The Daily Portrait Project of Julia Kay

First LHB of Summer

LHB stands for left-handed blind, which means I literally drew with my left (non-dominant) and and my eyes closed. Painting is done with my eyes open, in this case still with my left hand. Here are more self-portraits drawn with my eyes closed.

Labels: 2009, artist, contemporary, daily, every day, julia kay, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, painter, portrait, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: Left-handed, self-portrait, Skin Tones: Fleshy (Cauc.), Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

iDraw: Why Do We Have to do Our Taxes 4 Different Ways?

Because the feds say we're not married but California says we are...

Labels: 2009, artist, contemporary, daily, every day, julia kay, Media: Digital, Media: iPod Colors, Media: iPod Touch, painter, portrait, Process: Left-handed, self-portrait

However, I Don't Smoke

Labels: 2009, artist, contemporary, daily, every day, Faves: 2009.04, julia kay, painter, portrait, Process: From Other Artwork, Process: Left-handed, self-portrait, Style: de Kooning, Subject: Other Artists

Easter Sunday

Still really enjoying my de Kooning immersion....

Labels: 2009, artist, contemporary, daily, every day, Faves: 2009.04, julia kay, Media: Crayon, Media: Pencil/Graphite, painter, portrait, Process: From Other Artwork, Process: From Photo(s), Process: Left-handed, self-portrait, Style: de Kooning, Style: Loose and Scribbly, Subject: Other Artists, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Sanity is Over-rated

Labels: 2009, artist, contemporary, daily, every day, Faves: 2009.04, julia kay, Media: Magic Markers, painter, portrait, Process: From Other Artwork, Process: From Photo(s), Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, self-portrait, Style: de Kooning, Style: Loose and Scribbly, Subject: Other Artists, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Be Afraid, Very Afraid

I can look at a de Kooning and make these sort of interesting images that don't actually look like de Koonings. But if I look at myself, or at nothing, and try to make a similar drawing - well, it doesn't work. I can see what he drew, and how it relates to reality. But when I look at reality, I can't see what he might have drawn. And I can't see what I might draw in response to what he might have drawn... Never mind, this is getting too complicated.

Labels: 2009, artist, contemporary, daily, every day, julia kay, Media: Magic Markers, painter, portrait, Process: From Other Artwork, Process: From Photo(s), Process: Left-handed, self-portrait, Style: de Kooning, Style: Loose and Scribbly, Subject: Other Artists, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

de Kooning Week Continues

Labels: 2009, artist, contemporary, daily, every day, julia kay, Media: Magic Markers, painter, portrait, Process: From Other Artwork, Process: From Photo(s), Process: Left-handed, self-portrait, Style: de Kooning, Style: Loose and Scribbly, Subject: Other Artists, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Still Crazy After All These Years

(Left-handed De Kooning)

Labels: 2009, artist, contemporary, daily, every day, julia kay, Media: Magic Markers, painter, portrait, Process: From Other Artwork, Process: From Photo(s), Process: Left-handed, self-portrait, Style: de Kooning, Style: Loose and Scribbly, Subject: Head, Subject: Other Artists, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Trying to Channel De Kooning

'OILPASTEL' oil pastel self-portrait by San Francisco Bay Area artist Julia Kay. (Click to view same image larger.)

...but definitely not getting it. That's Willem de Kooning, though Elaine de Kooning was also an interesting painter. If he was a misogynist, as the feminists claim based on his imagery, not his actions, then I guess I am too. He was a fabulous painter and I think his images of women are really great.

Labels: 2009, artist, contemporary, daily, every day, julia kay, Media: Oil Paint, painter, portrait, Process: Left-handed, self-portrait, Skin Tones: Multi, Style: de Kooning, Style: Loose and Scribbly, Subject: Head, Subject: Other Artists, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Return of the Handeze

Along with the tingling and pain, when my RSI flares up, it seems like circulation is poor in my arms, and my hands tend to get very cold. Handeze are fingerless gloves made of a stretchy nylon, designed specifically to keep your hands warm while typing. They do come in beige, but I prefer the black.

