Acrylic Ink Sketches

June 30, 2008

Doing some sketches for new ideas. I love using these acrylic inks by Daler-Rowney, especially the pearlescent ones. And who could resist with great names for colors like Waterfall Green, Galactic Blue, or Hot Mama Red?

Filed Under drawings, mixed media, painting, process | 2 Comments

Portable Drawing Door Table

May 12, 2008

Now that the really hard physical work is over, we’re having fun arranging areas of the newly renovated offices and gallery.

Here’s a drawing desk I built using an old black door and some dusty sawhorses I found in the warehouse. I like that the hinges are still attached (except when I busted my ankle on one as I was moving the door into the room). The door knob is still attached to the other side, which makes is easy to carry around.

Last week while I was recuperating from the painting marathon, I decided to do a to-do-list drawing or collage (more on that tomorrow) each day along with the silly rule that I couldn’t open my laptop until it was done.

We know how well that worked — I’m way behind on emails and blog posts. That silly rule is hereby tossed out the window, and this week I’ll try to remedy my email backlog.

Filed Under drawings, studio | 5 Comments

Back in the Groove

March 21, 2008

Nice monitor huh? Got for my birthday, and it plugs into my laptop to give me two screens for drawing and looking at reference material.

Drawing for quilts is different than just drawing, because I have to remember that eventually it will be used as a pattern, and that I have be able to construct everything that I draw.

Thanks Grace Matthews for this post which quotes Faith Ringgold, “Underestimation is a psychological tactic for artists. When you employ this tactic you convince yourself that the upcoming project is not really so big or so bad, that it will not take much time and that in fact it’s a piece of cake. This method of trickery helps you to tackle the biggest of projects and makes the project less daunting and more manageable.” This is a great idea and has helped me getting started tackling some projects I’ve been worried about.

But most important, little friends and good music help oil the creative machine. Right now I’m listening to Lemon Jelly.

Filed Under Inspiration, drawings, studio, technology | 7 Comments

Never Ever Do This

March 11, 2008

I should know better than to take the lid off the coffee grinder before the blades stop spinning.

Filed Under disaster, drawings, mixed media | 9 Comments

Walking the dog

March 2, 2008

Filed Under drawings | 3 Comments

Mojo Hair and Clairefontaine Sketchbooks

February 26, 2008

I finally realized that my constant obsession with trying new hair salons is actually research. This weekend I visited a place called Mojo Pie Hair Salon that felt a little like walking into a Tim Burton goes to New Orleans theme, and had plenty of time to do these ten pages of sketches while getting a new stripy attitude on my head.

It’s tough to draw people in motion, but sharpens the senses and makes one more observant. I came away with a lot of visual information that I probably wouldn’t have noticed otherwise.

Someone asked about my sketchbooks. I often carry a small moleskine, but my real favorite is this sketchbook by Clairefontaine (read some interesting trivia about the French company here — talk about archival! I love the story of Frankie T.)

The sketchbook fits in a medium-sized purse, and has nice white paper that scans very well. And it’s cheap, four bucks at my local National Art Shoppe.

Plus, it’s landscape. I have a theory that some people see the world in portrait and some in landscape orientation. I definitely see it in landscape. How do you see the world?

Filed Under drawings | 19 Comments

Another Moth-eaten Sweater

February 19, 2008

I did this drawing using a Tombow acid-free black brush pen. I also tried with several real brushes with ink, but the brush-pen was so much easier. I’ve been practicing drawing with a brush and watercolors lately because I love this guy’s style, and he draws a new cartoon everyday!

Just out of curiosity, what do you like better - crisp computer lines or hand-drawn brush lines?

And stay tuned for the next episode of the Moth-Eaten Chronicles….

Filed Under drawings, mixed media | 26 Comments

Mystery Trip

February 9, 2008

What do you pack when you go on a trip? This week the Illustration Friday theme is “Choose” so it seems appropriate that I’m trying to choose what to take. Whenever I go on a trip, I take waaayyy too much, and then when I get there, nothing matches, it’s the wrong season, or I spend most my time wishing I’d brought something else or shopping for something I’ve forgotten.

And what if you didn’t know where you were going? Tomorrow I leave on a mystery trip. I have no idea where to. I’d check the weather, but I don’t know were it is. The funny thing is, it’s kind of fun not knowing! Guess I should stop drawing and start packing.

Filed Under drawings, illustration friday, journeys | 14 Comments

Illustration Friday: Blanket

February 4, 2008

I feel right at home with this week’s Illustration Friday theme: Blanket, because I spent all weekend under one, still trying to sleep off this nasty cold-flu.

Here’s an interesting link called “How to be an Early Riser” if you don’t want to be like me. My advice is just the opposite for “how to be a full-time sleepyhead” — read lots of technical books like The Visual Quickstart Guide to WordPress and stuff with a lot of chemical formulas, like Color by Design: Paint and Print with Dye. Actually they are both good books, but yawn…I just can’t keep my eyes open.

