking at myself.

New one

2011-10-23T15:26:00.000-05:00

This one is better.

Not good

2011-10-22T11:12:00.001-05:00

Oh dear, this won't do. I look 85 years old!!!

I am going to have to go in and do some major repair.

Self Portrait with Hummer ghosts

2011-10-21T15:06:00.002-05:00

I've got this one going with the images where I want them. I like the pose but look like I have dead tissue around the eyes. I do have those bags under my eyes, and am not sure what to do about that. Last self portrait, I gave myself a face lift, and I may have to do that again.

Interesting aside. The three bird are all the same flat grey value, but the one on the right looks lighter because of the contrast with the darker background.

girl in Central Park

2011-10-11T14:23:00.001-05:00

I think this is my finished piece. I like it and am ready to draw more.

New portrait

2011-10-10T11:41:00.002-05:00

I am almost finished with this one. Needs to have the color on the face punched up, and some details in the dress.

I saw this little girl is Central Park last month. What caught me eye was the color of her skin... so I need to focus on that now.

Start of a new one

2011-10-07T14:48:00.002-05:00

I have been stuck as to what to paint, so I decided to just pick a picture out of my photos and start. This has alot of darks and will take some work to get the little white specs covered up.

Purple Roses

2011-09-21T11:50:00.001-05:00

This is the final piece. I like the light on the edges of the petals. This was fun to do.

New floral

2011-08-22T11:39:00.000-05:00

drawing for new painting

2011-08-20T11:41:00.001-05:00

first block in.

This woman worked in our coffee bar in London. She served us breakfast. She is from Spain, brown hair and bright blue eyes.

background for Yearling

2011-08-20T11:37:00.001-05:00

I punched up the blue in the background to compliment the orange in the deer. Not sure if it is too much...

Almost finished

2011-08-18T13:48:00.003-05:00

I think I have the nose, eyes, and background the way I want. But now the picture will sit in my studio where I can see it. I'll look at it for awhile, several days, and check things out.

The background is still very complicated. Maybe too busy. I'll live with it for awhile and see what I think later.

putting in the deer

2011-08-17T11:28:00.001-05:00

I've got the basis markings for the deer. I'm leaving the eyes until the very last, so it looks alittle spooky.

background for Bambi

2011-08-15T17:40:00.001-05:00

This is the next step in the background. I like the shadows and cast light. This is fun to do.

drawing for new painting

2011-08-13T13:27:00.002-05:00

I enjoyed putting in all the little areas of background after putting in the subject in blue. Each little area relates to another, like drawing something very complex so that the mind can't label it. It reminds me of a drawing on the right side of the brain exercise. I just took my time and played with each area.

Anitque Roses

2011-08-01T17:49:00.001-05:00

This is another Pan Pastel. I enjoyed the center of the rose is the middle. The shadows and stamens were interesting.

Almost finished

2011-07-08T20:39:00.001-05:00

I have a few touch ups to do and I think I am done with this one.

Next step

2011-07-08T11:54:00.002-05:00

Working the background on this one is interesting. The reason I am doing this, is that it is so complex, I can loose myself in the painting and get that cross over from left to right brain painting. It is very calming and pleasurable.

Incomplete

2011-07-07T11:59:00.001-05:00

This is a new rose painting I am working on. I wanted to see it like this before going any further.

June Roses

2011-07-03T16:14:00.001-05:00

This is done with Pan Pastels. I am pleased with it.

Yellow Rose

2011-06-25T14:35:00.002-05:00

Pan Pastel on printmaking paper. I am trying to play with techniques for soft and hard edges. I have been looking at watercolors for ideas. I am happier with this one than the first one.

Titmouse Print

2011-06-23T11:16:00.003-05:00

I have had alot of birds at my feeder this year. The Titmouse pairs are one of my favorite. I think the drought has made food scarce and I keep my feeder full for them.

This recent rain should get the bug population booming for the birds. Mosquitoes in particular!