Labels: 2009, artist, contemporary, daily, every day, julia kay, Media: Ink, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, painter, portrait, Process: Left-handed, self-portrait, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Hands and Feet, Subject: Narrative, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

And That's All I Have to Say About That!

Labels: 2009, artist, contemporary, daily, every day, julia kay, Media: Magic Markers, Media: Pen, painter, portrait, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: From Imagination, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, self-portrait, Style: Not Quite Human, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

More About My Hair

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Process: From Mirror, Process: Left-handed, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

The Whites of my Eyes (2)

'The Whites of my Eyes' pen and watercolor self-portrait by San Francisco Bay Area artist Julia Kay. (Click to view same image larger.)

The return of 'left hand blind'...

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Yellow, Style: Loose and Scribbly, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

My Inner Librarian was Frazzled

I was frazzled because although Rawlston has been better about his music, he doesn't seem to have the general idea: don't make so much noise partying at 3 AM that you wake your neighbors. And last night he was at it again. *sigh*. We'll keep trying to work with him...

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: From Imagination, Process: Left and Right Handed together, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Fleshy (Cauc.), Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Bad Neighbor Rawlston Masaniai, Subject: Head, Subject: Noisy Neighbor Rawlston Masaniai, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

I Used to Have Big Hair

As for the rest - I think the last couple days shows that drawing with both hands together and eyes closed leads to some creepy self-portraits!

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: From Imagination, Process: Left and Right Handed together, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Fleshy (Cauc.), Style: Contour Lines, Style: Not Quite Human, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Miss Piggy

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: From Imagination, Process: Left and Right Handed together, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Fleshy (Cauc.), Style: Contour Lines, Style: Not Quite Human, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Mellow Day

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: From Imagination, Process: Left and Right Handed together, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Purple, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Shucks, No Kiss...

There's no story to this title, it's just what the picture looked like to me.The cerulean blue is behaving better tonight, so it may be that the crystalized chalky stuff needs to be wet into a blob, and then allowed to dry, and then wet again to be used as paint, which is what has now been done to my sample. The first night I just wet the chalky stuff, waited a few minutes for it to dissolve, and tried to paint with it.

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: From Imagination, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Blue, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Send in the Clowns

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: From Imagination, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Yellow, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Can I Save the Cerulean?

I'm finally going through all the old tubes of watercolors I've collected over the years, including many inherited from my mother, and seeing what I have and what condition it's in. The chemical data sheets for cerulean state that it ' tends to granulate or become chalky in watercolors' and indeed what's in the tube is not the usual sticky mass of dried paint but rather a crumbly powder. It is a fabulous color, and a tube runs about $12 so I'm trying to figure out if I can reconstitute it. I used it here for the 'sky' but it did not apply evenly nor in a proper watercolory manner.

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: From Imagination, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Blue, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Cap of Blue Hair

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: From Imagination, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Fleshy (Cauc.), Style: Coloring Book, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Kewpie or Cyclops?

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: Left-handed, Style: Contour Lines, Style: Not Quite Human, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Early Night Cap

I'm tired after a day with three meetings following a night of our neighbor Rawlston Masaniai (Masaniani) of the San Francisco Seals waking us up periodically with his booming loud party music. So I've got my night cap on early and I'm heading to bed - so far it's quiet over there tonight though one never knows when he's going to come home and crank up the volume.

Labels: Media: Watercolor, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Fleshy (Cauc.), Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Bad Neighbor Rawlston Masaniai, Subject: Head, Subject: Narrative, Subject: Noisy Neighbor Rawlston Masaniai, Subject: Wearing a hat, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Too Tired to Proceed in the Usual Fashion

Labels: 2008, Media: Watercolor, Process: From Imagination, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Multi, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Orange You Glad You Aren't Blue?

Tomorrow I'm off to the East Coast for the Annual General Meeting of the American Society for the Alexander Technique. I'll still be drawing every day but I don't know how frequently I'll be able to post.

