Trying to tell someone how to draw is like trying to tell someone how to breathe.

You see, I've drawn since I can remember. I don't know how not to draw.

I was away from my art for quite a while as there were far more important things that required my undivided attention.....my sons!

As my two sons grew they'd ask me to draw something. I'd draw & they'd ask how I did it. I'd say I just take away everything that is not what I want you to see. This must have made sense to them as they both were and still are very good artists.

I've been told there is positive and negative space use and that I have very good use of negative space. I know that I like bringing light from the dark. I enjoy using black canvases or painting canvases black as I did in "Sean-Dark Night".

I also like using colored paper for pastels and colored pencils. I have really just begun to experiment with pastels in 2013, but have attempted to use colored pencils in the past. I never really did work in colored pencils like I am beginning to do now.

My brother, Lee, has always been an avid deer hunter and often told me how beautiful it was to sit in his deer stand watching the deer in the mist of the breaking dawn. I have often thought of painting or drawing a deer as a gift for him.

This past November a photographer, Brian Schultz, posted many photos he'd taken of deer. One really struck me, so I asked if I could use his photo to draw or paint. He said he'd be honored if I did. Now, I've never attempted to draw or paint a deer as I enjoy drawing people, so this was going to be a challenge.

First rough in of drawing.

Several breaks later...

Nearing the finish, but not there yet....

When using colored pencils or pastels, I choose a color paper that represents the most prevalent color I want to remain as part of my drawing. In this piece I used Bristol colored pencils on Canson Colored Pastel Paper. I chose a brownish/gray paper as my base. I began with the lightest color pencil, white, and drew the main outline. I then added more light and dark where needed leaving the paper color as my main color. I sometimes will stop very early on, once the essence is achieved. I'm not attempting to paint or draw a photo like image, but more a feeling I want to convey. I will never attempt to try to tell someone how to draw as there are so many different ways to accomplish a thing. But I will show my steps in achieving the end product, "In The Morning Mist", which brought tears to my brother's eyes. He understood I knew something about his soul.

Finished, signed and then matted.

On this Father's Day I wanted to thank God for sending my husband, Ron Clinton Smith actor and writer, into my life. He has been a source of strength and encouragement to me throughout our marriage with his positive outlook and romantic nature. He always referred to me as "an artist" when he introduced me. I lost sight of that part of me through the years raising our sons, but with the encouragement from my sons and husband have returned to my love of art.

I love the art of Vincent Van Gogh and have been moved by his story since a very young child. He was not confined by any one's adjectives. He painted what he wanted how he wanted to paint it. He gave freely of himself and slept on dirt while creating some of the most amazing art work of our time. He had a benefactor in his brother, Theo. Had it not been for his brother, Vincent might not have had the tools to become such a painter.

I also love the work of Georgia O'Keeffe and was much inspired by her work in New Mexico. I also realized one can continue to work as long as one has the desire.

I look forward to my future now that I've returned to my art. To view some of my art, please visit my pages:

http://www.paintingsilove.com/artist/kathrynsuesmith

https://www.facebook.com/suesart1?ref=hl

http://piadoraart.com/