Wednesday 23 January 2013

Is it art that I'm making?

I am working a lot on finding the right way to express myself artistically. At the same time I am just training my drawing skills. There are so many possibilities and I like to experiment with media and tools, just playing. But I often feel that it is not the right thing I am doing. It is not art that I am making, just drawings and paintings not worked through thoroughly, without a deeper meaning.
Maybe I just have to give art the time it deserves?

Then of course I have other things to do, important also, like finishing my education. That is why I do not paint all the time, just a quick sketch here and there. Yesterday my paintbrush called for me, so I just had to use it for yet another experiment. 


And this morning as a warm up for the day, I worked on this painting of a woman lying down. I found her picture on the blog: http://womenpaintingwomen.blogspot.de



I covered the sketchbook page with acrylic and started sketching with a pastel, bye and bye adding graphite water color pencil, more pastel, acrylic and pastel... At times I thought it would become a total mess, but at this stage I like the abstract expression of the painting. 

What do you think?

As the above painting was not really finished, I worked on a bit. Still something to do, I think.


The last Photo is a sketch of some tiny owls, they made me smile big, when I saw them. Maybe they will be integrated in my story with Rugana on her mission?


Wish you all a happy PPF and a weekend as you'd like to have it - joyful, relaxed, quiet or full of people.






33 comments:

  1. Beautiful, I like it! I fit art in-between life too. And I think all of us go through a playing-with-lots-of-styles before finding what we truly love. Just try to enjoy the process. :)

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    1. Thank you Catherine! I certainly do enjoy the process, it's more a lack of confidence that troubles me, I guess.
      Have a great week-end!

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  2. Really love your your lady and your cute owls. Its always fun to experiment and there is never enough time is there.... Enjoy the weekend, happy PPF, Annette x

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    1. Thanks a lot Annette! I wish you great days ahead with your art!

      Ilona x

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  3. I love love love your sketches and painting, the owls are so beautiful!

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    1. Thank you Stephanie!
      I visited your blog, where I just saw your puzzle peaces. They have a great effect, look really cool!
      Grüsse in die Schweiz :-)

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  4. Owls are adorable and the lady is deep and rich!!

    Hugs Giggles

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    1. Thank you Giggles! Had a view on your mother and daughter artwork, which is colorful and full of thought. I like that expressive style of yours.

      Hugs Ilona

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  5. Wonderful mark-making!
    It is definitely art!! :)
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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    1. Thank you for reassuring me, Mary!

      Happy PPF

      Ilona x

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  6. That composition and posture of the girl is very strong. Saludos

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  7. I love owls and your lady is great. Your work is great and don't worry about having the confidence, just have the spirit and you'll do fine as you are doing now. Take care.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Gloria!

      Hugs Ilona

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  8. Your lady is amazing- I love she's part of the landscape- VERY powerful. And the owls made me smile....
    Happy PPF,
    Stephanie

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  9. So glad you made time to draw and paint these...wonderful flowing feel to the woman, and fun feel from the owls! HPPF !

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    1. Thank you, Lynn! And interesting to hear how people see the woman :-)
      Happy PPF!

      Ilona

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  10. For years I was an art teacher and spent many hours telling students that making art isn't just about the finished product... you have to practice and play and experiment and all those things will show through when you do finish some work... it is all art... and you have created a wonderful flow to the woman and also the owls are fab... have a great painting week
    T xx

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    1. Thank you Tracy! I'll try to remember that for my future teaching! One of the good things with blogging for me is that you get lots of advice and positive feedback, and on the other hand training in giving feedback and finding the good things about people's work.
      I think it is an important position to have as a teacher.

      Ilona xx

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  11. Love your lady and the owl sketches ~ very creative and expressive ~ Carol of:

    (A Creative Harbor) ^_^

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  12. OMG so many owls!!! I swear like 8 people have done owls!! it's freaking me out :D beautiful though! the girl is quite mezmerizing. what a fun discovery youre undertaking - bravely doing whatever it takes to get something solid-feeling.

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    1. Yes I noticed too, that owls take a great part of the art around PPF :-)
      Thank you for the kind words!

      Ilona x

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  13. I like your work very much, especially the mixed media piece you presented here. I believe even a doodle can be art, if it is an expression of who you are and love. As to your education, it is VERY important. However, try to balance your life so that art is a part of it and you'll be much happier. Blessings!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words Arnoldo! Luckily my education will be finished this summer! And I think i will not be able not to do art at all, but at the moment I will have to reduce it.

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  14. It's great that you are pushing yourself and I love your woman. Happy PPF!

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    1. Thank you Jessica! Yes I'll have to go on with pushing myself :-)

      Happy PPF!

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  15. That lady painting/drawing/pastel is amazing. I think that whatever you are doing it is the "right" thing. Those owls are adorable - I am an owl lover. Happy PPF

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    1. Hi Gina! Yes, owls are special and beautiful creatures.
      Thank you for visiting and leaving kind words at my place.

      Happy PPF!

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  16. Ilona you are making art already! It doesn't have to be perfect. Art is a journey and each time that you create whether everyday or not it is already worth it. And practice makes habit. You are way on your way dear! Love the work in progress you've been creating.

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  17. Wow ...great sketches...very expressive and attractive :)

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  18. I love it, very nice. I must say I almost like the top picture better...I like that is looks sort of washed out...it makes it more like a dream to me.

    Rita

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Your comments make me happy!