Day 4
I’ve received challenges from two separate great bloggers and thought, okay it’s time for me to join in the fun. The challenges are slightly different, but my drawings will accomplish the goal for both challenges.
#1 I was tagged to do a 3-pieces of art a day for 5-days, Art Challenge, by Tim Livingston at The Forester Artist. Tim is an incredible artist, you will enjoy what you find at his blog. I decided to accept the challenge.
#2 Next I was tagged to participate in a 5-day B&W challenge, by posting one new B&W each day. Sylvia of Anotherdaytoparadise. I’m accepting this challenge by combining with Tim’s 3-pieces of art a day for 5 days. Sylvia has the most incredible photography that I think you’ll appreciate the awesome subjects she captures with her lens.
Day 4 – my three drawings today concentrated on flowers and a landscape scene. Each piece was done in charcoal measuring 5×7. I imposed up to a one-hour limit for each drawing in the challenge(s) – my personal objective is to see the subject more as forms and values than anything else, so I expect perspective and technicals to be off. Click onto the image for a larger view.
I would love to see Don join in on the challenge, he has a great blog at Candid Impressions. Not only is Don a fantastic artist, but he challenges his blogging followers with thought-provoking questions and just good all round conversation? I think you’ll really enjoy visiting his blog.
Thank you for checking in ~ hey did you notice that my time frame keeps creeping up, lol!
Oil Pastels by Mary 
Quite beautiful!
Thanks Elena – appreciate it!
I quite like the middle image. Makes me want to go exploring there! 🙂
Thank you, This was one of those fun scenes that I let the charcoal have its own way and discovered this swampy scene. lol could have fooled me it certainly wasn’t what I had in mind when I started.
Wonderful works Mary, love that you picked flowers! The first is my favorite among this threesome! Love that is one single flower a perfectly executed sunflower by the way. I like the composition and the contrast here, the sunflower is heavy and large and you balanced that out perfectly with a light, transparent vase on a reflecting surface! Brilliant move, love it!
Hi Eva, thank you! I really enjoyed drawing the single flower – the charcoal was great for working a velvety look to the leaves. I can see where in B&W care needs to be taken with the light reflections (straight and making sure the stems have adequate value so the reflection stands out). A lot of learning took place with these three drawings. Appreciate your description and feedback, it makes the exercise all worth while. Have a lovely evening.
Thank you Mary, same to you!
I especially love the drawing on the left. Of course I love love love flowers.
Thanks Elizabeth! The drawing on the left had me a bit stumped on how to distinguish the flower petals, because the values were so close to much around it – I’m going to have to try this one again and see what I might be able to do differently. Thank you and so glad you enjoyed the flowers!
Yes, I did notice the change in time frames. I am still amazed at what you achieve in such a relatively short time.
Thanks Gallivanta – 15 minutes was good for my mind in being able to see and give a good go at a piece, so 1/2 hour felt better and then gave myself permission to go to one-hour. When I do my summary tomorrow of each piece, I’ll have in it how much time was spent on each, the title and reference (mine or others). It was a great exercise and appreciate your feedback and thoughts. Thanks so much, have a wonderful week!
I love drawing in charcoal too! Great pieces
Thank you so much Mark for your generous comment – your work always inspires me. Really appreciate it ~
Gorgeous images, Mary. The landscape is absolutely wonderful . 🙂
Thank you so much Sylvia for your beautiful comment. There’s a funny story behind the landscape that I’ll post about on Monday. Have a great week!
I love funny stories. 😃
Wow great works of Art! Have fun on these challenges I just did a 30 day one I am pooped 🙂
Thanks Eunice – final day is today w/three more to start very soon. Can’t imagine doing 30 days worth, although this week there will be 15 completed and that’s plenty for me.
Trust me I hear you 🙂 but it was good to challenge myself and get my beginner art out there 🙂
You are way past beginner art!!
Naw just possessed 🙂
I love that first flower……trying so hard to stand tall and it looks so hardy! Reminds me of a teenager somehow….wanting to be big, and yet, still has to stretch to get close. Lovely.
Hi A!, thanks very much I like you interpretation of the flower – great description!
Your talent never falters, Miss Mary
fine work indeed
uncle john
Thank you Uncle John – your encouragement really means a lot. Have a lovely weekend.
Beautiful drawings Mary! ~Rita
Hi Rita, thanks so much! I’m nearing the end, after today will be 15 for the week – I’m swimming in black dust!
All beautiful – but really loved the landscape.
Thanks Ann-Christine – it was produced by accident, but this accident became a swampy landscape! Have a great weekend ~
Some beautiful work…. 😉
Thank you Robert!
Loving the landscape scene Mary. The path draws me right in and feels so peaceful. Your flowers are awesome! I think you do them very well!
Hi Rhonda, thanks so much. That landscape, well the story behind it is so funny – I started it with the intention of doing another flower, several swipes of the charcoal at the bottom for the table and I immediately saw the landscape foreground, well the rest is history. But funny how things turn out in the process. Have a great weekend!
I love when that happens. The Muse knows what she wants! 😊
Isn’t that the truth!