'Thank You' Doodle Experimentation

A while back I posted a handful of imagery from my sketchbook featuring a few things ('In The Studio' http://mairintajcaya.blogspot.com/2012/05/in-studio_17.html), one of which was a doodle of a man in a courtly tunic and hose, bowing - in what is is hoped to be viewed as an appreciative way - towards the viewer.

Well, I wanted a little experimentation mixed in with other projects (more of which will be posted here shortly, as well as on the website), so I put the doodle on some watercolor paper and came up with the following. I took a few 'process' photos as I went, really just for my own sake. I'm learning more from phases of painting, where I go too far on something, where I could have changed direction, that sort of thing.
So, here goes:

At the desk in the studio...From drawing to painting.

Process Photo, at the desk.

Completed Scan.

Detail Scan Crop.

I took notes as I worked, as I have taken to do from time to time while in the studio. I am gaining my ground as an artist, trying to analyze the process to better understand - and therefore work with - what works and what doesn't. So, this piece left me with a quizzical expression, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, no?

I have been away from the internet for some time, so a bunch of recent work will be uploaded here shortly. I've done all the scanning and editing, I just need to post! I also need to update my website...

Cheers. 

Moss Works Quilting; My Mom's Portfolio Website

My mother has been a quilter and a seamstress - an artist - all her life. She even experimented in oil painting and drawing throughout her youth.

Growing up, it was common for us both to pass a long, quiet evening listening to Loreena McKennitt and coloring together, in mature-content coloring books like 'Life In A Medieval Castle and Village' by John Green, or 'Goddesses of the Celts' by Jennifer Evans. We would often sketch outdoors, on a trail or in the garden, and inevitably compare composition or content ideas for a new project.

Anyways, now my mom has branched out a bit. You can browse her current studio work, her 'Heirloom Tomato' pin cushions and other gift items, or her portfolio of work at her new website, here:

www.mossworksquilting.com 

Here are some sample captures of a few tapestry pieces she has done over the years (most recent at the bottom):

'Cezanne's Mont Saint Victoire' 18x13 1/2", 1998. Karen Caya Copyright 2012.

Detail, 'Cezanne's Mont Saint Victoire', 1998. Karen Caya Copyright 2012.

Gauguin's Beach Tahitian Nymphs, 26x15", 1998. Karen Caya Copyright 2012.

'Autumn Celebration', 2002. Karen Caya Copyright 2012.

Detail, 'Autumn Celebration', 2002. Karen Caya Copyright 2012.

 

'Eggs 'n Feathers', 31 1/2x21 1/2", 2005. Karen Caya Copyright 2012.

Detail, 'Eggs 'n Feathers', 31 1/2x21 1/2", 2005. Karen Caya Copyright 2012.

Work in Progress!

Work In Progress, Detail, 'Summer', 2010-12. Karen Caya Copyright 2012.

Work In Progress, Detail, 'Summer', 2010-12. Karen Caya Copyright 2012.

Moss Works Quilting

Tarot Designs

Recently I worked on a project involving the design of thirteen symbols rooted in Tarot iconography. The commission was a particular one, and my job was very straight forward - trying to meet the specifications of product requirements in a simple, styled way - but I found the material intriguing.
For the client's needs, nine court symbols and four more abstracted associations were necessary. (Cups, Wands, Swords, Pentacles, World, Page, Knight, Queen, King, and Angel, Eagle, Lion, and Bull).

I was given them, their information, and started on the rough sketches to figure out their basic structure. A little bit of research went into the historic inspirations of these symbols, yielding some curious design solutions thought up in the medieval era. I worked from their economy of line, hoping the new designs might allude back, for those familiar with Tarot art history. It was also a pleasure to base my interpretations on such 'old ground'.

All in all it was quite a different thing for me.
 Rough Sketches follow first, then the selected ones which were brought to finish:

Multiple Roughs One, Graphite, 2012

Multiple Roughs Two, Graphite, 2012

Once the favored designs were chosen, I tidied the graphite drawings and turned them into clear, smooth finished files, as the client required.

Cups

Wands

Swords

Pentacles

Major Arcana - World

Page

Knight

Queen

King

Angel

Eagle

Lion

Bull

My job is done, but I'll be interested to see where the rest of the project goes and if it is a success.

In the Studio...

Well, the blog has had some troubles, technical and otherwise, though I am attempting a new post to see if some of the problems have been sorted out.

Back at the beginning:
Earlier on I put up a 'glimpse of skin' for the painting currently in progress on my facebook page - the sketch of which can be seen two posts below, or at http://mairintajcaya.blogspot.com/2012/03/brigit.html - but I thought, while taking the time to show some upcoming project doodles, I should make an official showing of the 'preview' here as well. A kind of 'mish-mash' post of what is going on in the discontent that is my studio right now.

First 'Brigit' preview:

'Brigit', Watercolor, Details One, 2012

Sketches for Upcoming Projects:

'Gryphons' One, Graphite, 2012

'Gryphons' Two, Graphite, 2012

'Mermaid' Concept, Graphite, 2012

Bowing Man, Doodling, Graphite, 2012

Imagined Faces - Doodles:

I think I was relaxed in the process of imagining characters, or general ethnic features, and attempting to capture some indication of these things in my sketchbook.

I was thinking something Germanic and classically heroic in the first male face. The second face, female, I kept thinking what I might want to do with a 'Snow White' type, the third face was a brief attempt at the thought of an Indian girl, and the last male face emerged as possibly Minoan. I am not determined to perceive the results with set cultural associations, but I was intrigued at the time of my doodling at what was coming to mind and how I was going about putting it down.

So, let's see if this works, and - otherwise - I will sort out the studio some more, as best I can.

*Problem with Blog Theme

Announcement:

I am having trouble reverting my link/tabs color theme back to my original chosen theme. For some unknown reason it has recently switched to the blue and purple, and - being me - it is driving me crazy.

Bear with the garish clash and hopefully soon I will get some answers about how to correct the problem.

Thank you.