Illustration Friday - Cultivate ....

the plan is to have this completed in color before this friday - but just in case

that doesn't happen I thought I'd put this up now.  Still trying to work a few things out.

feeling like I need to bring out the focal point and figure out how to 

minimize the rest of the piece.  It's a little busy and just too much going on.  It gets across the idea

I wanted, but It's feeling a little off balance.  The right side doesn't feel heavy enough for the the figure, but I don't want to clutter this up anymore.  Also considering the idea that the two tall stacks in the middle are too similar in height.  Guess I still have a lot to work out, this

should be a busy week.  I'm also still working on the whale painting - which is taking

a lot longer than I anticipated.  I'll try and update again in a few days.

     updating my painting progress.  looking at these pictures on the computer gives me an entirely different view and I'm realizing some things that I really need to fix.  I'm still concerned with overworking it, especially the water.  but now that i've worked on the water a bit I realize that it's too light.  I have to decide if the water or the what is going to be light - and I really think the whale should be since it's the focal point.  I may have to work some stuff out in photoshop before I go any further.  I'm also realizing that while I wanted a rich deep background, I may have lost some of the warmth.  I may need to bring some of the yellow up - but keeping in mind that I still have to add the trees and boat.  so, we will see.  I want to try and get this completed this weekend.  That may be a bit ambitious, but it's worth a try.

    I finally did something for Illustration Friday.  I got the sketch done and have been wanting to do some pen and ink, but once again I'm afraid I won't get this completed in time.  I figured I had better just submit what I have done.  At least it's one step closer  than I've gotten in a long time.  Maybe this weekend I can actually complete a piece.  But for now, here is my drawing for "Stir"...

here are the sketches I began with.  I'm just at a loss as to what kind of environment to place

my subject in.

    I've been doing a few things lately.  Still slowly working on my whale painting and doing some sketching.  I went out on Sunday with my husband to spend some time outside enjoying the beautiful weather and decided to bring my sketchbook along.  I thought it was finally time to attempt some life drawing again, it's been too long and something I've been thinking about doing for a while.  After sketching for only about 15 minutes I realized just how long it's been and felt completely frustrated.  I had no attention span for it and became so aggravated that it was so difficult and no one would stay still long enough.  My sketches were horrible and I only lasted about 5 more minutes after that.  I seriously need to get back in the habit of this again.  I hope the next attempt will be a little better.

here's my sad attempt .....

I thought that I should also add some other sketches since I was already scanning stuff.

feeling like it's been a little forced lately, but I really have to put more effort in, no matter how tired I am after work :(

But on a lighter note, I did have a great time outside on Sunday, and my husband took some really great pictures at the Americana - where we like to hang out.  Now that it's getting so nice out I hope to start spending more time there.  I'll leave you with these pictures - and I hope you all have a wonderful week.