Sunday 24 August 2014

Fun with continuous line contours...

It's been a busy and emotional two weeks. 
My Dad ended up in hospital and is still there. 
His Parkinson's and physical dependency is now at the point 
where he needs 24 hour care. 
To be honest, he was at that point a year ago,
so we had to make the painful decision 
to find Dad a placement in an aged care nursing home. 
It breaks my heart but we have to put his needs first 
and we know he will get round-the-clock care in a nursing home.
We will be able to visit him regularly 
and it will be much easier for my Mum also. 
Emotions are still raw and painful;
I've shed many tears and,
no doubt, it will get worse before it gets better.
Still tons of paperwork to wade through 
and applications to lodge.

_______________________________________________________

I have managed a little bit of sketching here and there. 

This jug was my first attempt at Brenda Swenson's 
We had to pick a still life subject and, with a pen only,
draw a continual line contour without lifting pen from paper.
Certainly not easy but lots of fun. 
This exercise is very good for hand-eye coordination. 
After I did the initial lined shape, 
I added some extra lines to suggest shading and shape.



In the next exercise, 
we had to do a continual line contour of, not one, 
but three still life subjects of our own choosing. 
Note, that all three subjects are connected by one continual line.
Then we added watercolour.



I plan to play a lot more with this continual line contour exercise. 
The result may be loose and wonky but I quite like that. 



I bought a couple of Schmincke metal palettes recently. 
This is the larger of the two.
I also bought empty half pans and full pans 
so I could add some of my own tube colours. 
I LOVE metal palettes!


I am linking up with Sunday Sketches and Artists Play Room today.

24 comments:

  1. So sorry to hear about your dad, Serena. It's so hard going down a road from which there is no return; watching a loved one slowly drift away.

    I don't know how you do that continuous line drawing. If I didn't pick up the pen, I'd have a big ol' blob on the paper. Heck, I have that anyways since I have little drawing abilities anymore. Ha!

    Best wishes,
    Tammy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been a very hard two years watching my Dad deteriorate...we are hoping to move him from hospital to respite care this week as we await a placement in a nursing home. Breaks my heart.

      The continuous line is daring, tricky, and fun all at once. lol

      Delete
  2. I'm also so sorry to hear this, aging is no fun, who ever said the golden years well, they wee far of the mark for most, your work as always is beautiful though and I love the metal palettes, I have a small metal palette I use for my tote bag, lol, an old Altoids mint can, very classy I am, lol!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Altoids tins are quite popular among sketchbook artists as they are nice and compact. I may look out for something similar here. Thanks for your kind words re. my Dad, Laurie. xx

      Delete
  3. beautiful work Serena, so sorry about your dad. My mom is getting to that stage too. It is tough.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Christine....it's tough and emotional to see our parents deteriorate before our eyes. :(

      Delete
  4. Hi Serena.....have really noticed how much your art is progressing over time. Really nice work.....so sorry to hear about your father.....aging is so very difficult FOR EVERYONE it seems. (O:(O:

    xo

    Jo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jo. Aging IS difficult for everyone. My body reminds me of that constantly. :)

      Delete
  5. So sorry to hear about your Dad. That is just difficult all the way around. I wish him the best, and all of the family too! Your continuous line drawings are really good! I had a one day class of this style when I was in college, at the art museum, and it was a lot of fun. The wonkiness just adds to the fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your kind words, Julie. It's going to be another busy week as I try to find my Dad a respite placement. Yes, I find the continuous line drawings fun to do also. :)

      Delete
  6. At least your dad will get 24 hour care there. He needs more attention and now your mom won't have all that responsibility. It will all work out well. *hugs*
    I love your continuous line drawings. Amazes me that you can even do this! Especially with the creamer, sugar, and spoon with the flowers and all--wow! And I love your new palette. I like to fill my own, too, but haven't had them out in such a long time. The classes and the sketchers are both good incentive. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's how we are looking at it too, Rita....24 hour care is something Mum can't provide; she needs to sleep. The continuous line is tricky but fun. Just to clarify, the trio set outline was all continual line joining one element to the next, however, the flower design was added afterwards. Love and hugs to you and Karma ~ xo

      Delete
  7. Beautiful job on your contour drawing - such skill.
    So sorry to hear about your father - the difficult decisions are never easy - even if they are for the best.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful sketches as always Serena. I am so sorry to hear about your dad, but you definitely did the right thing. He will get the round-the-clock care that he needs there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Keith. I'm sure Dad will be better off under 24 hour care. It's been an emotional year. :)

      Delete
  9. sorry to read about your dad having to go into a home :/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish it didn't have to be that way but we have no choice now. The doctors also felt Dad that should not go back home because Mum just can't care for him 24/7. He would just keep ending up back in hospital. I think Mum has finally accepted that now, as hard as the decision was to make.

      Delete
  10. So very sorry about your dad. It is so very hard to see your parents grow old before your eyes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It certainly is, Shashi. We are very close so it's been a tough two years. xo

      Delete
  11. Sorry to hear about your dad, but he is in the right place. I love the coloured sketch you did.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for dropping by, Angie, and for your kind words. Glad you like the sketch. :)

      Delete
  12. It certainly a tough time for you all just now but I'm sure that it will be the right thing for everyone concerned.
    We've just gone through something similar with my mother and father-in-law... it's certainly not easy. Stay strong
    Fabulous artwork as usual Serena, I'm really interested in the Sketchbook Skool. I've seen some amazing results so I mustn't miss it next time round.
    I have a similar jug like your's. It looks so delicate in your painting.
    Have a wonderful weekend and don't be too harsh on yourself over your Dad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your understanding words, Neesie. It's so hard to see our elder loved ones deteriorate with illness. My Dad has been healthy all his life and worked very hard, both at work and around the home, which makes it harder for us to see him so frail and dependent now. He is loved dearly. xo

      Sketchbook Skool has been so much fun and I love having a different teacher every week; it gives us a wide variety of new art ways to play with. :)

      Delete