Kelly Foss

"I am not an adventurer by choice but by fate." -Van Gogh

[kellyfoss]

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I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. -Albert Einstein . My imagination is a mess. From life I painted the model @111raven a while back. I've had in my head ever since then a grand plan on how to complete the piece. Well, I finally have taken the initial step! I slowly oil sketched in a loose background, thinking (and looking at my reference photo) as I went. 🎨 Do you find watching an artist paint relaxing? Or do you enjoy listening to ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) videos? IF you said to either- the 52 min, real time version of this video is up on my youtube. No talking- just painting (and NYC sounds in the background). LINK IN BIO. . Artwork status: It's an oil on canvas, 18" x 24" (45.72 x 60.96 cm) work-in-progress. To be on the "First Look List", email [email protected] and you'll see it the finished painting before it goes public. . Materials: @newwaveart palette, @gamblincolors burnt umber & titanium white oil paint, and @winsorandnewton 8 Monarch round brush. LINK in bio for detailed art supply lists (amazon affiliate). . 🎵: Chill by @liqwyd . #kellyfoss #timelapsepainting (at New York City, N.Y.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNacmpfBZNa/?igshid=33nc0qqkpv77

[kellyfoss]

Love comes in at the eye. -William Butler Yeats . I wanted to frame up my eye drawing like a classical "lover's eye". Lover's eye was an art/fashion/jewelry trend believed to have started in the 1780s when the Prince of Wales sent a miniature painting (of his eye) in a locket to his sweetheart. Their presentation became more ostentatious as they grew in popularity. I see most classical pieces in oval, round or diamond shaped, ornate frames; so I was happy to find this vintage frame for mine! 👁 Hmm... should I frame up all my other eye drawings like #loverseye s? . Artwork status: Available for purchase. 5" x 7" (12.7 x 17.78 cm) drawing size. 11" x 13" (27.94 x 33.02 cm) frame size. . #kellyfoss (at New York City, N.Y.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNSqY3mBfwR/?igshid=1ivq1dsgg617l

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Love and be silent. -William Shakespeare, King Lear . A belated happy 169th birthday (April 1st) to Edwin Austin Abbey. Last year at this time I was interrupted from the beginning stages of painting a master copy painting of Edwin Austin Abbey's "King Lear, Act 1, Scene 1" in the @metamericanwing by the @metmuseum closing (due to "the plague"). Coincidently, Shakespeare wrote King Lear while in isolation from the plague. It's bitter-sweet looking at my unfinished painting now. But I am hopeful that someday I may continue from where I left off. . #kellyfoss #edwinaustinabbey (at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNK1YF0pmHo/?igshid=pkkt52ggzauu

[kellyfoss]

I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed. -Booker T. Washington . A look at my easel now, and my drawing in progress. I don't think I've ever had the eyes of a portrait follow me as much as this one does! Seriously, I'll need to make a video to show you. 👀📽 After I finish him... Who's a historical WOMAN you think I should draw? . Materials: @strathmoreart Tan mixed media paper, graphite, and white charcoal. LINK IN BIO to detailed art supply lists (amazon affiliate). . Artwork status: available for purchase. . #kellyfoss #portraitdrawing #bookertwashington (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNFwcGgBXIa/?igshid=pqvd17mq1da

[kellyfoss]

Thoughts are mightier than armies. -William McGregor Paxton . I eliminated blue from my 3 color challenge! With this drawing I only used red and yellow (in addition to graphite and white charcoal). It's a study of a #williammcgregorpaxton pastel drawing. He married the artist Elizabeth Okie, who I think might be the model for this piece. I think I'll keep going with the drawing, and really make it mine. 🤔 QUESTION for the artists: When do you know to stop? . Materials: 5.5" x 8.5" (14 x 21.6 cm) @strathmoreart tan paper, @blickartmaterials Yellow, @fabercastellusa Deep Red, @generalpencil White charcoal, and @staedtler graphite. LINK IN BIO for detailed art supply lists (amazon affiliate). . Artwork status: Available for purchase. . #kellyfoss (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNAon-oBGFa/?igshid=dqz770wkdfng

[kellyfoss]

Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies. -Gene Hill . Happy National Puppy Day! Here's a pic of my latest commission. It was to be a black & white drawing... but couldn't help myself! With a red pencil I HAD to capture those ears, that tongue, and boopable snoot. He's an American Eskimo, but the official breed I believe is called happy-tappy clouds or curl-tailed poofy floofs. 💕 Or do you have a better name?? Would love to hear your creativity! . Materials: @strathmoreart tan paper, white charcoal, graphite/carbon pencils, and a red pencil. LINK IN BIO to detailed art supply lists (amazon affiliate). . Artwork status: sold . #kellyfoss #nationalpuppyday #dogsarethebestpeople (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMxNqqgB0NH/?igshid=1ww2c5naml4xa

[kellyfoss]

