Category Archives: Pen

Making Marks with Pauline Agnew

Mixed media on acid free paper.

This weekend I participated in Pauline’s OPENSTUDIO taster class. A sample of her “Draw and Paint what you Love” course. The event took place both on her website seedbedstudio, and on Facebook over two days. Pauline provided fantastic videos, both for instruction and for inspiration.

Pauline Agnew is an artist with a Degree in Fine Art, a Masters in Multimedia, and lots of experience in teaching art from Primary to University levels. Her work has been seen in public and private galleries, and she had an artists residency in The Irish Museum of Modern Art and was chosen as an artist in residence also for Cork City’s year as European capital of culture in 2005.

Seeds of Inspiration

Quick sketch

I found this class by accident, and I am so glad I did! I was visiting Lucy Chen’s website late at night, watching her self-portrait video. Thank You Lucy! Lucy works in oils, and she has only been an artist since 2011. Before that she worked in finance! Her work is really amazing and I hope you will take a look! I was so inspired to start this class, I had to wet my brush and spread some paint before going to bed. So I did this quick sketch. Horrible I admit. But I felt better having moved some color around.

First layers

The next two days, I painted. Making marks as Pauline suggested. I painted with a twig, swizzle stick, a couple of nail heads, a toothbrush, foam rubber, and a few brushes. I used acrylics, Inktense watercolor pencils, and pens.

Ideas Germinate

Not only is Pauline a wonderful instructor, but she was also immensely supportive of our efforts. The conversations and feedback from the other participants was such a blessing to take part in! When I started, I had no intentions of painting a particular, anything. I was not thinking about a finished landscape, or portrait. For a while in the middle of the process, I was pretty sure I was not going to have a piece worth showing. But I kept on. Added more bits here and there. When I flipped the paper around to see if I had something to build on, I saw a neck, and a bit of a head wrap.

I really am so pleased with this. It was a surprise. I think that is why I like it so much, I wasn’t trying to paint her. I was just painting. I spoke with a couple of the artists in class, and they suggest that I leave her faceless. I can almost see her features, but they have not quite revealed themselves to me. So for now, this is how she will stay. Let me know what you think!

I feel this is one of the best paintings I have ever done. I am so thankful I found this introduction. Thank You Pauline for an enlightening weekend!

Mixed media on acid free paper. 9 x 12

They Say Angels Are Among Us

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To fit in better with the struggling, striving, sprouting souls on earth, they leave their wings behind. And are known to us as friends.

I know this is true. I have proof. I have witnesses. I will share a short story, and you too can bear witness to the miracle of friendship.

This past weekend I was elbow deep in research. My phone was not ringing, my inbox was empty. My focus was on reading, note taking, blog building.

How to Blog. Build a better Blog. Blogging 101. What beginners need to know about blogging.

By Sunday I was overwhelmed, and sure that I was the biggest under achiever in Blogland. I decided to take a break, but before I turned the computer off, I checked my mail. There it was. A gift. A blessing. A letter from a friend.

Most of the letter was an update on what is new in her art world. Exciting, interesting, GREAT news. I couldn’t wait to reply! And then in the last few lines… she just lifted me up the way Bette sang about to Barbara in Beaches.

She said my friendship was a blessing to her. She complimented my work. And get this, she asked me to teach her about Blogging. What??

ME, teach about blogging?

Her words brought me to tears. A pat on the back that turned into a full-fledged HUG.

She asked if she could buy one of my bookmarks (they are free by the way, and you can see them here.) I replied, telling her that one was on the way via USPS. I couldn’t help but include a quick little ATC (Artist Trading Card) for her. This is just a partial peek, because she might read this. I am hoping it will brighten her day, and serve as a reminder of what a blessing her presence here on earth is.

Thank You Kat!

watercolor, floral arrangement in a pitcher

Watercolor, pastel, pen, 2.5 x 3.5

August Birthday Postcard Swap

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The borrowers are at it again. I have searched high and low and everywhere in between. No really, I got down on my hands and knees to look under the chair and behind the desk. My brand new little book of stamps is missing.

I went thru my wallet & my purse, which I just cleaned out last night. Nope. And I recently vacuumed out the car, and cleaned under the seats, so I know the book did not fall into any hidden spaces there. I clearly remember taking it out of my purse when I got home. And there is only one place I would put them, which is exactly where they go, where my postcard stamps are. In the drawer marked “Office”. As in supplies. As in stamps.

You know what this means right? AAUGH! (A la Charlie Brown.) I am going to have to do a serious tearing apart, I mean cleaning. But my everything-in-its-place gene seems to be on vacation. So I will wait a few days and hope that Arrietty takes pity on me and returns the book while I am sleeping.

This month there is just one birthday we are celebrating in the Milliande Birthday Postcard Swap. I also included a “Believe” bookmark. (The freebie from my earlier post) and I made a tassel with cobalt blue glass beads on it. This was is watercolor, pen and pastel.