Of Love and Beauty

My Sketchbook Project Submission: my recovery from getting my wisdom teeth removed

2012-02-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

I had months to work on my sketchbook. I even rebound it soon after I received it in the mail. Why did I wait until the day it was due -- the day I also happened to get my wisdom teeth out -- to fill almost all the pages? Why, oh why?

As soon as the nurse led me out to the car, with the anesthesia still partially in affect, I pulled the neglected brown sketchbook out of my purse, and started to work.

I really enjoyed it once I started. Determined to complete it before the post office closed, I worked steadily from 11 to 7. I may have had two wads of gauze hanging out of my mouth, but that wasn't going to stop me. Forget the ice packs though; my hands had more important things to do.

All those months I had been so intimidated. Uninspired. Insecure. Dissatisfied. I would open up to a blank page and feel just as blank inside. Why?

It's done now. All sparsely finished. No judgement. Maybe I put too much pressure on myself to create something amazing. My expectations are so high that inevitably I'm disappointed with myself.

No wonder.

This isn't about me. I have to remember that.
Excuse me while I go take my pills.

The Sketchbook Project
my tumblr sketchbook

Major the Cowboy - Part Two: 1st & 2nd Umber Layers

2012-02-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

Major is so very sweet, with cookie dough skin and chocolate eyes :)

2nd umber layer: working on the tree trunk (you can see how light and blended my 1st umber layer was)

This painting has taken me a deal longer because of it's size, yet it is so nice to have the freedom of space to put in a lot of detail. This painting is actually a little larger than life-size, but I'm going to be aiming for life-size in all my portraits from now on.

I'm not in the habit of taking many progress photos, but I'm surprised I didn't take any of my first umber layer. Anyway, it was a very basic value layer, kept very light, which took about 2 hours to complete and a week to dry. For the 2nd umber layer (photos) I basically worked on the face first, then worked from the center out for the body. Next I did the tree trunk, then the background working from left to right. I used only burnt umber and my turpentine/damar medium (8:2)

You can see my inked drawing underneath. In future, I think I'll use only graphite, since it's less harsh.

Lots of blending, lots of back and forth between placing darks and lifting out lights with turpentine. The lightest areas are the untouched imprimatura.

This layer could take up to three weeks to dry, unfortunately for me and my deadlines. The first layer took 2 hours, and the 2nd took 12.5 hours (I can finally be accurate since I'm diligently logging my time now)

Two Portraits: Major the Cowboy and Garrison the Knight -- Part One: Drawing and Imprimatura

2012-02-01T16:47:00.000-05:00

I have been working on so much lately in my studio (the o-lab) that I have too much to fit in one post! I'll try to get it all posted this week, since I'm recuperating from having my wisdom teeth out yesterday.

The biggest thing I'm working on is two portraits, one for each of my littlest brothers. Both paintings are 30" x 40" and I'm hoping to finish them for my art league display in March.

I started with a charcoal sketch, using a grid and tracing paper for guides.

I then went over the main lines I wanted to keep with pen and graphite.

Next, I wiped off the charcoal with damp paper towels.

Finally, I applied the imprimatura layer, which is a light olive tonal wash made with flake white, yellow ochre, lamp black, prussian blue, and burnt umber. It's thinned with a medium of about 8 parts turpentine to 2 parts damar gum.

I ended up applying it much like wood stain, brushing it on and then wiping it off with a paper towel. The goal was to make it the same value as my lightest light (excluding highlights.) This layer took a week to dry.

pre-order Nancy Campbell's newest devotional: Cheer Up!

2012-01-26T22:06:00.000-05:00

Isn't it pretty?!

Here's the design for the back cover and spine:

I can't wait to get my own copy! You know, I never would have guessed this painting would end up on the cover of a book way back when I was painting it, in that ambivalent year after I graduated high school, but wasn't admitting it. I was homeschooled my senior year, so I had (and exercised) the freedom be ambiguous about dates like that. My diploma actually says "2009" but I will always say I was in the graduating class of 2008.

That '08-'09 year I was involved with a Saturday morning class and also a club at Columbus College of Art and Design. I was reapplying to colleges, since the timing wasn't right the previous school year, what with my baby brother being born and all. I was writing papers and interviewed at Ohio U's Honor's Tutorial Program for Philosophy. Things could have been much different. It just goes to show you never know where things will end up.

Click here to head over to the web store.

perspective on materialism

2012-01-23T21:52:00.000-05:00

This video gave me a better perspective on materialism and reminded me how little we really need. Oh, if only you could see my room right now... though I will make sure you never do. Time for some serious clean-out.

p.s. Note to self: Figure out how to wear pants with skirts. Genius! Reminds me of the Vietnamese ao dai, which I have been really liking lately:

Credit: photos 1 & 2 photo 3

my fascination with Korean culture (plus a summer project idea)

2012-01-07T23:06:00.000-05:00

안녕하세요!

My next project! Summer possibly? Find the DIY instructions here.

I'd love to also have a table with a built-in burner for keeping pans warm,cooking, or making a pot of tea after dinner. Like this:

And actually these are pictures from a Korean restaurant!Coincidence? Speaking of which, I haven't been able to get used to the kimchi I made, however. I'm going to try some other recipes to see if I can use up all this kimchi I have in the fridge. I have also been invited over by our Korean neighbors to learn some other recipes, so I'll let you know if/when I do that.

I also just bought myself a New Years present. The firstseason of the Korean drama BoysOver Flowers* or 꽃보다 남자. I never spend money like this, but I'm pretty excitedanyway! My excuse? I'm starting two new paintings. My goal for 2012: 10portraits. Fighting!**

And while I paint I'll be listening to the Korean band SS501, with Kim Hyun Joong who also plays a lead role in Boys Over Flowers. Here's a song from them which is also on the show:

*I would rate these PG-13, for some of the content. As for enjoyability, if you actually watch these, do not be quick to judge. It took me until around the third episode to get into it.

**If you are not Korean and do not watch Korean TV, you will not get this.

Book Cover for Nancy Campbell

2011-12-30T15:17:00.000-05:00

Today we received the latest Above Rubies magazine, and look what I found! Nancy Campbell recently asked me to design the cover for her latest devotional book, and thankfully I was able to get it done it time to be advertised in the December issue.

Tomorrow you can preorder the book, and I strongly encourage you to do so. I mean, think how fabulous your nightstand will look with this on top! ;) Seriously though, Mrs. Campbell and Michelle Kauenhofen have provided so much encouragement through their work, and this is sure to bless you.

Now, to go work on the back cover...

p.s. Here are some of the designs (and titles) that didn't make the cut:

my december projects

2011-12-27T22:10:00.000-05:00

detail from an unfinished painting from the beginning of the month

catching up on my submission for the sketchbook project

my Christmas gift for my 3-year-old brother
(got the unfinished weapons here)

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the recipe I followed for my surprise dish for Christmas*

Hopefully January will see more productivity... only two months to get my show put together!

*Took some kimchi over to our Korean neighbors today. They said that while it was good, it was not traditional. This is probably due to the fact that I was very conservative with my flavorings and have not fermented it enough. They gave me some of theirs to try and I have to admit that theirs was better!

Gifts: free shipping on my art prints!

2011-12-15T15:20:00.001-05:00

It's not too late to order a print of one of my paintings for Christmas! In fact, from now through December 21st there is FREE SHIPPING! I will also be including a free 5x7 print as my gift to you.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/rachelrammfineart

Merry Christmas!
Love, Rachel

Misread

2011-12-09T10:55:00.001-05:00

If you want to be my friend
You want us to get along
Please do not expect me to
Wrap it up and keep it there
The observation I am doing could
Easily be understood
As cynical demeanor
But one of us misread

And what do you know
It happened again

A friend is not a means
You utilize to get somewhere
Somehow I didn't notice

Friendship is an end
What do you know
It happened again

How come no-one told me
All throughout history
The loneliest people
Were the ones who always spoke the truth
The ones who made a difference
By withstanding the indifference
I guess it's up to me now
Should I take that risk or just smile?

What do you know
It happened again
What do you know

Misread by Kings of Convenience

This song speaks truth. I've seen it.

If

2011-11-23T00:43:00.001-05:00

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you

But make allowance for their doubting too,

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,

If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings --nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much,

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling

Portrait of Lake: 7 layer method (part 4) Final

2011-11-10T17:07:00.001-05:00

I have a couple touch ups to make, but basically my final portrait of Lake is done! I worked on it so long, but didn't log my hours so I can only guess how long I worked on it. My best guess is somewhere around 160 hours.

You can still see some of the dead layer showing through the color layers.

My photo reference.

The finish.

