Sketches Done at the Beach

When I leave home, the wallet, keys, cell phone, pencil sharpener, sketchbook, and pencil go with me. I never know what I will find to sketch. Going to the beach is different in only that in addition to the basics, I take a little ink and a few brushes. The beach is a great place for plein aire painting and drawing!

These are quick sketches of people and clouds. Can you tell these are beach scenes?

©All images copyright Angeline M. Martinez, 2010. Ink in sketchbook.

For more about what art supplies an artist (ok, at least this one) takes on the road, please visit my blog post about Traveler's Dozen.

For more explanation about what "plein aire" means, please visit my blog post What are Plein Aire Events?

Smiles!

Angeline Marie of

Angeline Marie's Fine Art

Traveler's Dozen for this Artist

Lately, it seems that my home studio is ignored, empty, and dark. The road gets more of my company than our cat Simon, and so have created an artist survival kit for myself.

I try to remember to keep it simple, silly (KISS) and so have pared down to the following dozen plus bonus items. After realizing that I truly use on a few things, this is it. To see a sample of the item, click on the item description in my list.

1. 3 to 4 pencils of 4B hardness 
2. pencil sharpener with attached "trash can"
3. round #8 and #5 brushes for watercolor painting techniques
4. black ink in unleakable container
5. plastic white tub top (recycled item) to use as a palette for ink
6. 2 sketchbooks: 3 x 5 inches and 8.5 x 11 inches, one for purse, one for sitting a while
7. laminated sheets, two for each sketchbook (keeps pages dry when working wet)
8. 2 large binder clips (keeps sketchbook pages open in wind)
9. scotch tape (for business cards, tickets, etc.)
10. MP3 player for podcasts, music, etc.
11. digital camera for reference photos to take home
12. business cards because I am optimistic
13. sunblock

This all sounds like a lot, but it packages down easily since most of my travel requires sunblock, MP3 player, camera, and business cards. The most bulky of all the items is the larger sketchbook, and the smaller items are usually tucked into it.

I prefer to keep my travel kit to black and white sketches and ink paintings because it keeps everything simple enough for me to actually use while outside of home. My philosophy is that as I improve in black and white, my use of color will improve, too. For more on how black and white exercises improve your perception of colors, click here for photographer Jason Eldridge's blog post about returning to basics.

If you want to know what I am up to for the next days, click on the following link: ADV Rider Ride Report for FLA Rider

Smiles from the road!
Angeline Marie of
Angeline Marie Fine Art

Artist "Nightmare" to Draw...

For an artist, a nightmare to draw is called "foreshortening." Foreshortening is a trick of perspective. When you see a person laying down, and it looks like the largest part of their body is their feet, you are seeing foreshortening. Here is a photo example of that, using the timer function on my camera. My feet are HUGE compared to the rest of me. We all know this is not really how I am built (I hope!).

When a model poses laying down, there is a collective groan from the artists because to most foreshortening is difficult. Not me. I relish the challenge. I was the only artist cheering! It is fun to see how to translate something so out of whack into something that makes sense.

How did I do? Do these look like the curvaceous female model we had at the Bakehouse Art Complex?

All of these are 11 x 14 inches, ink on watercolor paper. 

Smiles,

Angeline Marie of

Angeline Marie's Fine Art

PS: To Rosie Brown, THANK YOU for your compliment on my post. 

Horizon - #7 - Art Inspired by the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

Horizon - 2010 - mixed media on paper - 33 x 23 in. - Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Series

Operation "Top Kill" did not work...saw a dead dolphin in today's newspaper. 

Memorial Day has more remembrances than intended....

This painting has shimmer inks, acrylic paints, white glue....accidents are my favorite way of painting these days. This one does not seem to have so much of my anger, but others do. Anger because of the destruction...and consequences we still do not know.

On a lighter note, Andy and I are unexpectedly going out to a fave haunt: Gilbert's, which is on the way to the Keys. A DJ friend of ours (more of Andy's...) is working there tonight. We are going out to do some singing.

Yes, I paint, draw, and sing pretty darn well! I sing when I paint...and dance...the music must be ON. The last week has been a Pandora station set to Celia Cruz. Oh, the fine music!!!! Guaracha while painting! It's hilarious, but necessary! This "Horizon" piece was done while listening to "my Pandora station 'Shinedown,'" which is pure rock.

La salsera...

Angeline Marie of 

Angeline Marie Fine Art

Loosening Up for an Art Session

Sometimes, there is fear to overcome: how'd I do that? what am I doing? I can't do that! That was a one time wonder!...and I can list all of the fears forever. Few things scare a writer more than a blank page, and it is the same fear an artist fears.

One thing I truly dislike doing is wasting materials. So, I found some unexpected recycle, reuse, reduce paper at work! Those of you who work with me may recognize the graph paper, its patterns, and its use. Work was ready to pitch the rolls of paper into the recycle, but with permission saved them. Free practice paper to ruin any time, any where!

Got some ink out, my CD of figures, and painted away part of the afternoon. They are posted here in order of creation. The first, at least to me, feels stiff and unsure. The fourth is my favorite. None are perfect, but the style is strong and pleasing. Between the third & fourth, did some work on a commission and started a 2x3 ft landscape.

Latest Sketches...but by Request Only

It's been a while since I have posted some of the work art done recently. I do have at least one finished painting to share. Then, I start to think of most of what I have done lately.

Lately, I want to draw figures. We have an incredible model at Ismael's studio. She knows how to hold a pose, has a beautiful and exotic face, and she's quite attractive body-wise. She's fun to draw, especially when Ismael directs. The poses are of her leaning back with her legs crossed, her standing with one foot on a short stool, etc. There is little "gross" or "disagreeable" about the poses.

I would love to post them at work and on my website, but the drawings are nudes. Sadly, no matter how tasteful, the drawings might get the attention they do not deserve, so I won't post most of them.

Like I've said, I like my job because it keeps me in paint. With that said, look out for a few pictures (no, they are safe for viewing, or at least what I will post) or drop me an email if you would like to see a sample.

Hasta luego!

Angeline-Marie

www.angelinemarie.net

ammtz2008@gmail.com