Carolyn and Izzy

Ok I know there are 2 of the same picture, but the way I photographed them the results are different on certain parts, the darker of either are the more correct values. It seems when I was taking the photos I didn't realize that, I was focusing on just trying to get a better shot. Anyway I completed this one, the one I started here way back. I plan to deliver it tomorrow. I sure hope they like it, if not I'll be glad to take it home because I am pleased with it.

I thank God the Father for giving me all that I need to be able to do what I need to do esp in the art work, I hope I am giving God the glory in all I do.

Sanchez children

1. My process seems to be having a flow now, not so much stop and go. Since doing the art from 12am-4am for 4-5 days per week things are being made. I still need to work on getting enough sleep and I still need to figure out when I can put in a regular exercise schedule when I am awake but not too tired or too busy with the rest of my life. I know in time with God in Christ Jesus it will all work out.

2. I finished all 3 gift portraits, varnished, photographed, designed and made a carrying box for them and delivered(they liked them very much). I was given permission to upload them to my blog(they plan to upload to their facebook page).

I finished the gift portrait I had set aside and it has 1-2 more coats of varnish before I take a photo and deliver it. When it is completed I plan to upload it here.

I started the next 4 gift portraits, 2 of which I have completed the inked in under-drawings.

I got prepared for Children's church craft project, didn't take too much time, since most of it was pre-prepared by the manufacture, just needed to make a sample.

Watched part of a new watercolor portrait instruction dvd.

3. Insights I have made is that the more time I do work in the studio the easier it is to want to be there and do the art. Resistance is not too high the more times I go up per week. This is really a relief. For me the key to keep resistance down is to be at work in the studio & pray before, during and after.

But I've noticed my resistance has increased in the area of exercise, I just don't want to do it and I resist doing it, I feel it wants to take away my time in the studio or I am just so tired the rest of the time I am awake I resist exerting any energy on exercise. It is the same thing I was doing when I was resisting doing the art time. So my insight is that my resistance is still always around it just goes into another venue, need to pray and hand that over to God in Christ Jesus.

4. I still have not gotten to any of my quilting. It seems the more I do the painting the less I want to do the quilting, also if I do the hand sewing at night before I do the studio art time my eyes get strained more so I want to reserve my good eye sight time for the studio. Priorities are changing and I need to work the rest of my life around these changes over time.

5. I would like to get the 4 gift portraits all drawn, lettering transferred and the no-tan finished by next week. I'd also like to get some of the quilting finished too. Also to prepare for next weeks Children Church program too. To have finished the varnishing and photo of the gift portrait, I set aside and restarted, then to deliver it to the recipients.

Sneak peek

Week 7 Check in:

1. I am so thankful I finally finished the 2 gift portraits in the set of 3 I was working on. #2 was the most difficult. I had to redo that portrait 6 to 8 times, in fact the last time I finally got it right I stayed up for 12 hours straight. I need to varnish them all.

I'm still going to use the oil sticks to complete the gift portrait I set aside so it will be consistent in style using that media, but after that I'm going to use only acrylics for a while. I'd really like to learn to use the water based oils but I will have to start my paintings 6 months in advance to the time I plan to give them since they have to dry 6 months before varnishing them. So I think I'll use acrylics for gift portraits and try the water based oils on my own paintings of local children so I can wait the 6 months and try to sell them after they are varnished. But I've got to learn to use them first, I tried before and just couldn't figure out the consistency but I really didn't stick with it long enough to really get control of that media.

Didn't get to any of the quilts stuff, did a bit of children's church stuff and will have to do some catch up over the next 2 weeks.

3. My plan for the coming week is to get the children's church stuff ready. To complete the gift portrait I set aside to do the 3. Varnish, photos, box up & delivery of the 3 gift portraits I completed. Work on the quilt stuff too.

I thank God the Father thru Jesus Christ that I was able to do these portraits. Sorry I can not post the full images until I receive permission from the recipients, when I do I'll post all 3 fully.

2010 Spring challenge & sneak peek

1. I feel my progress right now is progressing, as for my process I'm having some difficulties with the oil sticks, it seems they do eventually dry out quicker after you've used a stick even if you remove the dried layer on top, also I had a weird reaction to one of the colors while I was using it, I felt like I had been toxic attacked. I am working on returning to using only acrylics with color pencils and some times water color. I am learning as much as I possibly can from books and from my own practice using acrylics. My last set of 4-5 portraits I plan to do in the next month I'm going to not use the oil bars so I can learn more.

2. I did finish my challenge quilt and it won a prize at the quilting guild I am in but I can't remember which category it won in, HA! There is a $25.00 reward. I was really shocked I won, I really didn't think I would this time, it was not really my best work due to the conflict I had with using such a overwhelm colored fabric. Anyway I am pleased every one liked it. I hung it up with my other picture quilt I have, maybe some day I'll part with it, but not now. I call it: "Chiyo-Marie in Flowerland" the photo here also includes the material piece I used(we had to grab from a paper bag without seeing the material, I show the upper material and the inside of the material since I used both).

I completed 1 of the gift portraits, except to varnish it and am almost finished with the 2nd, I would have been finished with the 2nd one but I used the wrong colors and had to wipe it all off and start again, that is one advantage with oils than acrylics, but acrylics are easier to go over again.

I prepared 5 canvases for the next set of gift portraits and I purchased boxes to put all 7 in so they can be packed up for their transfers to the USA.

3. Insights I have made are that I get frustrated when my medium doesn't work like it should or I would like it to behave. I am painting regularly now that I am in the studio by midnight-4 or 6am Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri and Sat. My sleep is doing ok too. Even though I am sleeping at 4:45 or 6:30 am and up at 12-12:45. I'm sleeping deeper and I wake up more rested. One thing though I haven't figured out when to get my exercise in daily yet, since by late afternoon I need a nap(which I take, sometimes 2 naps: 1 in the early evenings too). Over all I am so thankful I'm doing the art!

4. I haven't gotten the drawings transferred to the new set yet, nor have I started #3 of the 1st set. My husband is traveling to China next week for about 4-6 days so I'll have extra time hopefully to get more completed. The thing that has gotten in the way of not completing is my being so slow in the process.

5. What I want to accomplish before next check in is to complete #2 & #3 gift portraits and finish up the one I set aside then start up the gridding and transfer the drawings to the next 4 -5 gift portraits. The reason I say 4-5 is if I don't get to #5 before it is time to give it to the recipients at least I got 4 done and # 5 can be canceled. I still have Children's church to prepare for and I want to find some time to at least baste the baby quilt I've had to set aside. I also will need to varnish #1 gift portrait too. Again only a section is shown here because I do not have a model release but this shows you pretty much what all has been completed. I am so thankful to God that it came out as well as it has and I am praying the rest will too.