To see some of the process, here are links to previous posts:

Umber & Dead Layers

First Color Layer
Color Layers
Finish

Other Versions:

One

Two

Commission: Anniversary Portrait

2011-10-26T14:36:00.000-04:00

I recently completed a portrait commissioned for a couple's 50th anniversary. It's in oils and is only 5"x7".

I started with a burnt umber value layer, then did a transparent color wash over top. Next I did several opaque layers, and finished with another transparent color wash for vibrancy.

My reference was a small picture (less than 2.5" diameter) on the invitation sent for the anniversary party. I took a picture of it, then brought it into photoshop to adjust the color and levels, and get it cropped exactly the way I wanted it for the painting.

There are some little things I wish I could change, but that's nothing new. Getting the likeness was tricky, but overall I'm happy! Email me if you'd like a portrait too, or head over to my website for more info!

"The Battle Sets In": Dallas Willard on Why We Don't Have Enough Time

2011-10-12T13:16:00.000-04:00

"Parenting and Spiritual Disciplines?" by Dallas Willard from Tree of Life Community on Vimeo.

Question: How do busy, overwhelmed parents (insert people if you're not a parent) find the time to focus on spiritual disciplines?

Some of Dallas Willard's answer:

"You have to say, 'I am going to figure this out.' There is a reason. A part of it is theological. You have to ask yourself questions like, does God ever give anyone too much to do? What do you think about that, see?

"Now, I'm inclined to think that he doesn't. So if I have too much to do, the question is, where did that come from? How about me. Why do I do that? Who am I trying to please? What are the desires I am following? That's where you have to find the time to begin to seriously look at the causes of your behavior.

"How can you accomplish what God wants you to accomplish? That means, among other things, how do you let Him into your life? But the temptation is just to work hard, and if there's a problem, the solution is work harder. And it's only by finding our way into life in the kingdom of God that we can begin to break the grip of that, and give God a chance to show up."

Watch the video to hear the rest!

For more on the issue of time, check out my post on The Tyranny of the Urgent.

Exerpts from "The Tyranny of the Urgent" by Charles E. Hummel

2011-10-11T11:18:00.001-04:00

"We all know what it is to go full speed for long hours, totally involved in an important task. The resulting weariness is matched by a sense of achievement and joy. Not hard work, but doubt and misgiving, produce anxiety as we review a month or year and become oppressed by the pile of unfinished tasks. We sense uneasily that we may have failed to do the important. The winds of people’s demands have driven us onto a reef of frustration. We confess, quite apart from our sins, “We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.”"

"The problem is that the important task rarely must be done today or even this week."

"Is there any escape from this pattern of living? The answer lies in the life of our Lord. On the night before He died, Jesus made an astonishing claim. In the great prayer of John 17 He said, “I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do” (verse 4). How could Jesus use the word “finished”? His three-year ministry seemed all too short."

"Here is the secret of Jesus’ life and work for God: He prayerfully waited for His Father’s instructions and for the strength to follow them."

"Donald Baillie says: “Jesus lived His life in complete dependence upon God, as we all ought to live our lives. But such dependence does not destroy human personality. Man is never so truly and fully personal as when he is living in complete dependence upon God. This is how personality comes into its own. This is humanity at its most personal.”"

"[God] impresses on our minds the assignments He want us to undertake. The need itself is not the call; the call must come from the God who knows our limitation. “The Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:13-14). It is not God who loads us until we bend or crack with an ulcer, nervous breakdown, heart attack, or stroke. These come from our inner compulsions coupled with the pressure of circumstances."

Steps to Take:

-daily quiet time praying

-prayerfully list priorities

-plan strategies for your priorities

-don't accept invitations right away, take a couple days to think and pray

-weekly spiritual inventory, evaluate the past, plan the future

-reserve most of one day per month to make long term plans

Know that Satan will try to keep you from your quiet praying/planning times.

"This is how Jesus succeeded. He did not finish all the urgent tasks in Palestine or all the things He would have liked to do, but He did finish the work which God gave Him to do."

Additional Quotes:

The good is often the enemy of the best.
-Unknown

It seems to me that perfection of means and confusion of goals seem to characterize our age.
-Albert Einstein

If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.

-Martin Luther

Read the entire essay here:

Tyranny of the Urgent online pdf

Brian Kershisnik: Painter

2011-09-24T22:53:00.000-04:00

"Young Astronomer"

"Many Reunions"

"Dancing on a Very Small Island"

www.kershisnik.com

There is something very beautiful about Brian Kershisnik's work, and it has something to do with the balance of humanity and dignity in his figures... but I can't seem to put it into words.

Adventure: Chesterton

2011-08-18T11:17:00.000-04:00

"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightlyconsidered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered."

G.K. Chesterton

6 1/2 Quiet Minutes

2011-08-09T21:48:00.002-04:00

Envy: because other people just seem to have it so much better

2011-07-25T17:09:00.004-04:00

She's perfect. Perfect face, perfect hair,perfect clothes. Even the way she talks and the things she does seem to be perfect. And I can't help wanting to be her.

He's perfect. Perfect style, perfectstrength, perfect humor. Even the way he talks and the things he does seem tobe perfect. And I can't help wantingto be with him.

Everyone has things they want, people they envy. (Is it a coincidence that they are usuallythe opposite of what we ourselvesare?) Worse, we can sometimes feelentitled to what we want, believing that we deserveit. At the root of it is the desire for our own way instead of God's. It's yetanother form of rebellion against our ultimate authority. In essence saying,"Well, if I were in charge, things would be different!"

As with all sin, it is a form of slavery, not freedom. It'sa burden we were never meant to carry. We were meant to be freely and happily content with who and where weare, through thankfulness to God for what he has given to us.

Instead of thinking, "Why shouldn't I have that?" we should bethinking, "Why should I havethat?" Really, why should I be charming or attractive? Why should I behealthy? Why should I have both my arms? Why should I have a home or a familyor an education at all? There is absolutely no reason why I shouldn't bedisfigured and homeless. No reason at all.

The question is: how can I glorify God with what I do have?Not, how can I get what I want, but howcan I enhance God's reputation as a great king by what I do with what he gaveme?

We don't need anything new to do this, but we do need to getrid of some things that are in the way. We don't have too little, but too much.

1. Disown what you have claimed, and claim no more. We are only stewards, it's time we stoppedacting like we own all this.

2. Abandon complaints, shoot them down with thankfulness. Trythanking God even for other peoples' things.

3. Dismiss your inner audience, to stand alone before thethrone. It is only God's opinion thatmatters, so only ask what he thinks.

And don't forget that we can't do any of this without God'shelp. He is the Heart Changer, and weare powerless without him by our side.

link up

Lake: 7 layer method (part 3) Color Layers

2011-07-20T20:34:00.001-04:00

Umber & Dead Layers

First Color Layer
Color Layers

Finish

Other Versions:

One

Two

Plein Air Paint-Out in Historic Dublin

2011-06-25T01:01:00.002-04:00

www.rachelramm.com/news

*UPDATE: I ended up getting second place in the painting contest!

Commission - "Michele's Cat : A Cityscape"

2011-06-02T17:54:00.001-04:00

My latest project was a custom piece. Here's the process:

First, the client sent me the picture he wanted me to use; it was a photo from his iPhone (left). I then took it into photoshop, lightened it, and increased the resolution for printing.

It's a good thing I lightened it, because it printed darker than what my computer screen showed. I printed it the exact dimensions of the canvas, and went to work sketching in the forms.

Then I began laying in the colors and working out the values.

I continued layering the colors and values, honing in on my focal point: the cat's face and the heart-shaped vine surrounding it.

And here is the finish! (many layers later)

I also had the privilege of framing the piece for my client.

It was a gift for someone, who (I was told later) cried when she opened it! It's little things like this that make the work just a little bit sweeter.

Giveaway Winner!

2011-05-11T08:18:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Random.org, the winner for the print giveaway is...
................................#38:

MAMA MOUSE 10

Yay!!! Congratulations, Mama Mouse 10! Send me your address and I'll ship your Tea and Oranges print asap!

And for those of you who did not win, thanks so much for participating!! There will be other opportunities to win in the future, but if you absolutely can't wait, head over to my shop and buy one!

editing the blog

2011-05-06T22:34:00.000-04:00

thanks for grace as i work on redesigning the blog!

love, rachel

Giveaway!

2011-04-28T14:13:00.007-04:00

Going along with my Ask the Grad article, here's a chance for one of you to win a free 8x10 photo print of your choice from my shop!

Mandatory entry: Go over to my photo prints page and see which print you would like if you won, then come back here and let me know your choice.

For additional entries:

Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect (1 entries; leave 1 comment)
"Like" Rachel Ramm Fine Art Facebook Page (2 entries; leave 2 comments)
Follow @rachel_ramm on Twitter (1 entries; leave 1 comment)

Giveaway ends Tuesday, May 10th at midnight, and the winner will be announced Wednesday.