I am interested in the images that show movement. I am working on one last print in flight and then it's time for more pastels.

Yellow Rose

2011-06-22T15:24:00.001-05:00

Pan Pastel exercise or summer

Cedar Waxwing finished

2011-06-22T11:39:00.001-05:00

I wrote my letter yesterday and this is the finished version.

Cedar Waxwing

2011-06-21T15:52:00.001-05:00

This is the third stage of this print. Next I will write the letter.

New Cardinal

2011-06-20T11:39:00.003-05:00

I have another cardinal print that I didn't like much, so I did another one with a circular design. I thought it was interesting. I have several pairs this year at my feeder and they are the most amazing red. I want to do another with the colors of the female.

In this letter I wrote Dad about a dream I had of him in his Navy uniform on a big ship with me beside him. It was the first time in a long time I didn't think about him on his death bed, but rather in his prime, standing proud.

I think this is turning point in my grief process. It feels so uplifting to have a wider perspective of his life in my thoughts.

Letter to Dad - Chickadee

2011-06-16T21:18:00.001-05:00

I left this print in black and white. I have been experimenting with color but felt this one was simplified enough to leave it alone.

Hummers

2011-06-09T11:33:00.003-05:00

I couldn't decide whether to put some color on the birds or the flowers. So this is one version.

House Finch Print

2011-06-07T10:46:00.004-05:00

I am using a water based ink that dries permanent so that I can come in with watercolor and put in some color.

This is a three part printing process. First I print the flowers or branches. Then the bird, and finally the color. Then I sit down and write the letter.

Each letter is different and is spontaneous. I got the reference photo for this Finch in my parents ornamental pear tree when it was in bloom. One of those perfect moments.

Finished Memorial Print

2011-06-01T17:22:00.004-05:00

This is the finished Chickadee print I did for a friend. The red berries were added with watercolor. There are tiny touches of green on the berries too.

I like the finished product and the poem that is written by my friend's mother is wonderful.

I am really happy with this one.

Memorial

2011-05-31T17:31:00.004-05:00

This is a commission I am doing for a friend in memory of her mother. Her mom left her little notes and this poem that I put in the background. The two chickadees are turned toward each other representing the mother and daughter. I hope she likes it!!

Final "Bug" portrait with Pan Pastels

2011-05-27T11:44:00.004-05:00

This is the finished painting/drawing of "Lady Bug". She was a loving companion to one of my best friends.

I sharpened up edges around the ears and right side of her fur with a sharpened hard pastel. Lights in her eyes were also added with the same.

I used warm colors on the right side where the light shone, and cooler hues of the same values on the left. This can't be seen on the photo, but put in by the artist to show volume and contrast.

Notice the background is most intense on the upper right side to help pull the eye to the point of interest, her eyes. And it adds to the tilt of the head.

Blessings to "Bug" in doggie heaven!!!!

Demo of Lady Bug part 1

2011-05-26T14:06:00.003-05:00

This my preliminary drawing of "Bug". I was doing a demo of Pan Pastels for the Austin Pastel Society this last week-end. This is a far as I got.

I put the background in with cotton balls and used Q-tips to apply the color for the fur. The lighting in the building was a huge challenge for me and I had a hard time evaluating how much color I was putting down. When I got home I could see I had more work to do.

I will past the finished work tomorrow.

Crow Letter

2011-04-25T11:49:00.002-05:00

This is another block print I just finished. The letter is written in a finer ink pen and I think I like the obscured letter better although it doesn't present as much value contrast.

I may try one with color. I have an ink that dries permanently and can allow watercolor over it when dry. I like the carving on this one.

Letter to Dad - Chickadee

2011-04-23T11:55:00.002-05:00

I seem to be stuck in my painting so I have dropped back into something that is pleasing to do and meaningful. Block printing.

I started writing letters to my Dad, who passed away a year ago, as a way of processing his death. It was very helpful and relaxing, so I carve a block of a bird (symbol of transformation) when I don't seem able to do much else.

