Summer

Summer, originally uploaded by alida saxon.

"Summer" (Earth)
12"x9" w/1" border
Colored Pencil on Black Artagain

I like how this turned out. Moody and pushing toward sunset. This is part of a project I've been wrestingly with to display not just the four seasons but the four elements. Winter/Water, Spring/Air, Summer/Earth, Autumn/Fire.

Print Available Here through Zazzle.com

Night Journey

Night Journey, originally uploaded by alida saxon.

Night Journey
5"x7"
Colored Pencil on Black Strathmore Artagain

Julius

Julius, originally uploaded by alida saxon.

I'm actually kind of sorry that I'll be mailing this away this week! Julius made for such a handsome study. I think I did pretty well with the likeness. If anything's off, it's that I've put a slight smile to his mouth and puffed his fur out a bit more around his face.

Here's the reference photo. A perfect portrait pose, in my opinion.

Julius (work in progress)

Julius (work in progress), originally uploaded by alida saxon.

Another of the commissions this week, but a work in progress this time. Just the white layer so far. I'm very happy on the progress of this one, so I thought I'd post it. Still working on the resemblance a bit but that'll come out more when I add the color. Julius' face looks just a bit too wide at the moment.

Here's the reference photo. A perfect portrait pose, in my opinion. So regal.

Sumo Nerifolia

Sumo Nerifolia, originally uploaded by alida saxon.

Here's the first of a few commissions that I put out an invitation for last week. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I found the bonsai challenging because they really have as much character as a person. I went with dramatic lighting on this one, and you can't see it well in the scan but there's an almost subliminally light layer of black cherry in the background that turned out quite rich.

Shadowland

Shadowland, originally uploaded by alida saxon.

"Shadowland"
22x15" w/1" border
Colored pencil on Black Stonehenge

Here is a snippet of what description popped into my head before creating this: "Shadows that only remember the shape of what they were and the masks they wore, now white as bone, wound up in the thread of their lives like clothing."

Statue

statue - back, originally uploaded by alida saxon.

I don't know how I missed posting this one. I did this piece back in my final year of art school.

The original sculpture was sculpted in clay, then a two piece plaster mold was made, the clay washed out. The mold was then filled with portland cement, fiberglass, more cement and then a core of cement mixed with aggregate, a piece of iron for a mount stuck up one leg and left to dry. Then I smashed the plaster mold off (scary) scraped and cleaned up the edges where the molding showed, and then finished it with a brown floor polish that gave it that patina.

valley of shadows wip 3

valley of shadows wip 3, originally uploaded by alida saxon.

Now I'm on to working the background. If the background isn't close to done when I start the figures, I could end up with some really scary results, as color is strongly affected by what you surround it with. Still, I leave room for adjustment of the backround later. It's easy to discover you've made something too light or dark once the whole piece is closer to done.

Valley of Shadows wip2

Valley of Shadows wip2, originally uploaded by alida saxon.

First color layer. Or if you like, the ugly layer. Or "What did you do to it?!" Everything flattens out, looks a little garrish and ugly. The only part I've pushed forward to more than one layer is the exposed skin of the swordman. I like to get skin done as soon as possible, because if the skin looks bad, it'll bring down the whole piece, in my opinion. Better to risk a screw up early, than leave it for last and get tense about it.

valley of shadows wip1

valley of shadows wip1, originally uploaded by alida saxon.

I bet some of you were wondering when my next colored pencil piece would come out! Well I'm out from a crushing load of other projects and this is finally in a condition people can see it.

Tentatively titled "Valley of Shadows" I've just finished the first white layer to start building up the light sources. Important when working on black paper, especially if you want to use yellow. The yellow Prismacolor pigments tend to be translucent.

The masks are coming along well. They're a blend of African, Javanese and Balinese influences. Doing the research on designs, it was interesting to see similiarities across different cultures.

I won't explain what's going on just yet because I want more down and visible so there's something to explain. Hopefully in the next couple days. Now that I've made it this far things will be developing faster.

Snow Rabbit

Snow Rabbit, originally uploaded by alida saxon.

We've got another panel project here at the mill and I've been trying to think of what I want to do with my 4x4 foot panel. Possibly too "cute" for some, but I enjoy it. I may make a more realistic rabbit, but I haven't decided yet. It needs to be a very strong image that will hold up on being viewed from a distance... or at least make people curious to step closer.

mask doodle

mask doodle, originally uploaded by alida saxon.

I've been researching mask designs lately for a piece on the drawing table. I've got a book of Bali drama masks and this is what happened... About 10 minutes of photoshop time.

It is related to this project, for those curious.