Wish you could all win, but you know how that goes! :)

"The Short Cut": a landscape

2011-04-23T22:31:00.003-04:00

Here's the painting I ~~finished~~ this past week (actually I've been working on it some more):

Please click the images to better see the fun brushwork.

I still have to paint the sides :)

I used a photo reference I took out of the window of our van as we were driving through Hocking County, Ohio. This time I didn't use a value layer underpainting, just started with a quick sketch directly on the gray/white canvas. I loved the colors in the photo so it was relatively easy to put together. A nice break from the high-level concentration pieces I had been doing lately!

Done in oils with liquin. Took about a week and a half to complete.

Lake: 7 layer method (part 2) 1st Color Layer

2011-04-07T11:05:00.001-04:00

Now, I know this is looking really creepy, but that's the way it goes sometimes. I've just painted the shadows, and the light areas are still the dead layer. I used flake white, burnt umber, burnt sienna, transparent oxide red, cad yellow med, yellow ochre, ivory black and prussian blue.

I tried to do both the shadows and the light areas at the same time, but was getting them muddled together. I wiped off all I did of the lights and just stuck to the darks. If I really wanted to do both at once, I should have gotten different brushes and palettes for both to keep them separate.

Here you can see the umber layer underneath the dead layer.

Dust is always a problem. After a layer has dried, when I go to paint again I always oil out, rubbing the surface with linseed oil and scraping as much fuzz, brush hairs and other debris off as I can. I wipe excess oil off with a paper towel, but maybe I should try a lint-free cloth instead.

I love the shiny gloss of oil paintings. It's also crazy how different Lake's face looks from different angles. I'm always spinning either it or my head around to look at it as I'm working, as well as looking in a mirror to try to see with new eyes.

I will give the painting a week to dry before I start on coloring the light areas.

Umber & Dead Layers

1st Color Layer
Color Layers

Finish

Other Versions:

One

Two

Lake: 7 layer method (part 1) Umber and Dead Layers

2011-04-07T10:56:00.000-04:00

I started another version of Lake to try the 7 layer method. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of the drawing or umber layers, but I've posted about those before anyway. Here I'm putting on the "dead layer" which is a mixture of flake white and a dark green blue/grey made of yellow ochre, burnt umber, and prussian blue. Pretty much I'm matching the tones to my umber layer, but the darks should be a step darker and the lights a step lighter.

It's really fun watching the transformation.

Here you can see a close up of the paint. Now, this is just my first dead layer; I ended up doing two more: the next to make this layer thicker and more uniform, and the one after to lighten it since I went too dark as you can see in the next photo:

Again, I don't have photos of the final dead layer - sorry! Next I'll post the beginnings of the first color layer.

Umber & Dead Layers

First Color Layer
Color Layers

Finish

Other Versions:

One

Two

Finding Time to Create

2011-03-21T11:47:00.015-04:00

It is no secret that creating something, whether painting, sculpting, scrapbooking, cooking, decorating or whatever (you fill in the blank) takes time - the more the better. It is also no secret that finding that time is as difficult as picking up the house while a two year old is still running around. Not only are there physical and practical difficulties, there are also psychological and moral difficulties as well. Sometimes it's easy to think that even if we could fight for the time, maybe we shouldn't. After all, isn't spending time with family more important? Isn't doing that extra load of laundry more important? Isn't catching up on email more important? etc. etc.

Edwin Austin Abbey

We all tend to do what we really care about. What we do reveals where our priorities are, whether we'd verbally admit them or not. And when we do not consciously order our priorities, then often they will be decided by subconscious desires, fears, habits and assumptions. Here are some false beliefs I have found in myself:

1. If I'm having fun, then I'm not working.

Why does work have to be a bad thing? Just like "healthy" food is assumed to be less tasty than dessert, "work" or "chores" are assumed to be less enjoyable than play. Really, though, the best play is work, because it's much more satisfying. So if work can be play, conversely, play can be work. That is, not all play is unproductive.

For me that translates into sketching or reading good books, that normally I might feel guilty about doing anytime during the day when I'm supposed to be "working". The result is that I simply do not get much sketching or reading done, and I catch myself thinking "I wish I had more time to practice drawing and read."

Arthur Hughes

2. I am needed for too much to just stop and create art.

This one is actually two lies in one. I have found that the first one, sorry to say, often has to do with a need for control and getting our own way.

We think that if we let someone else do something, then it won't be done as well as we would have done it. Maybe you could let your 6 year old daughter do the dishes for you, but you know you'd have to take some time to teach her, and know that she'd make a mess doing it. You also wouldn't be sure that she got everything clean or that it'd be put away in the right (aka your habitual) places. There's a little laziness in here too, but just focusing on the control issue, try to think, "would it really be so bad if the dishes weren't perfectly clean?" The important thing is that your daughter (or whoever) is learning , and you have to trust that she will get better with practice. Or maybe, just maybe, their way could be even better than your way. Stranger things have happened.

Trust that the house won't fall apart without you and don't equate a messy house with "falling apart". It just means it's clean up time.

Lord Frederick Leighton

The second lie has to do with a devaluing of art and creation in general. You are essentially saying that art is not important, but if that's true, why do we have such a deep desire for it? It is part of our humanness as created in the image of God to also create things: beautiful things of which we can say,

"It is good."

Animals care only for utility and even the beautiful feathers of tropical birds are only used as part of their mating ritual. As humans, we absolutely cannot and ought not value things only according to their practical usefulness. Which leads me to the next lie...

3. If I do something for myself, then I'm being selfish.

We are soul as well as body, and we "live not by bread alone." Too often though, our minds are completely filled with "bread alone": planning dinner, getting the kids to practice, paying the bills, coupons, laundry, dishes, school work, and on holidays focus only on the material side and not the "holy" side. Of course none of that is bad, and is also very necessary. The problem is the "alone" part.

As for selfishness, you are not being selfish when you eat dinner with the family, and you are not being selfish when you pursue your hobbies along with the rest of the family. To continue with that metaphor, you would be selfish to keep the whole dinner to yourself, or eat the entire dessert without sharing, and you would be selfish to devote your whole day to your hobby or use all the extra family money on your craft.

Believe me. Your family will actually admire you for developing your skills and be proud of your talent. They will look up to your example of temperance in leading a life with a healthy balance of common necessities and uncommon creativity, of a body full of soul.

The feeding of your soul through creativity will refresh you and give you a better perspective to be better able to deal with life's little difficulties. When pursued in a healthy way, it should help you to be more patient, kind, and considerate of others. And that's not selfish at all.

John Singer Sargent

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God's judgment is not the worst thing that can happen to you: thoughts on suffering

2011-03-19T09:26:00.006-04:00

J.M.W. Turner

Discipline is not the worst thing that can happen to you. God's judgment is not the worst thing that can happen to you. The absolute worst thing that can happen to someone is to be a complete failure as a human being: utterly selfish and corrupt, incapable of any kind word or action that doesn't benefit themselves, unable to experience any kind of true love, only lust.

The physical, emotional or circumstantial suffering we undergo as discipline is the lesser of the two evils, lasting only temporarily, correcting and refining our souls which are eternal.

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11

Righteousness (though a word burdened negative associations) is the fulfillment of our human purpose and thus true joy, hope and peace. This is not just wishful-feel-good rhetoric. It is the way the world works. Experiment with it yourself. For one day, try being mean and selfish with people, lie to them, and steal their things. Forget annoying social norms of politeness and just be yourself. Then, the next day try being kind, generous, considerate of others, and gracefully honest. Decide for yourself which is the better way.

Trouble is, we and our world are not what they were created to be, and so we need help in order to do the right things. We have been broken and need to be fixed. So we enroll in God's training program ("become His disciple" in Biblical terms, or, since that has lost its meaning, try "become His apprentice.") God wants us to succeed and have the best life possible, plus an amazing future we haven't even dreamed of, and he'll do whatever it takes to get us there. The fact is, we have to rely on God's strength to make any progress, so if we're relying on ourselves too much, doing things on our own, then he's probably going to make it so that you can't rely on your own strength by taking it away. He will make you sick physically in order to cure you spiritually.

In that case, cancer isn't the worst thing that could happen to you, it's the best.

Does that mean that we have to be thankful for suffering? NO!! If there was any other way, I'm sure God would use it. Remember God is love. Not feel-good-pretend-everything's-okay love, but the kind that would send his only son to die, would suffer agony on a cross, would break your heart in order to make it into something more beautiful and yet would comfort you the entire time. It is Him we are to be thankful for, knowing that He loves us. He loves us.

"...he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

"In that day you will say: “I will praise you, LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me." Isaiah 12:1

"Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones." Isaiah 49:13

Order Prints!

