Katrina Willis Studio http://katrinawillis.com/journal Painting Simple Narratives from Everyday Life Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:21:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 en Daydreamer from above http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/26/daydreamer-from-above/ http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/26/daydreamer-from-above/#comments Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:30:44 +0000 Katrina Willis http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/26/daydreamer-from-above/ Daydreamer from Above

Katrina Willis, Daydreamer from above, 2008.
Pastel on toned paper, 9 x 12 inches.   © The Artist
http://www.katrinawillis.com

]]> http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/26/daydreamer-from-above/feed/ Contemplation 2 http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/26/contemplation-2/ http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/26/contemplation-2/#comments Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:30:58 +0000 Katrina Willis http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/26/contemplation-2/ Orchard 2

I didn’t really get a photo of the second painting I completed at the Orchard, but here is are photos of the progress mid-picture.

Orchard 3

]]> http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/26/contemplation-2/feed/ Contemplation 1 http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/25/contemplation-1/ http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/25/contemplation-1/#comments Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:30:35 +0000 Katrina Willis http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/25/contemplation-1/ Contemplation 1

Katrina Willis, Contemplation 1, 2008.
Oil on Canvas, 24 x 36 inches.   © The Artist
http://www.katrinawillis.com

This weekend I painted live at the building of the Orchard community in Aurora.  This was the first of three 24×36 figurative gesture paintings I completed in a little under one hour each.  The model, Essex, was such a trooper!  He sat the entire length without a single break - amazing.  I enjoyed the entire experience.  More pictures to come soon!

]]> http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/25/contemplation-1/feed/ Thoughtful http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/22/thoughtful/ http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/22/thoughtful/#comments Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:30:40 +0000 Katrina Willis http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/22/thoughtful/ 2008-08-22 Thoughtful

Katrina Willis, Thoughtful), 2008.
Oil on Linen, 16 x 20 inches.   © The Artist
http://www.katrinawillis.com

Same song, second verse.  More studies on contemplation.  This is a larger study of Mark in monochrome– needless to say: he was overdue! : )  I’ll post again on Monday.  Have a great weekend!

]]> http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/22/thoughtful/feed/ The Thinker (on the train) http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/21/the-thinker-on-the-train/ http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/21/the-thinker-on-the-train/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:45:09 +0000 Katrina Willis http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/21/the-thinker-on-the-train/ the thinker

Katrina Willis, The Thinker (on the train), 2008.
Graphite pencil on toned paper, heightened with white, 9 x 12 inches.   © The Artist
http://www.katrinawillis.com

I’m working on a special drawing series this week on contemplation, so a lot of my sketches have been exploring multiple modes for what that might look like.  I’m also shamelessly stealing my title from Rodin today, too.

On a related note, we’ve opened up a Facebook fan page for Katrina Willis Studio!  We’d love to have your support, so if you’re on Facebook, go check it out!

]]> http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/21/the-thinker-on-the-train/feed/ Copper Earrings http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/18/copper-earrings/ http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/18/copper-earrings/#comments Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:30:18 +0000 Katrina Willis http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/18/copper-earrings/ self in black / copper earrings

Katrina Willis, Copper Earrings, 2008.
Pastel on toned paper, 9 x 12 inches.   © The Artist
http://www.katrinawillis.com

Okay, I admit - I’m on a little pastel kick.  I’ve been considering the temperature of color with more and more sensitivity, and it’s fun to experiment with different media.  Pastels are especially challenging because, unlike painting, you’re stuck with the color value of the stick.  But I love challenges, so I would say this fits right in line with a solid challenge.  Check back tomorrow for a new picture.

]]> http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/18/copper-earrings/feed/ At the window http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/15/at-the-window/ http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/15/at-the-window/#comments Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:30:17 +0000 Katrina Willis http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/15/at-the-window/ at the window

Katrina Willis, At the Window, 2008.
Pastel on toned paper, 9 x 12 inches.   © The Artist
http://www.katrinawillis.com

at the window detail

Katrina Willis, At the Window (detail), 2008.
Pastel on toned paper.   © The Artist
http://www.katrinawillis.com

I drew myself at the window earlier today in pastel- here is the sketch and a close up.   I love the softness pastel lends to a picture.  I do not enjoy the dust!  Happy Friday everyone!

]]> http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/15/at-the-window/feed/ Texas wants you anyway http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/14/texas-wants-you-anyway/ http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/14/texas-wants-you-anyway/#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:30:40 +0000 Katrina Willis http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/14/texas-wants-you-anyway/ texas wants you anyway

Katrina Willis, Texas Wants You Anyway, 2008.
Graphite on toned paper, heightened with white, 9 x 12 inches.   © The Artist
http://www.katrinawillis.com

This is a funny drawing.  I was so fortunate to get to spend some time with my good friends today in downtown Chicago.  The day was beautiful, but we inevitably ran into some good ol’ southern accents - from the looks of things, these noises came out of tourists.  I love the mixing of cultures in the city.  Plus, spending time in the sunshine is so wonderful when the weather is so moderate.  So, back to the drawing- I didn’t take the chance to draw one person from life today, so this is a collaborate drawing from some of my smaller sketches.  On occasion, I like to draw a bunch of noses, or a bunch of eyes… just for the sake of study.  The hair reminds me of ‘big Texas hair’, hence the title.  …Loving the sunshine!

]]> http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/14/texas-wants-you-anyway/feed/ Gypsy Girl http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/13/gypsy-girl/ http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/13/gypsy-girl/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:15:54 +0000 Katrina Willis http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/13/gypsy-girl/ Gypsy girl

Katrina Willis, Gypsy Girl, 2008.
Graphite pencil on toned paper, heightened with white, 3 x 5 inches.   © The Artist
http://www.katrinawillis.com

I’m really excited about modeling the form.  This is a tiny sketch - this girl reminds me of some wonderful Sargent pictures.  I am about to start a series inspired by some of his work, so keep your eyes peeled!

]]> http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/13/gypsy-girl/feed/ Fleeting http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/12/fleeting/ http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/12/fleeting/#comments Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:30:21 +0000 Katrina Willis http://katrinawillis.com/journal/2008/08/12/fleeting/ Fleeting

Katrina Willis, Fleeting, 2008.
Graphite pencil on toned paper, heightened with white, 9 x 12 inches.   © The Artist
http://www.katrinawillis.com

This may have been my fastest drawing in the history of drawings! (Well… with one exception - there was that 30 second gesture drawing that ACU purchased in 2002…)  I maybe spent five minutes on this before Mark had to run.

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