I was going to say that this is the finished version of the drawing I posted part of a little while back. But now looking at it on the screen I think it could do with more shading; a little sepia to give it an antique feel. That's how I had seen it in my head before I began. Also, I always intended adding a handle because it is supposed to be a drawer full of souvenirs. Or, the handle could have made it look like a suitcase. And, I love that ambiguity.
I'm often asked how long my drawings take. Well, at a guess, this one took a mere fifty hours. To appreciate the obsessive attention to detail click on the drawing and stick your conk in. Please do; FIFTY chuffing hours.
Oh dear, it seems that some of you have having trouble enlarging this image. I'll try to fix it, until then you can see the bigger version HERE.
This is what I've been busy doing this past week. It's a birthday surprise for my friend Barb while she's away on vacation in Arizona! She said to do whatever I wanted, but trust me I had some limits here.
Barb is ultra traditional and her kitchen has been the same for the past twenty-two years! I did the last theme as well, black cats and red/white gingham touches.
I took all of the kitty pictures out of the frames and replaced them with four lovely poppy paintings, one of course by Georgia O'Keefe. Then I went to work on this wall, all free-form with very little pre-drawing. (I hate to have to erase lines after!)
This is a very small wall so I kept the design light and flowing. This wall is to the left of the step up into her kitchen. The starfish, sand dollar, beach glass and shells were added because of all the time Barb has spent on Cape Cod at her family's treasured cottage.
(Here's a bit of detail. I hope they enlarge.)
I had a hard time with the shadowing because the wall kept resisting the glaze. Shadowing is my favorite part! That, and detail. Oh well, it will have to do.
And YES, this is what I was painting when I fell backwards and hit my head.
I can't believe I didn't drag my red paintbrush down the wall.
19 Comments on Animal Wednesday: Does a starfish count?, last added: 5/30/2010
I went looking through my archives to see if I had an appropriate image to use for today.
I did this painting five years ago when I rented a musty old room in someone's house as my first studio. I wanted to paint a nest, but then I thought about a little sparrow bringing an 'offering' to my painting because he thought the nest was real! Talk about self-flattery!
Anyway, five years later I see a lot wrong with the painting. Still, someone in Southern California is enjoying it as part of their bird art collection.
Apologies to those of you who may have already seen this. I haven't had a whole lot of time to do new stuff lately. I'm working on changing that though ;)
Happy Animal and nesting Wednesday!
These are just great: the trompe l’oeil paintings of strange boxes and structures of artist Brian Cooper.
Earlier today we posted an excerpt from Fibromyalgia: An Essential Guide for Patients and Their Families by Daniel J. Wallace, M.D. and Janice Brock Wallace. In this second excerpt, we look at the correspondence between depression and fibromyalgia. Are sufferers more likely to be depressed? Are depressed people more like to have fibromyalgia?
Do I Hurt Because I’m Depressed Or Am I Depressed Because I Hurt?
Is fibromyalgia a manifestation of depression or the reverse? Well-designed studies have addressed this issue, but many used different methods, populations, ethnic groupings, referral sources, and geographical distributions. (more…)
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I wish I could but there seems to be an issue when I attempt to enlarge. I get a cursor instead of a finger!
I wanted to too but its not working for me either. :(
It looks great but I think the handle and shading will add to it. Another 10 hours or so?
Wonderful, as always!
It's fantastic Andrea!! Can't wait for the book, but no pressure here.
Love your attention to detail!
Thanks for letting me know, folks. I'll try to fix it.
Cheers for the lovely comments too.
50 hours very well spent!
Gorgeous! Would love a print.
Looking forward to seeing this drawing with a touch of sepia. I'm in awe of how you are able to put such intricate detail in your art work. - Julie
Nice drawing !
Love your detail. And as a beginner artist too...I can see where 50 hours will be used. Great job!
Hiya, how do you you view the drawing? I tried to click on it to enlarge but isn't working.
looks great!
http://theredberry.blogspot.com/
You continue to amaze.
Thanks, folks.
Nope, I can't seem to fix it, however, I have put a link on the bottom of the post where you can view it large.
Yeah, I'm sure I could spend another ten hours on this but for now I'll put a little distance between us. We've spent way too much time together recently!
Thank you, all.
Stephen, coming from an artist like yourself, that really makes me very happy.