2011-03-17T08:41:00.011-04:00

I have a new shop on my website where (finally) you can snag a print of one of my paintings. I'm wide open to any feedback you may have - I want what you want and I know you want some awesome art for your lonely blank walls ;)

My latest and greatest tea cup painting is available too:

Please stop by and tell all your friends, and while you're at it, become a fan of my facebook page too!

RETHINKING: "Rethinking the 'Gift' of Singleness"

2011-03-06T18:09:00.003-05:00

After discussing the previous article with my dad this afternoon, I now have the need to make some corrections. Foremost is Debbie Maken's explanation of 1 Corinthians 7 and her dismissal of it as an argument in favor of singleness. I now believe that it is incorrect to attribute Paul's preference of singleness merely to the distressing times the early Christians were living in, especially when he himself gives other reasons for it.

Before you read anymore, it would probably be best to go ahead and read the passage in its entirety, just so it's fresh in your mind ---> 1 Corinthians 7

As you can see it is fairly straightforward. Verses 1-7 state that the church at Corinth had wrote to Paul about whether the Christians should get married. Paul replies that it is better to remain single, however, if there is immorality in the church (which there was) then, he concedes, it is better to be married. Verse 7 ends by saying that people have different gifts: some for marriage and some for singleness. Then there is an interesting distinction between "commands from the Lord" and Paul's own personal opinions.

Therefore, it is Paul's opinion that it is best to remain unmarried because:

(a) he wants to spare them the troubles that they will have in life if they marry (verse 28)

(b) those who have a spouse must concern themselves with how to please both their spouse and God, instead of God alone (verses 32-34)

(d) to promote what is appropriate (prevent immorality) and secure unnecessary distraction from serving God (prevent marriage where there is no desire for it) (verse 35 cont.)

(e) in his opinion people will be happier and better off in general so long as they do not struggle with self control. (verses 37-40)

Also within this passage, Paul states that it is good for people to remain in whatever state they are in; if married that is good, if unmarried that is good. If "burning with passion" then marry, if not, don't. If you marry, that is good, if you don't you'll do better.

Therefore, for Ms. Maken to say that Paul's message to not marry was because of the distressing times " to convey expediency, nothing more", is simply false. Not only that, but she does an injustice to the people who earnestly seek to follow the Bible's teachings and choose singleness according to Paul's guidelines. In light of Paul's actual words, we should be able to rest in the knowledge that we do not have to struggle to do God's will. If God's has given some the desire for marriage they are free to fulfill those desires, likewise if the desire is absent they needn't force themselves into it as a "duty" as the article says.

However, I think the hardest part about this topic is not figuring out what Paul really meant (though it is gravely important that we correctly interpret the Bible!) The trouble is that in our current society, we have many people engaging in immorality, "burning with passion" and not utilizing marriage as the only proper vehicle for those passions. Those people need to be married and to see marriage as a good thing. Also, we seem to have a faulty dating system where many who desire marriage are unable to find a spouse, and as Ms. Maken correctly says, much of this has to do with prolonged adolescence and the inability of men to take initiative (though it probably was women who scared them into paralysis.) Those people ought to be married, but are forced into a singleness they perhaps were not made for.

Conclusion? You can't be too careful of what you read, or let one idea so capture your imagination that it is blown past the realm of truth into the realm of excess.

"Rethinking the 'Gift' of Singleness" by Debbie Maken

2011-03-03T19:04:00.008-05:00

*Click here to read the follow-up to this post for an exploration of the goodness of singleness as well*

It's so sad that we've collectively lost the vision for marriage. The first time I realized its wonderful purpose was when I went to the Summit worldview conference two summers ago and heard John Stonestreet talk on it. I was so privileged to hear him speak again at the Mid-West Home School Convention last year, and can't wait to hear him again when I go back to Summit with my brother this summer :)

I found this article on Stacy McDonald's blog, but it's actually from the Boundless webzine. It just hit the mark so well in diagnosing both secular society and Christian society's faulty views on singleness and marriage that I had to post it on my blog too. Here are some excerpts:

Is singleness really a "gift"? Singles live in a time when their church leaders and friends have told them that their state of singleness should be considered a "gift" from the Lord, a special time to devote themselves to spiritual work. Bumper sticker flattery is routinely used to justify prolonging the single years. Perhaps it's time to ask whether singleness in general — specifically protracted singleness (apart from "celibate service") — has much historical or biblical legitimacy.

...

Even as late as the 1950s, the bachelor was considered a freak for he had avoided the mantle of adulthood in taking on the responsibilities of a wife and family. He was considered "eccentric," a "late bloomer," a man who never really could prove he was a man. An unwed woman was pitied in terms such as "old maid," for she had been the victim of poor opportunities in the unrelenting passage of time. And a few women were rightly considered "spinsters," for their actions had frustrated any potential suitors.

Now, compare those beliefs to what singles are told today. "God is your husband." "Bloom where you are planted." "There are plenty of ministries you can help with during this time." "Be content." "Make the desire of your heart Jesus, not marriage." The desire for marriage has been placed on a collision course with the desire for God, the One Who made marriage in the first place. With this kind of pitting, singles are often reduced to extolling singleness, much like a witch having the grace to drown to prove innocence. In the same vein, these messages dissuade young men from seeking marriage because of the false validation they receive for embarking on the less taxing challenges of mere service activities.

...

Head over here to read the rest!

*Painting by Marcus Stone: "Two's Company, Three's None"

Cozy Cottage: Finish

2011-02-07T15:40:00.007-05:00

fun fact: The highlight you see in the dog's eye is not white paint, it's actually light reflecting off a big glob of black! No, I'm not clever enough to have thought of that on my own. It was sheer accident --a mistake even! -- but I'm sure I'll employ it in the future.

prints ~~will be available soon~~ are now available:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/rachelrammfineart

see the painting's beginning

"Fabulous February" art show!

2011-02-01T17:01:00.005-05:00

Yep, another show! Here's the blurb from my website:

I have two pieces up at the High Road Gallery in Worthington as part of “Fabulous February” for the Dublin Area Art League! The gallery is a historic house off of High Street, and has a lot of really interesting pieces right now. It’s worth the visit!

Also, the reception for the show is this Sunday from 2-4. Stop by for refreshments, chatting with artists, voting for the peoples’ choice award, and of course all the great art.

Hope to see you there!

*2/7 edit: The reception was WONDERFUL! The whole show is very well done, the venue is very nice, the art varied and interesting, and the reception had a great turn out. Thanks to everyone who stopped by, and if you didn't make it (that means you, mes parents :) you still have the rest of the month to visit. The gallery is open Wed-Fri 12-4 and Sat 11:30-4.

The Sketchbook Project: FINISHED!

2011-01-14T18:20:00.006-05:00

I finally finished and mailed in my submission for The Sketchbook Project and I'm so glad I did this! It forced me to draw more (something I'm seriously lazy about) and in the process I learned more about drawing faces and hands and just about presentation in general. Also, I got a huge sense of satisfaction from creating this book. I took out the pages and rebound it with my own card stock that I could paint and erase furiously on, and I like the earthy kraft paper texture and look. I painstakingly filled it with my own creations. But the most rewarding thing was the cover. I got the inspiration from an old Pilgrim's Progress reprint cover, and created the two figures entirely on my own without references (well ...almost!) and am so happy with how it turned out!

The theme I chose out of the given ones for The Project was "The Greatest Story Ever Told", which ended up being a stumbling block for me, because it made me want to write a story and illustrate it and I couldn't think of anything to write - let alone the "greatest ever told" (I overthink things - I know) Well, I'd been (and am still) doing a sort of experiment with trusting God. So many times, over and over He tells us not to worry (Mat. 6:25,34; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11; etc) but to "cast your cares on Him" and "lean not on our own understanding" and "put your trust in Him" so I've been trying this idea out.

Therefore when I was completely at a loss as to what to do for the cover and wasn't too thrilled with the whole thing in general, I said, "Lord, I can't do this on my own - I have nothing, but I have to get this done. Please, do this for me; let me just be your tool to use to create something beautiful." After that I noticed that my freshly rebound book wasn't closing, so I got the biggest book I could find on my shelves and set it on top to weigh it down. It was the Pilgrim's Progress book.

I ended up getting so excited about the storybook theme that I gathered quotes from some of my favorite fairy tales and folk tales and sprinkled them throughout the book. I would love to do something like this again; maybe this will be the beginning of a new era of sketching diligence!

p.s. please click the photos to enlarge - they look so much better bigger :)

Listen: Windsor Airlift

2011-01-05T15:07:00.004-05:00

Windsor Airlift

[Thanks Reagan for finding this!!]

Ambient/Experimental project by Adam Young (the genius behind Owl City)

Besides being a sensory treat the music also encourages serious reflection as occasionally songs will feature voice clips such as one addressing the social implications of evolution ("Camera Blizzard") and a speech by Ronald Reagan after the Challenger shuttle tragedy ("A Lovely Wedding Snow & Sky").

