Friday, December 18, 2009

207 Days

While I am sitting here waiting for snow, as we are predicted to get 2 feet or more, yes FEET, I thought I'd take this time to do a review of my year in art. Above is my calendar that I keep taped to my drawing board which shows I worked on art 207 days in 2009. And there are a few days left where I may be filling in more squares before the year is out. Especially since it looks like I'll be stuck at home for a while.

So here is my art year in review.

I had wanted to try working in a series. After much experimentation I settled on Rising Museum Board for a support. And even though I did over 27 drawings this past year (not counting sketchbook work) I never did manage to stick with any sort of a theme for a series. Just too many ideas zipping around in my head to stay with just one for any length of time.

However, I did try moving beyond landscape imagery with a few still life pieces, which I enjoyed doing.






I also worked in graphite in addition to colored pencil.










And I tried a couple of pet portraits in graphite, just to see if I could. And I have a couple to do still, some folks are still waiting.

I had wanted to put together a gallery submission pack, which I didn't do. With the economy and my lack of a body of work with any continuity, the timing just didn't seem right. Although I did enter two shows, got work accepted into one and both of those works sold.

It was also important to me that I continue with Everyday Matters challenges and working in a sketchbook. I let the Everyday Matters drawing challenges slide after a few months into the year but I did do much sketchbook work. I participated in the Every Day in May challenge. I also took two online classes offered by Cathy Johnson, Watercolor Pencil Workshop and Keeping an Artist's Journal. Even though the intensity of participating in a class took me away from my non-sketchbook art works, I found it was time very well spent. These classes also helped me focus on my goals for my art and how it can all integrate, art and life.

And finally, even though I wanted 2009 to be a year of "focus" it actually became a year of discovery. I did quite a bit of experimentation with process. In addition to the pieces above and discovering how lovely Rising Museum Board is for drawing with colored pencil, I also played with color and a process of using Neocolor II watercolor crayons to develop a loose underpainting before layering dry colored pencil on top. This proved to be much more expressive with the media than the highly representational method that colored pencil so easily lends itself to. One thing led to another. And now I have a very clear objective for 2010. Which I will share with you soon.
Promise.

Since I started this post it has been snowing steadily. It won't take long to get those FEET of snow. Feet. Good grief.





19 comments:

Rose Welty said...

A very successful year Ann, congrats! Can't wait to hear about next year!

Gary said...

This is a wonderful post Ann. I'm amazed at how much you get done with all the other stuff you have to do on a daily basis. You inspire me, make me smile often and I find that I often have to search the house for my socks (you are always knocking them off).

MILLY said...

It is great to see your year through your work. An interesting and challenging range of topics, with lovely results. Thank you for sharing and inspiring. Hope you are pleased with yourself, you should be.

Ellen Burkett said...

What beautiful work you have done! And what a nice idea to recap it like that so we can see it all at once...especially for us who are fairly new. I know that as I tried to look back at what some artists had done in the past (before I came to the online art world) I tended to get them confused... couldn't remember who did what because I was looking at so much. In any case, these are all just beautiful!

Vicki Holdwick said...

Ann,

What a wonderful look back! And you were certainly productive.

You've made some really impressive works of art this past year.

I think I may have to copy your idea of a calendar to keep track of "art" days.

xoxo

Leslie Hawes said...

And the calendar itself is a work of art!

I am very partial to the apples...

Leslie Hawes said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jennifer Rose said...

I've really enjoyed seeing your art and seeing your experiments with the different mediums :)

Patty Ruthe said...

Your calendar is very inspiring! Enjoyed your post and the look back. I really like your art, thanks for sharing.

BARBARA WEEKS said...

Congratulations on a successful year!
Can't wait to read your plans for 2010. I may steal your chart idea for 2010. I think it's a great way to keep motivated.

Deborah said...

I am stealing the calendar chart idea. Nothing like being accountable. Your work is wonderful and very inspiring. Have a great few last art days of 2009!

Peachtreeart said...

Next year if I come close to being as organized as you've managed to organize your goals I would have met success...unfortunately I don't see that happening, but it was lovely to scroll through your work and remember when you first posted them and still be in awe of them once again!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your journey. Was "accountability" ever so lovely? It's been a pleasure to wander with you in 2009 - it IS wonderful to see samples of your work here, representing your explorations. Judging form comments posted, you also continue to inspire others as you have me. Bravo!

Shirley said...

What a fabulous Progress Report! You were productive and I enjoyed seeing your work, through EDM, very much. Loved seeing those apples again - your skills coloring them still takes my breath away.

Jennifer Edwards said...

It must be very encouraging to see your year in art so full and rich! Congratulations on all the discovery and productivity. I like to think that even on the days when I don't get to "work on art", that I actually AM working on the art: it simmers in my head while I'm carting kids everywhere, while I do laundry, and life events give inspiration and somehow "get into" all the artwork. It's wonderful to be a "full-time" artist, even if you don't actually have pen to paper.

EWian said...

Good job, fun to read you year summed up.

EWian

Timaree said...

That is a lot of art days! Does it count if you say, do an inch of knitting on a sock? Would you mark that on your calendar as an art day? I'm wondering as I need to do something to let me know I am accomplishing something and I wonder if I should only put days I finish something or any day I work at it.

I think you've done a LOT this year.

Carolina said...

Wow, Ann. Congratulations on your dedication to your art this year... that's awsome. I feel the same regarding having a clear focus, but as you implied, it's a matter of knowing what you really like and discovering what you really can do and what you enjoy most doing. Focous should come after that.
I haven't been so active lately in commenting, but I always enjoy your art.
Have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!
Carolina

Krista Meister said...

Ann, this is so inspiring to see what you've accomplished over the past year. Nice way to take stock of things. I'd say that even if you didn't find your focus, you definitely found determination. And broadened your creative horizons too!

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