LAST THREE OBAMA SKETCHES DONE

I was impatient to get this project done, so the price was paid. When working with a new image, I like to do quite a few drawings in my sketchbook. One has the choice of working with an erasable mark or drawing over and over making mental adjustments each time. I prefer to do lots of drawings with no erasing. Consequently, some of these sketches look pretty accurate and others are way off. So, I guess I will cut up the book , mat the ones I like and gesso over the failed images. I may try this again sometime, but for now I will consider it completed.

I received a note from Jill asking about the manuscript part of the image. That is from a stamp. It is illegible so I'm not even sure if it is English, but it looks like a hand written document of some sort. I wanted a visual reference to the Constitution or some other important document. She also thought I had planned where the different elements would fall on the head. Actually I just moved the stamped things around a bit from frame to frame for variety. The fun is seeing how the random elements come together as a whole image after you add the drawing.

A REMEMBERANCE FOR AN HISTORIC DAY

This was such a special day in the history of our country that I had to create something to commemorate the occasion. I kept thinking of this idea all day. I finally had the time to prepare the accordion sketchbook. I took photographs off of the television this morning during the inauguration so I had my own original photographs of Barack Obama to work from. I have finished these three images. I will complete the sketchbook tomorrow. I really think the 2nd image is accurate and the 3rd misses the mark, but that is always the chance you take working this way. I started out using my Interactive Atelier acrylic paints for the stamps. By adding the slow medium, I can take my time preparing the stamp and get a good impression. After the stamped acrylic dried, I added some "dirty glaze". The last step was using the Elegant Writer and using a wet brush for contouring.

Congratulations, Mr. President!!!!!

SKETCHBOOK COMPLETED!

I had a great afternoon. I was listening to a book on tape (cd) in one computer while I did the drawings for the sketchbook using photos from my laptop! (it isn't fixed yet but I brought it back while waiting for a part so I can use the photos stored there) I used the Elegant Writer Caligraphy pen and a wet brush. I like the results so much, I think I will try a half sheet painting using this combination of materials. The Frenchman better look out!

I SIGNED UP FOR "ART EVERY DAY MONTH"

For the sixth year in a row, Leah Piken Kolidas is sponsoring "Art Every Day Month". November is the month and lots of artists are signing up to commit to posting their creative efforts for 30 consecutive days. Click on the title to go to her blog. I just completed the little drawing seen above. I actually spent a few hours painting pieces of Japanese papers with watercolor in preparation for a collage painting. They look very anemic but I will persevere. Actually, the paper towels I put them on to dry are the most interesting! I think I will see if they are "collagable". I am used to using tissue paper for collage, so this is going to be interesting. I may find acrylic is a better paint to color the papers. Perhaps I will have more time tomorrow to work on that painting. I also bought a trial set of open acrylics with my gift certificate from Accent Arts, so I want to make a Frenchman painting with those as well. This always happens to me. Too many ideas bumping around in my head at the same time. I need to focus on one idea at a time.

DRAWING MARATHON TODAY!

Today I was able to go the the quarterly drawing marathon in Palo Alto and stayed for both sessions. It took a little trial and error but I finally figured out a combination of inks and pens, brush strokes and marks that gave me results I liked. I am posting my two favorite drawings from today and the rest that I liked are in the slide show. I was using India Ink with a brush, walnut ink with a brush and the Elegant Writer black pen and then a permanent fine point uniball pen. I took the phone book, my new pad of YUPO and a Watercolor travel book that I wasn't too fond of the paper quality. It was perfect for the materials I worked with today. The morning session had my two favorite models. In the afternoon, I switched to the long pose but didn't have an interesting vantage point so I started drawing the other artists around the model a la Charles Reid. That was fun. I was so happy life didn't interfere with art today.

"STROKES OF GENIUS 2" ACCEPTED DRAWING!

I received a notification in the mail today that the above image will be included in the next Strokes of Genius 2 book! I am very excited and honored to be selected for inclusion in this book. I submitted about 7 drawings and thought I had created a folder on my computer desk top with the images and their "titles". It disappeared somehow. I wasn't sure for awhile which drawing they wanted but finally figured it out. I didn't want to seem too ditsy by having to check with Northlight for positive identification.

The book will be published next October 2009.

Meanwhile, back to the challenge of the month. Hilda was uncertain how to proceed. I suppose she is not alone so here is my
best attempt at a simplified explanation of a cut paper drawing. Think in terms of positive and negative shapes. The negative shapes would be the pieces you would cut away. The positive shapes would all have to stay connected so the piece wouldn't fall apart. Some of the connections can be quite slender lines. It isn't necessary to cut out the negative shapes, just draw the shapes in a way that it would be possible to do so. It is just a way of designing shapes and subdividing larger shapes. It is a parallel excercise to the wire sculpture drawings. That was a challenge with lines. This is a challenge about shapes. It is different from collage where you glue pieces on top of each other. Some of the paper sculptors do combine the cut paper in a collage manner. Don't worry to much about what is correct. The whole idea of the challenge is to get our minds thinking in new ways to interpret a subject. This is another way to think about shapes, pattern, representing your image. See what you can do. Get as creative as you can.

WATERCOLOR TRAVEL KIT SET UP

Here are some photos of my drawing and painting kit that I take with me when I travel. One could have it with them at all times because of its' size but I save it for when I am on the road. Please note that my hand is not that fat!!! It is the camera angle. I wanted to show the size in relation to my hand. Hotels have miniature bottles of shampoo, mouthwash etc. for the guests. I use such a bottle cleaned out as a small water container. It fits in the kit nicely and doesn't leak. I have several Elegant Writer Pens in this kit, two regular travel brushes, one brush that holds water in the handle and a small mechanical pencil as well as a pen with permanent ink. A purse size packet of tissues complete the set.

WILLIE NELSON CENTER SEAT STEERAGE CLASS FROM DALLAS TO SAN FRAN

Here is the sketchbook page from my return flight from the Cedar Hills workshop in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area last week. I was crammed into my middle seat next to two big guys. I felt like a contortionist sketching and painting in the limited space but it passes the time and is a fun activity while flying. The first drawing was done with the Elegant Writer caligraphy pen. I started to put some color on it but the ink kept bleeding and I decided it wasn't a good decision to add color, so I started the second image drawn with a pencil and then full color applied. I love my little art kit. I still haven't put any paint in the second Altoids box but the clear plastic water bottle lids are in place so I will probably fill them before my next trip. I don't really need a second box but there is room in the small makeup case I have everything so I will take advantage of it. It just occurred to me that I should photograph the whole setup. I will take care of that tomorrow.

I heard that you can paint watercolor on regular gessoed canvas (not the "special watercolor canvas") so I am intrigued. I spent part of the day transferring one of my drawings onto a 10" square canvas and will start to paint it tomorrow. I suspect I will finish it in a few hours. This canvas has a gesso coating so I don't see why it wouldn't work as gesso accepts watercolor very nicely. I will post tomorrow the results of this experiment.

Speaking of experimenting, I just booked a workshop in Minneapolis for next year and they want a short version of the "Vern" series as the focus of the workshop. Ideas are flashing around in my head how to present this material in five days. I am looking for some "guinea pigs" in the Bay Area to try these ideas out on. If you are interested in such a class, send me a note and I will find a place and time.