The Best Restaurant in Toulouse- Fil a la une

Toulose is a hip little town.  It's old, beautiful, and not touristy.  People are lively and friendly, but reserved in typical French style.  A lovely river runs through it and the architecture is old world, but more Napoleonic than medieval...kind of like Paris.  There are lots of restaurants and young people, due to the universities here.  You see a lot of people smoking "roll your own" and generally acting the hipster, but it provides some local 'color".

It's a pretty town.  I like the occasional fountain in the plazas and spent some time painting the statues, fountains, and ornate lamp-posts in the Boulingrin today.  It's a lovely park in the middle of Le Grand Round (a bigger than average roundabout in the City Center).

Best Restaurant in Toulouse! La Fil a la Lune-


This is my new little favorite place to have a bite of dinner and some great wine in Toulouse, France.  Reservations are a good idea, since they are incredibly busy.  phone # 05 62 26 27 14.  Address: 8 Place du Pont Neuf 31000 Toulouse.  Located on the corner of Place Esquirol and Place du Pont Neuf...right at the bridge.

Stroll along the riverfront park at sunset and then make your way to dinner.

Coming here by myself, they have made me feel very welcome every time I enter the door...even special.  Almost like my own version of French "Cheers". And there's plenty to keep me occupied once I take a seat, with lots to watch while sitting here eating dinner.  The owner, Gilles, is an animated and friendly guy who speaks a bit of English.  This has been helpful, as people are not generally fluent in English in Toulouse.  Gilles is a hard working owner, and runs around making everyone happy...occasionally even pounding a bottle down on a table and encouraging everyone to take a shot-on the house!  No wonder so many customers seem happy.

But in reality, it's the food! Not only is it good to eat, but every plate looks beautiful.  I am left wanting to take photos of each dish that passes by me.  The crowd is young to middle age, but I'm pushing the top end of middle age.  Lots of smiles and good vibrations.  Steaks and burgers are the staple fare, and the papas fritte are to die for!  I had the steak...very tasty. They make their own delicious fois gras and serve it on cool slabs of black slate.  Ask for the white wine they actually use to make it, and experience the perfect wine pairing.  In addition, the salads are gargantuan and gorgeous! On this, my third night in a row, I am determined to try one of those lovely salads- 13-14 Euros, but so much food!  Huge burgers from 12-25 euros and steaks are similarly reasonable.Bottles of wine are from 20-30 Euros,and glasses from 3.50 to 6.50.  Great prices for the quality.

One suggestion- Try to avoid sitting on or near the front veranda, unless you are not bothered by cigarette smoke.  (That's one thing about France...so many people smoke in public spaces here.)

Hotel Pere Leon- Quiet and nice staff.  I got a double room and had nice light and space to paint when the day was rainy.  The shower and facilities were clean and modern.  I felt safe on the street at night and there was a safe in the room.  I would not necessarily have breakfast there.  The coffee (a BIG part of my day) was very mediocre.  There seems to be an unfortunate trend inn some of the places I visited where they are using push button coffee dispensers- YUCK.  It tastes plastic.  There were many coffee shops and Patisseries in the area, and I would suggest planning on those in the morning.

If you go, tell them I sent you and have a nice glass of AOC Crozes Hermitages for me!

Toulouse France- a Beautiful City and a New Painting!

I've been enjoying wandering the streets of Toulouse and have a few shots to share with you...

Look at the beautiful light!

This one is screaming to be painted!

Here is a shot I liked a lot.  The light is not so good, but even a so-so photo can make a fun painting. 

Watch how it happens...

I did a little pen sketch...for this one I used a staedtler sepia permanent marker which I like a lot..

Once the drawing was complete, then I put a 

little watercolor on it

As we say here in France, "Voila!"  

I just love painting where I am visiting...

Pen and wash- If you haven't tried it, what are you waiting for?

Tomorrow...Albi and the Toulouse LeTrec Museum.  I'll need to figure out how to get out of the parking structure, drive there, and find my way.  I have a TomTom GPS- so I'm pretty confident I can get there.  Wish me luck!

Let me hear from you! I read every comment and it means a lot to know you are out there reading along with me.
Rebecca Zdybel
Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor
Art Lessons in all media
Myrtle Beach, SC
rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

Spread Light, Share Love, DO Art!

