Sunday in the Art Room

 Hi Everyone!

A few weeks ago when the self portrait challenge was going on, I suggested that tracing is perfectly acceptable. Believe me there are times I want to trace too. LOL

I was on Pinterest looking at art and a short video came up on a tracing hack. It's new to me and maybe new to you as well. I found a youtube that shows the hack and well, I'm impressed.

All you need is paper, a picture of what you want to trace and a dark colored oil pastel.

check this out.

I feel like tracing will help beginners to learn how a face is structured. Trace enough times and you will be able to do it from a photo or life.

 

The other day I reported that I'm deep into art right now. The house is clean but not how I normally like it, because all I want to do is draw. Life right now is very stressful for Mr. M. and I and art simply takes me away. The concentration of it, how one line can change an entire expression on a face. Seeing how a drawing comes to life and the emotion that emanates with a few shading techniques. I mentioned once that I'm not going for hyper realism, but I do want my portraits to look like real people. With that said, the colored pencil portraits allow me my weird side. No, I'm not showing them here. Saving them for FFO. I do one graphite and one colored pencil. I have also started painting again. It's been a long time since I had the paints out.

 

These are older pieces that sold during an exhibition. Some of you may remember these.
 

 

this is highly textured with a sand medium.

 

This piece sold before I got it off the easel.

 

 

This is another very textured piece also that was purchased by a lady that lives back east. She sent me this photo to show me where it lives.  

I did several pieces that I worked with negative space. It was for fun but people like them and I sold all of them that were on display.

 

What I'm trying to get across is, just create! It doesn't matter how, or with what medium. Did you know that when people are productive in art their brain starts boosting and straightens connections between the right and left hemispheres?Also, increases gray matter and releases dopamine and serotonin. So why wouldn't you make art? To all my dear blogging friends, photography is art.

 

That's my spiel for today.

Have the best Sunday.

Nicole 

Friday Face OFF 12/12/25

 

 Welcome To Friday Face OFF (FFO)

This is the place to show off your face art.

You know, ANY type of face, nature, the face of a flower, Photography, drawings, paintings. There just needs to be a face in your blog post.

 

Too much going on in my life. I lost the list of self portraits that didn't make the feature last week. If that is you lease contact me. 

  

I have been deep in art. Can't stop, takes my mind away from everyday stuff. 

This is a graphite piece just from my brain. Then, I add a colorful background with pastels. 

The first photo I could take while drawing.

 

Then I got the ears done. 

Then I finished with this. 

When I was done with this Mr. M. told me that it looks like my sister. She has been in my dreams lately. 

 

Here are a few AI

 

Time for features from last week.

Arnoldo

In fact here is his self Portrait.

 

Gillena

a portrait of her granddaughter.

 

Violetta

 

Mia 

Awhile back I mentioned that I am keeping track of who gets featured. I do use the number generator and I started a spread sheet. So everyone will be featured.

Yeah I like spread sheets. 

Also

The new challenge is to create a portrait of anyone you want. It can be your family, friends, actors, faces you find on the internet, or a perfect stranger that will allow you a photo to work from and to show with your portrait. You can work in any medium, except photography and you have until Friday January 30, 2026.  Make it fun and let's see what you come up with. 

That's it for me. Now its time to show me your face.

Nicole

 

Monster Monday

 Hi Everyone!

It's Monster Monday and I have some different type of monsters today.

This is my black goo. These are all made with the same description with different models. NightCafe is just too cool. Click on the link and join in. It all free.

 

 

 Now for some real pretties. 

Winter Wonderlands 

 

Also I really love this face I made. 

It wasn't too scary today.   

A little off script today. 

I've been listening to Jimi Hendrix today, "All Along the Watchtower." Brings back memories of being in SF actually seeing him and Janis Joplin cross the street in front of me. Both laughing.

 Best music EVER!

There was nothing like concerts at the 

Winterland Ballroom in SF. 

Not sure why all this reminiscing but they are good memories.

One more monster picture? There is a challenge on NightCafe. Monsters on vacation. This is my entry.

That's it for now.

Have a great Monday. 

  Nicole

Sunday in the Art Room

Hi Everyone!

 

Do you have those epiphanies in life when you know something has changed in you? It can be anything. For me, as of late, this has happened to me in art. Many of you know I was a bead artist, author, and world wide instructor for most of my adult life. Lupus took that away from me. During the 45/50ish years of beading, I also created in leather, sculpture, painting and of course monster art.  Drawing seemed to be distant for me. My Nan, (an artist) always said, "Draw what you see." Well that didn't work for me. Dyslexia makes people see differently. Things are always moving. When I started to draw faces, they were horrible! 

 

Over the years, though, I think I am getting better, getting to a point that I like the faces I draw. I can see my mistakes and correct them, or have the freedom and confidence not to.

To see a face with all of its remarkable imperfections and then create an informed and intelligent portrait, is where I'm going as an artist. Is where I feel my path is open right now.

My drawings have changed immensely. In my mind for the better. I used to tell my students, "Practice, practice, practice." 

It's the way of anything isn't it? To become better, to find your own way and style?

To create what you love 

and love what you create?  

Make art everyday.

 Nicole

 

FFO new challenge is to create a portrait of anyone you want. It can be your family, friends, actors, faces you find on the internet, or a perfect stranger that will allow you a photo to work from and to show with your portrait. You can work in any medium, except photography and you have until Friday January 30, 2026.  Make it fun and let's see what you come up with. 

Friday Face Off 12/5/25 new challenge

 

 Welcome To Friday Face OFF (FFO)

This is the place to show off your face art.

You know, ANY type of face, nature, the face of a flower, Photography, drawings, paintings. There just needs to be a face in your blog post.

 

I have decided to have another challenge. You will have plenty of time to get this one finished. 

The challenge is to create a portrait of anyone you want. It can be your family, friends, actors, faces you find on the internet, or a perfect stranger that will allow you a photo to work from and to show with your portrait. You can work in any medium, except photography and you have until Friday January 30, 2026.  Make it fun and let's see what you come up with.

Before I get started with my art this week I want to share with you what Mr. M. ordered for me. It's a Global pencil case.

 I'm very impressed with this product. The zipper is heavy duty and the entire case is very well made. 

This week I have a colored pencil piece that I created. I am enjoying the pencils very much and finding all that can be crated with them. 

This is the original piece

and here is my version of him. I think I got his likeness pretty well.

I love the intensity of his eyes and his broken nose. There are so many different techniques with the pencils. The guy above is light touches and some hatches.

 I showed this next photo in any earlier post. It is created with many layers going in different directions. The darker the color the more layers and a bit more pressure.

I really am having fun with these.

No AI today. I want to get right into all of the amazing portraits that were posted last week for the Self Portrait Challenge.

Click on the photos to view larger. 

Carola
Christine
Iris
Maria
Gene
Debra
Louise
Granny Annie
Jeanie
Lin

I put too many boxes in, and since it is one single grid I can't change it.

I just want to say that each and every one of you talented artists outdid yourselves with the Self Portraits. I'm honored to know all of you, even if it is in blogland. All of you inspire me to create better.

I hope you had fun with this and that you will join in the next Challenge.

Now, it's time to show me your next face.

Nicole