• WEBSITE HOME
  • BLOG HOME
  • ONLINE CLASSES
  • TEACHERS
  • FREE TUTORIALS
  • BOOKS
  • ABOUT CARLA

Tag Archives: painting animals

Hodgepodge

21 Thursday Feb 2013

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

bird painting, drawing animals, giraffe, giraffe drawing, painting animals, painting birds, scribbly elephant, white bird

whitebird

“White Bird,” oil pastel, pencil, gesso.scribbleelephant2

“Scribbly Elephant,” pencil, oil pastel, pastel, pen, ink.

bwgiraffes

“Giraffes,” pencil and marker.

* * *

This has been an experimental month for me. Lots of quick drawings, trying different media… mostly giraffes, but every once in awhile a bird or an elephant sneaks in.

I found this quote by Alan Alda last night and wanted to share it with you!

Be brave enough to live creatively. The creative is the place where no one else has been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You cannot get there by bus, only by hard work, risking and by not quite knowing what you are doing. What you will discover will be wonderful: Yourself.

Two New Online Classes! Registration Open

04 Tuesday Dec 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

art class, art class online, art classes online, drawing animals, drawing class, drawing faces, drawing giraffes, figure drawing, online art class, online art classes, online classes winter, online figure drawing, painting animals, painting giraffes, winter online art classes, winter online class, year of the giraffe

drawclass

I’ve been working hard developing TWO new online classes!

The first one, “Draw! 21 Days Towards Freeing Your Creative Self” is a three-week, video-based class for everyone — all levels encouraged and welcome. Click HERE for all the details for “Draw!”

The second one is called “Year of the Giraffe” and is a long-term, group project exploring a single subject matter and culminating in a ‘zine.

giraffe5

Take this class if you:

  • Want to practice your drawing, painting, and observation skills.
  • Paper maché is something you’d like to make time for again.
  • Think giraffes are one of the coolest creatures ever.
  • Don’t necessarily care about giraffes at all, but want to learn to think more creatively in general.
  • Want to participate in a year-long group project.

Click HERE for more!

The Sp*mmed Rabbit

23 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

animal painting, drawing animals, drawing rabbits, painting animals, painting rabbits, rabbit, rabbit painting, spam, spammed, white rabbit, white rabbit drawing, white rabbit painting

Got Sp*m?
My e-box is full today. Here’s a bunny to hopefully provide an antidote.

Have a great weekend!

Spinning

20 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

animal drawing, animal painting, drawing animals, painting animals, red bunny, Red bunny painting, red rabbit, red rabbit painting, spinning

It’s one of those “spinning” days… so many ideas, so much inertia.

Red Bunny 2, Guest Post, & Giveaway

13 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

bunny painting, drawing animals, imaginary animals, painting animals, rabbit painting, red bunny, Red bunny painting

“Red Bunny 2,” watercolor and pencil on paper.

**********

Phew! We (Steve and I) made a big deadline last night, and today I’ve been able to paint a bit. I also wanted to let you know that there is a review of “The Art of Silliness” over at the ‘Jumpin Beans blog…

… and also a review and giveaway opportunity over at the Crazed Minds blog:



If you’d like a chance to win a copy “The Art of Silliness,” head on over!

Rearranged Bird, and an Answer

30 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

bird collage, bird painting, drawing animals, failed bird painting, painting animals, rearranged bird

“Failed Bird Painting Cut Up and Rearranged!” watercolor and pencil.
*******************

Q: Do all your blob or line creatures have the same look or do you only post pictures of ones that have your distinctive look? Because my blobish creatures never have anything in common…. but I could tell if you had painted one from across the room! I love when artists have a certain style, a recognizable style or look! (Question by Tammie.)

A: Great question, because once you posed it, I realized that it’s true… every once in awhile I’ll make blob-animals that don’t quite “fit,” and I don’t post them. I’ve always thought that these particular drawings weren’t good enough. But now that you mention it I can see that I’ve been self-editing those 10-20% out as critters that don’t fit into my “herd.” 😀

Regarding developing a style or look, I have three thoughts.

1. In the early stages of your art journey your work is likely to have similarities and be somewhat derivative of people you take classes from or admire. But over time, as you add more influences, become more skilled and comfortable with your art supplies, and draw from life (see point #3), your unique style can’t help but emerge!

2. You might already have a style, but just can’t see it clearly right now.

One of the first art classes I took when I started doing art again at 30 was a printmaking class. We made woodcuts and monotypes, and at the end of the semester I had to gather the semester’s work together for a class “critique.” Although I got lots of nice feedback, I was disappointed: The pieces just seemed ALL OVER THE PLACE stylistically. To me the pieces looked like 15 different people did them!