Very beautiful and thoughtful, and definitely worth checking out:

http://www.myspace.com/windsorairlift

It's been a long time

2010-12-29T23:25:00.004-05:00

Currently I'm working on a warm and cozy cottage scene.

I started with a sketch in burnt sienna, but made the mistake of thinning with liquin, which can't be erased (once dry.) I should have used turp but at the time I actually wasn't planning on using a multilayer technique. Live and learn! The first picture is the sketch plus a transparent color layer. I still have a lot of layers to go, getting my value range set and finishing up with a few opaque layers.

As far as the drawing goes, I made the mistake of copying the camera distortion in my reference photo. Instead of going my what I knew of perspective I copied what I saw... BAD. That and the bookshelves are falling backwards and the curtain rod is tilting, but don't worry! Those parts at least are already fixed (photos to come.)

*finish*

--------------------------------------------------------------

So the reason I haven't posted in a while is that I had a virus that then turned into pneumonia and was sick for a month. That and the holidays... and inertia. Oh boy. And yes that is an actual photo of all my meds (minus the first set of antibiotics that had no effect on my illness whatsoever) :(

Here's a sketch I did while I was still in bed recuperating. Later (as in yesterday) I inked it and I'll post pictures in my next post along with a few other recent (as in yesterday's) drawings. For now this is the best I can do!

Sketchbook Project: leg anatomy

2010-10-21T15:43:00.002-04:00

http://arthousecoop.com/users/ofloveandbeauty

Full Length Portrait of Erin

2010-10-12T20:11:00.004-04:00

I've been wanting to do a full-length portrait for a while now, and it's about time I did a piece with my OTHER sister for a model!

The sketch was done in pencil first, and now I'm going over it in more detail with watercolor pencil. I'd never done that before, but I really like it because it's so forgiving and has a nice effect with the blending.
The dress she's wearing actually isn't a dress; it's just pieces of scrap fabric pinned together to look like a dress. Included in the piece is the quilt our grandma made her when she was born (she made each of us one), paper and sissors because she's always inventing things with them, and a bible because she really has a heart for the Word, and a sensitivity for right and wrong.

It is 24"x36"

*I'm not finished with this step... I know Erin looks too young and there are other problems that I am fixing!! Drawing/painting is just a series of problems which are my job to fix :)

finally finished

2010-08-29T20:36:00.004-04:00

the beginning

This week's paintings

2010-08-28T21:52:00.004-04:00

This was supposed to be a gesture but I wanted too much to get the likeness, so I brought it more to a finish - not a complete finish, but a finish.

One of my favorite paintings thus far, perhaps because the subject matter and colors are so true to myself and what I love:

I also love rearranging furniture and solving interior design problems, so in order to help me think through our family room I did this painting (the large painting is one I've already started for my mom, long promised, long in the making, and long put off as I work on other things):

Before (pardon the mess):

After (bonus: can you find the child hidden in each picture ;):

Here's a self-portrait the I finally started after taking the reference photo a year or two ago:

I wanted to portray five different elements of myself: 1. art (obviously) 2. my love of historical design (fashion, architecture, etc.) 3. my handy-(wo)man side (evidenced in the paint bucket) 4. my home-rootedness (laundry hanging) and 5. I simply wanted to record the actual place of my work - now of course, my studio looks completely different! Now, I know this isn't the best portrayal of these traits - after only a year+ my thinking has changed, however I like the overall composition.

productively painting

2010-08-21T20:54:00.005-04:00

I have been very productive (for me) painting, but negligent with blogging, therefore I have a lot to catch up on!

Here is a(nother) tea cup painting:

I fixed Boreas a bit, still not great, but not as hideous as before:

Tried the Waterhouse technique on my Portrait of Lake. I'm not going to bring it to completion any time soon as I've already learned a good amount from it and want to try yet another technique. At any rate, I should wait a few weeks to let the paint set up more. Lots of soft thin layers and transparent shadows.

The still life I'm currently working on:

Based on a photo I found:

Self-portrait I'm working on:

The perspective is looking up simply because this was the most convenient place to position my mirror. I'm afraid in all my self-portraits I look like a villain - I wonder if that is revealing some deep subconscious level of my soul... ;)

Just for fun: a photo of Kathleen I took at my brothers' football scrimmages using one of my favorite methods: not looking through the viewfinder, just holding the camera out and seeing what it takes :)

Fantastic Mr. Fox - LOVE IT!

2010-08-08T21:31:00.004-04:00

The latest movie added to my absolute favorite list!!! :) Love everything from the art and music to the voices, plot, and humor...love love love.

Waterhouse Boreas: Update #1

2010-07-25T20:53:00.006-04:00

Okay, so it turned out that the dimensions of my Boreas copy were too small so that her face was too tiny to work in the manner described in the video I'm following :( Therefore, I'm doing an 8" x 10" painting of just her head: The verdacio layer went really well...

The transparent color layer was even better...

... but the opaque layers crashed and burned!! Okay, maybe not that bad, but I completely lost the previous layers and majorly distorted the likeness. I also know now why you aren't supposed to go so dark in your verdacio and transparent layers: the idea is to create to exact value of your shadows with your verdacio so that you don't have to touch them with opaque paints!!!!! The opaque paint should only go in your light areas, half tones I still have to figure out. In my defense I did follow the video instructions fairly well, and the instructor used opaques in the shadows albeit very thinly. Thing is, her girl doesn't look like Waterhouse's either.

Anyway, this failed painting was a successful exercise as I have learned much about layering!!! I think I'll try again :)

p.s. As much as I love Waterhouse's models, the faces of all his women, it's not at all what I am used to! It makes getting a likeness very difficult since I'm not used to these proportions, namely the relative smallness of the eyes and forehead compared to the rest of the face and especially the chin.

Kathleen Tea Cup Painting

2010-07-12T10:41:00.008-04:00

Here's what I've been working on in the studio

My reference photo

I started it on a whim... okay, a vent for a bad mood really :) Because of that, I don't have any pictures of the beginning stages. In fact, her face looked completely different for a while; what you're seeing is really the second or third face.

Here's the first hand. I had Mary Cassatt's brushwork in mind when I was doing it, trying to emphasize the form and mass of the fingers, hand and arm. I'm trying to work in little tiles of color instead of blending.

And here's the second. My foremost critic on whom I completely rely and without whom I would have given up a long time ago (my dad) however, pronounced the right hand "chunky" (guess I over-did the whole "emphasizing form" thing) so I will be redoing that one. Also, the left hand (underneath the saucer) is proportionally too big for the other hand. I'll have to redo that one too.

At the suggestion of my aunt, I've been trying to think of something to put on her sleeve to create a triangle of focal points in order for viewers' eyes to better move around the whole canvas: her face, the tea cup and her sleeve. I wiped out the arm band after taking this picture... thought it looked too mythological for the piece. I was thinking of the Lady of Shalott Waterhouse painting when I put the arm band in...

...but I just didn't think it worked. Of course my critic knew at once without my telling him that it had been this painting I was thinking of :) and he had actually liked it. Maybe I can do a medieval painting sometime in the future. I'm now thinking of adding some kind of embroidery/print for the sleeve that matches the design on the tea cup.

Here's the finish

p.s. All comments, suggestions, questions and constructive criticisms are welcome! :)

Waterhouse painting technique: Boreas

2010-07-10T18:25:00.004-04:00

For one of my painting exercises, I am copying this painting by J.W. Waterhouse:

Now, this picture is off the Art Renewal Center's website, and is what I wanted the painting to look like. I then ordered my print from there since the colors on AllPosters.com didn't look right.

This is what it looked like when it arrived. Not the purple tones I was expecting, but warm oranges! But look at the cover of the instructional dvd... very blue! One painting, but so different depending on where you're viewing it. They probably even look different on your screen than mine. The print was shipped the next day, and nicely done, so I'm not upset with ARC :) Maybe this really is what the orginal painting looks like?

Here is the first stage of the process: the gridded sketch. You can see the dvd I'm working from in the back right, and my print with gridded plexiglas to the left. The dvd is by Johnnie Liliedahl, and I've gotten five dvds from this company so far, and really love them. I taped the sides of my canvas in order to get the dimensions of the original painting. I should have taken it off after the sketch though, and just continued, but now I may have to re-stretch the canvas smaller, or just do those parts separately.

Next stage is the verdacio or greenish-gray value painting. The dvd uses phthalo green and ivory black, but I just used phthalo blue and transparent yellow oxide with ivory black. The key at this stage and in the next is to keep all colors transparent.

Lighter values are created by simply wiping away with a clean rag or brush. Paint is thinned with turpentine to keep transparent and fluid.

