The Gallery (my portfolio)

This is a small selection of my art. I hope I’ll get the chance to do more drawing and painting and go on to try many more exciting techniques and styles. As I am (relatively) new to drawing and painting I suspect that it will take me rather a long time to find a certain ‘style’. Yet, rather like my writing, I’m sure it will be somewhat eclectic!

And to add to the above… (which I wrote a fair while ago)… I did want to say that although I’ve only been learning how to draw/paint since the summer of 2013 I’ve had several commissions for illustrations from magazines, friends of friends and people who have found me via my blog. I also run a weekly art class at the local primary school; I’ve had great feedback from the students so far. I also occasionally use my own art for my small press Mother’s Milk Books. It gives me an incredible amount of pleasure to create something that another person finds pleasing. 🙂 This is something that I never believed could happen. If there is a ‘something’ that you would like me to illustrate, please do get in contact by emailing me: marija.smits [at] googlemail.com and we can discuss prices & terms.

Thanks for stopping by to have a look. 🙂

 

Graphite

I love drawing so much! I find it really relaxing, and I’m just about able to do it with lots of things going on in the background – like little ones watching CBeebies and asking me for food! The first three drawings were done on watercolour paper (with a rougher texture). The ‘Allure’ lady was done on very smooth cartridge paper, with plenty of blending. The drawing of the author Alison Moore now hangs on the wall in the foyer of the Nottingham Writers’ Studio (of which Alison is a member).

2B, or not 2B, that is the question:

Self-portrait by Marija Smits

Portrait of Ludmila by Marija Smits

‘Allure’ lady by Marija Smits

 

Alison Moore by Marija Smits (based on a photo by Al Brydon)

 

Coloured pencils/charcoal

I can really see the potential with coloured pencils. I absolutely adore them! I used watercolour pencils in the following picture, along with charcoal and a watercolour wash for the sky.

Santorini, by Marija Smits

The below was produced solely using Faber Castell Polychromos coloured pencils.

Sensitivity by Marija Smits

 

Watercolours

Here I am trying out ‘glazing’ with the leaf – a technique I keep returning to.

Red leaf by Marija Smits

 

Allure lady (watercolour) by Marija Smits

 

Little boat at sea by Marija Smits

And here is another sea picture, inspired by the paintings on our wall by Elizabeth James. (I used a fair bit of white acrylic for the sea foam, which looks lovely and textured on the painting, but doesn’t look very textured on the screen. Hmm.)

First sea by Marija Smits

Messing around with line and wash:

1920s blonde lady by Marija Smits

 

‘The Cold Cup of Tea’ by Marija Smits

 

Zentangling

I am totally in love with zentangling at the moment and have been pleased with the recent results of my efforts:

Zen mama by Marija Smits