Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Coming Together

I'm finally coming around the bend from the ACEOs. I'm enjoying working on these little guys, I'm going to continue with aiming for one a day, but I'm starting to get the itch to get my Queen of Hearts finally going. I'm mad at myself that I'm so out of my groove, but I'm trying to forgive myself a little bit considering the upheaval we've been constantly experiencing with our schedules and everything else.

I spent this morning at the printers, actually a new printer. I'm hoping that this will be the start of a good relationship, because if so I'll be able to offer all sorts of things (like cards) that people have been requesting for a long time, in addition to a slew of new prints. I was nervous this morning though, because they seemed to not be in a very good mood. I get so nervous meeting a new set of people. I used to be so social, and now... not so much. (The worst part is that I want to meet new people, but I'm hindered on many levels from my own anxieties to the culture here which is decidedly antisocial. Not that I expect anything from a business relationship, but even then it's hard.)

I received my paint-pens finally (Gelly Roll) and I think their idea of opaque and mine are two different things. Their straight opaque colors were thin and see through as watercolors, which makes me wonder what their non-opaque inks look like... do they even show up? The only ones that were actually opaque were the iridescent/metallic ones I also ordered (was there any doubt I would snap up the shiny, sparkly ones?) Now those I really liked! I did a peacock on black to try them out:

"Night Peacock" original ACEO on black illustration board

I like how it came out, but I think I yearn for a finer tip on these pens, and I rather miss the bit of blending I get to do with a brush. So, I'm a bit on the fence about them. I think I'll probably be happier hybridizing the two together (paint it out, and use the metallic pens to give it a snap!)

I also found the most adorable miniature frames (maybe they're so cute to me only because they're so small?) The frames themselves are the size of an ACEO and come with their own matting, so I had to draw out an even smaller space (1.5 x 2.5") to paint. It took a bit of thinking about what I should paint, but I decided on another cottage high on its own hill:


See how tiny this thing is?

"On Top" Mini-painting, framed, watercolor on watercolor paper.

I have other ACEOs in progress, and I really want to paint several more moons. I think I need to get them out of my system (if that's even possible.) But then, if things settle, I think I'm ready to start in on my Queen of Hearts. I have my model, I have the basics in mind. I think it's time to just make it happen.

I've been thinking over my female faces and I realize I really need to start sketching more. I think I got out of practice with faces since I didn't really do ANY last year at all. I'm rusty! I'm going to try to work more on that and see if I can't get things to snap back together once more!

On the kitchen front, we have some tiles picked out for the backsplash, and hopefully it'll help it all come together. I think I'm slowly accepting that I have slightly purple counters. I love purple, I just never imagined it on my kitchen counters! I hope everyone is doing well!

5 comments:

  1. I love this peacock Kyra. I saw it on your Facebook page and the colors on it are so amazing. I actually just purchased it. ;-)

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  2. Oh yes, you need a good repoire with your printer. We have a pretty good relationship with ours. Being a business, they should NOT be antisocial... that is just weird. Love the minis. I adore tiny things, and would have been excited to find small frames as well!

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  3. You are doing amazing with your aceo's! Each one is so beautiful and so much detail! I wish you all the best with your printers ;o) Take Care ;o)

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  4. The peacock is very regal looking, especially against the black background. I find it interesting how each artist has their own methods and what works for one may not work for another artist. To me it sounds very logical that the metallic paint pens would be perfect for adding fine detail work to a painted piece.

    I like the small frames, they're very attractive.

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