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: From Mirror, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Multi, Style: Coloring Book, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head

It's Been a Stressful Week, But Today I Had Some Good News

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: From Mirror, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Fleshy (Cauc.), Style: Coloring Book, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Traditional 'Blind' Contour

In a traditional 'blind' contour you look only at your subject and not down at the paper. However, you do often have a sense of the paper and where you are on the paper in your peripheral vision since your eyes are open. That's how this was done, and you can see that it's different than the previous 10 days when my eyes actually were closed, and the only clues I had to where I was on the paper came from feeling for the edges. In both cases, the drawing was left-handed and the painting right-handed.

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: From Mirror, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Fleshy (Cauc.), Style: Coloring Book, Style: Contour Lines, Style: Puzzle Pieces, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Like San Francisco, My Brain has Been in a Fog All Weekend

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Fleshy (Cauc.), Style: Coloring Book, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Kiss Me, Baby!

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Fleshy (Cauc.), Style: Coloring Book, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

The Day Did Not Go as Expected

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Fleshy (Cauc.), Style: Contour Lines, Style: Puzzle Pieces, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Finally, the Long Weekend!

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Fleshy (Cauc.), Style: Coloring Book, Style: Contour Lines, Style: Puzzle Pieces, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

I'm Still Congested

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Green, Style: Coloring Book, Style: Contour Lines, Style: Puzzle Pieces, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

I Have the Sniffles

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Fleshy (Cauc.), Style: Coloring Book, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

"My God, What's That??!"

Labels: 2008, ArtistsChoice, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Fleshy (Cauc.), Style: Coloring Book, Style: Contour Lines, Style: Puzzle Pieces, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

My Eyes Are Getting Ahead of Me

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Multi, Style: Coloring Book, Style: Contour Lines, Style: Puzzle Pieces, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

What's the Big Deal with Spock Being Able to Raise One Eyebrow?

'What's the Big Desl with Spock Being Able to Raise One Eyebrow?' pen and watercolor self-portrait by San Francisco Bay Area artist Julia Kay. (Click to view same image larger.)

Left-handed blind drawing, with right-handed, sighted color, to be exact, Captain...

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Multi, Style: Coloring Book, Style: Contour Lines, Style: Not Quite Human, Style: Puzzle Pieces, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Big Orange Schnozz

This was done 'peeking' again. Specifically, my eyes were open while I mixed paint, dipped my brush, and positioned over the paper. My eyes were closed while I actually painted, guessing when I might be out of paint on the brush and needing to load it up again. Also, this was quite early in the morning - before the dental cleaning which was before school which was before work which was before doing my homework...

Labels: 2008, Media: Watercolor, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Multi, Subject: Facial Features, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Blind and Semi-Blind (Peeking)

Labels: 2008, Media: Watercolor, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Multi, Skin Tones: Purple, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Saved by Color

Or full title: Left-handed Cartoon Self in Studio with Massage Table - So-so Drawing Saved by Color.

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Subject: Narrative, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Rainbow Waif

Labels: 2008, Media: Watercolor, Process: From Imagination, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Multi, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Something Roman-Egyptian About This One...

... I think it reminds me of those Fayum mummy portraits. This was done left-handed, and without brushes or pens - just wet socks, q-tips and paint.

Labels: 2008, Media: Watercolor Crayon, Process: From Imagination, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Browns, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Look Ma, No Brushes!

Painted left-handed with magic markers and wet socks dipped in watercolour pans.

Labels: 2008, Media: Magic Markers, Media: Watercolor, Process: From Imagination, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Multi, Style: Contour Lines, Style: Loose and Scribbly, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Funny, You Don't Look Bluish...

Just another evening in the studio telling myself old jokes...

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: From Imagination, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Blue, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Peanut Breath

'Pwanut Breath' left-handed watercolor self-portrait by San Francisco Bay Area artist Julia Kay. (Click to view same image larger.)

And now you know what I had for my midnight snack.

Labels: 2008, Media: Watercolor, Process: From Imagination, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Multi, Style: Loose and Scribbly, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Awhle Ago on the BART Platform

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: From Photo(s), Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Subject: Narrative, Subject: Transportation, Subject: With Other People, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

First Left-Handed Watercolor

Labels: 2008, Media: Ink, Media: Watercolor, Process: From Imagination, Process: From Life, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Pink + Yellow, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Carrot-top in the Morning

Labels: 2008, Media: Pen, Media: Watercolor, Process: From Imagination, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Fleshy (Cauc.), Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Taking a Break From Packing

Labels: 2007, Media: Pen, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Signature Piece

Sometimes these things just happen.

