Dead Comes to Life, Much Much Better

Oil Painting AUTUMN - Time for Fall Colors - Scenic

Painting From Your Own Photographic Images

A Feeling of Complete Ownership

     It was such a beautiful Fall day, the sky was blue and the yellows, oranges, and red colored leaves looked vibrant and spectacular! I was walking my routine brisk-walk and stumbled upon a gorgeous creek with just the perfect framing of tree's Vs blended colors. It was one of those hands up framing moments, I had to take the time to snap a picture, this is what I got. I knew immediately I would oil paint this one, and it would be wonderful. When you work from your own photography, there is a feeling of complete ownership. I have worked from other's photo's and it doesn't feel the same. I guess that's why I hear many say, work with what's around you. Paint what you know. 

Creek in Lincoln, CA

     

       As you can see the sun was on its way down, so this in the film industry is called the magic hour when everything seems aglow. Someday I'd like to do some Plein Air painting, (a fancy term for painting outdoors). I don't think I could handle the passersby, but I know there is always room for growth and it's true we need to challenge ourselves. 

     

        It felt good having both the photo and the painting the way I wanted it. I often put the photo on the back of the painting for reference when the painting is complete, then when I look back at both I compare the current views with past renditions. Sometimes I'll say to myself, "oh I should have done this, or I shouldn't have done that, but it is what it is, our growth and moods can shift, and change from day to day. Artists are discoverers!

Spacial 3D Cube Project Idea For Teachers and Students

Learning Eye-Hand Coordination and Small Hand Motor Skills

Manipulation, Patterns, Stacking, 

    Sometimes I come up with ideas that teachers and homeschool mom's and dad's might be interested in using in their curriculum. I think this would be a great spacial awareness project for teachers to mix and match with students in accord with their fine motor skill and pattern making capabilities Three dimensional looking blocks can be printed, cut out, colored by hand or one can use the pre-colored pattern I've included. 

    Maybe you'd rather try making three dimensional cubes yourself. It is great for spacial awareness. The ideas is to be able to stack them, placing them one on top of the other like in the video.

     Learn how to color 3D blocks, cut them out, and stack them up. The more you make the more fun it is. There are two patterns (below) that you can easily print out. One is colored version and the other is not. 

    I challenge you and your students to build a large paper tower on the floor. If you do, send me a picture of it and I'll post it on my blog and give you some recognition and kudos!

    Be sure to subscribe to GoGo Daat! Thanks

Colored Cube Pattern or https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XKI0WAiTHvtuoMh8GruyxGw4SjHwjgyx/view

Lavender Iris Project - Mixed Media - Prisma Pens -

Doing Art on a Rainy Day 

Helps Lift Up Spirits During Covid!

    Ok, I admit it my emotions have been all over the map these Covid months and I'm sure we are all in the same frustration at times. The thing is we need to find some things that help us to cope with that frustration. Keeping a positive attitude is not easy when so many things are working in the opposite direction. Here are my suggestions to keep from falling apart: 

        One, realize your not the only one going through this pandemic, we are in it together.

        Two, "this too shall pass!" It's not going to last forever and we are gaining some headway, hallelujah!

        Three, take a big breath and let it out very slowly whenever you feel overwhelmed,                                  (do this in 3's and when I say slowly, I mean slowly).

        Four, do something you know will make you feel good once you have accomplished it.

    I took my own advice and created this video for you. The art part was the most fun, but for me if I can't share it with someone...you get the idea. Spring is just around the corner and soon the iris will be popping open and helping us to smile.

     Pray for others who are worse off than you, help by giving in some way, giving always gives my heart a joyful big boost. Count your blessings.

        Six, (extra thought) take a picture of your art and do a four up copy on some 40lb paper, cut them out and snail mail as postcards. This will pay the love forward. 😀 

Seed Pod Trio -:- Subject Pastel Artwork-:- Live Drawing

 Appealing Simple-Minimal Look 

    I Took a walk and found this interesting twig with seed pods that are very unusual. I Google Lensed it and nothing came up that looked similar. So I'm still curious as to what they are, and please leave a comment if you have any idea. The Autumn colors are what pulled me in and then the black seed that is so striking. Could have been the other way around, regardless, the beautiful dried pods intrigued me to draw them and my pastels became the medium. I may watercolor them as well and see how that works.

    It's amazing to me, there is nature all around and finding a subject to paint or draw , well it's endless. "Paint what is around you," are words you'll often hear from artists out there in the art world. As far as cameras go, It's nice to have phones now that capture the fine details. I prefer painting or drawing from real life like I did in this particular drawing if I'm able.

    For one of my assignments in drawing class at Chico State, we had to draw a picture using 4 different human faces where one had to be from a real life pose, like a person sitting in front of you. Then when we examined the drawing, we had to try and guess which drawing was the real life image. It was interesting to see the differences. Most people guessed my real life image correctly, it was my roommate  Debbie, who was nice enough to pose for me.

Here is the video:

NuPastel chalky 

This is the Thumbnail to look for on my Youtube channel 

Thumbs ups are appreciated.

Self Portraits Are More Difficult Than You Think Ask Van Gogh

Van Gogh Did Several Self-Portraits!

It's a Challenge to Draw and Paint Yourself!

All of these Van Gogh self-depictions were done in the same year 1887

Van Gogh, by Frank Elgar, FA. Praeger Publishers, NY. 1958

        I believe self portraits are some of the hardest work to do, but every artist who calls themselves an artist should make an effort to do one.  Start off with a photo that you really like. I like to see some sort of emotion taking place because it is more interesting to the viewer in my opinion. 

    Van Gogh probably had to use some sort of reflective devise (mirror) in order to do his rendition. That would actually be another challenge in itself and might have a better 3D quality you miss in a photograph. I remember a professor at Chico State always encouraged his students to draw or paint from a live subject if possible, and I quite frankly agree.

    I would have loved to watch Van Gogh paint live. Here is my attempt. If you enjoyed the video, please consider subscribing to GoGo Daat channel, it's totally free. Thank You!

Video of my self portrait