I painted some of them, but this one seemed right in black and white, because Chickadees are basically those values. This is a square format which I like.

Germany Challenge 2

2011-04-16T13:37:00.001-05:00

This is a small pastel of a photo from the Carol Marine challenge.

I am not thrilled with it, and have alot of trouble with landscapes. I will have to continue to practice.

German Challenge

2011-04-05T17:36:00.001-05:00

This is the challenge this week. I landscape. I used some of the things I learned from Liz Haywood-Sullivan workshop

Double Pear

2011-04-02T13:20:00.002-05:00

Well, I like the pears, but the whole composition is too heavy on the right.

I might do this again and see if I could get maybe a third element in the empty space. Maybe just space the plate differently.

I need to keep working on the set-up.

Austin Pastel Society Annual Show

2011-03-28T11:28:00.001-05:00

I was so excited to receive the "Best of Show" prize for my bobcat.

As you can see from the grin on my face I was very happy and surprised.

Second white pitcher

2011-03-23T15:15:00.002-05:00

I reworked the background on the right side of the pitcher.

I learned that gray in pastel needs to be a mixture of colors, not black with a lot of white in it. If you look at the previous blog, and compare it to this one, you might see the difference.

The area is under the spout and to the right.

I want to do something else and work with the grays.

White pitcher

2011-03-19T13:51:00.002-05:00

This is a study of a white object on a colored background. It got a little messy, but it was fun to do.

white paper with under wash challenge

2011-03-17T21:53:00.003-05:00

This is Uart paper 600 grit with an under wash of warm colors.

The shadow forms from the large trees bugs me. I would do some things differently, but had to stop before my head exploded.

This is very different from how I paint, so it was indeed a challenge.

One of the things I enjoyed about this workshop and challenge was to watch accomplished landscape artists in our group stretch too, and have a hard time getting a good painting out of a workshop exercise.

I always think I am the only one who can't paint a good painting all the time. It encouraged me to do more exercises.

Black paper challenge

2011-03-16T18:50:00.002-05:00

I attended the Liz Haywood-Sullivan workshop this past week-end. She had us do a painting on Black Canson paper, and then the second day we did the same reference landscape on white sanded paper with an under wash.

This is the result of the first day. Very quick work and rather unfinished looking, but you can see the drama of the dark paper showing thru.

I will show the next one tomorrow.

Green Eyes Cousins

2011-03-09T10:48:00.002-06:00

I have my two kitties with me in this painting.

I finished this self portrait in pastel before the workshop painting in oil.

I am hoping to transfer some of the techniques to my pastel painting.

red grapes

2011-03-08T10:49:00.003-06:00

My final painting for the workshop was this little sprig of grapes. I spent about 30 minutes working with different objects to get a composition I liked.

It was good to know that others have to take a long time to get set-up too.

If I don't feel inspired by the set-up, the fun goes out of the painting process. And that is what I have found to be the point of painting...not the product, but the experience of painting.

Oranges and Plumb

2011-03-07T10:41:00.002-06:00

This painting was a four color challenge with three colors close on the color wheel, blue, turquoise, and purple, with the compliment, orange.

It turned out better that I thought it would. I was very leery of the background blue being so intense, but then I watched Carol go even more saturated with her demo. Very exciting.

Tea and Strawberries

2011-03-06T10:01:00.002-06:00

This is my second painting from the workshop...I also painted these strawberries 8 times in an exercise in quick 2 minute intervals.

By the time I was done with these berries, they were roasted from the lights.

I noticed that the interior ellipse on the cup is off.

I practiced ellipses because they are challenging and Carol said to stretch and be challenged. There are 4 in this painting. Can you count them?

Some Like It Hot

2011-03-05T16:44:00.003-06:00

This is the first of the paintings I did for Carol Marine's workshop this last week.

It was an excellent jump start for me after a year of not painting much.

