Tag: artwork

Drifting and Diligence

Posted on by Karyn Jeffrey

The summer is drawing to a close. I am drifting in the lazy warm days that seem so lethargic that it is easy to let them slip away with nothing accomplished. I am convinced that I ought to be making the most of my time and am squirming under the awareness that I need to get back to the diligence of days that are more focused and productive.

Summer days here have been hot and hazy with lots of smoke from wildfires throughout the West– this has been a perfect recipe for laziness and lethargy. Diligence is “out the window”!

I have begun praying for God’s help and the Holy Spirit brought this particular Scripture to mind. He is so faithful to work on my heart and my thinking. I love how He uses the Word that I have read in the past to work on me now. I’ve been asking for Him to get me off  “dead center” where I have been floundering and drifting. Isn’t this a wonderful spiritual “nudge”?!

                            “So teach us to number our days,  that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12.

As a consequence of the busy-ness of the past few months– social commitments, houseguests, garden and home projects– I have not spent much time with my art making. And certainly I have neglected writing for this blog.  So, here I am taking myself in hand and trying to pick up where I left off a few months ago.

I have begun practicing two basic alphabets- simple monoline pen practice on grid paper. This focus came about because this summer I was privileged to be the host home for world-famous calligrapher, Barry Morentz. Follow him on Instagram: barrymorentz. He was in my city to lead a calligraphy workshop. His teaching at the workshop and his encouragement as he kindly critiqued several pieces of my work have set me on a new path. He urged me to try my hand at re-doing the pieces he looked over.  He also asked me a probing question that really helped me focus. “Which alphabet or alphabets do I most want to master?” That made me realize I first want the ones that are the backbone of all the others. So I began by practicing two basic alphabets- the Roman and the Italic.

I am using graph paper and the “rules” that underlie the basic Roman alphabet to practice proportion. Barry also encouraged me to trace & copy the exemplar of work by Sheila Waters to get the physical feel of doing the italic alphabet right. I have begun doing this and WOW! What a help it is! I urge you to give it a try. Here’s how:

For the Roman alphabet, download this exemplar and practice on grid paper with a pencil and then a monoline (ballpoint, gel tip, etc) pen.

Roman Capital exemplar PDF file – click here!

If you want to focus on Italic calligraphy, photocopy an exemplar from a good calligraphy book, (I suggest Foundations of Calligraphy by Sheila Waters) use your light table as you trace, first with pencil or ballpoint pen, to get the shape and slant in your mind. Then move to using an edged pen of the same size as the exemplar. When you begin using an edged pen and ink be sure to use practice paper that won’t bleed through to your exemplar! I suggest HP Paper, Premium Choice Laserjet Paper Poly Wrap, 32lb, 8.5 x 11, Letter, 500 Sheets / 1 Ream Made In The USA — available on Amazon. This paper is a great basic “drawing” paper that behaves well with ink and works well with markers and light watercolors with minimum buckling and bleed-through.

All this tracing and copying helps you recognize and put into muscle memory the counter shapes, pen angle, slant, spacing and rhythm of the alphabet. This process can be used with any alphabet you want to master.

So, now that I have spent a bit of time doing all this, I re-did this little piece of calligraphy that sits on my bathroom counter. What do you think of the improvements in my Italic lettering?  I can see several things I still want to do better, but it is very encouraging to see improvement–however small.  (I’m not crazy about the colors used in the new version and so think a third shot will happen.)

before and after
The before version is on the left and the one on the right is my newest effort

I also have been practicing the Roman alphabet and so tried this piece that combines the two styles of lettering. The Latin Phrase, “Theatrum Gloriae” was used by John Calvin in his famous Institutes of Christian Religion when he was commenting on Psalm 19. The phrase roughly translated means ‘Glorious Theater’ and is a metaphor for the immense beauty of the creation.

Theatrum Gloriae
I used a scrap of drawing paper and lettered the Latin phrase with graphite pencil and the Psalm with pen and ink.

Leave me a comment—I’d love to hear your response. And keep on the lookout for the re-do’s of the bigger pieces I mentioned earlier. “Coming Soon”!

