Sketchbooking

I got time off last night from Momcare. She and her WONDERFUL neighbor, MB, went to the HOA potluck and meeting. I dropped them off, and scooted over to the scrap booking store where, after spending too much money, I sat and painted and drew. I was given a 15% discount because I was working at their table!

So today I am showing off the fruits of my labor. I purchased some 'typewriter' alphabet stamps, some really neat metallic watercolor paint and a puppy paw rubber stamp (which it turns out I don't like).


Then I did a bunch of sketching in preparation for working on my Artist Co-op sketchbook. Found I like my painting much better! Think I will do this type of thing as background in my Artist Co-op sketchbook.


Spot, the dog.


Raining dogs and cats. Like the dogs and cats but not the drawing. Plan to re-do this in paint.







Catty raindrops.



Doggy raindrops.





Puddles!

Keep drawing

Waiting at the Airport for Jimmy

My nephew is coming to town and Super G and I are so excited. We got to the airport early and were sitting in Starbucks. I took the time to do some drawing.

Hecate

Recently I was asked to do some drawings of a goddess/witch for a Pagan convention. My drawings didn't get chosen for use but I had a good time doing them. I put info a the bottom of this post on her so you can understand the drawings.


I used dogs I love as models for the three-headed dog. Roxy, my dog is on the left, Red, my
granddog, is in the middle and the right had dog is from my imagination.
In this version the dog on the right is my cousin's dog, Sadie - a pretty little cocker spaniel.


Here is info from goddessgift.com about Hecate, a Greek goddess.

Hecate, Greek goddess of the three paths, guardian of the household, protector of everything newly born, and the goddess of witchcraft -- once a widely revered and influential goddess, the reputation of Hecate has been tarnished over the centuries. In current times, she is usually depicted as a "hag" or old witch stirring the cauldron.

But nothing could be further from the image of Hecate's original glory.

A beautiful and powerful goddess in her own right, the Greek goddess Hecate was the only one of the ancient Titans who Zeus allowed to retain their authority once the Olympians seized control. Zeus shared with Hecate, and only her, the awesome power of giving humanity anything she wished (or withholding it if she pleased).

Hecate was usually depicted with her sacred dogs, although Hecate and even her animals, were sometimes said to have three heads and that they could see in all directions. Although usually depicted as a beautiful woman having three human heads, some images are fearsome indeed (one with a snake's head, one with a horse's, and the third a boar's head).

This farsightedness, the ability to see in several directions at once (even the past, present, and future) featured largely in her most famous myth, the abduction of Persephone. For it was the goddess Hecate who "saw" and told the frantic Demeter what had become of her daughter.

The goddess Hecate continued to play an important role in the life of Persephone, becoming her confidante when she was in the Underworld. Hades, thankful for their friendship, was more than hospitable, honoring Hecate as a prominent and permanent guest in the spirit world. Surely this had the effect of enhancing her reputation as a spirit of black magic with the power to conjure up dreams, prophecies, and phantoms.

So a little lesson on Greek mythology, illustrated by me.

Original designs

Here are a couple of pictures of my interpretation of coneflowers that I did on fabric for patches
in a wedding shower (? -or baby shower?) quilt.


I was quite pleased and surprised at how well they turned out. Someone suggested that I design fabric so I went to a lecture by a fabric designer. Sounded like way too much work for
me (as I am basically a lazy slug!). But I do enjoy making one-of-a-kind wonders.

I used Pigma 0.1 markers for this drawing with lots of layers to make it dark. They are great for small, fine work. Anything bigger and I would use fabric dyes and paintbrushes. Have fun - try it!

Newest ATCs

Here are some of my most recent ATCs. I've posted them together because I am so behind in my blogging!