The exercises were challenging and met with much whining on my part, but I learned a lot from each one. And I would have not done them on my own.

Carol is very attentive and a really good teacher. Which I can't always say about good artists whose work I admire. Having both talents is unusual.

Songs of Sorrows

2011-02-11T12:51:00.003-06:00

This is my current painting. I am trying to express my feelings of the last year and in particular the last 3 months of depression. My intention is to paint relevant images of experience instead of decorative work. Most of my work does have personal reference, but I would like to push this alittle more.

This is my dog, Queenie, who used to wail with my other Corgi, Duncan when the sirens hit a certain pitch. I am also a wailer when my heart is struck with a certain pitch of emotion.

Painting her at night was an interesting challenge because the colors are all very effected by the cold colors of reflected light.

This picture doesn't accurately show the blues that are in the painting. Queenie's white fur is quite blue.

Liam McCabe

2011-01-18T11:23:00.003-06:00

This is a commission for my cousin that I have been working on. I started with pastel pencils and moved to hard pastels and soft pastels. I will put a few finishing touches on it, but am pretty satisfied with it. I will work on the eye lids some.

The big challenge here was the mouth. I didn't want to contend with all those teeth. You can't really see it in this reference photo, but the big smile in the original photo has lots of teeth and the grin closed the eyes somewhat. So, I changed the mouth to being closed
To do this, I had to shorten the chin and narrow the cheeks somewhat. Just a small amount, but these little adjustments requires knowledge of a face. I also changed the colors of the shirt and sweater for more color near the face.

I hope his grandmother likes it.

Big Carriage Horse

2010-11-07T11:23:00.002-06:00

This is the finished painting. I quit using the hard pastels and went to very soft ones to punch up the color. I had fun doing this one and let myself take 2 weeks to do it.

This big guy was in Canada when we visited this summer. There were lots of draft horses in the streets, and I can still smell their horsey smell when I look at this.

Next step

2010-11-04T22:30:00.003-05:00

I am continuing to work up the areas with more color. This one has the main areas in proportion except the pupil of the eye. It isn't right at all. I also want more intensity of color on the left side to balance the greens on the upper right.

It helps to see it on the blog and get another view of how it is looking. The mane on the left needs to be punched up also. And a few more very dark values.

I have used multiple layers of fixative to be able to go back in and rework areas. I have probably 8 layers. Still needs work.

Gourd and Queen

2010-10-09T16:45:00.001-05:00

This didn't work the way I had wanted. I like the butterfly tho.

more darks

2010-10-07T14:30:00.000-05:00

next step: more pastel

Putting in some darks

2010-10-03T21:55:00.001-05:00

I started putting in more darks. The angle of the photo is poor, but you can see the process.

a start

2010-09-27T21:52:00.003-05:00

I have started this drawing of a carriage horse I saw in Quebec Canada. It took me awhile to get the proportions and the lines in place.
Then I have started putting in values with some color. This is a light sketching of pastel pencil on gray canson paper. I will need to put in my darker darks next. I am going to try a new fixative I got at the last IAPS convention to layer the darks.
to be continued

Fairy butterflies with Pepper

2010-09-26T14:43:00.002-05:00

These tiny butterflies are so cute. I wasn't thrilled with the pepper, but learned from doing it.

peppers and cabbage butterfly

2010-09-14T14:09:00.001-05:00

I did this one in an hour. It felt good and I liked the immediateness of it.

Questionmark and Pepper

2010-09-10T12:59:00.002-05:00

I had a second butterfly in this one and it looked awful. I was ready to chuck the painting when a friend suggested taking out the second butterfly.

I have learned to use a rubber tipped tool to take off wet oil and employed it here. Simplifying the subject matter helped.

Grey Fox of the Desert

2010-09-05T12:21:00.003-05:00

I saw this fox in Tucson AZ when we were there for the Gem Show this year.