Feel free to share any of this blog post on your own blog or website, but I ask that you you include:

Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

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Murphy's Law (and Clues About Murphy's Identity) Revealed

Murphy's Law reveals- I'm a lug-nut short of a full set...

Murphy's Law: If something can go wrong, it will.  

I'm a positive thinker. I haven't really believed in Murphy's wisdom, after all:

WHO IS HE ANYWAY?  

Whoever he is, he must relish the opportunity people like me provide. It just gives him the chance to show off and rub my nose in my non-belief.  Honestly, I think "he" is a "she",  cause in my opinion she's a bitch!

Listen to her..."So you think you can ignore my law, eh?" (Hey, maybe she's Canadian too?)

You've heard the expression- a few cards short of a full deck?  Well, after a day of crazy catastrophes I have that one beat.  Murphy decide to show me a thing or two today, and as a result, I've been informed by a professional that I'm "a lug-nut short of a full set".  What's a full set?

For those of you who don't know, a standard wheel has 5 lug-nuts. I was once like you...blissful in my ignorance, but all that's changed...

Today was going to be great.  It's the first day of my "super-extravagant-gift-to-self-adventure-of-a-lifetime-European-painting-trip".  You ask," Hasn't she done this before?".  Well, as a matter of fact, yes.  But this time it's different.  This time I'll be gone for almost a month and visiting 2 different countries with two different groups. We will be in Dordogne, France and Southern Spain (God willing and the creek don't rise).  After today, I am knocking wood and invoking every good luck turn of phrase I can think of so as not to jinx myself.

I have spent the last 5 days singularly focused on organizing my trip: planning ahead, packing, reserving, sorting, bagging, rolling...basically operating under the assumption that with more planning comes more control...right?  My hope being,that catastrophe can be better avoided if I've prepared well. Can you already hear Mrs. Murphy?  "Mmmmmhmmm, rightie-o..." (yup, defintely Canadian.)

 I woke up this morning feeling ready...everything was done and I was thinking positively that this day would go well.  I was done with planning and just needed to load and go, or so I thought.

I had to clean up my studio, deliver paintings to Seacoast Gallery for my display there, and then get to the airport.  The studio clean-up went smoothly, I washed and used a lot of water to clean all my palettes, and make it tidy to await my return.

Feeling good about myself, I headed downstairs to the main floor and heard noise on the way...water dripping noise...which led to the discovery of an overhead flood raining down from the ceiling underneath my studio!  I dropped everything and ran for towels and a bucket.  Really?!!  Today?!!  Something was obviously leaking, but on today of all days?!  I didn't need this.  The bucket and the towels at least dealt with the immediate problem.  I called my sweet hubby, put him on notice to take care of getting it repaired,  Problem dealt with...I moved on.   I'm a positive thinker, remember?

2 ½ hours till my ride to the airport.

Next up: delivery of paintings to the gallery.  I did not want to leave this to the last minute, but today was the soonest I could hang my work for a new display.  Six paintings needed to be transported, labeled, inventoried, priced and hung on the wall. For those of you who don't know it, displaying your artwork is hard work!

Time was tight, so Mrs. Murphy took the wheel.  I missed my exit on the highway and that mistake turned my 25 minute drive into 45 minutes. I took some deep breaths and tried to stay focused.  As I pulled up to the gallery, I drove into a parallel parking spot...ok, I admit it was not my best parking job. In the process, I bumped the curb with my tire and heard a huge bang...I had blown a gaping hole in my tire right there in front of a bunch of spectators!  Really?!  Today of all days?.  My deep breathing turned into something resembling Lamaze, and I felt myself break into a sweat.

1 Hour 30 minutes till airport time.

I am such a girl. I have no idea how to change my tire, but I do have AAA .  Forever to be known as "the best $75 dollars I've ever spent."  While on the phone with AAA, I received an offer from a very nice guy to help me change the tire.  Since I was pressed for time, I took him up on it.  My knight in shining armor was actually wearing khaki pants.  He was nice guy...an artist...who was very willing and seemed confident.  Certainly he would be my champion in the battle with Mrs. Murphy!

Our first step: finding the spare tire.  This was surprisingly difficult and might have been my first clue.  After unloading the whole truck, all 6 paintings, and 3  suitcases to the curb, we still couldn't find it.  Finally I looked under the back bumper. Voila! (I'm practicing my French here...) There it was! Our 2nd task: Finding the jack and lug wrench (yes, I now know the difference). The mystery of the lug-wrench wasn't solved for another 5 minutes, and believe me I was counting the minutes!

