Top left to right:  #73 Elegant Writer, blind   #74 Fine Sharpie Marker, blind   #75 Turquoise twinned-tipped Elegant Marker, blind   #76 Turquoise twinned-tipped Elegant Marker, blind  #77 pink fountain pen, blind   #78 blue fountain pen, blind

Starting with the eyes and moving around to the nose and mouth seems to work the best. Working around the neck area then the hair and head in one long continuous line I miss less. It is surprising how often only one ear is in view. The top left is missing the cheek area and the right eyeball is just above the eye, funny surprises when I am done. Blind drawing (without looking at my paper) is more comfortable now than it was in the beginning.
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​​ #fundrawingchallenge #continuouslineface #100dayproject2021 #karenoliversfineart #semiblinddrawing #blinddrawing #funwithfaces #fundrawingchallenge #semiblindquickfacedrawing #learningfunchallenge #expressivedrawing @karenoliversfineart

Top left to right #67 Fine Staedtler pen, blind   #68 Conte pencil, semi-blind   #69 turquoise fountain pen, blind (notice left ear in forehead)   #70 black Elegant Writer, blind   #71 pink fountain pen, blind   #72 Twin tipped Elegant Writer, blind

This set was different and interesting. The top middle one had his hand on his face which really made it interesting to fgure out where I was. The turquoise one made me laugh as I had spent quite a bit of time on her ear which ended up in her forehead! The bottom left had a large earring and I was pleased it was actually in the right place. A hat added interest on the pink one although the head is much to small. Seems I made up for it in the last one! Still playing and having fun and feel like I am getting better at looking at the shapes rather than the "things".

So excited to be juried into the Courtyard Gallery in Enderby, B.C.!! My framed paintings, unframed matted paintings and greeting cards will be displayed for sale with other artists' work. Very excited that I will be hosting in the gallery once a month or so. I love to talk about artists' work and this gallery has a wonderful variety of hand crafted pieces as well as paintings. If you are in the area, stop by for a look at the treasures at 104 - 907 Belvedere Street, Enderby, B.C. Website: Courtyardgallery.ca or check it out on Facebook. Below are the framed paintings I currently have in the gallery.

@Karenoliversfineart  @Courtyardgallery @Enderbyartscouncil #funinagallery #canadianartforsale #colourfulartwork  #artforsale  #contemporaryartist #oilpainting #paintwithjoy #artjourney #juriedart  #galleryartforsale

Top left to right: #61 Conte drawing pencil, blind,  #62 Twin tipped blue Elegant Writer, blind  #63 turquoise fountain pen, blind  #64 Conte pencil, blind   #65 Micron 0.3 pen, blind   #66 red ink ballpoint pen, blind

It is interesting to look back at ones done in the beginning to see how much the drawings have changed. I seem to have a better sense of placement and missing less of the faces. It is much easier to start with the eyes and then map out the rest from there. My paper is on a clipboard so it stays still and held in place with my left hand which I think helps with where I am drawing. Another thing I have noticed is what I focus on usually gets bigger if I spend longer in one area. All in all I am really happy with this doable challenge.

,Yesterday was the first day I was able to go out on my stand-up-paddleboard. The sun was shining, the lake was calm and no wind...glorious! I packed my sketchbook, Elegant Writer calligraphy pen and a paint brush. After pulling in to shore and checking out one of my favourite landmarks to include, I started drawing with the pen. Once I was finished I used my paint brush and water to dampen the inked areas and it ran together like paint. It reminds me of the old kid's colouring books that you used water only on dots to get a painting. I could then drag this wet ink into other areas. The ink will sometimes separate into blues, pinks and purple although the black pen is the only one that does this. It dries extremely quickly, but once the wet paint has dried it is permanent and cannot be re-activated, perfect for a sketch book. Enjoying the peacefulness in both my surroundings and mind, I packed it all back into a heavy ziplocked bag and headed back, happy and content.

@karenoliversfineart #pleinairesketch #ElegantWritersketch #landscapesketch #watersketch #paintwithjoy #joyfulpainting #pleinairesketching #maralakesketch

I tried to add water with a paint brush to a couple that I used an Elegant Writer felt pen (usually for calligraphy). The ink reacted like paint when wet but the computer paper rippled with the water and stayed that way when dry. I might try to iron it to see what happens. Once the Elegant Writer ink dries after water has been added, it is permanent.
top left to right - #55 blue ink Elegant writer felt pen, blind   #56 turquois fountain pen, blind  #57 green double tipped Elegant writer felt pen, blind, #58 semi-blind, fine Sharpie #59 turquois fountain pen, blind #60 blue roller pen, bind

I have been asked where I get my subjects from. Most but not all have been during zoom meetings. I don't do well sitting still and seem to comprehend better while doodling or having some movement. When the video and my microphone is turned off (showing just my name), out come the pens, pencils or whatever is on hand and a clipboard with computer pages. Zoom is perfect as the "unknowing subjects" are in a fairly constant position sitting still. I haven't asked for anyone's permission therefore do not include their names in the description below. Do you think you would recognize yourself in this format?