The bubbles is a happy little card, not much to make it stand out. After I had colored all the bubbles using a mini case of color pencils I carry in my purse I finished a few of them with prismacolor wax markers. Then I took a silver prismacolor pencil and covered the whole thing. The bubbles that I used prismacolors on turned dark when covered with the silver pencil! That was a surprise. I worked them over with an eraser and got a little of the darkness off but it didn't erase totally. Next time I want silver I am going to use the metallic rub-ons. By the way, I have only seen the metallic rub-ons at Jazzy Crafts in Castro Valley.




The very modern art one is also a favorite. I used markers, an old set that I have had forever (or at least 15 years) I really like the vibrant colors and how easy it is to make straight lines!




My sweet puppy (she's actually five years old but we still call her a puppy) was curled up in my lap one evening and I made her the subject of "Let Lying Gods Sleep". Media-wise this ATC was a lot of fun to make. I started out with pencil and something called metallic rub-ons and smushed them together for her body. Left the paper to show through for her white spots and rubbed with tissue the pencil on her head. Used color pencil for the background and rubbed the whole thing with silver metallic rub-ons. The text is ink. I think this is one of my favorite ATCs so far this year.



The sunshine one was done on the first sunny day in what felt like MONTHS! I even was bold enough to use another medium - oil pastels. They are fun to use because they can be manipulated with pencil erasers, tissues, cotton swabs (do you see how I am carefully avoiding trade names?!) fingers, knives and about anything else one can come up with. I didn't use terp or alcohol or nail polish remover but those make interesting effects, too. Use lots of ventilation, no flame and some caution using those liquids. This ATC makes me happy to look at and reminds me that the '...Sun will come out tomorrow...' (actually, it is supposed to rain :( !).

These four ATCs go together, I realized as I was writing this because I used different mediums and techniques. Now I need to get on-line and find that gallery, call them and see if it is possible to have and ATC show. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

2010 ATCs #4

After thinking about Diego Rivera and Frida Khalo Edvard Munch came to mind. This is the result - my version of "The Scream". Once again I used the Prismacolor pens. In looking this drawing over I see a bit of VanGogh's "Starry Starry Night" in it, too. Maybe that will be my next attempt.

I have a file in MyPictures called 'Inspiration'. The problem with it is that I never look at it after I have taken the picture! What is that about? Partly, I think, is that I usually draw these little guys when I am away from my computer, usually away from home, with a few minutes of time free. I find that when I am with the computer, I am playing games on it! I know it is a waste of time, but I tell myself that it keeps my mind busy. My current favorite game is 'Bookworm'.

Today, on BART, I sat next to a young man with a really nice portfolio so I struck up a conversation. We talked about where we went to school and I asked him if he knew about ATCs. He didn't so I pulled mine out of my purse and showed him and the lady (no relation) next to him. He gave me the name of a gallery that might want to exhibit them! So tomorrow I am calling that gallery. Anybody have drawn ATCs that you would like to exhibit? Maybe we can get a show up and wouldn't that be fun!

2010 ATCs

Here is another of my ATCs for this year. It is my favorite one so far. I saw an article about Frida Khalo and that made me think about Diego Rivera and that produced this image, inspired by DR's "Flower Seller". One of the things I like about it is that is is monochromatic. I used a blue Prismacolor pen - a new tool for me - which I really like. I have three colors and black and they are really smooth to use.

I have been in the throes of gloom, due partly, I think to the gloomy (say rain rain rain rain) weather and partly to my lack of space. The other day I decided to try to get out of it and looked through some magazines which have been collecting. One article I found talked about not having enough space to do art. The author's fix was great - she started doing ATCs with gouache, an opaque watercolor medium which handles a lot like oil paints. One of the mediums I miss using because of my lack of space is oil paints. So, when I next get to an art store I am coming home with a set of gouache paints. I may have some in the black hole of my storage but they don't keep well or for years so I expect buying new ones will serve me better.

2010 Artist Trading cards

Hello again! She's BAACK....This is another of my 2010 ATCs. Can you guess the title? OK, I'll help...Star Buck. Another done while drinking money I mean coffee!