Once we removed a cup holder the mystery was solved, but our 3rd task remained: releasing the tire from under the car.  Somehow that tire was secured underneath the car...Sir Lancelot wanted to use the lug wrench to unscrew something and proceeded to insert it into an opening next to my trailer hitch...WROnG!!!  Sparks flew! Electrical noises ensued, and my knight just about lit up like a Christmas tree!  I could imagine his heart stopping and needing CPR due to electrocution... it was about this time that I decided we might want to leave this job to the professionals.  I thanked him and we parted with his heart still beating, and mine pounding a bit faster....I still had a whole wall of paintings to hang!

1 hour and 15 minutes to blast off...

The good news is that with offers from friends to lend a hand and encouragement from fellow Seacoast Guild members (thanks Roberta,Woody, and June!) I hung my paintings more quickly than I have ever hung 6 paintings in my life!  I did my paperwork and pricing as if I was on Ritalin.

AAA came and changed my tire while I was taking care of business.  When done, the tire technician came into the gallery and had some good news and some bad news.  The good news was that I was ready to roll in time to catch my plane.  The bad news:  I'm a lug-nut short of a full set.  Now do you think he was talking about me or my tire?

Just goes to show that Murphy's law is not to be trifled with, and that all the planning in the world can't anticipate everything.  However, a little positive thinking can win out in the end.  Friends to keep you smiling along the way make a huge difference too.

The fact that I'm sitting here and on my way to France despite everything proves that a little planning can help you keep on keepin' on...even if ur a lug-nut short of a full set.  ;-)


Rebecca Zdybel
Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor
Art Lessons in all media
Myrtle Beach, SC
rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

Spread Light, Share Love, DO Art!

Feel free to share this blog post on your own blog or website, but I ask that you you include:

Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

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Get Over Yourself and Come Out of the Closet as an Artist

My dear friend Maggie puts it this way, "Get OVER yourself!"

Bottom line- I think all of us are basically insecure about our art and though we profess to do it for our own enjoyment, we hope that others will relate and enjoy our work too. Showing our work causes many of us to be transported back to those times as a kid when we shared our crayon creations and looked for affirmation.  It may not have been there.  I still feel about 5 years old every time I bring a painting out for the first time. I know I'm not alone in my insecurity...many of my students can still recall hurtful things which were said to them as a kid (or God-forbid as an adult) about their artful endeavors.  Those comments can resound in our heads, but we can't let the jerks of the past bully us into being closeted artists in the present.  If we do, then the bullies win!  What's even worse, is when we BELIEVE what unsupportive people have said about our work.  Here's some thoughts for you...

We all need to COME OUT OF THE CLOSET AS ARTISTS.  

Being in the closet is not a healthy place to be.  It's an indication of insecurity, and it's isolating.  However, there IS an inherent risk to being an artist which takes confidence that you may not feel. What do you do then?  It can help to cultivate an audience.  It helps with developing confidence, which is the key.

Cultivate a Kind Audience

The biggest asset one can have as an artist is a supportive family.  Those of you who have artists in your life...ENCOURAGE THEM!!  They need it!!
Here are some ideas for affirming and helpful phrases:
If you know an artist: these would be perfect to use when viewing their work.  
If you're an artist with family members who are NOT saying what you need to hear: share these phrases with them.  Use them as examples of how they could help you, and how they could best respond when you share your work...after all, sometimes we have to ASK FOR WHAT WE NEED, right?

Examples of Things to say when an Artist shares their work with you:
"When I look at your painting, the first thing I notice is..."
"My favorite part of it is..."
"I really like..."
"I'm so glad that you are painting.  I love having you share what you've been doing with me..."
"I'm glad to see what's been keeping you so busy..."
"Your painting makes me think of..."
"Tell me about your painting...I'd like to know more..."
"Is there something new you tried here?  Tell me about it..."

A suggestion for Artists prior to unveiling your work: Find someone you trust or a group whose assessments you trust and look to them for helpful evaluation, critique and encouragement before you share it with potentially unsupportive people or with the general public.  That way, your artwork will be as ready as it can be for display.  I provide this service to students and try to get them ready for sharing publicly without embarrassment.  I think that their efforts to seek critique and suggestions create a good cycle of events which goes something like this...They paint, I critique,  they edit, which allows them to have better work, which then helps them be more likely to receive good feedback from others, which encourages them to do more, which then results in the student getting better and better.  After all, the more we do, the better we get, right?

