...so...not sure if I have mentioned this before, but starting and ending a new series is always tough for me.  I usually use the suggested theme from the Creative Every Day web site, sometimes with my own twist...or sometimes I even go off on my own...then I make my pieces all month...but at the end, it's like I am looking for closure for the series...and I am always cognisant of what the series would look like if viewed as a whole.  Even if it looks like its random...I do think about these things, sometimes I am more successful with it than others.

But starting a new series...sometimes I get a little stressed, and it is totally self-imposed.  Sometimes what I decide on is dictated by the imagery I associate with the theme or sometimes it might be a certain media that I want to work with, or even a technique.  Last month I wanted to work with toned paper and Prismacolors.  

For this month, I wanted to get back to drawing.  Initially I was thinking of using ballpoint pen.  I have seen several artists on FB lately that work entirely in ballpoint pen and some of the pieces are just amazing- the amount of detail that they have achieved...the range of values..wow.  

So...my first idea was, "Hey- I'm gonna draw with ballpoint pen, too!"

Ummmm....no.  ART FAIL.  It started off fine, the eyes were looking okay...then the nose...just...no. 

Then I thought to myself, what is it that I really want to do this month?  I want to draw, check.  I want to draw female faces, check.  (I mean...don't I always?)  I decided to take it back to basics and just grab a pencil.  Then, just for some holiday inspiration I added some red and green watercolor.  My goal for the pieces at this point is to work with contrasting the grey scale pencil drawing with the watercolor...and the detailed rendering with some loose washes of watercolor, allowing for splatters, drips and splats.

So this is what I have come up with so far;

Another thing that I have been wanting to do for a while now is work with some drawing and collage combinations.  I had what I considered to be a successful series in March of 2012...meaning not only did I like the work and feel inspired as I was working...but it was also commercially successful.  I never think about that first, but make no mistake- I am thinking about that and I would be lying if I said I did not want to sell work, because I do.

But always, my work is for me first, from my heart.  I figure everything else will fall into place.

It was a good one, that's for sure.  I did not work on my acrylic paintings- nope, not one bit... which was one of my goals... but I did finish up my 'Movember' series (gotta post those) ...and I feel pretty good about the series overall.  I was originally trying to gradually go back to less color and more of a 'sketchy' feel, kind of like the first pieces...like a return to the original image...but I loved working with the rich colors from the Prismacolor markers and colored pencils...so, just gave in and went with it.  I created a piece in honor of Black Friday even though I did all of my shopping that day on-line (and I am FINISHED!) and the final piece in the series is in honor of all those moustaches and beards that will be shaved off now that 'Movember' had ended.  Moment of silence, please....

Okay, thank you.  Now here are the last two pieces...and me, being silly.  (what's new, right?)