Some things are more precious because they don't last long. -Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray . I found my eye drawing a little mussed up. *SWIPE to see the drawing when it was originally completed*. It had become fuzzy from being leafed together and moved about in my sketchbook. I apparently never sprayed it with fixative. So I gave it a little refresh: erasing and drawing on it once again (see first image). I originally drew it from life but today it was from memory and what felt good. It was my own eye. I remember, 2 yrs ago, sitting in bed and drawing it with a little mirror. I was inspired by the perfectionist style of Ingres. Now that's its "un-mussed" I will spray it to protect it, as I should have the first time. . LINK IN BIO for detailed art supply lists (amazon affiliate). . Materials: A 5.5" x 5.5" (14 x 14 cm) on @strathmoreart tan paper . Graphite, carbon, white charcoal, red and yellow pencils. . Artwork status: Available for purchase . #kellyfoss #eyedrawing (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMkZTgUBlQy/?igshid=10o94c24i77cj

[kellyfoss]

...I see that my own hands can make The world that's in my mind. -Langston Hughes . Here's a selection of some of my hand studies. Imperfect, but fun. Swipe to see the individual drawings. The first one is my own hand, drawn from life. The fifth one you'll probably recognize as Michelangelo's David. The others were done in online live model sessions with @thejollysketcher . . 👉 Ok, here's a fun challenge for myself! For every hundred likes I get on this post I'll draw a hand. 😁 Please comment (using the emojis) what hand positions I should draw. 👋✌🤟🤙🖖👍,etc? . Materials: @strathmoreart tan & gray paper, @staedtler graphite, @generalpencil white charcoal, and @fabercastellglobal red pencil. LINK IN BIO for detailed art supply lists (amazon affiliate). . Artwork status: Available for purchase. . #kellyfoss #handdrawing (at New York City) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMXiW0VBS89/?igshid=1csn7szvke5q3

[kellyfoss]

I pretend I am a princess, so that I can try and behave like one. -Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Little Princess . It was enchanting to reimagine an old master painting as part of my "remastered old master" series (Jacob van Oost the Elder's "Head of a young girl", c. 1603-1671). It's like getting to share a model with a famous artist, and having the freedom of imposing my own vision. AND giving myself the 3 color restriction (to use only red, yellow & blue [in addition to black & white]). ⭐ Drawing from imagination, I was picturing early morning, the birth of Spring, and the stubbornness of hope. I hope you like it! 💙 What "old master" painting do you think I should "re-do" next? . Materials: 5.5" x 8.5" (14 x21.6 cm) @strathmoreart tan paper, @blickartmaterials dark blue pencil, @generalpencil white charcoal & Kimberly yellow pencil, @staedtler Mars lumograph black pencils, and a @fabercastellglobal deep red pencil. LINK IN BIO for detailed art supply lists (amazon affiliate). . Artwork status: Available for purchase . #kellyfoss #jacobvanoost #portraitdrawing (at New York, USA) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMPyYIiBtT0/?igshid=thyyg0ifqgpb

[kellyfoss]

She made herself stronger by fighting with the wind. -Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden . Here's a little sneak peek of something I'm working on now. Along with my black & white pencils, I'm using only 3 colors: a @fabercastellglobal red, a @generalpencil yellow, and a @blickartmaterials blue. ❤💛💙 If you haven't colored a piece this way, give this primary color challenge a try! Any red, yellow & blue will do. It takes patience and layering... but it pays off in earning a better understanding of how to mix colors. 🙂 Are you going to try it? Have you already? I want to hear about it. . LINK in bio for detailed art supply lists (amazon affiliate). . #kellyfoss #primarycolors (at New York City) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMC9KqJB6Nf/?igshid=15w2zzz7kc8ri

[kellyfoss]

How it started and how its going. 🙂 . The left Mona Lisa I painted in my teens? The drawing I did last year. ✍ As you can see in the left photo of me, I went through an abstract period. ☺ The other pic is me in recent years doing a master copy painting at the @metmuseum . Some days I feel overwhelmed by the challenges of my career. Apart from business hurdles, there's natural frustrations in my creations. I didn't start off with extraordinary ability. It's been a lifetime of efforts. Effort with heart. THAT makes a difference; The heart whispers to try again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day. 💙 All of this to say, the road to a destination is rarely straight and is often bumpy. There may be detours. There may be flat tires. But enjoy the journey. LET it be imperfect, but fun. Because no matter how squiggly your map looks, it's slowly getting you closer to where you want to be. Trust that. . #kellyfoss #marchmeetthemaker #imperfectbutfun (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CL94MqeBM31/?igshid=59g7rmg1168x

[kellyfoss]

