drawing Archives - Lee Suzanne Jordan Studio

Posted on July 5, 2018January 1, 2019 by leesjordan

Mixed media drawing with chalk

portrait and figure study of a woman looking up and into the distance. her hair is made of acrylic paint markers and blue chalk pastel. Her lips and accents are flourescent pink acrylic marker. Her skin is built from orange acrylic markers and chalk pastel.

Using chalk pastels can seem intimidating and scary. Once you lay it down, it feels like there is no backing out. Plus, how do you blend them without ending up with mud? Patience and careful application is key. Paca #1 9″ x 12″ Mixed media chalk pastel, acrylic and watercolor on paper. I use chalk often for broad applications of color and quick drawings. They do smear, but they don’t try out or stain the way paint does. They are a very portable medium and great for studies and drawing practice. There is an immediacy and vibrancy to them. Quality matters. Lower quality chalk has less pigment, so the colors will not be as rich. This may be an asset if you are timid about color. At some point however you will want a strong application of color. I really…

Posted on June 30, 2017 by leesjordan

Two Art Shows in July in the Atlanta Area

three paintings of dogs, a pit bull mix, a lab mix and a blue heeler.

I’m thrilled to be showing my work in two locations in July. One in Cherokee County, Georgia, northwest of Atlanta and the second in Atlanta at Ponce City Market. Both shows feature free receptions where you can meet the artists and other art lovers. July 1 – 26th: Cherokee Members Art Show Reception: July 7, 6-8pm July 7 – 27th : Binders Ponce City Market Reception: July 23rd, 3-5pm What art will I be showing? The Cherokee Members Art Show will feature several new paintings in including “Mischief”, “High Energy Jack” and “Shelby Dreams”. Here is a preview of the pieces that will be in the show: Binder’s Ponce City Market will be featuring work from the Friday Painters group at the Atlanta Artist Center including three paintings by me. Here is a preview of them: I hope you can…

Posted on May 11, 2017May 11, 2017 by leesjordan

Dog Portraits: Colorful Boston Terrier using Derwent Inktense Blocks and Watercolor on 140 lb Paper

Boston Terrier dog portrait with rainbow colors but mostly green and purple using watercolor and inktense block art sticks

I’m continuing my series of colorful dog portraits with this friendly Boston Terrier. He was inspired by a conversation I had with a fellow designer at a conference. He was talking about how Boston Terriers are the ultimate pet for designers. They are a cute, quirky and visually appealing breed. They pack a lot of personality into a tiny body. This piece was made on high quality 140lb watercolor paper using watercolor washes and ink washes with layers of Derwent inktense block art sticks layered on top. And layered again. And again. There were a few chalk pastels used here and there, but yeah who uses ink medium for textured layers? It’s fun to experiment like this and not use art materials the way the were intended. I get a thrilling zing in my belly. Does this make me an…

Posted on March 29, 2017 by leesjordan

365 Days of Dogs

I’m launching a new project where I post a drawing or painting with a dog as the subject on Instagram for 365 days. Why? One reason is it’s a way for me to practice my skills as an artist. Another reason is I want to build a daily habit and find that posting the results on social media help me with accountability. Third, it’s fun! There is something very satisfying about sharing what I create with others. Every day I will post a sketch or painting of a dog. The goal is to experiment with different media and practice my skills as an artist while documenting the journey. I’ve added my first subject, a sketch of my dog Molly here in this post and on Instagram. If you have any questions about the project, please get in touch!

Posted on February 15, 2017March 22, 2017 by leesjordan

Work in Progress – Paca

I’m currently working on a portrait of Paca, a sweet and playful rescue. Paca is a mixed breed dog with big ears and a soulful expression. She is very curious and loves to explore.

Posted on October 25, 2016February 15, 2017 by leesjordan

How to Find Your Artistic Style

Your world view and how you express it is your style. We edit out so many things subconsciously and make choices on what to and what not to create. What do you choose to create when you can choose? What moves you? All artists secretly long for an artistic style so different and unique from others they will be unmistakable. When I was in college, having an artistic style was a big source of anxiety. What if my work just looked like everyone else? How would I be different when we were all learning to do the same things? When you push yourself to experiment and grow every day, you will build your artistic style organically over time. Parents know this anticipation as babies grow. What will their personalities be like? They are revealed slowly, day by day.…

Posted on October 20, 2016February 15, 2017 by leesjordan

Draw Better Faster with Pencil Warmups

get better at drawing faster with warmups

Are you frustrated by your skill level? Feel like you’ve hit a wall? Do you feel dissatisfied with what you draw? Do you want to learn how to do better gradients or other techniques? Warming up with pencil drills can help you! Warm ups with pencils can help you: Become more skilled at drawing (people things whatever) Learn your tools inside and out Build muscle and hand/eye coordination Relax Focus your mind Check out this video on pencil warm ups (5 min 36 seconds) Practice doesn’t have to take a long time or be boring. Just a couple of minutes before you start drawing “for real” can help you mentally and physically prepare and grow your abilities. I like to start with circular marks to warm up my hand and fingers and reconnect my hand/eye coordination. Make the connection with…

Posted on October 6, 2016February 15, 2017 by leesjordan

Create Anywhere You Are

Have you ever gone somewhere and then realized you had nothing with you to draw or paint? Never be without creative supplies again with today’s tips. I’m going to share with you how to be ready to create wherever you are by putting together an artist go bag. I was on vacation at the beach a couple of weeks ago (Yay!). This was a great chance to sketch and create. Luckily I had packed a “go bag” of art supplies. This is a pared down kit of what I have in my studio at home. I like to carry materials that are easy to take with me and don’t make a big mess or require a lot of time to set up. TLDR: For sketching on the go, experiment and find what you like. Start with a pencil, pen, sharpener…