As I was gathering my work to take home, I mentioned my disappointment to another student. She was so surprised, and said “No, Carla, you have a very distinct style.”

So I’m wondering if you already DO have a style but just can’t see it? I’ve found that my students over the years have had the same feelings about their own art as I did. Sometimes it’s hard to “see” your own style, especially in the beginning.

3. One suggestion: In addition to looking at other artists for inspiration, make a habit of drawing from life and nature as much as possible. If you want to draw stylized faces or flowers, draw a lot of faces and flowers from life (or photo references). If you want to draw cartoony animals, draw regularly from life or photos.

It doesn’t matter if your drawings are “bad” or inaccurate; what you are doing is going to the SOURCE — nature itself — and beginning to interpret it through your own filter (rather than another artist’s filter).

Think of it like this: Imagine trying to learn Spanish from a German or Russian who speaks Spanish, but with a heavy German or Russian accent. You would learn to speak Spanish, then, with some real peculiarities of that particular teacher. (The Spanish-German accent might be really cool, but it’s not “yours.”)

Draw from life as much as possible!

____________________

Do you have a question about drawing or the creative process? I’m not an expert by any means, but I’m happy to share my thoughts and experiences. Go to this post and ask it in the comments section. I will try and answer all of them over time!

Ask Me a Question!

25 Thursday Oct 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 52 Comments

Tags

animal painting, blob hunting, blob shape, horse oil painting, painting animals, purple horse, purple horse painting

Purple Horse, oil on wood, 4″ x 6″

Hello!

On Monday I wrote that I had a lot of WRITING to do this week.

Well, today is Thursday and almost nothing has been written so far: I’ve just had the hardest time wrapping my head around any “thoughts” — I don’t know where to start.

When drawing, it’s easier for me to draw when there’s a blob shape or a line or something already “there” to get me started — basically, a problem for me to solve.

I remembered today that the same is true for writing.

Can you help me?

I need something to start from. Is there something you would like to ask me, about drawing or creativity or anything like that? Please,

(Either comment here on this post or email me privately: carla@carlasonheim.com.)

I will try to answer most of them as time goes by, and of course will make any answers available to you here.

Thank you in advance (so much) for your help.

Red Rabbit

22 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

animal painting, painting animals, rabbit oil painting, red bunny, red rabbit, red rabbit painting

“Red Bunny,” oil on paper, 10″ x 7″ (click to enlarge)

I found some time on Saturday to paint another bunny… I’m still feeling my way around these water soluble oils I found at a yard sale in the summer.

I love that the paint stays wet/tacky long enough so that I can scrape into it even a day or two later…

Happy Monday to you. I have a huge “writing” week ahead of me. How about you?

Green Rabbit

19 Friday Oct 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

animal painting, green bunny, green rabbit, painting animals, rabbit oil painting, rabbit painting

“Green Bunny,” oil on wood.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Day #14 • Book Release Blog Celebration • Artist Julie LaPointe and Book Giveaway

06 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by carlasonheim in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

bird drawings, Datcha Web, Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals, drawing animals, Julie LaPointe, La Datcha, painting animals, whale painting

Today I’d like to introduce you to the wonderful art of Julie LaPointe (“La Datcha“) from the Eastern Townships (Canada).

(Images reprinted with permission from Julie’s blog.)

A website designer by day (Datcha Web), Julie began her blog in August 2011 as “a journal about my journey back into a not so virtual creation.”

I just fell in love with her beautiful, restrained, elegant work.

And I love her quirky side, too!

Thanks, Julie, for being part of “Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals!”

BOOK GIVEAWAY
Julie is giving away a copy of “Imaginary Animals” today over at her blog. Head on over (and scroll through her posts for some great photographs, too)!

*************************
This post is part of a Two-Week Book Release Celebration for my new book, “Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals: A Mixed-Media Workshop with Carla Sonheim.” For the schedule, which includes book and art giveaways, contributing artists features, tutorials, and assignments, click here.

← Older posts

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts and monthly newsletter by email.

Join 5,842 other subscribers

Hello! I A Seattle-based artist who works with drawing, watercolor, and mixed-media. Hosts online art classes with 15 talented teachers through Carla Sonheim Presents: carlasonheim.com. Author of three instructional art books. Grateful grandma. Read more here.

Free Art prompts PDF

Books!

Drawing Lab Book Cover

Instagram

No Instagram images were found.

Archives

  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • June 2022
  • March 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • carlasonheim.wordpress.com
    • Join 2,495 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • carlasonheim.wordpress.com
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...