Next comes the first color layer, still keeping all transparent paints:

Ultramarine blue, transparent red oxide, transparent yellow oxide, rose madder/alizarin crimson and ivory black. All the values you see are from the verdacio underpainting. The colors are simply thinly washed over top - but NO turpentine. Turp is a solvent that keeps the paint from binding to the canvas. It is good for your underpainting so you can lift out your values, but in top layers it will make for an "under-bound" painting, not archivally safe.

If you need to thin your paints (remember you need them transparent) use liquiglaze or some other glazing medium. I'm using liquin, but honestly am unsure about it. Fat over lean says more medium/oil with more layers, but I know I'll be putting pure opaque paint out of the tube on some of the final layers. Fat over lean never ceases to confuse me!

The next steps will involve more color layers and using opaque paints only on the final layers and the only in the light passages. This is one big difference between old v. modern paintings: old artists kept their darks thin and transparent, while making lights opaque and thick. One critic is legend to have said of Rembrandt, "You can pick up his portraits by the nose!" Since often the greatest highlights are found on the nose! Modern artists (impressionists through today's artists)however, are more concerned with color temperature than opaque v. transparent, and will use opaque colors all over.

Stay tuned for the finish... right now I have to finish another painting, and I'll be posting about that one next.

Update: My canvas turned out to be too small for the method the dvd uses. I'm going to have to start over on a bigger canvas. Live and learn!

A Happy Customer

2010-07-07T21:49:00.006-04:00

The t-shirts were for my uncle (2nd from left) and his brothers and their motorcycling trip through the Smoky Mountains.

The finished products before being shipped.

Final word: You are only as good as your supplies. Plain and simple. The amount of difficulty or ease you have printing t-shirts is directly proportional to your equipment, and your equipment quality depends on the amount of money you have to spend. Consider yourself warned.

Upside is the awesome results (if I do say so myself!) There's nothing like taking a project from concept to creation with your own hands. Also, it does get easier with practice. My advice would be to start with a simpler one-color one-layer designs, sell them (on etsy) and use the profits to buy the equipment for multi-layer printing. Then you'll really be in business!

Part One

Photo Emulsion Screen Printing T-Shirts

2010-05-31T09:12:00.010-04:00

*UPDATE! I just found out that you can't layer the ink :( Ignorance is NOT bliss.

Concept designs:Final design:

Set up for exposing the emulsion plus finished screens:

Exposing the emulsion - 150w lamp with pie tin reflector, attached to a ladder and wood blocks to get the correct height for the screen size (this particular screen is 12"x18" and so requires 15" of height.) The screen is coated with light sensitive emulsion, and has a transparency on top held down with a piece of glass. The image is backwards since I'm exposing it on the back. There is a piece of black foam board underneath to keep light from reflecting back up. For this brand of emulsion and this lamp height I exposed it for 1hr and 14min:

Transparencies (courtesy of Staples) and screens with test t-shirt, jars of ink, and shirts waiting to be printed on:

Three stages - transparency, screen, and shirt:

My littlest brother trying to help put the lamp back together... the only thing he succeed in doing was losing a washer :)
Now I'm on the printing stage, and am learning by trial and error all the complexities involved with that... I believe this is the hardest part of the whole process. It'll all work out though! (and I will be an expert at the end!)

Part Two

Singing the Psalms: Worship in Harmony

2010-05-03T22:31:00.003-04:00

Before Thee Let My Cry Come Near

Absolutely beautiful to hear, plus they have music books so you learn how to sing in four-part harmony too.

http://www.worshipinharmony.com/

Women in Art Video (plus oil painting mediums)

2010-04-22T14:56:00.005-04:00

For fun and inspiration.

Also, for a great reference on everything you ever wanted to know about all the different types of painting mediums (and varnishes), watch the Johnnie Liliedahl series on youtube. There are 23 episodes, one for each kind of medium, each only a few minutes long. Here's the one about turpentine:

What Type are You?

2010-03-31T11:03:00.005-04:00

I gave up online quizes a long time ago, but this one was fun:

http://www.pentagram.com/what-type-are-you/

I am Pistilli Roman:

I got this off of a blog a found the other day, which I LOVE: http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/

It has lots of really nice craft ideas plus tons of free downloads.

And I got to that blog from www.BeautyFromtheHeart.org :)

free \\i n d i e// art!

2010-03-24T23:06:00.007-04:00

Just found this little gem today and thought I'd share: http://www.indiefixx.com/

On the main page on the left is a light blue blinkie that says "feed your soul" and that's where you get to the free downloads :D

You'll ALSO find artist interviews with glimpses into their sketch books and studios

It's inspired me to make some indie drawings - we'll have to see how that goes ;)

What I've Been Doing Lately (Part 2)

2010-03-06T21:48:00.007-05:00

My studio redesign is on pause and I am painting again! I have had two successes and one failure. Here are the successes ;)

A copy of part of Gilbert Stuart's George Washington Lansdowne portrait:

An underpainting-like portrait of my brother Lake:

I used only a single mixture of cadmium red, yellow ochre, and ultramarine blue (for their lean quality) and varried values merely by varrying the pressure of a stiff bristle brush.

Here is the painting in progress:

Both are in oil.

"You're so condescending!"

2010-02-24T20:36:00.005-05:00

My brother told me that today. "I've finally found your weakness: you're so condescending!"

"I just see things!," I retorted defensively, "When I see things, I talk about them. I think everyone should do better, and they can do better!"

He was right. I'm sorry to say I do tend to get too caught up with what I see everyone else doing wrong. However much I "see things", I end up massacring everyone around me as I bludgeon them with criticism. I am not merciful. I may forget, but I never forgive.

Maybe I read too many books where the good guys are always good. Bad things only happen because the bad guys did them. After all, once they're dead everyone else lives happily ever after. The only faults the good guys have, perhaps, are virtues taken too far:, keeping quiet to protect a friend when they should have told someone (Molly in Wives and Daughters), seeing bad traits and assuming the person is bad (Pride and Prejudice), the hero letting the villain go when he should have killed him (lots of examples), etc. etc.

In real life the good guys often have much more obvious habitual faults, such as neglecting certain responsibilities, getting overly defensive over small matters, depression, ill-temper, lack of awareness of others, etc. Most people have a combination of faults and virtues that manifest themselves in different ways at different times with different people. It's not as simple as good guys versus bad guys.

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." (Luke 6:37)

Did Jesus go around correcting people, pointing a finger saying "Shame on you!"? No! He said, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matthew 4:17), and "Come, follow me," (Matthew 4:19). He built people up instead of tearing them down. He gave even the most hopeless people a chance, readily forgiving, eager to show mercy.

Who am I to criticize?

Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"

Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.

"When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.

"But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.

"So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.'

"And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.

"But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.'

"So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.'

"But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.

"So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.

"Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.

'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?'

"And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.

"My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."

(Matthew 18: 21-35)

*p.s. the painting is called "Pout" and is by Maria Pace-Wynters, a mixed media artist with beautiful art. Blog. Etsy. Website.

What I've been doing lately (part 1)

2010-02-16T09:25:00.010-05:00

I'm almost done with phase one of my art studio redesign, and it's about time I blogged about it.

Of course the first thing I had to do was clean out my stuff: I never realized how much of a burden "stuff" could be!

Usually, if I don't know whether to get rid of something, I'll think, "Well, it's not doing any harm by staying. Who knows? Maybe I'll use it later." And sometimes I do use things later. Most of the doll furniture I make my sisters is made from old packaging and things like that.

But it's so much more freeing, so much more comfortable to have less - no matter how organized it is.The tables are 2'x8' and are bar height. Each is 1/2 of a 3/4" mdf sheet. I painted them the same color as the walls (Nomadic Desert by Sherwin Williams) and then applied several layers of a dark chocolate glaze (Black Bean by Sherwin Williams mixed with "Illusions Faux Glaze") which gives the effect of wood:
I finished it off with three coats of polyurethane to protect it. I still have to add trim to the edges, and also put a shelf up on the wall, about 6-8" deep to keep my supplies off my working area. Then I'll be done with phase one!

Phase two involves painting all the baseboards and door trim white (which I've already taken off), and installing a ceiling light (including running wires - but my grandpa will do that!)

Phase three is installing a wood-looking laminate floor (pastel dust and paint just doesn't clean up well with carpet) and putting up crown moulding. The crown moulding isn't just for me (though I love it!), but for practice so I will know how to do it in the rest of the house.

On my shopping list is white curtains, white ceiling medallion, white Grecian bust, green topiaries, a stool with a back (and maybe armrests), and a chaise lounge for under the window, plus pillows.

Yes all this is costly, but it's my vision, and certainly will not come about all at once. So far I've spent only $145 for everything - for wood, mdf, glaze, polyurethane and paint. I have a budget and I know how to use it!