We found a dead one by a stream out in the Natl. Park while hiking. He was small and looked like a young one. Then when we went to the Desert Museum Zoo I got some pictures of a much fatter one and did this portrait from those reference photos.

They just LOOK mischievous.

Chateau Frontenac, Quebec

2010-09-04T10:55:00.002-05:00

This is where Bob and I stayed for a week in Quebec City. We had a great time goofing off, walking, and eating.

It was great to get out of the heat and not think about any obligations.
But we are home and it is time to think about painting again

White Cabbage sulfur

2010-08-20T12:08:00.002-05:00

These cherries were so dark I had a challenge getting the red in highlights.

I think I could have used a warmer foreground. The painting is a little cool. Maybe it is the hot weather out that makes me yearn for cool paintings!

The finished painting:"Goeatweed Emporer"

2010-08-18T21:43:00.001-05:00

The last step was to add the background color and highlights on the apples.

Block in objects for painting

2010-08-16T10:43:00.002-05:00

This is the next step in the painting of this lovely Goatweed Emperor and green apples.

First stage

2010-08-15T14:46:00.000-05:00

This is the block in for a painting I did this week-end.

Background block

2010-08-13T16:07:00.002-05:00

This is the carved block for the background of the print. The block will be inked with a gold water based relief ink. This is done first so that any overlap of the images will result in the black on top.

I started out using two different blocks, but now use one block with the bird on the "good" smooth side, and the background on the slightly textured side. This has saved on blocks piling up in my studio.

Block printing

2010-08-12T12:05:00.002-05:00

This is the first block I carved for the print of a house wren. the negative spaces are taken out so that the ink just stays on the high parts.

Next I will show you the background block

"Pipvine on Trumpetvine"

2010-08-11T14:09:00.001-05:00

This painting is about the light when it hit the little vase.

Dogface and Grapes

2010-08-04T17:20:00.001-05:00

I love this one. Finally one I like. I knew it when I finished it an hour short of what it usually takes. It didn't overwork it.

Giant

2010-08-03T15:39:00.002-05:00

This butterfly was given to me by a friend who found him dead. It made me feed good to know I didn't have to kill a beautiful thing to paint it.

I enjoyed putting him with some new small tomatoes.

Buckeye and Greenies

2010-07-28T10:06:00.002-05:00

I like the apples best in this one. I could have a better color choice for the background to make the little orange bars on the butterfly stand out more: bet you didn't even see them.

Morning Cloak and Apples

2010-07-27T14:59:00.002-05:00

This is one of my favorite butterflies because of the rich brown of it's wings and the blue dots. I like the apple slices and the rhythm of shadows across the canvas.
I wanted to go in and change the shapes of the wings some, but decided to stop and not over work the painting, which is my biggest challenge.

orange cloudless sulfur

2010-07-18T12:24:00.002-05:00

I like this one. I am getting better at getting the perspective of the wings. The brush strokes help give the impression of movement.

The Wipe

2010-07-15T10:44:00.002-05:00

You may think there is something wrong with your computer. There isn't. This is the result of an afternoon of painting that did not go well. I was going to keep it just to see if I liked it better the next day, but I didn't, so I wiped it all off.

It has some ultramarine blue on it as a primer, but most of the painting came off. It had major difficulties with the color choices, and not worth trying to fix. Part of my job as an artist is to know when to throw in the towel. This was that time.

cherries with yellow sulfur

2010-07-14T11:42:00.002-05:00

I finally got one I liked. These cherries were actually darker in real life and tasted great. The cherries are in season and I will paint them for awhile.

Bee Letter

2010-07-08T11:32:00.002-05:00

We have two bee hives in our big old oak tree out front. So we see lots of bees. They are very gentle and non threatening. We really like them.
Because they are so small, it was a challenge to get a print of one.

Apple and butterfly

2010-07-07T17:31:00.002-05:00

I am starting painting again, and am not fond of this one. The butterfly needs to be more dominant. I need more practice.

