365 Days of Art – Print Making

Posted on November 6, 2018 by Mama Cormier

….days 166, 167, 168

Last week I took a print making class where we used found objects to create interesting textures and designs. We used oil based inks that can be cleaned with water and when we were ready to print we put our pieces through a large press. It was a fun evening and made me want to own my own press.

I made two copies of each print. The second press is called a ghost print because the colours are much lighter than the original print. Since taking the following photos I’ve added more detail to some of these which I will share with you when I’m done.

London – Day Three – Part 2

Posted on November 4, 2018 by Mama Cormier

…..after Highgate Cemetery

Down the hill from Highgate Cemetery we were directed to look for a pub that came highly recommended. Unfortunately when we got there the pub was being completely renovated and wasn’t open for business. We didn’t have to walk far before we found another place with a lovely patio. It was a little chilly to be sitting outside so we opted to go inside The Vine. Only one other table was occupied but the bartender greeted us and directed us to a table for four and handed us menus.

Normally an empty pub doesn’t bode well for good service or food but in this case it was completely the opposite. Our waiter was delightful and the food was delicious.

After a pint of larger or cider and a few sharing plates we headed off towards Camden Market.

With hundreds of stalls selling clothing, crafts, and food, Camden Market is one of Europe’s largest markets. It is divided into different markets. We started in the Camden Lock Market which is on the street level and next to the locks. There were lots of food vendors here and a variety of stalls selling anything from books, music and flowers to vintage clothes.

At first glance I thought the market was actually quite small but then we walked through a hole in the brick wall and we experienced a whole new world. There are literally hundreds of vendors in the Stables Market.

The Stables Market is located in historic former stables and the Grade II horse hospital which served the horses pulling Pickford’s distribution vans and barges along the canal. Many of the stalls and shops are set in large arches in railway viaducts.

It is very easy to get lost in this place. If you like this kind of market give yourself a couple of hours to really see this place and check out all the vendors.

365 Days of Art – More Quirky Creatures

Posted on October 23, 2018 by Mama Cormier

….days 163, 164 and 165

Carla Sonheim had us make our own sidewalk cracks using a recipe that she devised. I tried making one in London and from that I looked for a critter or animal that I could cut out and fill in with marks and colour. From one sheet of paper I managed to find two ‘abstract’ animals. One is a dog of sorts and the other a sitting elephant.

I’m really enjoying sketching with graphite pencils and blending stumps. I’ve also been inspired by Sophie Favre’s clay sculptures that I saw in London and I created a mouse using her style.

365 Days of Art – While in London

Posted on October 20, 2018 by Mama Cormier

…I did actually find some time to do some drawing when I was in London

Days 159 and 160

I’ve been trying to practice drawing more quirky characters. I did manage two pages of these lovely ladies while staying in our Airbnb in London. I found the best time to draw was when everyone had gone to bed.

More Quirky Characters With Hats

Posted on September 19, 2018 by Mama Cormier

….days 157 and 158 of 365 Days of Art

Vintage Hat on a Quirky Character

Posted on September 13, 2018 by Mama Cormier

….Lucy Cooke is encouraging us to add hats to our Quirky Characters

365 Days of Art continues with a pencil drawing of a quirky character wearing a hat. This is only the first of what I hope will be many hat wearing characters.

Day 156

365 Days of Art – The Beginning

Posted on September 13, 2018 by Mama Cormier

….days 153 and 154

I’ve enrolled in Lynn Whipple’s repeat class called Big Bold Blooms. It’s a very loose way of painting flowers on large canvases. I purchased three 24 x 30 inch canvases and the first thing we had to do was prime them with a light grey on one, an orange on another and finally a white gesso on the third.

Once the paint dried we had to look at a floral arrangement and with chalk pastels and vine charcoal we loosely drew parts of the arrangement and then flipped the canvas and did it again. The canvas was flipped three times and the last time lines were drawn in different directions across the canvas to almost give it a grid appearance. Each time one colour of chalk was used it was wiped with our hands to smudge it before the next colour was added or the piece was flipped.

My canvases are now ready for step two of the the process.

Quirky Characters

Posted on September 8, 2018 by Mama Cormier

….days 149 to 152 of 365 Days of Art

I’ve discovered a new course that involves drawing fun faces using graphite. It’s run by Lucy Cooke over at Jean Oliver Creative Community.

It’s called Quirky Characters and the only materials that you need are a sketchbook, a mechanical pencil and a blending stump. Here are the first four lessons of actual faces that I produced.

Big Bold Blooms

Posted on September 6, 2018 by Mama Cormier

….day 148 of 365 Days of Art

I’ve signed up for another class through Carla Sonheim where Lynn Whipple teaches how to draw and paint Big, Bold Blooms.

Our first class was to quickly draw 15 blooms while listening to music and time each drawing. The first group were given 15 seconds to draw, the second group 30 and the last 1 minute. After all the flowers were drawn we had to cut them out and arrange them in and on a quickly drawn vase. The medium used was soft pastels.

One of my favourite parts of this assignment was going out and purchasing a variety of flowers.

365 Days of Art – Adding Colour

Posted on September 6, 2018 by Mama Cormier

….days 146 and 147

After drawing 9 different teacups with a heavy, light and quick lines I decided to take some of my least favourite ones and add some design and colour to them. I used watercolour and marker.