Find a safe place to get helpful critique and cultivate a safe audience by possibly asking for the type of response you need...It's a great 1-2 punch in the gut to the ghosts of the past which may haunt you and breed insecurity.  If you do, I predict you'll have better results and be encouraged to produce more quality work.

Rebecca Zdybel
Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor
Art Lessons in all media
Myrtle Beach, SC
rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

Spread Light, Share Love, DO Art!

Feel free to share this blog post on your own blog or website, but I ask that you you include:

Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

"Like" my facebook page: Rebecca Zdybel- Artist
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Commissions- Are they Crazy or Cool? Sometimes Crazy is just CRAZY!

Commissions can be difficult.  Sometimes you end up spending time on a subject you may or may not feel passionate about.  There can be the difficulty in working with random people you don't know, and worse yet, this can lead you to dealing with unusual people and sometimes crazy situations.

As is often the case, truth can be stranger than fiction...Ohhhhh the stories I could tell!

Recent commissioned portraits- Mixed Media

Let's face it, selling paintings can be a challenge, and we are all tempted to do whatever will sell! Taking commissions...many artists avoid it like the plague, but others turn to commissioned work as a means of expanding their market. Occasionally I do commissions, but sometimes it gets a little weird...

Recently I had an appointment with a client whose pet died. The client dearly loved this pet, and when they sent me initial photos, I got some incredibly poor quality shots of what looked like a squirrel...I thought, "REALLY?!"  I began to smell a rat, even as  the "squirrel" ended up being something called a sugar glider.  Whatever it was, the photos were horrible.  The nose was sometimes in focus, or the branches around the animal were in focus, but the rest of the photos were blurry.  I began to think this commission was a bit too "out there" for me, but thought I'd reserve judgement.  I asked them to send more photo references my way if they had them.  The next day they didn't show up for our appointment.  The excuse was that they had spent the morning digging the poor little thing up from the grave! Initially my reaction was mortification thinking they did it to get more photo references...OMG!  I found out it was for purposes of an autopsy, but even so...it's a squirrel, people!   I mean... it's a sugar glider, people!  That autopsy probably cost more than my portrait fee!  Needless to say,  I did not reschedule our meeting, but the photos kept coming.  None of them were any good, and thankfully, none of them were shots of squirrel-like corpses! I'm not worried about it anymore.  Sometimes crazy, is just CRAZY, and that one crossed the line for me.

Another time, I was commissioned by an "inventor".  He needed help with a conceptual drawing for his new invention: I had never met an inventor before, so I was intrigued.  We met in the gallery where I worked (a public place).  He said he could not give me much information in advance about the project, due to the strict confidentiality which would be required.  Some of his inventions had been stolen before, and he needed to keep it secret until we met.  It felt a little "cloak and dagger", and I thought about wearing my trench coat and sunglasses to the meeting, but decided that he might not find it funny.  In the end, all the fuss was about a silly multi-purpose dog tool which would probably inhabit a display at a place like The Dollar Store.  It was a back scratcher, massager, detangler, fluffer, flea-picker, tummy tickler, plastic-bag carrier- all in one...yes, that's right...like the info-mercials on TV.  This little thing was going to do everything but run and fetch the paper (unlike other TV promotions- it didn't come with a cap-snaffler. The client did however, give me another of his inventions as a free gift.  It was a grocery bag handle that you could slip through multiple plastic bag handles in order to carry more of them at once. Somehow that little gizmo never really caught on with the public, and he had a few thousand lying around...but I digress ). The client was very nice, seemed normal enough, and was willing to pay me what I wanted for my time per hour...so I found myself illustrating various little gadgets for his doggie gizmo tool.  He was going to take my drawings to someone with technical expertise, who would then figure out how to manufacture the product. That was strange enough, until I brought my finished drawing to a meeting for his review.   His girlfriend was there, and promptly got mad at him for having shared their "invention idea" with me.  They got in a big fight right there in front of me, and she stormed into another room in anger.  I couldn't leave, because he hadn't paid me yet... AWKWARD! Thankfully, he was basically a nice guy, liked my drawing and paid me...then he ran off to find his girlfriend.

I couldn't even make this stuff up...

Occasionally I do commissions, and find great enjoyment in doing them, as long as certain criteria are present...

