Left to Right: #97 Ultrafine Sharpie, blind   #98 blue and black ballpoint pens (both ran out of ink), pink fountain pen, semi-blind   #99 pink fountain pen, blind   #100 blue fountain pen, blind   

Wow, I am excited to say that not only did I complete my first #100dayproject2021, but I finally managed to post all of them (more difficult than the challenge). My project was to complete 100 single line, blind or semi-blind portrait drawings in 100 days. I did not  pressure myself to do a drawing a day. With Covid and people using Zoom calls for meetings and connecting, I found this a great way and time to do the drawings. After I got "caught" by an artist friend during an art group meeting, I would take my face off the screen  and mute so that my movement and "staring" at the screen did not distract anyone during a meeting.

I learnt that my eye/hand/brain had a disconnect because I was so surprised by segments of the face that I had not completed but my brain thought I had! Rollerball and fountain pens worked best. They moved smoothly, did not skip and had a better feel. The top right one, I had to use 3 pens as the first two ran out of ink (hence the semi-blind status)! The faces became more detailed as the challenge continued on and head shapes were better (not too skinny or wide). If I kept moving my pen at a steady pace, I had more success in proportions. When I slowed down or stopped, the proportions got out of whack. The single line was challenging as it presented additional lines to go from A to B where lines are not on the face (between eyes etc.). I got better at mentally designing where to start and finish as the project continued on.

I would highly recommend this exercise for anyone (especially if you have a sense of humour)! If considering doing the #100dayproject next year, be kind to yourself and try something do-able with few supplies (pens and computer paper on a clip board for this one). I don't know what I will do with these, but they might make a great overlay on an abstract...stay tuned.

Top left to right:  #91 golf pencil, blind   #92 Twin-tipped Elegant Writer, blind   #93 ball point pen, blind (ran out of ink on left side of face)   #94 pink fountain pen, blind   #95 ball point pen, blind   #96 fountain pen, blind

This challenge is completed but my posting is not, one more to go after this. Now, all single continuous line drawings are blind (not looking at paper once drawing begins). I find the pieces of the face that I have not filled in very interesting because my brain thought I had! A complete surprise when done. I am much better at mapping out the features and size of the face now than I was in the beginning. My favourite two above are the top centre (the first with headphones) and the bottom middle. In both pieces, the faces are not completely drawn in. In the middle bottom, check out where the two ears are located, what fun to see at the end.

​Please vote for my painting in this contest. The big prize is $25,000 for the Alberta Children's Hospital. After working there for over 25 years, I have seen first hand the wonderful ways they use donation money. It is not based on the painting but on the number of votes per painting. I would love to give back with your help! Click HERE to vote. #FacesofCanadianHealthcare  

Top left to right: #85, pink fountain pen, blind   #86 fountain pen, blind   #87 ball point pen   #88 Extra-fine Sharpie, blind   #89 Twin-tipped Elegant Writer, blind   #90 fountain pen, blind

The #100daychallenge 2021 is now over and completeted (whooo hooo, my first one) but I am behind in posting. These ones were interesting as I tried different kinds of pens. The two that made me laugh are the bottom left and mid-bottom. As I really focused on specific features, that part of the drawing became smaller and tighter and you can see I was losing my way back to finishing it off. I needed to treat all parts of the face the same. I am much better and filling in a lot more detail than when I began (see earlier posts below).

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

Top left to right: #79 pink fountain pen, blind  #80 Conte pencil, blind  #81 Twin-tipped Elegant Writer, blind  #82 golf pencil, blind  #83 ballpoint pen, blind  #84 ballpoint pen, blind

More fun with faces. I am happy that I made it this far with the 100 Day Project and that is was doable and fun. I am missing less of the faces than I did in the beginning and they are looking more like their subject. I think it is muscle memory and having a better idea where I am on the page. Drawing in one long single line without looking at the page until I am finished always offers funny surprises when I am done.

I bravely (or so it felt at the time) entered this open juried show with the Ontario Society of Artists. I was thrilled to find out that out of almost 450 artists, my work would be included as one of the 51!! Click HERE for the online exhibition. Another bonus to this exhibition is that there is an YouTube Livestream Opening Thursday, May 13, 2021, 8-8:30 pm ET with a chance to win a $250 door prize toward an art purchase from one of the participating artists.

"Cocktail Hour For One"
​15" x 10" Mixed Media on watercolour paper, #20010521

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

"Jaffa"
9" x 9" acrylic dog portrait commission   NFS - Sold

Meet Jaffa, a beloved pet that I was commissioned to paint as a surprise gift for her owners. This was really fun as I knew I could use wild and non-dog colours in this portrait. Above you can see the fun underlayers with the dog sketched out in yellow (picture 1 above), then as Raffa was beginning to look more dog-like (picture 2, still in progress). I will often take a black and white photo while the painting is in progress so that I make sure the likeness is still there and not getting overpowered or lost in the colours I use (picture 3, still in progress). I was told that this was Jaffa's happy face (loved that!).