ma ma

girl with a dog by

Myra Anderson

girl with dog

Milton Avery

The 'ma and ma' stands for myra anderson and milton avery (1885-1965).  There was just something that I liked about this painting by milton avery.  As in much of  his work, I like the seemingly carefree drawing, the vibrant colors, the various textures and in this one - I was especially drawn to the dog.  This painting inspired me to do this pencil sketch using my face for the girl (now I'm lying).  It was a difficult sketch for me to do but I really like the end result.

some ballerina colors for carol . . .

some ballerina colors for carol

This practice sketch of a ballerina is in the manner of Dan McCaw.  I love his figurative work. (What's with that tutu? I don't know.)  One step forward - a thousand miles to go!

workin' with renoir . . .

I love Renoir's paintings of 'Girls by the Sea'.  In my sketch I wanted to see if there was a difference between drawing with a regular #2 pencil and graphite drawing pencils ranging from 2b to f.  Of course there's a difference!  I wouldn't have nowhere to spend my measly few pennies if there wasn't!  The graphite drawing pencil 'smooths' onto the paper like butter compared to a regular pencil.  Not that the regular #2 pencil doesn't have it's place.  I would use it right along with the drawing pencils - maybe to fill in the hair or non-essential places.

myra like degas . . .

You may have heard somewhere that I like the ballet paintings and drawings of Degas.  I have long loved this Degas sketch (photo #2).  What I attempted to do in my sketch was to substitute my face for the face of the ballerina (now I'm lying).  I did the best I could with my limited skill set but boy oh boy was it fun!! 

Also, I need to go back and number my ballerina series.  What number is this one?  I think I am going to put numbers on them like JM's apples.  Her artistic way of numbering her apple series is just too cute!

Finally, I am thinking about getting one of those art projectors as a learning tool.  I would like to use one as an aid to help me 'see' objects better.  I would also practice tracing objects in order to learn how to draw them more accurately. 

ballerina sketch

This is another pencil done on watercolor paper.  In this sketch I wanted to see if I could bring a little more 'reality' to the figure.  I also wanted to see if I could make it look as if the tutu was standing out in the back.  You know how we all are at times - so much angst about our work.  In this drawing I thought 'Hey, this one ain't so bad!'  (I think you get the feeling of charcoal when you take the stump and smooth the pencil lines.)

umbrella . . .

This one doesn't 'scare me' as much as that last drawing did!  I love ballerinas holding umbrellas and fans.  This is pencil on watercolor paper. 

JanettMarie and me and figurative work makes three part 1. . .

Helen H. T.

by myra anderson

In my last post I said that I would concentrate on  'capturing the beauty of the human form.'  I let that be the motivating force behind this sketch.   I kept telling myself  'you MUST capture the beauty of the human form!'  Next time I'll fix her hair.

What a beautiful sketch by Janettmarie!

I can't explain it . . .

I can't explain it but there was something about this video - I just had to watch it and I WILL watch it again!

sketch #3 - you can't un-ring a bell . . .

jazzy janettmarie at the beach

by myra anderson

Getting close to opening those watercolors!  Remember?  I ran out of the paper that I like and they didn't have any more at my supply store?  I have a few 'to remain unfinished' watercolors that I can post.  In this watercolor I say that I can't un-ring a bell.  I like the colors and the jazzy little outfit that janettmarie is wearing but I just couldn't make this watercolor work.  Sorry janettmarie!

hey bonnie . . .

I 'painted' these on the computer before I saw your wonderful painting of pansies.  Do you have one of those programs where you can draw and paint on the computer?  What a wonderful tool to help an artist envision a painting.  I used a paintbrush tool for the color.  However, I should have used the airbrush tool first because it would lay transparent color over the features rather than cover them.  Of course there are some wonderful graphic artists who produce amazing work using the computer.   Only now have I discovered how much fun it could be!

eric bowman and me and emotional-lee

sketch #7 by myra anderson

eric bowman

What a beautiful painting by Eric Bowman!  With just the right amount of strokes he has captured the beauty and the emotion of the ballet.  I think that my pencil drawing shows a little emotion.  She's saying 'I'm young, beautiful and when I'm done dancing I want a small one egg omelet with pepper jack cheese and bacon on a nice piece of hot buttered toast. . . . and coffee'. (Her . . . not me!)

ballerina with a fan . . .

ballerina with a fan

myra anderson

Sketch #6 of my series 'depending on who you ask - 100 either great - or poorly drawn - sketches of the ballet' is a pencil sketch.   As in the previous post, the colorful background and fan were added with photoshop.

no one EYE know . . .

When you don't know how to do something you have to start somewhere . . .

bonnie paint your pretty pansies and put them in the pot . . .

Bonnie paint your pretty pansies and put them in the pot

by myra anderson

Congratulations to Bonnie Heather who was able to retire and will have the opportunity to cultivate her love of art!  She said that perhaps her first series with be 12 paintings of pansies.  When it comes to flowers - she also paints them beautifully!  In this drawing I tried to add pansies but they just did not look right.  I thought I had better leave the flowers to the experts!

Also, I added the blue sky and the green grass using a photoshop type program.

hips

at the end of the day I want a cheeseburger

by myra anderson

This is sketch #5 of my dance series.  In this particular sketch I wanted to draw a modest pair of hips in a leotard - cause that's just how I roll.   I felt that the ballerina was too skinny.  But, try as I might I could not add more weight to the drawing.  As per usual this made me think about food.  I can go many days eating a delicious salad - I make mine with lettuce, tomato, walnuts, cheese, diced chicken, avocado, cranberry-raisins and garlic croutons - sprinkled with garlic powder and pepper -  and topped with bacon ranch salad dressing.  Then after so many days I just want a cheeseburger.  With bacon.  And fries.  And a strawberry shake.   Hips . . .

pink . . . think . . .

pink! think!

by myra anderson

This is sketch #4 of my series 'depending on who you ask - 100 either great - or poorly drawn - sketches of the ballet'. What's happening with the watercolors you say?  Well, I ran out of the paper that I like and they no longer carry it (or anything that compares to it) at my local supply store.  Hope to be back on track with that soon!

blue . . . shoe . . .

blue . . . shoe . . .

by myra anderson

This is charcoal on blue pastel paper.  It's sketch #3 of my dance series.  For some reason I thought that it would be fun to smear it a little and add those crazy lines.  Yup!!

 more from the article 'what is art'

Another beautiful photo from Rick Elkins.  I think that this is like a beautiful 'modern day' Degas.  Yet another reason I love the art of the ballet.  I often wonder what makes people love their particular genre.  There is actually an artist who paints 'a mule' a day . . . . . . . .