Detail of 'Signature Piece' self-portrait by San Francisco Bay Area artist Julia Kay. (Click to view same image larger.)

Labels: 2007, Media: Cut Paper, Media: Pen, Process: From Mirror, Process: Left-handed, Style: Contour Lines, Style: Loose and Scribbly, Subject: Head, Subject: Too Creepy for GF, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

I've Been Staring at Numbers All Day

Labels: 2007, Media: Pen, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

She Thinks Too Much

Labels: 2007, Media: Cut Paper, Media: Pen, Process: From Mirror, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Pink, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Yond' Julia Has a Lean and Hungry Look...

Labels: 2007, Media: Cut Paper, Media: Pen, Process: From Mirror, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Red, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Shhh... It's After Midnight!

Labels: 2007, Media: Pen, Process: From Mirror, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Blue, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Subject: Wearing a hat, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Well, Maybe...

Labels: 2007, Media: Pen, Process: From Mirror, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Pink, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

I Have an Icepack on my Neck

Three more LHB (left-handed blind) drawings.

Labels: 2007, Media: Pen, Process: From Imagination, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Arriving Home

Labels: 2007, Media: Pen, Process: From Imagination, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Narrative, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Flying to LA

Once again, I'm hoping to turn myself into a plane instead of having to board one, this time to fly to LA. In keeping with the rest of the week, this is another LHBD - Left-Handed Blind Drawing. I hope to post from LA, but if not, I'll catch up on return - of course I'll still be drawing every day.

Detail of 'Flying to LA' self-portrait by San Francisco Bay Area artist Julia Kay. (Click to view same image larger.)

Labels: 2007, Media: Pen, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: From Imagination, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: I Turned Myself Into a..., Subject: Narrative, Subject: Transportation, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

I Did Feel for the Edges of the Paper with my Hands

Labels: 2007, Media: Pen, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: From Imagination, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

The Amusements & Discoveries of Left-Handed Blind Drawing

'The Amusements & Discoveries of Left-Handed Blind Drawing (3)'' self-portrait by San Francisco Bay Area artist Julia Kay. (Click to view same image larger.)

Labels: 2007, Media: Pen, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: From Imagination, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

I was at Work until 9 PM

Thank you to Google, who earlier today finally acknowledged the FTP problem, but, more to the point, seems to have solved it!

Labels: 2007, Media: Pen, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: From Imagination, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Style: Contour Lines, Subject: At Work, Subject: Head, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

Gottta Get This Done

Labels: 2007, Media: Magic Markers, Process: In 15 minutes or less, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Pink, Style: Loose and Scribbly, Subject: Head, Where: St. Paul (AGM07)

Double Blind Studies

'Double Blind Study' magic marker self-portrait drawing by San Francisco Bay Area artist Julia Kay. (Click to view same image larger.)

OK, not only was I blind to the paper, I was blind to the mirror - these were drawn left and right handed together, with my eyes closed. Color added eyes-open and right-handed.

Detail of 'Double Blind Study' magic marker self-portrait drawing by San Francisco Bay Area artist Julia Kay. (Click to view same image larger.)

Well, tonight I'm off for a week to St Paul, MN. for the Annual General Meeting of the American Society for the Alexander Technique. I'll still be drawing every day, and I expect to find internet access and upload every day, but if there are delays in posting, that's why.

'Double Blind Prelim' magic marker self-portrait drawing by San Francisco Bay Area artist Julia Kay. (Click to view same image larger.)

Labels: 2007, Media: Magic Markers, Process: Blind left drawing with sighted right painting, Process: Eyes Closed, Process: From Imagination, Process: Left and Right Handed together, Process: Left-handed, Skin Tones: Pink, Style: Contour Lines, Where: San Francisco (Florida St.)

The Whites of My Eyes

Strangely similar to yesterday's (especially the tilt of the head and the lips), given that I was looking only in the mirror and not at the paper both times... I guess that is my 'default' left-handed self-portrait.