Saturday, April 23, 2011

Self Portrait of the Artist looking at the Future




Of course, this is me YOUNGER than I am now (not really me at all). Done in Roma's with markers and pens and a little colored pencil. The top one is the newer version--I'm never sure when I am done with a piece and I decided the lighting wasn't right on it. The bottom one, for inquiring minds, is the original.

The third picture is me last night with a hastily rendered copy of Cezanne's 3 Skulls done at the DIA in ordinary pencil. They have drawing sessions and provide seats, paper, pencils and easels every Friday night. And I think Sunday afternoons, too. It;'s the first time I've done it. If I do it again, I may bring my own pencils, stubs etc. It was a huge paper to fill in a short time with a pencil, and I didn't get it quite right--but I had a good time and looked CAREFULLY at the painting--more carefully than ever before.

Click images to view larger.

below is a pocket item for Roma's pocket, it is a super-quick mini sketch of BB, my husband Keith. I did it last night on a very small "art pad." (Sm Assignment notebook-size.)

On my screen, the image is larger than the actual sketch. It is done in pencil, markers and colored pencil.

12 comments:

henniemavis said...

This is so cool! Those Friday classes, I want to go! If I fly out for a long weekend this summer, can we go? I still have to get my membership... Elliot Broom! I wonder if he is still there? I hope so! Your drawing is WONDERFUL. I wish I lived closer to the MFA, I would do this. I love art museums.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Do fly out and see me, please!

They aren't really "classes," they provide materials and are supposedly there to help, advise, whatever, but none them said anything to me except to bring replacement pencils and a paper towel for smudging--no actual advice--but they were VERY NICE--and I am pretty sure I saw Elliott Bloom but didn't get to speak to him.

Of course we can go.

Unknown said...

So cool! I haven't drawn in a museum since I got yelled at for doing it a couple of years ago in Greece.... I should totally try again!

merrytait said...

I don't think they let you do it at the DIA EXCEPT in designated places at Designated times, but I'm not sure. But they ENCOURAGE it when it is designated and provide supplies. Free (with admission--we're members).

Hennie, when you come back, let's see if we can make an appointment to meet with Elliot Bloom, maybe have lunch with him? (Any of the rest of you who are interested are welcome too.)

merrytait said...

Before you do it at another museum, you might want to ask about it, or check their website for info?

merrytait said...

Oops, I mean Broom,

roma said...

Love the paintings, Mary, and the drawing in DIA does sound like fun. What a great idea!

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Thanks, Roma, you;re the one that needs most to like it, since it's in you're book.

roma said...

I also love the idea that it's a younger version of you, or rather, not you at all. That made me laugh. But yes, I do love the paintings and illustration and can't wait to see the other two you do. (It's so fun to see the images that are in our own books.)

roma said...

BTW, it just dawned on me that you really hit something about me. I'm very future/forward looking. Some people are more interested in the past and history. I'm the opposite. And I do have to remind myself to be awake to the moment.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

I am so glad you like it--I would of course always like to please the person whose mole it is! YAY!

Being in the moment is such a struggle--I try to work at it, but am often lost in past or future.

I used another person as a model, but someone who looks quite a bit like I used to look, and that is one of my favorite hairstyles for myself. I am going to be SIXTY-FIVE this month, and I am feeling OLD.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

I have been working and working and WORKING on a sketch for the next picture in your book--funny to spend so much time on a sketch to put in a sketch book, there's a certain irony there. I am having trouble getting it right. I'm not happy with it, and have been considering doing something something else instead, just to get it moving on to the next person. Maybe I will post it and share my struggle.