Friday, December 30, 2011
I hope everybody has a prosperous and productive New Year. Because 2011 was so crazy for me and I have no idea what will happen in 2012, I’ve decided not to declare any set goals. I did write a list of things that I would like to accomplish, but I have no idea if any of those things will happen the way I would like them. I feel under so much pressure to make every spare moment count for something, so I should be able to make some sketches to post here in any case. I think that will be good enough for now!
©2011 Carolyn A. Pappas, Ogunquit Sea Foam. Watercolor, 10 x 13.5 cm.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
©2011 Carolyn A. Pappas, 30 min Pear Sketch. Colored pencil in 8.5 x 11 inch sketchbook.
2011 was a big year for me, although not so much on the art front. I did have goals for this year, but other things took up my energy. Even though things weren’t as productive as I’d like in terms of my artwork, I did have quite the year personally. I had quite a few deaths in the family and a lot of personal upheavals as well, such as moving.
Of all my goals, I think the only one I was successful with was spending more time in my sketchbooks. Sometimes this was the only thing that I could bring myself to do because I felt so rotten. Now that I don’t have a lot of time on my hands, I expect that this trend will continue into 2012.
Interestingly, I feel that I have been more productive with my time since I had Cate. Perhaps this is because “free time” is so precious to me now that I barely have any.
Since I’ve become a mother I’ve begun to spend more time thinking seriously about my artwork and how I want to spend my time on it. I never really thought about it before, but now I am more serious about creating a legacy for my daughter. I want her to see me as someone who is can work toward a goal and isn’t afraid to take a risk.
This is also the first year that I’ve put my minimalist ideals into practice. I’ve been interested in the minimalist lifestyle for some time now, but moving into a much smaller home really forced me to take some action. Besides getting rid of a ton of personal and household items, I disposed of a large number of art supplies that I was no longer using regularly. I’ve learned that I can truly thrive with much fewer things to manage. In fact, I like the feeling of having a lighter load.
Next time, I’ll explain my goal setting philosophy for 2012.
Monday, December 26, 2011
©2011 Carolyn A. Pappas, Rose Sketch (12-9-2011). Graphite in 8.5 x 11 inch sketchbook.
This year when I felt like painting all I seemed to want to paint was florals. And I’m still not sick of them! I’m currently making sketches for some new rose paintings. I made this one while I was waiting for Cate to fall asleep one night.
Friday, December 23, 2011
©2011 Carolyn A. Pappas, Two Pears on Blue. Watercolor, 2.5 x 4.5 inches.
This is the last of my mini fruit still lifes. I really loved painting them and I hope that you enjoyed looking at them.
I’m wishing all my readers a festive Christmas this year. I am having an especially good Advent season and I hope it is the same for you all as well.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
©2011 Carolyn A. Pappas, 12-17-2011 (Triangles). Ink in large handbook sketchbook.
This is the first year that I can remember that I haven’t been stressed out over Christmas. I decided not to gift anyone artwork this year, and my family decided on a one present per person policy which really simplifies shopping. Now that my shopping is all done and I don’t feel “pressurized,” I actually haven’t minded the few times I’ve been out in the stores. I spent a couple of nice afternoons visiting
Thornes Marketplace and
Kringle Candle.
Friday, December 16, 2011
©2011 Carolyn A. Pappas, Pear Slices 2. Watercolor, 2.5 x 4.5 inches.
Here is another composition of sliced pears, this time with bold blue shadows. I really like the combination of blue and brown. Now that I have both ultramarine blue and raw umber on my palette, I think I’ll really enjoy myself.
Monday, December 12, 2011
©2011 Carolyn A. Pappas, Pear Slices 1. Watercolor, 2.5 x 4.5 inches.
In reality, this pear was unripe and not very good for eating. It was sitting on a plate getting kind of slimy when I painted this little still life, but I like the way the painting turned out.
The blog Orangette recently had a lovely piece about poached pears. I would love to try it if I were lucky enough to find good pears, which is rare in New England. Perhaps I will try it the next time I get a box from Harry and David.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
I’ve been posting to Pinterest for the past few months, whenever I find an interesting image that I want to save. Pinterest is a great site for finding online inspiration, and I love to browse through other people’s pins. If you use Pinterest, feel free to follow me, and leave a comment so I can follow you.
©2011 Carolyn A. Pappas, Small Katie Sketches. Pen in large handbook sketchbook.
Above are some small sketches of Katie, and not very good ones at that, done over the course of a few days. Whenever I sketch Katie, or any animal, most of my sketches are no good and only a few really please me. It is such good practice and so much fun that I keep doing it though.
I never really commemorated blog anniversaries before, but I was looking through my archives the other day and I realized that my blog is turning three today. I have been posting my work elsewhere online since 2005, but this is the first blog that I’ve really made “my own.”
©2011 Carolyn A. Pappas, Apples and Pear. Watercolor, 2.5 x 4.5 inches.
The above painting is another one from earlier this year. Just looking at all my old watercolors makes me want to sit down and paint again. I wish I had more time!
©2011 Carolyn A. Pappas, Blue Bookmarks. Apx 1.5 x 6.5 inches plus tassel.
I decided to make more bookmarks in the same vein as these. I really didn’t have any use for them though, but thankfully I knew three people in need of a new bookmark.