So how can you set parameters for a good commission experience? 

First: It helps to have a great client.  What makes a great client? My answer: Someone pleasant who has a love for your work and trusts in you as an artist.  

Having a client who gives you artistic license is an amazing gift.  I've been fortunate to have a few of these.  Doing so allows me to have free reign in coming up with my concept and executing it.  I don't mind keeping a palette of colors in mind...the reality is that sometimes the painting has to live in a room with a certain set of patterns or colors in place.

New painting commissioned by a friend who saw a sketch of mine and asked for a formal painting.  She does fitness training...so it's very fitting don't you think?  I think it would make a great birthday card too.  Cards and prints available for all my paintings.

Photo referrences can be a huge issue.  A client who has lots of photo references, or at least one great reference is really ideal.  I personally like to have too many photos, rather than too few.  Those clients who have a great idea for a painting may or may not have good photos for you to work from.  As the artist, you need to be ready to take some of your own photos when called upon.  I've had real photos sent my way which were laughable...everything from google.earth shots of locations, to photos of other people's work!  Really?!

A client with quite a bit of time or a flexible deadline is very helpful.   I'm not the kind of artist who can always crank out a painting on demand.  Sometimes I have to let the project gestate for a while, and then paint when the perfect storm of "opportunity + inspiration" hits.  Deadlines can be tough, and I'm sure other artists struggle with this same issue.  I teach art classes in Myrtle Beach and will be teaching on a trip in Tuscany this fall. Between work and family, I have a busy schedule, and sometimes my personal painting time is more limited than I'd like.  In the end, its about managing expectations.  I've found, if you let your clients know what to expect, they generally relax and let you take the necessary time required for a good result.

Recent pet portrait commission- Watercolor 

Every time I send a photo of a finished commission,  I always do so with bated breath...hoping that the client will like it...fearing that they won't, and worrying about THEN WHAT?!

I have to say that most of my commission experiences have been fantastic.  I love the challenge, even if it can be difficult.  I have one phone message which I received after I completed the nearby pet portrait.  In the message, my client (also a dear friend) reacted to the first glimpse of the painting with an utter meltdown.  Her phone call message went through to voicemail.  I have vowed never to erase that recording! Listening to her brought tears to my eyes, as she literally sobbed with delight and expressed her overjoyed reaction to the painting.  (For those of us who are girls, we know this response is the absolute BEST compliment ever!).   My goal in art (and in life for that matter) is to be anything but boring, and yet, I always hope to emotionally move someone in a good way when they view my work.  Her tears represent "the ultimate" type of reaction for me. When I need affirmation, I just listen to her boo-hooing all over again.  She reminds me of why I am doing this...I guess it's like applause to the performer.

On the other hand, you also have to be ready to deal with uncertainty and ego risks when doing commissions.  Once, I sent out images of my completed commission, and didn't hear back for a few days... talk about flop-sweat!  I was imagining all kinds of reasons to explain the silence...none of them good.  In the end, the lack of response was due to reasons which had everything to do with my client, and nothing to do with me or my  paintings...Nonetheless, it was a difficult few days and my insecurities were challenged.

All in all, accepting commissions is just another avenue for connecting with potential customers and patrons.  I donate 30% of my sales to charity and do so because that arrangement helps me overcome my shyness and makes selling worth the risk and the trouble.  I like the idea of sending my work out into the world to do some good...kind of paying forward on the blessing of being able to make art for a living and doing this thing which makes me so happy.  If my work can make some money, make someone happy, and make a difference in the world, then that's the best kind of win-win-win situation I can imagine.

I hope you consider doing commissions if you're an artist.  If you are interested in having me paint for you on a commissioned basis, please feel free to contact me...but when I send you a photo of your finished painting...please don't leave me hanging! ;-)

Join me in Tuscany October 2015...there are still a few spots left on the trip.  See previous blog posts!
or Join me for Art classes in Myrtle Beach...

Rebecca Zdybel
Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor
Art Lessons in all media
Myrtle Beach, SC
rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

Spread Light, Share Love, DO Art!

Feel free to share this blog post or portions of it on your own blog or website, but I ask that you you include:

Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

All paintings are copyrighted to Rebecca Zdybel with all rights are reserved by the artist.

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LOOSEN UP- Ideas for loosening up your artwork and staying positive in the process!

