I couldn’t think of many options for the letter U in this A-Z Challenge. Although I’ve always wanted to try underwater photography, I don’t have the equipment for it. Consequently, today I decided to show off a rare piece of traditional artwork. I say rare because I’ve not indulged in a lot of non-digital artwork because I’m not a fan of the mess, the storage, the stink of paints and turpentine, or the cat footprints in paint across the carpet because she walked across my palette while I took a break.
I did this piece in gouache paints on paper. It’s a self-portrait.
Should I make this image my new official author photo (chuckle)? Have you ever gone snorkelling? Have you ever dabbled in art?
Note: For the month of April during the
A-Z Challenge I am pausing from my usual blogging theme of writing and social media tips. Instead I hope to share with you my photography. Much of it is inspired by the fabulous and helpful site,
The Bookshelf Muse. Please check it out and enjoy.
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58 comments:
That's amazing Lynda, you're so talented. I've dabbled in many art classes and have absolutely NO talent. Still find it fun. I usually play with watercolor because it's less messy and washes off the hands easily.
I doodle alot! Does that count? LOL! I can't swim either! Yikes, I feel totally useless now! Ooh U word!! Yay! Take care
x
That's a great piece of artwork! I'm not much of an artist, I'm afraid: got a very low C in my O-Level Art. And I'm with you on hating the mess from a painting session. But I have been snorkelling, and absolutely loved it! We did it in Malaysia at a marine reserve with a lovely coral reef. Tempted me to take up scuba-diving, but I worry about having to rely on a tank for my air, and my ears are very sensitive to pressure changes.
J.C. Martin
A to Z Blogger
There is some stunning underwater photography out there. As I can see, you've been underwater. Just need the right camera!
That is really good, Lynda! Excellent colors and shading.
Not a fan of the physical messy stuff anymore either. And if I had to deal with footprints on top of it, I'd be even less of a fan.
That's good! I'd love to try snorkelling one of these days! :)
Wow! That is fabulous. Nice work.
wow....is this glasses you are holding in the portrait?
Google "words that begin with__". There's a great site with Scrabble words that can give you ideas. Some of these last words of the alphabet are tough.
I have gone snorkeling. In Hawaii. Loved it.
Wow! That is really good!! You have talent girl!
Great picture. An underwater camera would be amazing. I hope you get one - I'd love to see the photos.
Wow, that's really cool. I'm always blown away to learn that my fellow writers are also accomplished artists as well. So cool.
And, no, I don't believe in going in the ocean. There are things in there that will eat you.
I am both impressed by, and jealous of, your artistic talent. Think I'll stick to the snorkelling ;)
Nicely done. I would use it! And we've been Snuba diving in Maui. Its a combo of scuba and snorkeling. You dive attached to a floating tank of compressed air for about 30 minutes. Very fun.
I am fascinated with art and I like to pretend that I can actually paint. The kids and I do it about once a month (get out all the paints, brushes & canvases etc.). We have a really good time and I am forced to always paint something very abstract because it is really just a mess of mixed colors and textures. I love your artwork. It really is awesome, you have another talent.
I loved snorkeling in Hawaii at Hanauma Bay in Hawaii. The fish swim right up to you at eat pees out of your hands. I tried scuba diving in Mexico twice and both times I suffered a panic attack.
I love your painting! My creative side comes out in other ways. I couldn't wait to go snorkeling. I was so excited, it was all I could talk about. Imagine my surprise when I hated it. I was like 'what?' The only thing I can figure is that not only did I hate being forced to breathe through my mouth, I'm a little bit claustrophobic. And I felt a little trapped...because I was forced to breathe through my mouth. The underwater sights were beautiful, though :)
I love it, nice drawing. Yes I snorkel worms. Greetings.
I have family members who are very artist. They can draw and paint with very little effort. I always wished I could draw or paint. I didn't get that dose of talent in my DNA. I got the stinging-the-words-together talent...which suits me fine.