I went on a shopping spree the first week of the month. Spent an afternoon in Macy's. Unusual for me as I never shop at Macy's - it was, in the past, too hard to find my way around (lame, huh?!) but it was actually much better. I think ADA people got after them. Anyway, I returned a gift and purchased a lovely new lipstick and looked at purses and belts. Found the (almost) perfect purse but not at the perfect price but couldn't find the perfect or even close belt so went home with a new red lipstick. Kind of appropriate for this ATC.

A couple of days later I went to pick up the grandchild. It was sunny and beautiful at home so just wore a denim jacket. Naturally, when I had traveled the 45 miles to my destination it was pouring down rain! So off to the coat factory I went. Actually found the perfect rain coat - three-quarter length in a PL (that's petite large). The shoulders hit in the perfect place, it goes around my middle and has a removable liner! Then I had to buy a purse that matched. I usually wear grama black shoes and don't plan on getting another pair anytime soon so needed a brown (did I say the raincoat is brown?) and black purse. Found a funky faux jaguar pattern purse with all the requisite pockets and pouches and said to myself "self, why not -you can do funky". The purse has elicited some laughs from my daughters and I have found it convenient.

That is the extent of my shopping mania for this month. Pretty tame by some standards but not for me and avid anti-shopper!

More ATCs to come next as they seem to be the only art I am doing.

Art Trading Cards

I was at Jo-Anns Fabrics the other day and saw Artists Trading Card (ATC) blanks in the one dollar bin so I picked up three. When I got home I checked my receipt and found they were in fact $2.50. Was going to give two of the packs away but the higher price convinced me to keep them. I plan to draw on them throughout the year, especially when I am drinking coffee at Starbucks! This one was done at the Starbucks in The Castro after I got my hair cut (yes, I go all the way to The Castro to get my hair cut. Bob the Hair God just can't be replaced - I've tried). Maybe these should be packaged in some kind of Starbucks container! I haul Starbucks Via around so that I will never be without caffeinated coffee, that might be a good container. Reduce-reuse-recycle is always a good thing.

Be sure to check out Artquiltmaker's blog for her creative prompts. Then get going and do them. Artistic exercising to keep your creativity in great shape. Sort of an artistic sixx-pack!

Doodling

 

At least once a month I have to sit in on a board meeting at our place of work which is also where we live. The doodle above took six hours, the length of the meeting I was in. In looking at it after a few weeks I see that it has a landscape/cityscape quality to it and wonder what it would look like in cloth. I often draw quilts I plan to make as a tool to work out ideas but I have never transfered something intended to solely be a drawing into a quilt...hmmmmmmm?

More Street Painting

This is the maquette for a street painting I did at the San Rafael Street Painting Festival. It is colored pencil on paper. I have myself on the ground in the lower left and again on the right about a third of the way up. There are also many of the people I met while street painting in this drawing. It was fun to do and everyone liked seeing themselves when I transferred it to the actual street. The spot in the middle is from using the flash on my camera but when I took the picture without the flash the color was way off. I wish I had framed this large drawing better as the paper is rippling. I could probably re-frame it when I find time and my framing tools. I know those tools are here somewhere! But unlike my carving tools, which I don't need at all, I haven't been able to find them. One of these days I'll get organized. Maybe after I finish my UFOs, or learn French and get back from Paris!

Last month my daughter and I went to LALA land to visit my mother - "Granny". We were there several days and decided to go to the LA Museum of Contemporary Art. My daughter has a fancy phone that gets Google map service. I had a pretty good idea of which way we needed to go but we agreed to use the Googler. The journal drawing above was based on our trip that day! We drove (I drove) all over downtown Los Angeles and Google never did find the museum for us! It kept directing us to a residential area. But the drive was interesting. I grew up in Los Angeles and had spent a good bit of time downtown but not in the last few years. I was impressed with how cleaned-up the area looks. Buildings were painted, there were very few vacancies in the business areas and there were lots of people walking around. Next time I plan on going to MOCA I am going to check out the directions with the museum directly!
This journal sketchbook is a Moleskine brand which I just discovered this year. I love the smooth, cream colored paper and am happy that it will accept watercolor without disintegrating. I like puting my own design on the cardboard cover, too. I have a large one for my journaling and a pocket sized one to carry in my purse.
Run down to the art supply store or to Borders and pick up a sketchbook. Then, fill it up!

