sketchbook of initial drawings and proposed color palette
We remained in the studio today as the rain came tumbling down. Our assignment: a portrait in pastels. Our task was to create a portrait of a family member, close friend or self-portrait. The drawing was to be large (22" x 30") and was to include the image of the person plus an object which represented the person depicted. We were instructed to portray the face in subjective (expressive, emotional) rather than objective colors(based on observation).
In anticipation of drawing, we were asked to answer the following questions:
1. Who is the person? What is her relationship to you?
2. Is your knowledge first-hand, or is it based on information passed down through your family?
3. What characteristics of the person do you intend to express in your drawing? Are there aspects of your relationship to/with the person you would like to deal with in the drawing?
We were then asked to list 5 qualities, characteristics, or impressions of the person and/or your relationship to them. Next, we were to assign a color that we thought was associated with the characteristic.
Most of my classmates decided on a self-portrait, but for several years have not relished the idea of looking at myself in a mirror. Instead, I opted for a photo of Ginger, Amy, and me at a sorority formal in 1976. I had recently found the photo in a box of college memorabilia in my attic. I tucked the photo into my journal and carried it to Arrowmont. And so, I drew Ginger. She was breath-taking. I didn't capture her beauty, but I tried to tap into her essence. Pastels and portraits were an entirely new experience for me.
Summer is definitely over! First week of school (all three days of it) went well. A few schedule glitches, but at the end of week one, most things are on track. We will graduate our first senior class this year which is quite exciting.
The heat is unbearable these days. As I peer out from the windowsto my garden from the air-conditioned living areas of my home, I realize that the garden reflects me in the late summer! The garden and I are both hot, thirsty, tired, and disorganized. We all both longing for a cool drink of water and a long nap as the new school year begins. However, in the midst of this angst is beauty that doesn't surface until now. Black-eyed susans, night blooming daturas, and a zipper spider compete for my attention tonight at sunset. 
I am on my way to producing the work for my show at the Durham Arts Council Exhibition in November. Way more to go...but I am excited! 
A great week in south Florida with my father! We visited two wetlands parks and the birds were spectacular. I hope that I can use some of these images in my new body of work.
I applied for a solo show at the Durham Arts Council for the 2009-10 school year in December. My spring was all-consuming and I put the application out of my mind until early June when I was notified that my work had been accepted for exhibition November 6-January 10, 2010. How exciting! How frightening! Most of the new work needs to be made this summer, before school starts again. I have lots of ideas and I hope that I will be able to convey my ideas on paper. Please comment with your address so that I make sure that you receive a postcard to the opening reception.
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rasnay
Here we are photographed as a class during the final crit of the week. I learned as much from my instructor as I did from classmates. It was hard to hug everyone good-bye on Saturday morning as we all departed for our returns to reality.
sketchbook of initial drawings and proposed color palette
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We left Arrowmont this morning and headed out to a private farm in Emert's Cove. A covered bridge, a babbling creek, barns, and mountain vistas made choosing a subject to focus on for a day of drawing very difficult. I chose babbling creek, barn, trees, and river rocks for my 22" x 30" charcoal. In hindsight, this was perhaps a bit too ambitious. I am cleaning it up and hope to have something presentable by Friday. 