It's very hard to hate someone if you look them in the eye and recognize them as a human being. -Maya Angelou . I drew this eye in a quick, live model session. 🤔 Easel Thoughts: Did you ever hear of the live art performance done by Marina Abramovic, where she stared into the eyes of complete strangers (in silence) for one minute? It might sound odd, but it was powerful! In that prolonged, uncomfortable connection, there seemed to grow an understanding between the individuals. It makes me think of the connection I feel with my models. ... Does attentiveness awakens us to just how valuable a person is? . Model: @tanjahassel_art Online Session: @thejollysketcher . Materials: 5.5" x 8.5" (14 x 21.6 cm) @strathmore tan paper, white charcoal, graphite, red, yellow & blue color pencils. LINK in bio to detailed art supply lists. . Artwork status: Available. . #kellyfoss #eyedrawing #👁 (at Eyes) https://www.instagram.com/p/CL4p6UHhIV9/?igshid=pxwajv288kby

[kellyfoss]

Why, what's the matter, That you have such a February face, So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness? -William Shakespeare.  . Flashback Friday: Here's a close-up from a figure drawing I did from life a few years back. Soon after posting people made me aware that my model looked like famous fútbol player @leomessi 🇦🇷⚽️🇪🇸. I didn't finish the full figure, but I'm happy that I did complete down to his waist. I used a lot of hatching (parallel lines) and cross hatching to not only "shade" but to show texture. I like his look of being deep in thought, considering, remembering... ✏ Have YOU ever had a work of art unintentionally resemble a celebrity? . #kellyfoss #drawingfromlife #leomessi (*art available for purchase*) (at New York City) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLwu3TjBQ6W/?igshid=ybzzgr3kb866

[kellyfoss]

People who haven't red hair don't know what trouble is. -L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables  . Can I tell you a secret? I used to NOT like redheads. At all! I think this dislike stems from a ginger in childhood badly breaking my trademark nose. 🤥☺ But as I grew up, Titian haired troublemakers grew on me. Anne of Green Gables. Prince Harry. Lucille Ball. And now? I can't get enough! Last month I considered asking a lovely red haired woman on the subway to please model for me. I chickened out though, thinking that during the plague is probably not the *best* time to be making these sorts of connections. Subsequently, I look to the neoclassical paintings, and am enraptured by their fiery tresses. ☁️ This drawing is my remastered imagining of Frank Cadogan Cowper's 1907 painting "Vanity". I used only red, yellow & blue for color. ❤💛💙 Say! If you happen to be redheaded... hmm 👋👩🏻‍🎨🙏 leave a "hey" in the comments? . What do you think? Do you have a favorite hair color? . Materials: 5.5" x 8.5" (14 x 21.6 cm) Toned Tan @strathmoreart paper, @generalpencil white charcoal & yellow, @staedtler graphite, @blickartmaterials dark blue, and @fabercastellglobal deep red. ✏ LINK IN BIO for detailed art supply lists (amazon affiliate). . #kellyfoss #preraphaelite #frankcadogancowper (*available for purchase*) (at Green Gables) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLrrWB1BQAF/?igshid=1g56kcnba935f

[kellyfoss]

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. -William Shakespeare . I'm going to leave her alone for now. Originally started from life, I continued drawing from imagination and inspiration. Royal jewelry adorn her, but her crown: a simple wreath of baby's-breath flowers. 💐An ephemeral empress. . Materials: 11" x 14" (27.9 x 35.6 cm) tan @strathmoreart , graphite, white charcoal, and red color pencil. LINK IN BIO for detailed art supply lists (amazon affiliate). . #kellyfoss #troiscrayons #artforsalebyartist (*available*) (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLmxbOBB14O/?igshid=ntdnheycexw6

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I am half-sick of shadows. -Alfred Lord Tennyson, The Lady of Shalott. . A quick sneak-peak of my drawing in progress. I'm imagineering this one! I started it a long while back with a live model (my demo in one of my portrait drawing workshops). I decided to pick it back up to really dream it out, continuing in the trois crayons technique (using just red, black & white pencils) in which I started it. 🖤 My self-coined genre is Realism Reverie, and I want to live up to it. It's when I have the most fun. I'll post a finished pic soon! . Materials: @strathmore tan paper, @fabercastellglobal deep red, @generalpencil white charcoal, @staedtler graphite. LINK IN BIO to detailed art supply lists (amazon affiliate). . 🎵: Warriors @2weimusic @thisiseddahayes . #kellyfoss #realismreverie (*available for purchase*) (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLfLTQyhdMy/?igshid=1wvuoxqgbmi7k

[kellyfoss]

The main thing is to be moved, to love, to hope, to tremble, to live. –Auguste Rodin . A close-up of the project that's on my easel; ❤ a trois crayon (a red, black & white) drawing that I'm currently working on. . A short Easel Thought: Do you feel more lonely from the lack of presence 👥 (people being around) or from the lack of being understood 🗣(listened to/empathized with)? . Materials: @strathmoreart tan paper, @generalpencil white charcoal, @staedtler graphite, and @fabercastellglobal red pencil. Link in bio for detailed art supply lists (amazon affiliate). . #kellyfoss #preraphaelite #emotionalart (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLXEchpBP8f/?igshid=1a66n6rojxmwh