I don't have time to post the rest right now, so stay tuned for part 2 :)

a music player and the Black Beauty soundtrack

2010-02-09T20:24:00.006-05:00

FYI: I just put a music player at the bottom of this blog. I have instrumental soundtrack stuff on there now (which I love) but I must say I was terribly disappointed that I couldn't get anything from the Black Beauty or Secret Garden soundtracks!! I just couldn't have a blog devoted to all my favorite things without the Black Beauty soundtrack, so here it is :)

p.s. I don't actually own the soundtrack ~~(or the movie)~~ yet, so if any of you ever want to send me a gift...*wink*

Zack Arias: Photographer

2010-02-05T08:12:00.018-05:00

This Tuesday I went and heard a talk by an amazing photographer. However, it wasn't so much about photography as his journey to become a photographer. His bio is really a powerful lesson in how we are to use our gifts. Basically, in high school and college Arias had no direction, and couldn't find a purpose or a goal for his life. Then, just to earn some credits, he took a photography class and finally found something he loved and was good at.
He threw himself into photography and marketing his work. He was passionate and ambitious, wanting people to know his name and to be one of the greats of his time. Unfortunately, he "sacrificed my family on the alter of photography" and ended up with a divorce, half custody of his kids, and the failure of his free-lance business while up to his ears in debt.
He picked up a job at Kinko's just to pay the bills and ended up pawning all of his photo equipment one by one to help him get by. He was at an all time low, but for the first time he finally had his priorities in the right order: family first.
Then, one day his photographer friend asked him if he'd like to be a second shooter at a wedding he was doing. Aries' response was, "I don't even own a camera any more." But his friend offered to buy him one for the occasion.
This was the beginning of his work with weddings and portraits (jobs he would have scoffed at in his more ambitious days) Arias described it as finally being able to breathe after being under water. "It was as if God said, 'You've done what I asked you to do, gone where I wanted you to go - now you can have your photography back.'"
He was back in photography, but now it wasn't about him, it was about providing for his family and paying off his debts. Instead of going only for the artistic jobs, he took every job he could find on Craig's List. Instead of playing the part of the snobby temperamental artist, "I take the role of servant with clients."
Now he is very successful with a business that has zero debt. He also teaches workshops, which usually sell out months in advance. Here's a few random notes I took during his talk:

-While a C student in high school, teachers would tell him he's not meeting his full potential. He would ask, "Full potential for what?"

-After dropping out of college he took a road trip around the country. During his travels he met a man who told him that he wouldn't "find himself" on his trip. "You'll find out who you're not."

-Arias considered that road trip his first "success" as it was the first time he actually did something he said he would.

-He learned that it's not worth it to try and impress people - it doesn't work. Just being honest and genuine will attract people.

-"Creating things is hard. God did it for six days and was like, 'I need a break!'"

-The quality of a great photographer is tenacity. The job description should be problem solver.

-People are creatures of habit: if you miss a photo moment - a facial expression or gesture - wait, and they'll probably do it again.

-Learn to use the equipment you have before buying more. You should know what the photo is going to look like with particular lenses before you even look through the viewfinder.

-"I usually over think everything." I know I've created a piece of art when different people look at it an take away different meanings.

http://www.zarias.com/

http://www.onelightworkshop.com/

http://dedpxl.com/

Escape Pod Crash in Kacife: illustration for my brother's book

2010-01-08T20:40:00.002-05:00

digital painting - photoshop - 2 weeks

Video Interviews with Dallas Willard

2010-01-03T18:58:00.002-05:00

http://mppc.org/toughquestions

Check out this wonderful, thought-provoking video series with Dallas Willard on different questions such as:

What is the difference between scientific (testable) knowledge and religious (faith)? Isn't faith just a hypothesis?

Is it possible to know that God exists and how do you find out?

Does God demand perfection from us? Are humans valuable? What about the need for burnt animal offerings in the Old Testament?

Can we really know right and wrong?

What does someone do that is struggling with a crisis or suffering or unanswered prayers?

and so much more

Ode to Period Movies

2010-01-02T10:21:00.005-05:00

I haven't seen all of these movies - and therefore do not endorse all of them - but you can check out my profile to see my favorites (which I absolutely do endorse and wish you all would immediately go see!! :)

I do know that Tess of the D'Urbervilles is a terrible story, and that I didn't like the 2007 Persuasion b/c the main girl kept looking at the camera in an odd way. Also (although no one agrees with me outside my own family) I have a problem with Kiera Knightley as Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice (for several reasons I won't mention b/c I know all of you love her and don't want to ruin it for you), plus the fact that everyone had poor manners in that version. Manners and social etiquette are some of my favorite things about period movies, and it really irritated me to see people reaching across the dinner table, and Mr. Darcy coming into Elizabeth's bedroom while she was in her dressing gown!! Oh it makes me mad!!

Lorna Doone was very good - I had forgotten about it until I saw this. Cranford's first episode was absolutely wonderful, but after that everything went downhill. The older versions of Northanger Abby were just weird.

DISCLAIMER: There is a section in the clip themed "Passion and Desire" that I wish wasn't in here. Basically it's all the kissing scenes, which normally my family always fast-forwards through. Please feel free to do the same here :)

Dallas Willard on the Incarnation and the greatness of matter

2009-12-31T10:38:00.006-05:00

http://dwillard.org/Audio/IncarnationCelebration.mp3

Here's a bit from the audio:

We don't have a high enough view of matter.

People are troubled about the resurrection because they don't understand what matter is or they wouldn't be troubled with it.

Matter is quite capable of receiving God and all that is good about God.

We are discovering what is in matter. And now of course we know what is in matter is so great that we often wonder if we wouldn't be better off not knowing it. Oppenheimer, one of the people contributing to the development of the atom bomb was burdened all of his life with whether or not we ought to have done that.

We can be thankful that most energy is locked up in matter and we can't do much with it.

We begin to work it loose, and we begin to understand that there is an awful lot of power in matter. Just a few ounces of matter had enough power to destroy Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Some say less than an ounce. Once you begin to understand this, you aren't much surprised by anything concerning matter.

We have to have a greater view of matter. We have to understand that God made it and it is very good. There's so much power in it that if we could get the atomic power out of a baseball, all of it, you could run a car at 65 miles per hour for 5,000 years.

Jesus comes into the world to establish a point of reference through which the power that is in the body can be used gloriously. You know it turns out the power that is in baseballs and things like that - plutonium - it is actually mainly a matter of light. The key to that is the energy in a piece of matter is equal to the mass of the piece multiplied by the speed of light. Light is very fast - goes more than 7x around the earth in a second.

Remember that the first act of physical creation was light. See you are getting close to the core of reality when you get into light. And it is not an accident that Jesus said that He was the light of the world, and then turned around and told some unsuspecting ordinary people, "you are the light of the world".

Please listen to the whole thing - it will give you new eyes :)

J.W. Waterhouse sketches

2009-12-30T20:30:00.001-05:00

I needed a change

2009-12-30T17:32:00.002-05:00

I felt my blog needed a makeover; for some reason every time I saw it (and it's my homepage) I would feel negative energy pulsing from it, and I'm a big believer in positive and negative energy when it comes to decorating. If that sounds new-agey, all I mean by it is associations - a passive force. The sight of different things conjures different memories with their corresponding feelings and thoughts, though they are mostly sub-concious. This is why people are sentimental about certain things, and immediately turned off by others. Does this mean that all appearance is subjective and decorating strictly a matter of personal taste? NO!!!! But more on that later :)

Anyway, so I changed my blog :)

And since it is part of my nature to crave novelty after so long, I will probably change it again soon. Hey. Whatever keeps me posting, right?

Another thing I like to change every so often is furniture arrangements. In my own studio I can go to town since it's my own stuff, but lately it has gotten so absolutely trashed that I'm going to have to do something drastic.

I will post pictures when it's finished ;)

let it snow

2009-12-21T14:13:00.003-05:00

crazy days

2009-12-13T22:34:00.005-05:00

Phew!!! Things have been just CRAZY and I feel like my head's going to spin off. I am so disorganized. Something must be done.

p.s. I have bruises from kicking myself so much over not bringing my camera to the Sufficiency of Scripture conference I went to this weekend. I wish I could post more, but I have some things I need to get together for tomorrow's art marketing meeting I have with a local fine portrait artist. And I'm kind of nervous about it. When will I be able to just rest in a trust in God's soverignty?

maybe an update later?? can't promise though!

Come see my new ART WEBSITE and my first SHOW!!

2009-11-18T12:45:00.014-05:00

I now have a wordpress website completely devoted to my art, and am working on business cards to give out at the Grandview Hop where my art will be included :) My work will be displayed at the Hedman Anglin Bara Acency on Satuday, Nov. 28th from 5 to 9 in the evening.

