Wednesday 25 February 2009

This Week in Review

Umm... I had an idea that I was going to write a post tonight, but now that I am here my brain has turned to sponge and I'm just staring at the screen! The trouble is, I have been so unbelievably tired recently. And grumpy and miserable to go with it.

I'd got it in my head that I could finish my polar bear by Monday (just gone), which of course didn't happen. I pushed myself to do some of it when I was obviously too tired to do it, which resulted in it not really going to plan, and now I have to alter it quite a bit. It's quite disheartening to spend so much time and energy on something only to realise that it was a waste of time because you did it all wrong!


I know it doesn't look that bad in the photo, but I know what it's supposed to look like! The front comes out too wide, and there are some other changes that need to be made as well.

So, experience has now taught me not to push myself when I am too tired, because when it goes wrong that then affects my confidence too.

Yet again, I didn't get to class on Monday. I was just so exhausted and Scott was very poorly too. He has a heavy cold/chest infection/who knows what and was very sick on Monday morning. The strain has burst the blood vessels in his face leaving it a purply red colour and puffy, so he looks like a bloated corpse. I told him "You look like death. Literally!"

I did manage to start a portrait on Monday evening though, which I continued to work on during class on Tuesday (although we were supposed to be working on landscapes). The mouth has been giving me a lot of trouble.



It's getting there, but I can see that it's still not right. I find photographs really useful for this, with both drawing and clay. Often I can't see what is wrong with a piece until I take a photo of it.

And now, I have a lot of blogs and emails to catch up on. And lots more sleep.

5 comments:

Leanne Pizio said...

Hey Linda,
I really love the way the polar bear is looking. I know you have some problems with it. Most artists are their own worst critics. I am always really critical of my work too. But I hope you can see how truly amazing he is. I can't wait to see his face.

And the portrait is coming along wonderfully.

6 more days!!! YAY!

Kathy L said...

Who is the portrait of? You have a real talent with portraits and I think you should keep at it! Your bear looks good to me. Can't wait to see it finished.

k

Undaunted said...

Yay Leanne! I can't wait! I wonder if my polar bear will be finished by the time you come over?

Maybe once he is finished I will be able to sit back and look at him with different eyes and like what I see? Not that I dislike what I see, I just know it's not right. When I'm down I tend to compare my pieces unfairly to some of the worlds greatest pieces of sculpture and then feel inadequate! I'm feeling better about it now, but I still know I need to change some things.


Hi Kathy! Thank you so much! The portrait is of Scott when he was a little boy. I'm drawing this for his Mum so it has to be right!

queencraftygirl said...

Hey Un-d!
I love your polar bear! He/she is looking great so far! Sometimes, when I plan my artwork out in my head I keep that image in my mind but sometimes you just can't make it the way you planned it out...sometimes it makes itself. The muse is helping you. :)

(hope we all can skype together soon!)

Love,
Queeny

Undaunted said...

Thank you so much Queeny!

I really feel that the front has to come in a bit because being too big at the front is making him/her look even skinnier! After that, there is just the neck and head to go! (and carving the fur)

I've left a comment for you on your blog about skyping - chat soon!