Self Healing Art course - week 1

I've completed my first assignment for the Art, Heart and Healing course that I blogged about here.  (The name of the course has changed from 'The Heart of Art' to 'Art, Heart and Healing').

I'm feeling very pleased with myself as for a first attempt I like it!  I didn't have the correct flesh colour tones water soluble crayons, but did buy a few watercolour pencils from Hobbycraft this week and couldn't wait to start! 

  

Here's the complete page which unfortunately is very buckled under the weight of the various layers - I bought a sketch book with cartridge paper pages which looked and felt quite thick and sturdy, but they buckled none-the-less!

I enjoyed drawing and painting the eyes the best - I've always liked doodling eyes, although just one so it was a challenge trying to get two the same!  I've never drawn a nose before so that was the hardest thing.  I was pleased with the mouth, although the colour could have been better.

The most difficult thing was the shading on the face, and that is one of the most important things really.  I only had a few colours of watercolour pencil to work with and the shading does leave a lot to be desired (what's that about a workman blaming his tools - lol!)  I am going to invest in some water soluble crayons in flesh tones (when I find out where to get them!) so hopefully (and with a lot of practice) my technique will improve.

The background was fun to do - scribbling with crayons, brayering with acrylic paint, rubber stamping, more paint, more stamping.  My background has turned out quite pastel and on reflection it could have done with something else - or bigger font for the words, but it is all a learning curve.

Here's a couple of close ups of the background

I'm looking forward to part two of the course now and if you want to join in too, you can at any time until the course ends (in 3 weeks).  The video tutorials for week one will stay on the site until at least the end of the course.

  I must again say a huge thank you to Tam who is such a generous spirit offering this course completely free of charge.

Finally, am I self healed as a result of this excercise?  Well, let's just say I'm getting there!

Thanks for looking xx