Mistakes I have made- An Illumination – troubles and all– from start to finish

Posted on by Karyn Jeffrey

I have been working on a large calligraphy piece for the past several months. The process has been a rocky road with more trouble than usual. The size of the project seemed to magnify the mistakes and deepen my frustration. Let me take you on a journey of through a lot of calligraphy mistakes. I hope it inspires you to persevere when a project of yours starts to “go south.”

I began painting this piece before Christmas and was quite pleased with my effort until I laid it out to photograph it. ARHGH! In all the weeks of work I had not noticed that the band of design on the left is tilted—crooked.

first version of behold
My first try – so much work- such big mistakes! ARGH!!

The plan for framing it for sale was out. The crookedness would be so obvious that there was no way I could retrieve it. I laid it aside to enjoy the whirl of the holiday seasons with some lessons learned.

Lesson 1: Check and double check initial drawing for accuracy before adding any permanent medium.

Lesson 2: Breathe. Back away slowly.

January rolled around and I was ready to tackle a new version. This time I decided to use a darker paper. This would need a white transfer paper, I thought, to put the cartoon down for inking.

I placed and taped down the drawing which was a mish-mash on the tracing paper and grid paper I had used before. I was careful to be sure they were “square with the world” this time and so spent a few hours transferring the drawing.

taped down to trace

To transfer the drawing down I used a red ink fine-line G-Tec-C4  pen 0.4MM   https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-G-Tec-C4-Assorted-Colors-Rollerball   to assure a clear, even line on the dark paper and a colored line I could see on the cartoon as I made the tracing.

g-tec pens

When I removed the tracing papers and transfer paper, I was pleased that I could easily see the white drawing all ready for my ink outline. “Onward!!”

I took out my favorite waterproof fine-line pen- Faber-Castell Pitt pigmented drawing ink pen (available in various widths) https://www.amazon.com/Pigmented-Drawing-Artist-Widths-Castell/ and started on the inking.

pitt pens

The process wasn’t smooth sailing because the ink did not like the waxiness of the white transfer lines. Grrrr. >:{  I had failed to test that aspect before beginning the tracing process. But undeterred, I kept inking. But then, as I began my way up the left band (oh! That left band!!) I realized I had a HUGE problem. During the tracing process, the drawings had shifted nearly a quarter inch. There was no way to bridge the skewed design areas.

bad tracing

I stopped. Nearly cried in frustration. And then followed my advice of Lesson 2. “Breathe!”  And “Back away slowly.”

Lesson 3: see Lesson 1.

A few days later, after a lot of deep breathing and even deeper thinking, I decided to make one large tracing of the pieces I had used before. Then I turned the paper over, used a graphite transfer paper and securely attached that single tracing.

While I was making the single tracing, I did several design changes and most of all made absolutely certain that it was square with the edges. The entire design is inspired by pages from the Book of Kells and several of the Celtic knots are taken from George Bain’s work on historic Celtic designs. I also included some knots I created myself. This knot-making aspect of illuminating is still a “work-in-progress” for me!

I checked and rechecked my drawing. I checked and rechecked my “taping-down” and before I even began I tested the graphite paper to be sure it wouldn’t give me trouble in putting ink over the traced lines. And after all this checking and several hours of tracing, HOORAY!! A tracing ready to ink and then paint!

I paint primarily with gouache watercolor [say: guh-WASH]. It is opaque rather than the transparent watercolor most people associate with watercolor painting. My brushes are small and made of sable- sizes 1, 2 and 3 rounds and a size 00 liner brush. Check this website for this type of tool and supply.  https://www.dickblick.com/

Because gouache paint is opaque the method of application to achieve highlights and shadows is different than working with more familiar transparent watercolor. Gouache requires flat areas of color that hide the paper beneath. Then additional color is added to create 3-dimensonality.

highlighting in gouache
Left to right: 1: a flat area 2: shadows added 3: highlights added

I used Fine-Tec metallic watercolor for the final bit of color in the borders and around the versal “B.”

