Blog

I finally finished my painting of “Red Roses”.

                                   "For a long time I limit myself to one color-as a form of discipline." By Pablo Picasso

On a recent traveling trip through Texas on my way home from a still life art workshop, I had made a wrong turn, and was trying to make it back to the main highway. After traveling for eight hours, I was exhausted, strung out on coffee, and needed a break from driving. On this country road I saw a huge antique barn, and stopped there to stretch my legs and shop. It was one of the best antique stores I have ever walked into! One of the items I found was this perfect white pitcher. Everything happens for a reason!

I did research on red roses and this is what I found:

Red roses symbolize love and passion. True red is for lovers, fiery red mean passion, cardinal red symbolizes desire. Fully bloomed means I still love you while the buds mean first love.

Thank you for reading my blog,

Debra Snyder Heard

"We learn by  doing it. There is no other way." -By John Holt

I just finished a commission pencil drawing of two old golden retrievers.  It was a pleasure seeing the difference in each dog, both in personality and in structural features.

Drawing and painting  helps me understand and connect to my environment. I enjoy seeing the progress in my artwork, to be able to look back and to have something to show.

 If you wish to commission a drawing, please contact me through "Contact the Artist page on my website".

 Thank you for reading my blog,

 Debra Snyder Heard

      Two Labs by Debra Snyder Heard

My starting point in a painting or drawing of a person or animal is their eyes.

The eyes tell a lot about that person or animal. They are the window into the soul! They tell you a lot about everything, even things you don’t want to know.

I was in the veterinary clinic the other day, buying my Boston terrier dog food. While I was in there standing in line, a man rushed in carrying his big dog (it looked like a Shepherd). The atmosphere changed quickly, because it was bad. The doctors’ doors opened quickly to let them in.  The dog was breathing hard and looked hurt bad. I made the mistake of looking into the dog’s eyes as they passed me. They were cloudy, with the glazed look of dying.

When I look at paintings and drawings that are done of the figure of women done in the nude, I notice that the male artist spends a lot of time painting and drawing the private parts. The faces of the women are hardly done, or not done at all. Where are the eyes? Why is the face distorted when everything else is done with detail?  

My drawing of “Two Labs” is still coming along nicely! Still have a lot of work to do. Hope you enjoy watching the progress of this drawing!

Thank you for reading my blog!

Debra Snyder Heard

"Without good drawing, the foundation of a painting will collapse". By Ken Danby

I have started on a commission pencil drawings of two labradors.  They are two, sweet old dogs, with a lot of blond and gray hair.

I will post the final drawing when it's finish. This picture is the beginning stage of the first lab.

My goal is to have a painting and pencil project going at the same time. I want to keep up my drawing skills.

 Two Labs by Debra Snyder Heard

Thank you for reading my blog!

Debra Snyder Heard

I took a picture of this dancer at a recent Texas Renaissance Festival. She was a little older than the other dancers. Her costume was more complicated, more layered, down to earth and a little worn, and not as flashy as the younger dancers. Her dancing style was graceful and lovely to watch. The same way mature women are in real life!

Thank you for reading my blog!

 Debra Snyder Heard

                 Body Pump Friend by Debra Snyder Heard

It’s that time of the year again when people join the gym and exercise classes!  

I am an avid Body Pump and Zumba enthusiast three to four times a week.  It keeps health problems and depression away! I draw and paint in the daylight hours and workout in the gym in the evenings.

Discipline is the key to being successful in art and in working out! Keep doing it everyday, no excuses!

This drawing is of a friend of mine that is in the same body pump class that I go to. She always has a smile for everyone and is a pleasure to be around!

Thank you for reading my blog!

Debra Snyder Heard

I attend the 42^nd River Road Show in Baton Rouge Louisiana, which was a national juried competition. 153 artists entered 479 works of art. Sixty-one of these artists were from out-of state. The exhibit selected 80 paintings from 51 artists, of which 23 were out of state (mine made it in).

I did not win a ribbon this time, but just wait until next year! Getting into the competition was a reward in itself! I met a lot of nice people and had a good time!

Thank you for reading my blog and hope you are having a wonderful New Year!

Debra Snyder Heard

When I watch and listen certain singers like Janis Joplin, Ry Cooder, and Andrea Bocelli, I see and hear strong emotions they are expressing while singing. I want to be able to do the same with my art!

Talent without passion is just bland! It’s hard to connect to!

One way I show passion in my art work is to create something that I love doing. One example is dancing! I have always loved dancing, but never had the chance or time for it until a few years ago. I have been going to Zumba classes, 4 times a week (for 3 years), and Belly dancing once a week (for 2 years)' and I enjoy them both.

I draw and paint Belly dancers because I’m one too (only I don’t dance for the public)! When I create a dance to a song, it becomes mine. When I draw or paint a belly dancer I know exactly what she is feeling and doing.

This theme connects with my artwork of “Women Enjoying Life”!

 

Yes, this is me having fun dancing! Life is too short not to have fun!

Thank you for reading my blog!

Debra Snyder Heard