This time of year is filled with a little bit of beauty mixed with a little bit of creepiness. The leaves changing colors, the drop in temperature, pumpkin everything...is beautiful. Throw in Halloween and things can get a little bit spooky. It's a mix that just seems to work together. This week's W5 is a little bit of beauty and a little bit of psychological thriller.
Autumn Art
Let's start off with the 'pumpkin everything'.
I have a really hard time wasting acrylic paint. Whenever I complete a work of art I try to get as much of the paint back in the tube as I can, but it doesn't always work. My solution is to create mini works of art with the leftovers.
That is how this pumpkin came to be - and it's one of my favorites. The background is a mix of swipes of paint from the tip of my finger. Once it dried I used a small flat brush to create the pumpkin. Once the base coat was down (and while still wet) I took a few of the darker and lighter colors left on the pallet and created shadows and light.
Some of my best work - including jewelry and home goods - has come from playing with leftover paint.
How to Draw A Coffee Mug
Tea, coffee, hot chocolate...this mug works for them all and I am going to show you how to draw it in three quick steps.
The thing I love about this mug is it isn't perfectly shaped. It has bumps and dents which allows for a loose hand when drawing and practice shading. Let's get started.
Tips:
When you look at the mug you see it as a whole, when you start to draw it, see it in pieces, and then see those pieces as shapes.
Once you have lined up all your shapes, smooth them out and then darken and lighten areas. Don't worry about the background. We're only drawing the mug. Once you get comfortable with it you can add any background you like.
It's easier to build up color than take color away. Start with layers of light pressure until you get the area you're drawing as dark as you want.
Blending can be done with a trillion, tissue, or Q-tip.
The more you relax and enjoy the process the better it will turn out.
Progress, not perfection.
Book Review: Scoundrel
This book had my mouth hanging open. I couldn't believe the things this man said and did. I couldn't believe how many people believed in his innocence. And I couldn't believe he was freed from prison. He was a master manipulator. He even fooled William F. Buckley, Jr. into believing he was innocent of killing 15-year-old Victoria Zielinski. This is the true story of Edgar Smith.
He was charismatic and abusive. He was self-deprecating and cocky. He was a writer and a murderer. This man's life is hardly believable, but it's true.
The Patient
I have a feeling Steve Carell will be nominated for an award for the role he plays on The Patient (FX and streaming on HULU).
This is the story of a psychologist whose patient thinks having therapy sessions at his house would work better. When the doctor doesn't agree the patient comes up with a solution; chain his therapist to the floor in his basement.
During the many sessions they have we learn about the patient's compulsion and his struggle to stop. We also see the internal struggle the therapist is having as he deals with deep loss and the fight to stay alive. These are not passive scenes where two people sit across from each other and talk. We see first hand all that's going on.
The tone of the show is calm, almost relaxing, with moments of tension. The acting is superb. I can't wait to find out what happens at the end.
As I write this there are only two more episodes left, airing on Tuesday's. But you can stream episodes 1-8 on Hulu.
Photo of the Week
Sunrise at the Stadium
If you draw the mug, I would love to see it. If you watch the show, I would love to hear what you think of it.
Have a great weekend!
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