I spent many hours painting while listening to my audio book. It is such a joy to be in my studio- a quiet and happy place!

tracing stuff
tracing down using tracing paper and a G-tec fine line colored pen to see where I’ve been.
gouache and brush
One of my palettes with gouache paints (notice 3 different brands- all good) and types of brushes I use.
a proper tracing
Inking is finished and now for adding color
painting in progress
Color in progress. Notice red area inside the B doesn’t have the white “diapering” design it will have when finished.
final Behold what
Final work. – “square with the world, design problems worked out. Compare with first version which was on lighter paper. The same colors are used in both, but the darker ground makes it seem different. Interesting!

At last, it was done. If you are interested in purchasing this unframed piece, check my store.

What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment.

Mystic Quiet = Fresh Goals

Posted on by Karyn Jeffrey

Recently my now-retired spouse proposed a fishing trip to one of his favorite spots with “would you like to go along?” attached. Inwardly I sighed and thought of all the things I wanted to do at home. But immediately my deeper desire not to waste an opportunity to spend time with him kicks in and I say, “sure!”

I pack my “art stuff” and he loads his fishing gear. We fill the camper with food and folding chairs—because coffee out in the early morning sun is a ‘must.’ As soon as we pull on to the highway a sense of relief sweeps over me. The ordinary—laundry, grocery shopping, meal prep, computer work, TV, even garden veggies needing processing—drops away and is replaced with a nearly mystic calm. The next two days will be an oasis of peace. As the miles pass so does the tyranny of the urgent.

Coffeepot lake

Ahh, quiet happiness! The solitude, beauty and peace of the lake is an emotional and spiritual elixir. As the day draws to a close the wind swirls and ebbs around me. The swallows and blackbirds glide and sit by turns. What a time of peaceful renewal that makes my heart overflow with gladness for this beautiful place.

After a deep, refreshing sleep, out comes the little notebook I grabbed as I packed. I reread the only entry—just one page—made over 3 years ago.  It sets out an ambitious plan for my writing and art.  I am stunned, surprised and encouraged!  Those goals have largely been completed! There wasn’t a fancy list, just some simple things written down that I wanted to accomplish. I didn’t put in any deadlines (though some motivational experts would say that is a critical need) I just wrote down—“said out loud”—what I wanted to do with my life.

It made me realize how truly valuable it is to set goals. To “say them out loud” (so to speak) by writing them down.

So, I am determined to use this delicious slice of quiet to ponder and make a fresh set of goals. Who knows? Three years from now I may have another book or two in print? Wouldn’t that be nice?

my goals

Question: Have you written your goals recently? Are you brave enough to “say them out loud”?

 

Creative Juices Flowing

Posted on by Karyn Jeffrey

Here is where my artistic juices have been flowing lately. I’ve spent the past several days creating in this most inspirational space. Did you notice that it is the same color as my new bedroom?

Here she takes a nervous gulp and blurts out:

studio in some semblance of order- thankfully ink smudges and dog fur not visible
studio in some semblance of order- thankfully ink smudges and dog fur not visible

“I am about to launch a serious ‘social media campaign.’ ”

This is definitely tame by the standard of many younger folks but for a “mature” woman like myself it feels like a leap into a galaxy far, far away! So here is what is planned:  I am preparing to begin uploading pics to Instagram and making a bigger presence on Face Book and be more intentional and regular in posting on my blog.

these designs will be cards for sale soon. Planning for the Studio Art Tour in September for sure
these designs will be cards for sale soon. Planning for the Studio Art Tour in September for sure

I am preparing for the Art Tour in September and so have created 4 designs for 5” x 7” greeting cards. Will be taking them to my art photographer guy today. Look for ways to order them from me sometime soon. Also planning to get a coloring book made from the black and white line drawings of the letters in my book. Busy, busy, busy. But, oh, does it feel wonderful to be back in my studio making art!

So, hop on over to my book website  –  lifeinlettersbook.com (order a book while you are there!), check me out on Instagram – (karynjeffrey) (Whoo-hoo! This is new!) or find me on Face Book – Karyn Jeffrey- The Designing Woman.

my book: Life In Letters- A Christian Young Person's Guide to Virtue, Integrity and Peace
my book: Life In Letters- A Christian Young Person’s Guide to Virtue, Integrity and Peace

I’ve put an RSS feed URL here so you can get notified regularly when I post something new. I am hoping to post at least once a week and maybe add a picture of current art work on a different day.

Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave a comment– it would help to know who is looking.