I've never been to the Grandview Hop, but apparently they have a big Christmas shindig and there will be music, food, Santa, and just fun everywhere, so I can't wait to go!! :)

Here is my third attempt at a business card, but I think I used too much of the "rough pastel" filter:

Plus, red usually isn't one of my personal colors - though I love it in itself. I'm more of a green (vert) and violet kind of person, so I'm going to give it another go. I didn't realize creating a business identity could be so hard!

I even had to debate over the name! All artists use their name (they are their brand), but should I use my middle name or not? Without is easier to remember, but using it gives it more artistic flair. I mean, come on - Renée - complete with accent aigu! And I never use it! Only trouble is, you can't use the accent in the web url. Oh, and many fonts don't provide the "é" (see on the card how it's different?) :(

It occurred to me to just use my first and middle names, but family is way too important to me for that.

I'm probably going to buy a domain for my name, so I can nix the "wordpress" - just my full name alone is pretty long. Hmm. Now I have regrets. "rachelramm.com" probably would have been better.

Anyone have any thoughts??? After all, I'm trying to market myself to YOU! ;)

october days

2009-11-14T20:08:00.001-05:00

kathleen joy: painting

2009-11-07T21:36:00.003-05:00

SOOO much better than using a projector! I don't have the skill yet to make projections look like real paintings instead of brush-stroked photos (like the one of Reagan).

acrylic - 4 hrs - paper - freehand (with two photo refs)

Proverbs 2:1-12

2009-11-01T22:31:00.003-05:00

My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,
Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.
For wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
Discretion will guard you,
Understanding will watch over you,
To deliver you from the way of evil,

Proverbs 2:1-12

The Use of Optics in Painting

2009-10-24T20:47:00.006-04:00

Reagan turned out a lot angrier in the painting than the photo! Hm, I wonder if I can fix that?

Painting and photo by moi. And I don't mind telling you that I used a projector to draw it :)

You know why I don't mind? Because I recently read a book with a very convincing argument that projectors - camera obscuras, camera lucidas or simply convex mirrors - were used by master painters as early as the 1430s. And when I say masters I mean Anthony van Dyck, Raphael, Caravaggio, Vermeer, Jan van Eyck, Velazquez, and more!! The book is Secret Knowledge: Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters by David Hockney, and is one of the best books on technique and art history that I have read yet.

*3/17/11 update: This book and it's author have taken a lot of criticism, and many people passionately argue against his theories. So, I'm not quite as confident as I was when I first posted this. Still, I did like seeing where the greats got their perspective wrong, just whether that was due to optic tools I don't know. I do know that I sometimes get my perspective wrong due to camera distortions in my photo references. Moral? Use all the tools you can, but remember nothing beats simple skill in the fundamentals of drawing :)

Here's a quote from Amazon:

For two years Hockney seriously investigated the painting techniques of the old masters, and like any admirable sleuth, compiled substantial evidence to support his revolutionary theory. Secret Knowledge is the fruit of this labor, an exhaustive treatise in pictures revealing clues that some of the world's most famous painters, Ingres, Velázquez, Caravaggio (just to mention a few) utilized optics and lenses in creating their masterpieces. Hockney's fascination with the subject is contagious, and the book feels almost like a game with each analysis a "How'd they do that?" instead of a whodunit. While some may find the technical revelation a disappointment in terms of the idea of genius, Hockney is quick to point out that the use of optics does not diminish the immensity of artistic achievement. He reminds the reader that a tool is just a tool, and it is still the artist's hand and creative vision that produce a work of art.

This book has helped me to see my artist heroes from the past truly as humans, and not gods-on-earth with an divine amount of patience and time at their disposal.

They are no less great, however, for the use of these little known optic tools. It was still their hands that painted those beautiful works.

I have discovered that the law of nature that says you cannot get more complex things from simple things also applies to art. Our eyes are designed to simplify what is before us, automatically identifying and cataloging it. That is why we see objects and not just colors and shapes and light. Now, the job of the artist is to turn off that auto- identifying of the brain as much as possible so that they may see and depict more detail, but there is only so much one can do. I believe that photography and other forms of optics merely provide an enhanced layer of vision, so that in starting with the most complex reference possible we may create the most complex painting possible.

This is the famous Arnolfini Wedding by Jan van Eyck in 1434. Note the convex mirror in the background.

I myself tried the convex mirror projection technique that was explained in Hockney's book: On a very sunny day, darken a room as much as possible, and by arranging sheets let only a small (1'x1') section of window show. Put a white canvas or paper next to the exposed window. Then, take your convex mirror and angle it so that the light from the window reflects onto the canvas. Move it in and out until your image is focused. You should end up with an upside down projection of whatever is outside your window! Now trace, and finish your painting by observing your actual outdoor subject.

Now it's fall, the sun has gone and the cold has come, so I won't be able to try a portrait with this method until spring, but when I do, I'll let you know how it turns out :)

Ken Davis: comedian

2009-10-22T23:05:00.006-04:00

"humor is a gentle way to acknowledge human frailty"

"humor is a way of saying: I'm not okayand you're not okay, and that's okay" :)

(please excuse the scary lady in red and white with the sunglasses)

A little laughter goes a long way in putting things into perspective. It is so true that if we take ourselves too seriously, then that means we're not taking God seriously enough. When we let ourselves get overwhelmed by the difficulties in life, when we allow ourselves to get discouraged by our failures, we take for granted what Christ did for us on the cross and the new life he renews in us every single day.

I say we, but I speak from my own experience. When I am not joyful, I know I am not honoring God, because in a way despondency is really me blaming Him, believing that He's not taking care of me as well as He should. It is a lack of trust in God. It is saying, 'You know what, Lord, I know the Bible says a lot of nice things, but when it gets right down to it, I am on my own, and have to take care of myself.'

Now, I'm not saying that it is always wrong to have low spirits, but I am saying that it is wrong not to have faith in God. Not just the faith that Jesus died for my sins, but also the faith that healed blind men and let Peter walk on water.

As Jesus questioned the terrified disciples after he calmed the storm, "Where is your faith?" (Luke 8:25)

Try showing the Lord your trust in Him by letting go of your desire for things to go your own way, and just smile. Laugh in the face of every difficulty :)

DISCLAIMER: I can't do this yet, and know full well how very impossible it seems sometimes, but I know that as I am transformed into Christ's likeness I will be able to do this more and more :)

painting franticly in a style that suites me

2009-10-20T22:04:00.003-04:00

Yes, they are mostly all football players. My mom thinks there's a good market for that type of thing, so I'm trying it. Also portraiture, but that's more complicated and takes more time. Likenesses take me days, whereas non-likenesses can take as little as a half hour.

I'm also not really sure how to do a proper watermark. I just threw my name and the date on there so I could be more comfortable putting these online.

These were all done in acrylic.

the times they are a changin'

2009-10-11T11:59:00.005-04:00

God has been convicting me on so many levels lately. I'm not the same person I was a week ago, and I am so thankful!

I never wanted this blog to be about me, but now I think it needs (and I need) more meaning. So here goes!

My last post was about accepting criticism, one of the things I've been learning lately. Often, when I have "discussions" with my parents, I end up just blaming people and making excuses for my wrong behavior. Whenever my parents say something meant to help correct me, it's like my brain goes into survival mode, and all I can do is defend myself.

I get this picture of me in battle gear, gripping a sword, glaring fiercely at a friend who's only trying to unlock the chains bind me, keeping me from freedom. (That would make an interesting drawing ;)

At these times, I can't even look people in the eye, I've cut myself off so much.

So you know what I've found out to do in this situation? SMILE!

I'm dead serious! When I've curled myself tightly up into my protective ball, unreasonable and defensive, sometimes I get this urge to start grinning which I have to fight in order to maintain my pride.

I am convinced this is God's emergency exit door - just one grin and the heaviness and hostility overpowering the air is gone :)

Ridiculous as this sounds, part of my problem is that I make mountains out of molehills, and think things are worse than they are. Smiling exposes woe-is-me thoughts for what they are, and enables easier, more rational thinking.

I'm sure there's a scientific brain chemical explanation for this, but I don't know what it is. All I know is that whenever I've indulged too many negative thoughts and have consequently lapsed into an angry, unreasonable, and depressed state, if I force myself to smile - however painful and fake - something changes. It's like a window opened in a stiflingly hot room.

:D

DISCLAIMER: Smiling is by no means the immediate and complete solution for all forms of depression. It just helps, and sometimes helps more than you think it will.

accepting criticism

2009-10-09T18:35:00.002-04:00

the heart of a fool can always find an excuse to avoid correction

pride doesn't listen, it knows

He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. (Pro. 10:17)

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. (Pro. 12:1)

He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. (Pro. 13:18)

p.s. The videos "Self-Control in a Wired World" and "Joshua Harris Is Eaten by a Beanbag" are really good too