Brinner, Dreckfast and Srunch

   So on a typical Sunday I normally play around in the studio and do house chores, acting out the parts of the 'domestic' room by room, while playing Mom to a vivacious blonde, known as "Socks on Floor."  Today however, I had to do a make-up lesson with the "IN-girls," a group of four siblings all age ten and under that I have had the pleasure of visiting with and teaching for the past three years.  The "IN-girls" are by far my favorite group of children to teach for one of many reasons: they have what every pupil should, an insatiable curiosity about every topic known to man, a healthy work ethic, and supportive parents who don't hover, but instead re-emphasize what I am teaching through careful, patient counsel and reminders.

Kiwi Project by one of the "IN-girls" November 2012, age 10. PrismaColor Pencils.

Cecile Baird's
 Painting Light with Colored Pencil

 The girls are also talented, but they weren't born with the talent to draw and paint (few are,) instead like me, they have been steadily practicing what I show them each week. One of the most fascinating aspects of teaching this group is that they are curious about so many things, eager to share their ideas and cannot wait to be told a story while they are working, whether its about my childhood among three brothers and two sisters, mythological and legendary figures or artists themselves.  In turn they tell me about what they are reading, what new things they have discovered throughout the week, or are working on in school and I am always personally guided through their science experiments, art projects, and shenanigans with each other. (They also giggle at my poor attempts to learn Vietnamese..I've learned finally how to say all of their names and now they are teaching me numbers... but apparently when I say the number 'three', I sound like a bleating sheep.)

       Today we began a new project in colored pencils, a very bright pink orchid out of Cecile Baird's book (Pictured above-right). I teach by showing: I draw, they draw, I color, they color, then during the week they have small homework projects that reinforce what we have learned. As I had woken up late today, I took a snack with me, and the girls questioned me, I told them I was eating my breakfast - which was true - I woke up later than usual and hadn't even thought of hunger until I was heading towards the car. They deemed this to be utterly hilarious as it was 4 in the afternoon and decided that what I was eating was not "breakfast," but "brinner!"  This lead to a lengthy conversation about the transition from one meal to the next and they came up with the title words to my blog for today.

NOTES on Painting Light with Colored Pencil

'Money Plant Project after Cecile Baird',
9x12" Prisma Color on 50lb. Strathmore Paper
December 2012. Stäcy Smith

I wouldn't say that this is a book for the beginner, but I will state that anyone with just a bit of experience working in this medium will find this book as a useful resource for technique.  Be prepared to lay out some funds for supplies if you plan to take up doing all the projects in the books as the "IN-girls" and I have. Our first six projects cost about $65.00 US in colored pencils alone (per student)... I did not go in for the even more expensive Derwent pencils, but instead used colors from Prisma as substitutes. As the girls and I have just entered the second half of the book, we just spent another $13.00 US each in new colors and a replacement of Indigo Blue.. (if you decide to take on the project of the Money Plant, you will go through 40-60% of that pencil.)  We have devoted an entire year to working in colored pencils before we move back into painting. It helps build motor skills, and color theory memory, as the girls are beginning to get used to how certain colors mix to make things darker or lighter. (And, its a lot less supplies to carry around than for painting, 1 bag instead of a rolling file cart.)

Getting things up and running! The never ending wheel of Progress....

  I started an art fan page connected to my Facebook account sometime over the summer while I was running art camps from my home studio.  Yesterday I decided it was time to give it a portfolio update.  Please feel free to like it.  Art by Stäcy Facebook Fan Page  You'll find about 10 pieces of work that I completed over my time at UofH.  If anything it will give you an idea of how my mind works now as it concerns composition. 

Well, I think that is all for today... tomorrow I will post progress pictures of the projects I am working on in the studio. Till then, ~S