Thursday, July 8, 2010

A Busy Couple of Weeks...

Two weeks ago, I was contacted by Melissa Rovner, whose two children had written a book about the oil spill. She wanted to publish the book, so she asked some of the artists who had contributed to Ripplesketches if they could contribute pictures for the book. I said okay. It's to raise money, so really, it's just a donation; I don't get paid. But, I was so excited to be invited that I couldn't say no! I decided to do three versions, and let her pick which she liked best. You can see a write up in the Walton Sun.

This is Jerry Waese, a participant in Julia Kay's Portrait Party. I tried using just two colors, indigo and burnt sienna. I had never done this type of exercise before, so poor Jerry was my guinea pig. I got the reference photo from here.


This was a piece of watercolor paper with preexisting splashes of paint on it. In the midst of the swirls, I could barely make out a bird. So I found a photo which seemed like it would fit and this is the result. BettyfromTexas tells me it is an African Grey.


And this is my semi-new workspace! Before, my desk was L-shaped and I had two areas that I could pull up a chair. The problem with this arrangement was that I'm a little lazy and disorganized by nature, so the end opposite of my computer became a place to stack my junk! What to do? Grab a round saw and cut off the last two feet (didn't take the desk outside...it was too heavy!), swing it around to the front, and attach. Wha-lah!! U-shaped workspace! Okay, now, don't laugh...but, this is CLEAN! And because everything is within reach, I am managing to keep it relatively so! I love my new space!

Update: I should have mentioned that I did not post any of the pictures that I've done for the book. I'm not sure what the rules about such a thing are, and I decided to wait and see which one she decided to use.

27 comments:

  1. You are soooo neat! I'll comment on your portrait on Flickr!

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  2. Leona, I wish I had a photo of the disaster it was before I started!! Then you would see the real me!

    Thank you, Caio!

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  3. raena,

    nice post...
    beautiful pictures...
    the idea you put in to get the workspace a new look and feel is great...

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  4. jyothisethu, thank you! It is funny when these ideas hit me. I get quiet, I stand with my hand on my chin, and I stare. My husband knows this look well, and knows the big tools are about to come out!

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  5. The weather sounds nasty there, but trust me... I can FEEL it ^^
    I really like the portrait and the african grey... but I love your workspace even more! As for now, at least I have a table so I can't complain. Back in Germany, I only had a laptop stand which I bought from IKEA =) But hey...I am moving forward!
    Thanks Raena for your comments. I really appreciate it!

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  6. Your portrait is fantastic and your bird is stunning! And I really appreciate that you continue to contribute your art to help with the spill. That is truly a wonderful thing.
    Your new space looks great!! I know that feeling well- the one where you just know it can be better and then... you make it so.

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  7. Nice painting that will help the cause.
    You certainly handled the room arrangement. I won't mess with a woman who handles a mean saw.

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  8. Alex, I do know how you feel. That's what I had when I still lived in Idaho!
    Thanks Pamo! Does Jeff start getting a worried look on his face and say things like, "oh boy, what now?"

    Sandra, thank you very much! Oh, and I took wood shop in college! I'm pretty mean with a saw!

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  9. These are great and your new workspace looks so elegant! Congrats on donating and selling both your Ripple pieces!

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  10. love the new space, wish I could be that clean! Love the watercolours too, portrait has lovely colours to it.

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  11. Great portrait Raena and congratulations on being asked to contribute to the book - it's a great feeling being published :-)

    Maybe there's something in the air because I'm thinking of complete reorganising my studio too.

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  12. Great portrait very well done! I'm not surprised you were asked to contribute to the book your work is very good. Congratulations!

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  13. I couldn't believe you did that portrait with only two colours! I suppose thet the ignorant are easy to amaze :) Glad you'll be in the book too! Make sure that they at least send you a complimentary copy!

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  14. I like your portrait of Jerry, the two colours have worked well.

    Congrats on the book.

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  15. Congratulations on being published! Fabulous portrait and bird. Your color choices in the portrait are excellent, really well done.

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  16. HA! I know that "what now?" look well. Keep up the fantastic work Raena!!!

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  17. I like the painting with only 2 colours and it really works, well done. The African Gray (my friend has one) is really cute. And for your studio space, looks clean too me (you should see mine when cameras are not in the room... my man has a few names for it, sinkhole, black hole, tornado alley to name a few : ) I like the "U" shaped work area, all in a arms reach.

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  18. I like the two colors portrait and really like your U-shaped work space. Mine is L-shaped and the one next to the computer is a mess.

    xoxo

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  19. Very cool your new workspace, raena! I wish I had one like that only for me....

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  20. That is so exciting that your work will be in a book! Can't wait to see the pictures!

    That parrot is so cute!:)

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  21. I think it is so excellent that you have been picked up for a book! Wow! The power of the web. I think your portrait is great and the two colors work really well. When things settle I need to join that party - it's so close to what I want to do well. I love your African Grey - much character there. You do so well with these pages with splashes of color already there. I sat studying your studio - great fun to see. I am, as I already told you, impressed by what you did to the desk. Is that our book there second in the pile?:) Btw, I have one of those Ikea laptop stands too - it's great for portable sketching and coloring around the house. Funny how I thought it was an original thought to use it for sketching.

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  22. Wonderful portrait Raena! Love the colors you chose! :)

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  23. You sound so much like my husband when a desk, room or whatever isn't working for him. Oh I know the look you are talking about because I just know when he's thinking of changing something in a no-way-to-go-back way!

    Your pics and challenges are pretty neat. Choosing just the two colors for the portrait! Wow. I've used three but not two. Your parrot came out great. I like seeing that faint color come through.

    Hope she likes one of your pictures for the book.

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  24. raena, great drawings. i really like the top guy and i'm so envious of your work space!

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  25. Congrats, Raena, on your collaborative project - what a good cause, definitely! Both sketches are great, but I especially love the bird. Looks like you've got a great space to work in as well!

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  26. It's Jerry Waese!
    Hey, we could start a Jerry Waese Appreciation Society...Mmm..maybe not. Great portrait Raena!
    Love the African Grey too.
    And I am jealous of your workspace...well that and your talent.
    Stew.

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