Do you wish you could "loosen up"?  I'm talking about in your artwork, but there may be application for your life here too.  Would you like to get more abstract or less stiff with your drawing or painting?  One way I would suggest is to try limiting the amount of time you take to do your work.














If you've never done a timed study, then I suggest you give it a try.  Set up a timer and begin with some warm up drawings- Start with 2 minutes and use newsprint paper or other throw away type paper, and a medium like charcoal or soft graphite.  A water soluble pen and a little brush with water can also work well and is less messy.  These materials allow you to put down some serious value quickly and also to quickly soften or put it light values.  Use the side of the charcoal, or smudge with your fingers to quickly lay in the big shapes.  Use the tip of your charcoal to find edges or details after you lay in the big shapes.  If using a pen, find the contours first and then lay in the shadows with a wet brush.

"She's Got Game"
Charcoal and Ink on Paper $400 Framed

Use magazine photos, or real life.  To find people who are not moving around too much, think about taking your materials to a book store or to the beach.  People tend to stay in one place once they get settled in those locations.

After a few quick warm ups, increase your time allotment to 4 minutes and do a few more timed studies.  Think about working from shadow to shadow and connecting those shapes to form the subject.  

While warming up, AVOID JUDGING YOUR RESULTS!  This is very important.  Tell  the critical voice in your head to keep quiet and just do your best to connect your hand with your eyes and gain an impression of your subject.  

I love the figure and make it my business to draw and paint people whenever I can.  This particular piece was executed with the clock ticking and a limited period of time to get it done.   I have found that the energy injected into the process of doing timed studies really helps to impart a dynamic quality to my drawings and paintings.  Not all of them are great,  but this one turned out well.

If you don't have time to do a fine piece of work, then why expect it?  Right?! 

Kathie George, a friend and wonderfully positive and creative teacher,  calls this voice in your head the "Itty Bitty $#!**& Committee".  Isn't that a great term and a great descriptor of what can go on inside all of our heads as artists?  It's the voice that looks at whatever you have created and says things like:
 " That looks terrible."
" A 5 year-old could do better."
"What are you doing wasting your time?"
"You are not talented."
"What makes you think you could ever be artistic when you've never been good at this, EVER".

I have an old dog who currently wears diapers because she listens to the bad voices in her head more than the positive ones (of course this assumes she is listening, AND since she can't hear AT ALL this is probably unlikely...but that's for a whole different discussion).

Some of us battle these voices in our head, or the Committee of Negativity more than others.  Some of us even give voice to this inner negativity and take the time to say negative things about ourselves and our work out loud and possibly often.  I do not recommend this.  Words have power, and expressing that negativity is not helpful...to you or to others who may be trying to do their best along with you.  

In my experience, all of us do our best on any given day.  That may be better or more effective on some days than others.  I have bad days, everyone does.  However, I have also found that no matter what, there is always something to enjoy about whatever results from someone's best effort.  THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON-  CELEBRATING WHAT IS GOOD.  What's not so good can also be useful as something to change the next time.

"You yourself deserve the same loving-kindness which you extend to others"

Back to loosening up your drawings:

Once the warm ups are finished, you will be ready to increase your drawing time to about 10 Minutes.  I predict this will feel as if you have been given an incredibly more generous time for your drawing, and you will find that your warm ups will have readied your eyes and your hand to work together more quickly.  Do a few 10 minute drawings and make it the priority to try and capture the important forms or the gestures.

If drawing people, I usually avoid drawing the head first.  If I do, I usually give my figure a bowling ball head that ends up being too large.  Heads are much smaller than we think they are.
Try this idea:
Begin your drawing by finding the line of the shoulders.  Next find the line of the hips.  You'll note that those two lines are usually opposite one another as in the paintings below.  If you drew a line from shoulder to shoulder, it would be in direct opposition to the line from hip to hip.  

Because these are timed studies, some features of the body may need to be left out.  Maybe that can be a good thing!  

Later, if you want to paint the drawings, you can think about giving yourself an equally limited time frame.  I happen to love the understated quality of these kinds of figures.

SETTING A TIME LIMIT IMPARTS ENERGY TO YOUR LINES AND BRUSHWORK

Here are a few more examples of some timed studies I did after warming up.  I love the loose quality and semi-abstracted forms which come out of the need to work fast!  I especially love semi-abstract figure studies.

