Something Positive in 2020

This is a portrait of my sister’s pup, Radio. She wanted me to do a portrait of him and my reference photos were taken all the way back in 2018. This one was a long time coming! Finishing the painting this year provided some much needed art therapy in an extremely stressful time. But now, between projects, I’m wringing my hands to launch into something new. My next work will likely include watercolor with colored pencil – a combination I haven’t used since my interior illustration days back at TCU years ago.

Radio – 12″ X 16″ Colored Pencil on Art Spectrum Colorfix Suede Paper Copyright Lisa M. Mills Fine Art

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Three in a Row…

I was excited last week to find out that Reflections on Cool Jazz was accepted into CPSA’s 22nd Annual International Exhibition in Florida this year. This acceptance was my third in a row and it also earned me “signature status” in CPSA. Signature status is earned when one’s work is juried into the exhibition three times in a ten year span.  This is the fourth time I’ve entered. Year one ended in rejection and was really tough on me as an emerging artist. I had to reach deep to regain inspiration. I also made a conscious effort to try and create art that is different, inspiring and challenging. Reflections on Cool Jazz  was the most difficult piece I’ve created to date. There are close to 150 hours of work put into it and I was definitely challenged. The thing I like about both my Reflections pieces is that they depict the subject matter in a realistic way, yet due to the close-up nature of the view in my reference photos and the bright light, there are great abstract forms within the realism.

 

 

 

I’m in the process now of trying to determine my next step in the creative process, which is usually difficult for me as well as time consuming. In the mean time, I’m experimenting with new papers and pencils and creating as I can. I’ll ship this artwork to Florida this month, where it will hang in the exhibition from June 13 through August 25 at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens. It will go through the second round of judging – this time for awards – at the end of May. Frankly, I am just thrilled to have met my goal to gain signature status, but I’m not gonna lie – an award would really be nice! I’ll keep you posted…

 

“Morning Preyer” Receives Award at CPSA International Exhibition

“Morning Preyer” Hanging in City of Brea Gallery

I am so thrilled to announce that Morning Preyer received the Award for Excellence last night in Brea, CA at the CPSA 21st Annual International (juried) Exhibition.  It was one of 17 award winners out of over 125 entries that are currently on exhibition at the City of Brea Gallery.  The exhibit will be open through September 13, 2013.  I now have to get one more piece accepted in the annual international exhibition to receive CPSA signature status.  Hopefully, I will achieve this in the 22nd Annual International Exhibition in 2014! I’ll keep you posted.

Color Me Here…

About a year ago, I decided I wanted to venture back into art, mainly just as a hobby or a way to create art for my house.  I started with my graphite pencils and illustrated a drawing of Lucy, my Golden Retriever.

(Artwork Copyright 2010 Lisa M. Mills – All Rights Reserved)

This rendering of Lucy depicts her on her favorite perch – the stairs.  She was unmoved that I was photographing her and moved even less that I illustrated her.  She’s a lazy girl.

That one drawing got me hooked all over again on art (you can see my story on the “About the Artist” page).  I then began to photograph my dogs, birds, critters in the yard – virtually anything I could draw.  I’m slow at my craft, but steady as I rebuild a portfolio.

Last spring, I discovered another artist named Alyona Nickelsen who has a book called “The Colored Pencil Painting Bible.”  Wow.  She is amazing.  I found out she offers an online school and I thought this would be a great way to hone my skills as an artist.  I took Part 1 in September and will be starting Part 2 in November.

Here’s a sample of my accomplishments in Part 1:

My husband suggested I was going “out of my gourd” while I was working on it as it was so intricate.  But I persevered and won the Class Challenge Project (this gourd) for Part 1 of the class. (Each class has a challenge project at the completion of the class, where students are encouraged to submit their work to compete against one another.)  This was rendered in sepia, plus black colored pencil and a colorless blender.

So, thanks for stopping by Color Me Here…I’m looking forward to the journey.