One more word on blankets. I had to change hair stylists last fall because the guy keep asking me if I was still making blankets. I make art quilts, not blankets, and after a few months it stopped being funny. Actually it never was funny. Let’s just say, don’t call them blankets, that is if you want to cut my hair!

Filed Under drawings, illustration friday | 17 Comments

Under the Weather

January 29, 2008

If you’re wondering about all the spastic changes to my blog lately, I’ve had two flavors of colds over the last week and haven’t had much energy but to sit on the sofa and dink around with it. What is it about computers that can suck up the time? It’s still much more entertaining than watching day-time tv while clutching the kleenex box.

Haven’t been able to sleep all night, and in just a few hours, I’ll have to drag a ladder over to the Creamery Art Center to help change out our exhibition space. Things are looking a little thin at the studio lately, with almost all my work (that’s any good) out and about. Check out my new page of current exhibitions, it took a while to track it all down! You’ll have to agree that I need to feel better and get back to work.

Filed Under drawings, mixed media | 10 Comments

Illustration Friday: Stitch

January 17, 2008

I drew this guy while watching 60 Minutes. It doesn’t work very well to draw people on tv who are in sit-coms, because they all seem to look alike, but news shows have more interesting faces.

Thanks to Jane for getting me motivated to try turning a drawing into a stitched piece. How could I have been about to pass up this week’s Illustration Friday theme?

I almost got the fabric cut and stitched in an hour (sixty minutes — ha ha, get it?) The back is almost as interesting as the front…

Filed Under drawings, illustration friday, quilts | 5 Comments

Important Notes from Another Meeting

January 15, 2008

Lately I’ve been fascinated by drawing ears and noses. Since I’ve drawing in my sketchbooks on a regular basis, I’ve noticed an improvement since last November’s drawings. Since I draw with a pen, I’m thinking more carefully about each line as I make it.

Also, I often complain that I have bad handwriting, but never want to practice writing. It’s interesting that seems to be improving also as a side-effect of the drawing.

Filed Under drawings | 7 Comments

Entering Shows: Breaking it down, Step by Step

January 10, 2008

This is a drawing of my in-basket. I guess I’d rather draw it, than do it!

For weeks I had on my to-do list an item “Send images to Curator.” Actually it was one of several items that have to be done for an invitational show at the Lux Center for the Arts that I’ll be part of this April.

Sounds simple, why was I procrastinating? When I actually did get it done last weekend, here’s some of the nitty-gritty details:

Filed Under drawings, exhibitions, process | 11 Comments

Simplify or Play for the New Year?

January 2, 2008

On New Year’s Eve, I volunteered to work at First Night — an Arts Council sponsored event-filled night for people of all ages. Working in the hands-on area, making noise-makers out of paper plates and beans seemed the most fun. With all the kids there, guess who stapled her own finger? Ouch!

When I wasn’t helping kids, I was drawing them. Kids are a challenge because they move so much. Most of my drawings are only half finished.

Thinking about New Year’s resolutions, I liked this post on Christine Kane’s blog about scrapping those lists and deciding on one word as a theme for the year. But most of the words on her suggestion list are words of being, and since I’m in the GTD (getting things done) mode, I want an action word.

Immediately I thought of my friend Emmie’s suggestion to SIMPLIFY. Actually Emmie just posted a good entry that ends with “Simplify, work quickly, spontaneously, and intuitively.” Good mantra for the new year.

But I’ve also been reading The Art of Eric Carle. And this year I want to continue my exploration of new media, so I also like the idea of adopting the word Play. So what’s better, Simplify or Play?

Filed Under Inspiration, drawings | 20 Comments

Mr. Smith’s Fast Lube

December 17, 2007

The other day I was getting the oil changed in my car (finally!) at a quickie shop near my house. The office next to the oil-change bays was an interesting place to draw — lots of bizarre stuff, especially the strange animal heads mounted on the walls above the office manger’s desk.

The desk reminded me of mine, in need of some really good house-cleaning (I’m working on that — more on that later) but the creepy atmosphere of the staring animals juxtaposed against the grungy accounting shop was definately not my aesthetic.

It reminded me of something Robert Genn sent out in one of his email newsletters awhile back — that he used to look for good scenery to paint, then found a place to sit. Now he just finds a comfortable place to sit, then looks for a subject. I think I’m starting to really like that idea. For all the oddities, Mr. Smith has some comfortable chairs in his shop. And coffee.

Filed Under drawings | 12 Comments

keep looking »

Acrylic Ink Sketches

Portable Drawing Door Table

Back in the Groove

Never Ever Do This

Walking the dog

Mojo Hair and Clairefontaine Sketchbooks

Another Moth-eaten Sweater

Mystery Trip

Illustration Friday: Blanket

Under the Weather

Illustration Friday: Stitch

Important Notes from Another Meeting

Entering Shows: Breaking it down, Step by Step

Simplify or Play for the New Year?

Mr. Smith’s Fast Lube

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