A Mother's Love....

"A Mother's Love" or "A Precious Moment"

(titles are difficult for me!)
charcoal drawing on Rives BFK, image is ~15 x 15 inch, matted size is 18 x18 inch
copyright MaryAnn Cleary

Well, this is the final version of a drawing that was posted on my other blog a couple of days ago. I tend to fuss with drawings until I feel that I have all the bugs worked out...especially in charcoal. I did leave it sit for a couple of days and I did send it off to my sweet daughter as she could look at it with fresh eyes. She also is not fearful of saying how it is...so off with the claw hand and there was an area that bothered us both...so fixed.

When doing a drawing like this I really like to put it on an easel, but this one I had on my drawing table. It is difficult to stand back and take a look without standing on a chair and trying not to fall. Eventually, I did pull it off the table and mount it to a board so that I could see it and finish it on an easel. What a difference!!!

If anyone would like a drawing similar of a loved one in their life, let me know. Of course there usually is money involved in doing something like this. I like to take photos, do sketches in real life, do a preliminary drawing and then work on the final piece. It takes considerable time, but the end results is usually worth it.

Enjoy!

Where is the Niche??

The Tree Faeries
original oil painting on canvas board, 9 x 12 inch, unframed
copyright 2008 MaryAnn Cleary

What is a niche? According to the dictionary, a niche can be many different things: a recess on the wall, a person who has found employment that fits his or her needs for the speciality that the person may work in, or a niche can be a specialized market.

The past few months I have been struggling with figuring out what my niche is with my artwork. What drives the passion? Where is a place where I can excel and do something that is not common place? I have always had a love of drawing or painting children and especially mothers with their children. There is a special bond. My greatest enjoyment comes from painting the little ones with their expressiveness and mannerisms so pure.

After finishing The Tree Faeries, I realized that I really enjoyed this painting. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy painting and drawing always. However, sometimes there are those that drive the passion and almost set the world on afire with the intensity. This was one of those paintings. All I could think about, all I could do was this painting. I loved the work involved with creating it and guess what, it came easily. It just clicked.

My small daily paintings are fun to do, but I view them more as an exercise for honing my skills as an artist. Sometimes they click, sometimes I feel like they require a lot of effort...but I am always learning.

So what is my niche? Painting the portrait of the child, or a mother and child in a natural and capturing way.

Currently, I am working on a charcoal of my daughter and her son. Look for the finished drawing in a couple of days. I promise to post it.

So what is your niche? For any who are interested in portraiture, Making a Mark is starting an awesome resource.

Julie and Nico

Original charcoal/conte drawing on toned paper

Size: 9"x11"

This drawing was done on a toned paper using conte crayon and charcoal. This was done from a photograph that I took along with doing some preliminary sketches before this drawing. I was hoping to take photos of the drawing as I progressed through it. However, today was what my friend calls, "a plan B day". It just did not happen due to other things interfering with my time. I hope to do this with my next drawing and hopefully by the end of the week. These are fun to do and absolutely my favorite types of drawing.

Enjoy and more to come.
~M