Painting Again

WHAT I DID:
This week I've been working on sketching and painting. It seems to have helped me get somewhat out of the rut I've been in. I've been developing two different paintings, one (a detail shot below) is of a forest pathway. The other is a more illustrative and narrative piece (also shown below).

Detail of the pathway painting, in progress.

Usually my process is to sketch out the drawing lightly in pen first, getting the main element's outlines down. Then I ink the drawing with felt tip pens, usually adding some detail elements as well. Finally I watercolor the drawing, which is the part that takes the most time. Even though my paintings are only the size of a sheet of paper (or smaller) they tend to take a long time because I am not a speedy painter and am also rather a detailed perfectionist.

This particular painting was born out of the lyrics to a few songs from the artist Andrew Peterson's album Light for Lost Boys, as well as concepts of the new earth from the Bible, and C. S. Lewis's Last Battle.

Inked and waiting to be painted. 

Beginning to watercolor the scene. 

I've also begun to do some plein air sketching/painting to combat my frustration with not feeling like I am a proficient enough painter. Here's hoping practice makes better.

Some sketches of people unfortunate enough to sit around me. 

WHAT I ACCOMPLISHED: 

I believe I am coming out of the slough of uncreativity. It's been wonderful to be creating again, to be painting and even writing. Thursday coming home from lecture there was something in the quality of the sky that set me writing, the first time I've felt inspired to do so in a few months. I'm thankful that I have begun again to want to create, and that I have some more concrete work to build on. 

ONWARD:

The road forward looks like getting down to some serious painting so that I can have somethings to show for the large group critiques. I am planning on finishing both paintings and hopefully doing a few more, as well as having some edited writing to share too.