Journal Pages #1

This doodle from my sketchbook was inspired by a tea bag! It was made of a transparent fabric, pyramidal, and the string had a small leaf at the end. I was fascinated by it and have kept it around.
My sketchbook is a stream of consciousness thing. This page is one of a series with the pyramid as the main object. The materials I used include watercolor pencils, a roller ball pen and some stuff from the scrapbook store that looks like blush but comes in about ten different metallic colors. Sorry I don't know what it is called.
The page flows as I draw and write. I usually write backwards or upside down or randomly around the page because sometimes I put down private stuff. The writing is mostly unintelligible but it suits my purpose which is just to get the words (thoughts, feelings) out of my head and to be able to show people this work. I really enjoy the drawing part of the journaling. I was inspired by a book on the private sketchbooks of artists called "An Illustrated Life" by Danny Gregory.
I work in my sketchbook several times a week. I consider it exercise, like walking, and necessary for my health.
In the classes I teach I try to encourage all my students to keep a sketchbook. The students who grow and develop their art are usually the ones who do sketch and draw regularly.
As the teabag shows, inspiration can come from many sources. Look around and be inspired.

Three O'clock Cat

Here is the second in the series which started with "Doggy Dawn". We have a cat but this one isn't even remotely like ours! I found these drawings to be a lot of fun and just kept on doing them for several days. Unfortunately, they were done a couple of years ago and I'm not sure I still have them. Doggy and Cat are the only two I have photos of. If I can find the sketchbook I did them in, I'll keep adding them to my blog. In the meantime, I have lots of quilts to show you. But back to Cat. Once again, I let my imagination flow and put in everything that came to mind. When I look at Cat now, I wonder how long he has been sitting on that windowsill looking at the goldfish. Does the goldfish know its days are numbered? Has Cat noticed the gecko on the wall? Or the blue bird of happiness above his head? As with Dog, Cat is done with color pencils. I mostly used watercolor pencils but did throw in a few wax based color pencils. I prefer the watercolor pencils because they can be erased and they have a creamy feel to them when I draw. There is less drag on the paper with them. That sounds funny but if you draw you know what I mean. For example, tonight I was taking notes as my eldest daughter taught me how to do something on the computer. I was using ordinary lined paper but had grabbed an art pencil. It was an old Staetler brand pencil and was lovely to use. It had such a velvety feel to it that it took no effort to write at all. It isn't often that I can find a pencil like that anymore. So, blog friends, what is your favorite pencil?

Doggy Dawn

We have a great little dog who just turned five this summer. She is the inspiration for the drawing I did titled "Doggy Dawn". I included all the things she loves,and some she doesn't, like water. This drawing is in a cartoon style which is new for me. It was a lot of fun to do and I just let myself go with the flow. I had in mind when I started that I would use it as a maquette for a quilt. However, when I finished I new I didn't want to do a quilt that intricate. So it is still a drawing in one of my many sketchbooks. This drawing did inspire a series of other drawings in the same style. Stay tuned for the rest!

A Recent Drawing

I mentioned in my bio that I had an art degree. My favorite form of art is drawing with graphite pencils. So today I included the most recent drawing I've done. It took about eight hours to complete, with two or three preliminary sketches before I started on the final one. I encourage everyone to draw, doodle, sketch and whatever else one feels up to doing. It is surprising how relaxing drawing is and the results are often surprising, too!