I love your self portrait! Awesome! You're just a bundle of talent!
oops...that would be the "stringing"-the-words
tricky fingers this morning...lol.
Sheesh, someone is multi-talented :) Is there anything you can't do?
Sarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)
nice art!
I've never been underwater, and I praise God for that LOL
That's a great painting!
I've never been snorkeling; would love to try, but I think learning how to swim first might help . . .
Wow, you are amazing.
This is great. I wonder what you are looking at in this painting. I have gone snorkeling before- it's so much fun and a great workout too.
Well, I'm impressed. I wish I could paint...but nope. Not even close!
I started painting in oils, but that changed to gouache, which changed to pen and ink (my favourite form of traditional art). Of course, that all changed once I discovered the joys of computer generated art.
absolutely it counts!
Snorkelling in Malaysia would have been awesome!! I tried a brief reef dive once, but my ears also were sensitive to pressure so I never tried anything deeper.
I'm not holding anything in the image (could just be my dodgey artwork)
gah! If only I'd known about that sooner!!! lol
The movie Jaws has a lot to answer for ;)
Oh wait, there's also those stinging jelly fish, and other nasties in there. I try not to think about it ;)
oh! That sounds like lots of fun!
That's a great painting. Seems to jump out at you! I've been scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef and saw a giant clam and turtle. Wow, seems like every day I have a story from Australia to share with you!
Swimming with the fish and feeding them is so much fun! I did that near the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia, once.
hahaha yeah, it's not always easy. My goggles always leaked, I got water in my breathing pipe and constantly had to stop to adjust. But like you said, the sights are beautiful.
Math
If you come to Australia, I might take you to the beach, but I promise not to make you go swimming.
That's often a good start ;)
The Great Barrier Reef is the best place for scuba diving. Keep sharing! I love it!
fanged fish, perhaps? ;)
I will remember your promise :)
Great painting. I used to paint while in school in NZ but back home, I had to leave it to get serious about studies. Maybe later.
Riya
Is there anything creative you CAN"T do well? You amaze me, Lynda. I am totally envious!
You are crazy talented. And yes, I have been snorkeling. Loved it. And I love to draw, when I can find the free time.
I love snorkeling and got my kids addicted too. They're 7 & 9 and do very well in the ocean. It was neat to see onlookers stare when they snorkeled as 4 & 6 yr olds:)
Last year I went snorkeling for the first time. I took one of those underwater (disposable) cameras. My pictures were terrible, but I had a lot of fun. I hope you get the chance to take some underwater pictures.
I love it! That's so cool and you are so talented!!
Hi Lynda! Great self-portrait. You are very talented. I've never been snorkeling, but have heard that it can be a lot of fun.
Love the self portrait, Lynda! Yes, I've been snorkeling in Cancun, Cabo San Lucas and the Carribean. I'm awed at the amazing underwater life I have seen!
Cool pic! Thanks for sharing that. We really did want to see. :)
Sure, I've dabbled in art. And daubed and dribbled and drizzled. Never used gauche, though. (Never snorkeled, either.)
Fun self-portrait. In my best one, I'm holding a rubber chicken.
excellent!
rubber chickens are awesome
I was wrong it was just blue shade.very nice.
That is a fantastic painting. Highly original composition, and I love the play of light.
I dabble in art. Tried oils years ago and didn't like the mess. I now use gouache, I like the clarity of color but I do find it tricky to use because it dries so quickly.
Lyn, I love this post! Thank you so much for sharing that image. You are not only talented but I just really appreciate this insight into you. Underwater photography would be a good fit for you, I think -- should you ever have access to the proper equipment.
And, in theory, I'm quite endeared by the cat padding a wicked mess of rainbow across the floor. (In theory.)
yeah, gouache works very differently to oils. I had the same problem when I went from oils to Gouache as well :)
I will admit I laughed out loud when I first saw the footprints... but then I had to clean it up. Not so easy ;)
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