​Some of my subjects have been live but it doesn't take long before they look my way, feeling that someone is looking at them. If the drawing is blind then I quickly look away just to the right or left of their head and that seems to satisfy them that I am not staring at them but looking past them, whew. At that point I have to keep my pen still and just wait (feels like a cat and mouse game: am I going to get caught and if so, will they be upset or insulted??).
#49 blue ink pen, blind (top left),  #50 blue ball point pen, blind,  #51 blue ball point pen, blind,  #52 turquois fountain pen, blind,  #53 double-tipped Elegant Writer felt pen, blind,  #54 turquois fountain pen, blind,  

So far trying all kinds of pens, pencils, fountain pens, ball point pens, pencil crayons that I prefer fountain pens. Particularly the inexpensive fun colours of the Zebra brand fountain pens I found at Staples. These can be bought in a bunch of fun colours (see top two middle faces). They move smoothly and don't blob when I stop. Second favourite are the gel pens for the same reason. Pencils and pencil crayons feel like they really have to be pushed comparatively. As these are done in one long continuous line, the smooth flow seemed to make a difference.
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​#43 (upper left) black gel pen, blind,  #44 red ink pen, semi-blind, #45 black ink pen, blind, #46 (bottom left) black ink pen, blind,  #47 turquoise fountain pen, blind,  #48 blue ballpoint pen, semi-blind

This was a very fun commission as I knew I could use colours that are not normally seen in a photograph. You can see some of the colours in palettes and swatch in the photos above including purple, green, turquoise, yellow and of course blue. It was fun painting "white" fur with all these colours to get shading and the feel of sun on the fur. Rigmor commissioned this painting of the beloved pet Oakley to give as a gift to their Grandsons. She was happy with the result as were the surprised new owners.

#petportraits  #karenoliversfineart  #acrylicpetportrait  #colourfulpainting  #paintwithjoy @karenoliversfineart  #paintingmakesmehappy  #canadianartist  #animalpainting

"Amber Amour"
​Mixed media on watercolour paper,  8" x 6" #20004421

I often take photos or look through my phone camera at my art in black and white to see the values in a painting. I can't do the artist "squinty eye thing" as all I see are eye lashes. I am hoping this is because of my almond eye shape.

It is so much easier to see the light and dark and get away from the colour and then correct/add/delete what is not working. This painting was done in a series using acrylic colours that I don't usually use and in a random underpainting. I then turn it around and around and see if anything inspires me. I saw and loved the large vase shape so added flowers with thicker paint in the middle for texture. The bold strokes and varied shapes were intriguing. 

​@karenoliversfineart #texturedpainting #mixedmedia #mixedmediapainting #expressiveart #canadianartist #artjourney #karenoliversfineart #supportartisands #artforsale #paintwithjoy

6 more of this challenge - creating a portrait only looking at the person (not my paper) and in a long continuous line. It is fun to look back and find the start and finish points. I am finding what I like and don't like. Doing the challenge daily has not worked and I seem to go in fits and starts, doing 2 or 3 in a sitting, usually trying to catch up.

Coloured pencils and regular felt pens do not work as well, they don't seem to glide well. Fountain pens, gel pens and regular ink ball point pens glide much better. This is important when I am trying to do a portrait blind as the pens do not skip and I lose my observation.  Drawing during Zoom calls and photos taken from the TV seem to work well for me. When I am on zoom I take my mic and video off so I am not disturbing anyone with my staring and movement. I have been called out on it a couple of times from art friends!

The more of these I do, the more I enjoy it. What is really entertaining is when I am finished and look at it, I immediately see what I did not do (but thought I had - like the left of Rory's face. Simone had her hair back in a slick tight pony tail and I was delighted to see that I had captured that.

Top right: #37. Rory, blind, black gel pen  #38. Simone, blind, black gel pen  #39 black gel pen, blind  #40 black regular felt pen, blind  #41 red pencil crayon, blind  #42 black gel pen, blind

​​ #fundrawingchallenge #continuouslineface #100dayproject2021 #karenoliversfineart #semiblinddrawing #blinddrawing #funwithfaces #fundrawingchallenge #semiblindquickfacedrawing #learningfunchallenge #expressivedrawing @karenoliversfineart