Try using large brushes to cover more area more quickly.  Try using large paper and large pieces of charcoal or pastel.  The secret is basically to "Try".  Play around and have some fun!  Eliminate the imperative to "create a masterpiece every time"...you may just surprise yourself with what results!

Enjoy giving this method of loosening yourself up to allow for more expressive and energized mark making.  I'd love to hear about your experiences.  Feel free to share your results with me or comment here. 

        

Rebecca 

Share Love, Spread Light, DO ART!

Feel free to share this blog post on your own blog or website, but I ask that you you include:

Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

"Like" my facebook page: Rebecca Zdybel- Artist
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Tuscany! Join me for an Artfully Tasteful Tour of Tuscany 9-27 to 10-4-14

Sign up for this exciting trip by following this link! (Numbers are limited so sign up early)
https://www.ilchiostro.com/index.php?action=workshop-details&item=257

Let's slow down and savor life the way they do in Tuscany...

Sometimes we need to distance ourselves from real life in order to gain perspective. After my fourth trip to this region, I have come to the realization that I love the Tuscan lifestyle!  I love focusing on the meal at the end of the day, with an appreciation of the fresh food and great wines that this region has to offer.  

I have a dream...

I am hosting a trip back to Tuscany combining all the things I love: Travel, Great Food, Cooking, Wine, Art, Teaching, Friends, Music…it's a dream fulfilled! 

Let's share the peace and tranquility created by the beautiful scenery.  

Let's share the experience of making art in beautiful settings. Personal and intimate connections occur with locations and people when you take the time to paint or sketch them while traveling.  

Let's learn more about how to cook "Tuscan style"...
and have a good time doing it!  

Then let's relax and enjoy delicious food and great wines! 
With home-prepared breakfasts, and dinners prepared by our excellent chef: 5 course gourmet meals and wine included in your price.  

In the process I hope we can cement new friendships and make some great memories.

Prerequisites if you would like to join us:

1. A positive attitude and a capacity for laughter
2. Willingness to dwell on beautiful things and/or indulge others as they dwell on them
   
3. A taste for farm-to-table organic foods and wines,  
   
4. Willingness to explore incredibly beautiful and wonderfully medievel Tuscan towns.  
   
5. Interest in learning about art, and/or making art through drawing, painting, photography, and/or writing.  
   
   If you aren't an artist, then you can either indulge us when we talk about these things or do your own thing...take a walk, swim in the olympic size pool, grab a nap, read a book, write your novel, make notes in your journal, or take advantage of #6...
6. Have an interest in Optional opportunities to cook with my favorite Tuscan chef, Andrea Anichini?  If you are part of this trip, then you can enjoy some cooking lessons..how fun will it be to learn a few of Andrea's Tuscan Tricks of the Trade?! And yes...he is just as  FUNNY AS CHARMING AS THIS PHOTO IMPLIES! (He is also a sommelier!)

   

   Our Chef -Andrea Anichini

7. Interest in Optional tours of local Tuscan wineries, viewing local art history sites and/or historical sites.  (These might be alternatives for artists and non-artists alike). 
   
   
   
   Act now and hold your spot on this great trip!  A deposit of $500 will hold your spot in this very LIMITED GROUP. This deposit may be made by following the link below.  I will cap the number to keep it manageable and friendly.  

In case you have health concerns, my husband Paul is a physician and is ready to lend medical assistance to our group members.  I always ask him to bring along antibiotics...just in case. 

The dates for this trip are set for Sept. 27-Oct. 4, 2014. I have developed an itinerary with Il Chiostro, who will be handling all the registration. The complete description of the tour is found on their website which you may review via this link.

https://www.ilchiostro.com/index.php?action=workshop-details&item=257

I’d love to hear from you and possibly have you join me for what is sure to be a memorable time in Tuscany Sept. 27-Oct. 4, 2014. If you'd care to come early and/or stay longer, feel free to use this trip as a jumping off point for further travels in Europe...

Comment here or contact me via email. Andiamo!  (let’s go!)

Bubble Boys- Castellina, Italy

San Fedele Awaits- Watercolor by Rebecca Zdybel

Rebecca Zdybel
Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor
Art Lessons in all media
Myrtle Beach, SC
rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

Spread Light, Share Love, DO Art!

Feel free to share this blog post on your own blog or website, but I ask that you you include:

Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

"Like" my facebook page: Rebecca Zdybel- Artist
Join me on Google+ Rebecca Zdybel Google+ Profile