Author: virginiacmccoy

As we hunkered down to ride out the storm, I decided to work on something. I found a nifty photo of Florence Nightingale in one of my books and got to work.

This is charcoal on 12×16 brown pastel paper. She kept me occupied for most of yesterday.

This morning, the electricity finally went out at 7:15. It came back on around 10:30. We are very fortunate. We had high winds and lots of rain, but nothing serious in our neighborhood. I think the storm has finally passed us, now, at 11:15.

Many people guessed correctly on my drawing of Ronald Reagan. As I was working on it, I could not see the likeness. I was struggling to get it, erasing and redrawing over and over. I finally gave up and posted it, just knowing that no-one would be able to figure it out. But, after resting my eyes, getting rid of the reference photo, and looking back at it, I did see the likeness. It is not a very good likeness, but you can tell who it is, as evidenced by the many correct guesses.

The book that I read about him is How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life by Peter Robinson. So good! I didn’t know all that much about Reagan, but I liked what I did know. This book, by one of Reagan’s speechwriters, tells some very nifty stories about him. Check it out. The above link is an affiliate link, so, if you choose to buy the book through that link, I will get a commission. The price is the same for you whether you use my link or not and if you use that link, but buy something else, I will get a commission on that, too. Thanks!

---

I attribute my success to this – I never gave or took any excuse. — Florence Nightingale

I was inspired to this by the reports of the faith of those in the Ukraine who are suffering so much and yet continue to have joyous faith. Some people from our church flew over to Poland with supplies for the Ukrainian people and got some first-hand accounts. It was very exciting and encouraging. I can’t do much, but I thought I could express my thoughts through my art.

I made an oil sketch of my idea and then I tried to make a larger oil painting, but it just wouldn’t go. I left it alone for a couple of weeks and then got the idea to do a drawing, instead. I felt like the Lord was guiding this whole thing, because I had no idea what to do with it, but I knew I had something to do.

This is graphite and white charcoal on a 19×25 sheet of sandy brown Canson Mi-Teintes pastel paper.

If you would like prints made, it takes 24 hours after I upload it to the Fine Art America site for it to show up for purchase.  Also, I can only have 24 pieces uploaded onto the site at any time, so if there is something that you want, but you do not see it, please let me know and I will take down something and upload what you want.  

---

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. — Romans 5:1 (ESV)

In my next post I will give the name of this person that I drew and the book that I am reading about him. This is a graphite and white charcoal drawing on toned mixed media paper, approximately 7×11.

---

It’s hard, when you’re up to your armpits in alligators, to remember you came here to drain the swamp. — Mystery Man

This is a pastel pencil drawing of my beloved mother-in-law from that wonderful decade, the 1970’s! Love that hairdo!

The style of this drawing reminds me of pastel drawings that I saw during my childhood. It is hard to explain what it is, but it has that same feel. I must have been feeling the 1970’s vibes while drawing this. LOL!

---

Once blessed with a wonderful mother; twice blessed with my mother-in-law. —
Anonymous

This is my final picture of Queen Elizabeth. This is in graphite and white charcoal on a 12×16 piece of grey pastel paper. It makes a big difference how big a picture it is. Also, how long it takes. When I work large and take my sweet old time, it comes out much better. Many people think that artists can just whip out art in no time, but most of us need a lot of time. Even this could have been much better with some more time.

Anyway, this is in memory of a lovely lady. Now, on to my other projects…

---

The Queen is the only person who can put on a tiara with one hand, while walking down stairs. — Princess Margaret

This morning, while eating breakfast, I got the itch to make a sketch in my sketchbook. So, I did. It is about 3 inches by four inches.

But, I know she does not look like Queen Elizabeth, so this afternoon, I tried another one with charcoal and my kneaded eraser. This one is 8×8.5 inches on watercolor paper over purple acrylic paint.

Well, I think this one looks a little more like her. Maybe I will do one that takes a little time… We will see…

---

Grief is the price we pay for love. — Queen Elizabeth II

Well, I have decided to try to make the painting that I sketched in this post. The sketch that I did was in oils. I started the larger painting in oils, but after my initial layer, I decided to do it in acrylics. So, I am starting over with another canvas. Before I do that, though, I need to practice with acrylics, again. It has been a long time since I used acrylic paints. They are very different from oils.

Sunflowers are the national flower of the Ukraine. I love sunflowers, too. They are so big, strong, beautiful, and cheerful. And they provide food and shade.

---

I am working with the enthusiasm of a man from Marseilles eating bouillabaisse, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to you because I am busy painting huge sunflowers. — Vincent Van Gogh

This is a quick oil sketch of an idea I have had for a little while. It is nothing like what was in my head. It tends to evolve even as I am painting. I don’t know what to do with it. The thought that was going through my head while I have been planning and sketching, both with charcoal and with oils, is Beauty for Ashes (Isaiah 61:3). I am struggling with how to manifest it in an oil painting.

---

I run to You Lord, I run to You Lord.
The warmth of Your hands restores faith in my every step
Your grace gives me the strength to go
You are my wisdom, in You I can go through everything.

I have longed for you all my life
I look forward to meeting You in heaven

To Thee my love, To Thee my paths,
I obey you again to keep my faith.
I long for you as a baby longs for mother,
As the dry land longs for the rain, I long for You.
I look at you when I am exhausted in the struggle,
I pray to You, because I believe my victory is in You,
I stand on the Word, this world will not overcome Your love

I love you, I live for you, you are my God.

-- Andriy Hryfel (A Ukrainian Worship Song)

I am not a landscape painter, although I would love it if I was. I keep trying. This is a painting that I did several months ago and I was finally ready to glaze it. So, I gave it a try, today. I think it turned out okay, but I must confess that I cropped the photo of it. I did not like my sky, so I thought I would just crop it and see how it turned out. I LOVE IT! The original painting is on a very heavy duty canvas, so the only copy of this painting that will be available will be prints, which I offer on Fine Art America.

This painting, as cropped, is approximately 9×20. Of course, if you order a print, you can get it in a variety of sizes.

---

Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully. — Kristen Butler

I don’t know why I keep choosing paintings that I cannot identify for my “master copies”. LOL! This is a copy of an old painting, but I don’t know who did it or what it is called. I did this copy in oils with three colors: burnt umber, ivory black, and titanium white. I pulled up the picture on my tablet and just started slinging paint. I’m happy with it.

He sort of makes me think of the Count of Monte Cristo. What say you?

By the way, a grisaille is a grey scale painting that is done for values. If there are to be colors, it will usually be glazed. I don’t think I will be glazing this one. I might… I don’t know for sure….

---

I have always had more dread of a pen, a bottle of ink, and a sheet of paper than of a sword or pistol. — Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo