mnartists.org: Nora Leverson

Pentecost

Nora Leverson — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:24:53 GMT

Oil on canvas This was part of my Internship with my church, Holy Nativity Lutheran. This image represents the Holy Spirit with fire and with a golden dove. The dove (some say phoenix) blends with the fire in this image, rather than standing apart.

Fall

Nora Leverson — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:21:28 GMT

Fall The piece de resistance - the third illustration for the calendar project, and my personal favorite. I grew up with Clydesdales right next door, so for me, every other horse is just a pony. The background on this was inspired by a photograph taken on the grounds of Glensheen Mansion in Duluth. This is Hank.

Summer

Nora Leverson — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:20:42 GMT

Summer Oil wash on canvas board Second illustration for the calendar project, the breed is Gypsy Vannen from England. They were bred specifically to pull Gypsy carts. The background is from a photograph in a landscape photography book from the school library. I chose it for that branch that reflected the waves in her mane. The oil wash technique is a new one for me, picked up during this class from my instructor, Bill Reynolds. Her barn name is Gypsy

Winter

Nora Leverson — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:25:24 GMT

Oil wash on canvas board Created for the calendar project in Advanced Illustration, my final year, this Fresian was originally on the cover of Fleet Farm Magazine, if you can believe it. The background on this one is from my head. Every horse has a barn name - this one is Bill

Deirannon

Nora Leverson — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 12:42:06 GMT

My first mixed media, pre-watercolor. I created a mer-man because there simply isn't enough of them, in my opinion. The outer-space environment is taken from the pre-Galileo theory that space, then called the Etherium, was as habitable and breathable. Deirannon, Dauphin of the Mer, whose sentient people swim through the length and breadth of the Asphodel.

Moon Grey Blue

Nora Leverson — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 12:20:21 GMT

By the time I reached this assignment, I was wholly and completely addicted to watercolor painting. Also, to my delight, I discovered that the "wash lines" that are left behind during the preliminary process can be smoothed away by colored pencil. All of the background work on this piece is done in watercolor. The details are colored pencil.

Stormy Skies

Nora Leverson — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 13:00:16 GMT

We were given a mid-term assignment that simply asked us to find a new medium we hadn't tried before and basically give it a go. I chose to further develop my watercolor skills. Before this, I had been intimidated so tremendously by the medium that I had prohibited myself from doing it. Thanks to a great instructor - thanks, Bill! - that initimidation is now a thing of the past. I may not be as good at it as some, but I'm not letting it scare me away anymore. I also learned that Vellum textured Bristol isn't the way to go on a piece this big. The background washes dry too fast and lured me into overworking it a bit.

Our Last Goodbye

Nora Leverson — Sun, 11 Jan 2004 00:09:13 GMT

My first attempt at colored pencil. Not bad, really.

Beloved

Nora Leverson — Fri, 07 Nov 2003 02:00:30 GMT

A free-hand graphite exercise during my lunch breaks when I was a stressed-out stock market research editor. I had intended to draw them both to the waist, then got as far as her shawl and decided I had gone far enough.

As It Should Be

Nora Leverson — Fri, 07 Nov 2003 01:41:51 GMT

Originally created for the Beauty and the Beast 1997 fan convention, this was the primary piece for the souvenier T-shirt. It was created using two different photographs, combining two subjects into one original piece. Actually combining them was easy. Drawing Linda Hamilton's jawline? That's hard.

"Shiny!"

Nora Leverson — Mon, 15 Sep 2003 18:49:10 GMT

Something about Kaylee just brightens up a room, and it certainly isn't the jacket she's wearing. This one was an absolute delight to produce. Once I started laying the color, I couldn't wait to work on it and invariably, I always ended up in a better mood than when I started. E-mail me if you'd like to buy this original, or would be interested in a print. channain@yahoo.com

"It's Enough."

Nora Leverson — Thu, 17 Jul 2003 03:10:06 GMT

This was created as the first in a series for a crazy-fun bunch of Browncoats. You know who you are. Nathan Fillion has amazing eyes and very expressive features, but the dark side of Mal's character seemed to infuse every stroke. I poured all my heartbreak into this one. E-mail me if you'd like to buy this original, or would be interested in a print. channain@yahoo.com

Time Weilder

Nora Leverson — Tue, 19 Nov 2002 17:05:00 GMT

Colored pencil on pastel paper. Preliminary study for a larger piece. The large sphere is the past, and the smaller sphere is the future. The weilder is currently stranded inbetween, uncertain of either.

Rock Hounds

Nora Leverson — Mon, 22 Jul 2002 21:54:19 GMT

We were on vacation at the time this was taken. The bearded man is my "baby" brother Jay and the cute redhead is our neice Jacque. On Paradise Beach, 15 or so miles from Grand Marais Minnesota, Jay layed himself down on the rocks, plopped his hat down and started finding the interesting rocks. Jacque was finding pretty rocks and putting them in the basket that Jay gave her for just that purpose. It was a perfect moment and I was lucky enough to get a picture of it that later screamed "DRAW ME!" The only modifications from the original photograph is the position of Jay's cap, and Jacque's left hand. Derwent Studio colored pencil on blue Canson pastel paper. Including prliminary work, this peice took about 41 hours to total to complete. The image was created from a photograph taken by the artist. Each rock took up to four layers, depending on the color.

Young Love

Nora Leverson — Wed, 29 May 2002 19:49:17 GMT

This was a commissioned work by a former high school class mate. The original photograph was taken at night at her parents' wedding anniversary by her aunt. The client wanted a portrait done in a lighter background and she let me lighten the sweatshirts as well, which were navy blue. My focus here was on the look shared by a couple who have weathered more than thirty years of marriage. There should be a special award given for that. Including preliminary work, this piece took about 15 hours total to complete. The complete image was created from a photograph supplied by the client.