Coastal Art by Jillian

Or just messing around

Since January, I have taken drawing and acrylic painting classes with Olga Calco. One exercise we did that I had never tried before was drawing without lifting the pencil off the paper. I did the first drawing of Petey using this method. Acrylics are a little frustrating for me as they dry so quickly. I have grown accustomed to reactivating watercolors, adding or subtracting days or even months later. Acrylic retarder helps.

I have also attended some open studios at the Pinellas Park Art Society. I can’t really get much work done but it is valuable time. Sharing ideas with other artists is important for everyone’s growth. Mush needed support and encouragement is always available at an open studio.

Without benefit of classes or other instruction I even did a picture with pastels. (incredibly messy) However, they have beautiful, vibrant colors. This is my first pastel painting, no reference used, just my imagination and mooshing the pastels around.