Hummingbird Letter

2010-07-05T16:53:00.001-05:00

I think this is the last of this series. These guys make me smile and that is a good note to end on.

Now it is time to paint.

Tufted Titmouse

2010-07-04T12:37:00.002-05:00

I had done this is color some time ago and wanted to get it into the same format for a letter. I have really liked the writing each day.

Bluejay letter

2010-06-28T10:30:00.002-05:00

This is a different format, a square with no gold foliage. I wanted to feeling of air instead of earth.

The perspective is a little askew on the writing because of the angle of the photo...it squared up better in reality. But I am satisfied with the wings, and that is really what this one is about. Flying

Cedar Waxwing letter

2010-06-25T12:06:00.002-05:00

The Cedar Waxwings come through in numbers and eat off the blue berries of the waxleaf legustrom bush in my yard. Then they go poop all over my car. It is a great ritual!
I want to figure out how of make the berries show up. I'm going to work on the supporting branches for the color prints.

House Finch letter

2010-06-24T11:10:00.002-05:00

I have a pair of finches, maybe two in my backyard that visit my feeder daily. Their markings are so interesting and lend themselves to the print.
I have two more prints I am carving on and then I want to run a series with color and hand color areas. The main emphasis on these black , gray, and white ink prints is the bird and the writing.
I think they will have a totally different look with more colors and no writing.
I don't know why I am so drawn to prints right now, but the carving is very soothing.

Singing Wren letter

2010-06-23T14:03:00.001-05:00

This little wren is singing it's little heart out. Wrens sing so loudly I can't believe all that sounds comes from such a little bird.

Chickadee letter

2010-06-22T14:19:00.003-05:00

This print is another letter to my Dad. The writing is askew and I can get a better print of the bird. I'll do another with clearer borders.

Letters with a Wren

2010-06-21T16:45:00.003-05:00

This is a blockprint with 2 colors and then a penned letter to my deceased Dad in white ink. I have been having a conversation with him in my mind as I work through the estate papers from he and my Mom. I decided to write out the one way conversation in a series of letters. So they will technically be mono-prints with mixed media.

"Watching"

2010-06-14T17:39:00.003-05:00

This bobcat was in a Tucson Zoo that we visited last year. She was watching from up high on a ledge as the sun was starting to go down. I thought she was lovely.

Nectarines and Cloudless Sulfur

2010-06-12T17:12:00.003-05:00

These butterflies are plentiful and luminescent. I have a set of them displayed in a shadow box my Mom made. The nectarines were alittle unripe, so they were perfect to leave out on my still life table for a day or two.
I think my shadows could have had a darker value.

"Keylime Monarch"

2010-06-10T15:36:00.001-05:00

Desert Cat Dreams

2010-06-08T17:53:00.002-05:00

This is another dream written into the body of the bobcat. I used white ink on a block print on gray Canson paper. This is a large male bobcat I saw in Tucson.

"Landing"

2010-05-28T12:00:00.003-05:00

I am trying a two color block print. This one is of a Titmouse I saw in my backyard. I was very interested in the pattern of his wings. I am waiting on more colors of ink to mix a more interesting background color. But this is my first proof of the design. I will do alittle more carving.

grapes and little pitcher

2010-05-27T14:43:00.002-05:00

This is my first daily study in a long time. I enjoyed the colors and the process. I am out of practice and ready to do more.

"Baby Tiger" dream

2010-04-20T14:41:00.001-05:00

Second in the series

"Bobcat" dream

2010-04-20T14:32:00.002-05:00

I have been working with images from my dreams. This is a series of tigers and bobcats that are used as a support for the words of my dreams.

It is a medium that I have not worked with in a long time and I am really enjoying. It is very direct and precise.

two crabby

2010-03-15T19:15:00.000-05:00

This is the other one.

two tiny apples

2010-03-15T19:08:00.000-05:00

This is the last of the crab apples, I had to throw them out!