So, you understand the grid, now what?

The first time I used the grid was my senior year in High School. I was surprised to see they were teaching it at my college also. I'm not one to boast about my work. I'm highly critical of myself up until my art professor in college always used my stuff as an example. I couldn't believe it. The picture above was my very first drawing in college using the grid. Looks pretty good for a first drawing. I didn't believe it though. It took my professor to tell me this for me to believe it. So please don't be so hard on yourself and your work. Everyone is different in the way they execute art and it is all beautiful.

So, you've got the grid down pretty well and you want to challenge yourself a bit. Let's also assume you know how to shade. Shading is critical when doing a portrait drawing. I would love to teach you how to shade but it's almost impossible to do in writing. I recommend looking on you tube for some pointers or taking a class on drawing. Practice shading a ball. It helps you to understand where light hits on objects. Also the pencils you use are important. Everyone is different as far as what pencils they like to use. Some like charcoal, some like the soft pencils and some like the harder ones. Try them all out and see what you like best. Personally, I like the soft pencils 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, and 6b are my favorites.

Anyway, you think you're ready to draw a portrait. What should you start with? I highly recomment starting with a celebrity photograph. They're the easiest for me to draw. They have a ton of makeup and great dimension on them. They're photographs are already art. Use a celebrity you like a lot. I used a lot of Johnny Depp in my early years of drawing. I love Edward Scissorhands.

And Gwen Stefani from No Doubt...That picture has a bad glare on it from being behind a glass case at school...

Eventually from a lot of practice you will find you understand the body more and shadows. You won't need the grid and will be able to draw whatever you want more freely. The good thing about learning the grid is if you ever get stuck on a picture you just can't get to look like the photograph, you have the grid that will guarantee you will get it right. Below are my latest works without using a grid.

As you will see I have evolved from pencil to oils and colored pencils. I highly suggest you play with different mediums and find your passion. I would love to see your work from when you started and where you are now! Happy Drawing.

Over and Beyond Frustrated With Myself.

I must vent for a moment because I am so frustrated with myself. I am fairly decent artist but as of recently I haven't liked anything I have been putting out. I am used to drawing portraits of people and painting ladscaped to look realistic. Ever since I have been on Etsy I've been trying to put things out that would sell. To be honest, if my college professor were to see what I've been up to, he would be greatly dissapointed in me. I am feeling the pressure to put out Christmas themed cards but am having a hard time doing that.  I don't know if it's because I'm rushing myself through a drawing or not really giving myself the time for each piece. All I know is I need a mental break from art for a while. So until then I'm going to put up a few pieces I'm actually proud of.

Moving and Sales

It's been a while but I've had a busy week. We just moved back to Georgia and I've been making some sales in my Etsy shop! I've sold one of everything I believe. Of course the day before we move I get an order to do a custom portrait drawing to ship to Australia! No worries though, I finished it that day and mailed it out the day we left. I'm pretty quick with a pencil! I was excited to sell my "Alice In Wonderland" Papercut art last night. I got all the packaging supplies together and now it's ready to ship out tomorrow. I'm getting some special silhouette paper in the mail so it should be easier to cut. Also, I have figured out how to make envelopes for my greeting cards! You get the choice of having the print on the outside or inside of the envelope. You dont get to pick the print, but I do coordinate the print to your card and you get different designs, not just one! Well, I hope everyone has a fab. rest of the week!

Ashley

Arts and Craft Show Ideas and Sexy Aprons, what?????

OK, so here it goes again.  My whole post just got deleted. Don't you hate it when that happens?  So I have some ideas for my arts and crafts show I'm doing next year.  I believe your booth display is just as important as the items you're selling.  You want to get people in your booth and keep them there.  So I'm going to use the colors pink and black again or Tiffany blue and black so it's not too girly.  Also I was shocked that I didn't see any artist doing their craft in the booth when I went to a show here in town.  So I'm going to bring my easel, canvas, paints and brushes. Hopefully this will bring people in my booth and get them more interested in buying my art.  I will definately be selling prints no question.  Also, I am trying to think of a completely different way to display my work than the norm.  Also, I ran accross this shop on Etsy called Dot's Diner.  She sells the cutest retro 50's style aprons.  Normal art aprons are bulky plastic things or just plain ugly.  So I'm going to save up and get one of these sexy little numbers! I'll probably wear capris under them with a tank top. I don't want to offend anyone at the show. lol!  I know you're thinking "Wont you get paint all over it?  I'll probably get a little bit of paint, but overall I'm a pretty clean painter so I'm not too worried about it.  Also, I think it gives it a little bit of character.  Below I have listed some of her items that I adore. Go visit her shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/dotsdiner .

Do you have any crative ideas to display art in an arts and crafts show?  I would love to know!

Monday, Monday

Good morning everyone!  I'm excited to start this blog and am hoping for some followers!  I plan on doing a giveaway here soon and want to start promoting other shops from Etsy.  I think it will be more effective though if I get some followers, don't you??  haha.  So that's what I'm doing at this moment along with finishing up a painting I started about 5 years ago in college.  It was one fo those paintings that you start and get so sick of because it's just not turning out the way you want it and the semester was almost over, so you scrap it for the time being.  Well i decided to pick it back up and am more excited about it now than I was when I started it years ago.  It's turning out fantastic!  I can't wait to share it with you guys!

So another week means another shopping week.  I clipped my coupons out and am ready for Harris Teeter's souper double coupon week!  My husband and I just moved up here from Georgia about 2 months ago and we never had a Harris Teeter.  Although I have to say grocery prices are higher up here than back at home.  This Sunday I went on a diaper run at CVS.  I got a big box of Pamper's diapers, jumbo Huggies pack of diapers, Big refill bag of Huggies diapers and two boxes for Cheez-Its for 27.00!  I saved 46%! 

Do you coupon??  What deals have you found??

Oh, Blog

Blog...AKA: My open diary for the whole world to see.  So in other words I wont put up anything on here I wouldn't want my mom or dad to see!  Not that my life is that exciting.  ALTHOUGH, I will share things with you all that I find out. 

I just started the couponing thing thanks to my good friend Gretchen!  It's not an easy thing to do and not for the faint hearted.  If you invest time into it, you will see big savings and will never have to buy toothpaste or toothbrushes ever again! Visit http://www.southernsavers.com/,  she explains it all wonderfully....and does a lot of the work for you!!

I love to cook, so if I find a rockin' recipe I will share it with you. (Try Sandra Lee's coffe cake!! It's AMAZING. You can find it on foodnetwork.com).

I also have a shop on Etsy. http://www.thesketchyeasel.etsy.com/ . I used to sell heating pads and earrings and such, but I knew I had to go to where my real talent was...art!  I sell prints of my originals and do custom portraits. Go check it out!