Tag Archives for drawing

Free Art Tuesday is coming!

Free Art Tuesday is coming!

On random Tuesdays I’ll be giving away free art. It’s pretty easy to get in on the action. Just go to my facebook page {click here!} and “like” it! Then, all you have to do is be the first person to leave a comment when I post free art and the art is yours! Once the first comment has been left I’ll contact the lucky winner to get the snail mail address and free art will be on its way. Please don’t post your address in the comments though!If you like what you see and think your family or friends would enjoy some free art, please feel free to spread the word!

I won’t sell or publish any addresses that are given to me. It’s truly just to get  my art out to the public!

Good luck to all who participate!

Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio

It’s that time of year again for the Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio to host their annual Wine Affair. The reason I like to donate art each year to this wonderful event is because the funds raised stay here in Northwest Ohio.

Wine Affair / November 19th, 2010 / 6:30pm / Parkway Place, Maumee

The Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio will be hosting a Wine Affair: A Vintage to Remember ~ celebrating 19 years. Tickets are $90/person until October 31st and $100/person beginning November 1st. A table of 10 can be purchased for $800. There will be wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent and live auction.

This year, the artwork I am donating is Tater’s Tree Farm. When the artwork is auctioned it will be framed with acid free matboards and protected under Conservation Glass. I hope this year’s donation finds its way into a home where it bring a smile to all who can enjoy it!

I wish the Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio great success this year!

Maple leaf for mom

Here is my latest dip in the old creative pond. This little painting is for a birthday card I’m making for my Mom.

This is a break from my usual pen and ink method, but I really wanted to capture the organic look of the maple leaf. I was afraid if I used the pen I would get too caught-up in the line work and start to drift from the flowing colors I was going for.

I used a wet-in-wet technique for most of the painting. I painted a yellow wash on the entire leaf then started building colors on top of that. I had a few “blooms” where the paper started to dry out, so I just went back with a little more color and washed it out. While the paper was still damp I grabbed my drawing pencil and added the veins. I was able to get the nice delicate lines without really transferring any of the pencil lead to the paper. I then painted over those lines with a few more colors and the paint just flowed into the veins perfectly. Once everything was dry I added a little shadow to the background so the leaf didn’t look too flat. Looking at the painting now I know I could have worked a little longer on the shadows, but I was more concerned with the bright colors and the contrast of colors in the leaf itself. And of course I had to finish it off with a little splatter!

I’m pretty happy with the way the colors came out on this painting.

To finish the card I’ll glue this to ivory card-stock, then I’ll grab a pen and add a thin outline to the card around the watercolor.

I keep trying to work large and create bigger paintings, but I always seem to get lost in them when I do. I’m not sure if it’s a time issue, or lack of wall space. Either way I keep coming back to the pen and ink and these smaller watercolors. I keep thinking I should try Artist Trading Cards, but there are so many groups to choose from, how do you decide?

Any ways…I’m done rambling for now. Thanks for taking the time – Erik

If I had a shed…

 

For some reason I have an obsession with garden sheds.  I don’t know why, and I’m not real sure when it started.  I remember when I was a rather young tot I always wanted to explore the various sheds and buildings on my Grandparent’s farm.  I still remember the musty earthy/woody smell the sheds had.  They were always full of great things a ten-year old could hurt himself, or others with!  Anyways, when the old creative juices seem to be getting a little dry the old sheds always get things going again.

I was trying to capture the bright colors of the season with this painting, I think it worked, I’m happy with it.  There is something special about fall.  The colors are more vibrant, the breeze is crisp, you can smell a change in the air.  Soon we’ll have the smell of apples filling our kitchen while we listen to dried leaves blow around the yard.  I’ll keep looking at this shed and filling it with all kinds of great things, maybe even a table to paint on!

Happy fall everyone – Erik

Finally, some artwork!

It seems like forever since I sat down with a pencil and some paper, but I finally did.  It’s true, if you haven’t held a pencil or pen for a while you can lose your touch.  I remember a time when drawings and paintings would just pour out of me, but it’s been a real struggle lately.  I find myself sitting and staring at the paper as if I were waiting for it to tell me what to draw.  But it never does.  After a few attempts I was able to get the juices flowing again.  It’s funny, once I started it was easy to move on to the next one.

The first attempts were a bit of a struggle, nothing too elaborate, just some small sketches.  I think I need to open the watercolors next and splash some paint on the paper.  Little by little the art-block seems to be going away.  I think I need to keep pushing myself though, otherwise I may end up just getting lazy again!

 

Pumpkins in Pencil

 

 

Pen and Ink Pumpkins

 

 

Colored Pencil Pumpkin

 

Since autumn is my favorite season I thought drawing some pumpkins would get me in the mood.  I love the colors of autumn, the smell in the air, and the way everything sounds different.

I drew three different versions of the pumpkins to get comfortable with the pencils and pen.  I do feel more comfortable working in pen, the line weight is consistent, and I can get the tight line work.  Pencil has always been a struggle for me, I feel I have less control of the line because it’s always changing as you draw.  I do like the challenge of pencil though.  I guess that’s why I need to push myself more to use it!

 

Chickadee in Pencil

 

For the chickadee, I wasn’t concerned about the background or the post he was perched on.  I just wanted to get the basic shape and shading down.  This was more of a study then a finished piece, but I think it’ll serve as a good start for a future drawing or painting.

Well, that’s all the rambling for now, I guess it’s time to stop talking and start drawing!

Take care – Erik

A tree house…

Tree House Sketch 062809I’ve always wanted a tree house.  I’m mean seriously, who hasn’t wanted one?  Big, small, hidden or right out in the open.  It’s a place where you can go and see the world around you from a new perspective.  Get a fresh view, forget about everything else…just for a little bit.   A place where you decide who can and can’t climb your ladder.  A place where you can go with friends and concur pirates, fight off attacking foes and be what ever hero you want.  A place where you can sit and just enjoy the sound of the leaves, the smell of the old bark.  Somewhere you can call home, yet still be close to home.  If only I had a tree big enough to hold a treehouse…

The Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio

Drive Thru on 568 AThe Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio will be presenting it’s 18th Annual Wine Affair Friday, Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m at the Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons in Perrysburg, Ohio.  For this year’s auction I’ll be donating The Drive Thru on 568.  This is a pen & ink with watercolor painting of a local barn here in Findlay.  All proceeds from the event stay in Northwest Ohio!  If you can’t attend this year’s event be sure to check their web site for other ways you can help.