Posted in drawing, recycling

Autumnal Equinox 2021

Today I want to celebrate the changing of seasons. Weather-wise, it’s still summer here. But a cool front is expected here in the next 12 hours.

I am hopeful for cooler breezes.

With the idea of using non-traditional materials for this art piece, I started by rummaging through my paper storage drawer. Among the half-used scrapbook pads, pages from old calendars, brown paper bags, pieces of card stock and carefully saved rice paper, I came across this:

Yes, your eyes do not deceive you. This is a paper towel that had been used as a wiping rag. If I had to guess I would say this it is covered in fabric paint, because it was fiber artist Cindy Walter who suggested that I save my used paper towels.

https://www.craftsy.com/class/fun-techniques-with-fabric-paints/

Well, why not, I told myself. This could be made into something, by applying a little imagination and some carefully chosen marks.

The towel was quite fragile, so I started with a 4B pencil. Flowers, I thought. Working through the blobs and streaks, I decided to include other living things that associate with flowers. These creatures are currently busy preparing for the coming of winter. I drew beetles, bees, caterpillars and a curious cardinal. Soon the paper was full of pencil marks. I considered adding color. In the end I did put a tiny bit of blue paint onto the stems, but refrained from adding other embellishments, due to concern about damaging the paper towel.

HAPPY EQUINOX TO ALL.

May this fragile drawing remind you of the frailty of life and our pledge as stewards of the earth to preserve it.

Posted in drawing

Sunday Sketch – Add Watercolor

About two weeks ago, we received a text message with a surprising photograph.

To the casual viewer, this may look like an ordinary, but happy day for my two loves. But this was no ordinary day for the little one. She had just received her first haircut! Gone were the messy locks, constantly hanging down over her face. Gone was the daily task of putting in the band to make the wonky ponytail. These delighted expressions and giant smiles just grabbed my heart.

I had to sketch this scene.

Sketch with lines drawn in black Ultrafine marker.

Final portrait with watercolor wash added.

I’m delighted that I was successful in capturing the emotion that I saw in the photograph. The portrait was sent along with Lu’s birthday present in yesterday’s mail. I can’t wait to hear about her reactions when she opens the box.

Posted in drawing

Sunday Sketching from Life

Yesterday I found a feather in the back yard and wanted to render it in graphite.

I decided the drawing would be a self-portrait of my hand holding the feather. Since I am left-handed, it was easiest to hold up my right hand about ten inches from my face and draw what I saw. To render the feather, I attached it to a binder clip and placed it on top of a thread spool on my work table. The tricky part was drawing each part in the same scale, so that it would look life-like.

Contour sketch with a few tone and shade indications
Finished sketch, tone and shadows intensified, also a few more lines.

This didn’t take too long to draw. During the process, I began to appreciate how tricky it is to make a drawing of a hand. I had to keep adjusting the alignment of my fingers as I worked. I wondered if I should include a cast shadow. Ultimately, I couldn’t figure out where to draw the shadow, since I was holding the feather up and away from all surfaces, so left it out.

Maybe I can convince someone to model for me so I can make a sketch of two hands.

Posted in drawing

Sunday Sketching

Today I am posting another sketch of Cat. Cat used to be best friends with Henry, when Henry was toddling. I am interested in painting some watercolor pieces of Henry and Cat. So I thought I would practice with graphite. first.

Reference photo:

My sketch :

I spent my time on this one. It was a very enjoyable process. I think that’s because I have such happy memories of this time in my life. Back then we would drive to Albuquerque to visit our daughter’s family two or three times a year. Cat was just another family member back then.

I hope this drawing does honor to the memory those sun-filled days.