Picturing a Life

Funky Chicken

2008-09-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

...and funky, um, monkey? Or something. What is that little stuffed creature? The chicken is actually a teapot with the mouth being the spout. The other little creature has been hanging around my art room for a long time now. I decided to paint him.

Pepper Pen

2007-09-22T21:33:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's a ball point pen. And it actually writes quite well and with a nice feel. So funky, I couldn't resist sketching it. The little metal disk is a strong magnet, handy for sticking it on the refrigerator.

I've let my blog languish though I have been drawing and painting. Danny Gregory's post this morning, complete with a preview of his new book, inspired me to get back at it. We'll have to wait a whole year for it, but I so look forward to holding that book in my hands. So many of my favorite sketch bloggers are represented in its pages.

Sentinel

2007-07-17T21:53:00.000-07:00

Let's call it EDM Challenge number 125. After all, a chicken is a bird. And while perhaps not majestic like an eagle, where would we be without them? No scrambled eggs for breakfast, no fried chicken Sunday dinners... Wait, here we go with the food theme again.

OK, I just like the way they look. Especially roosters. And their personalities have given us the word cocky. What's not to like.

acrylic on gessoed paper

A birthday gift

2007-07-04T17:42:00.000-07:00

EDM Challenge #97 is to draw a present. This lovely cast iron Japanese teapot was a birthday gift from my daughter Kate. It came with a request to draw and post it on this blog. So here you go, Kate. Thank you for the beautiful gift. I enjoyed the drawing, and now I think I'll go make a cup of tea.

#2 pencil in my sketchbook

Art Room Sketches

2007-06-23T08:13:00.001-07:00

From early mornings in my art room this week

Downward Glance

2007-06-17T21:26:00.000-07:00

Ink and acrylic on yellow post-it note.

Sometimes a little doodle begs for more. Asks for color.

Easter cactus

2007-05-29T20:34:00.001-07:00

EDM challenge 76 is draw some flowers. With a nod to Teri I'm submitting my Easter cactus, which is just beginning to bloom.

Pen, marker and colored pencil in my journal.

New Mexico sketches

2007-05-19T16:05:00.001-07:00

This conquistador helmet was one of several on display at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. This particular style is called a burgonet. Pencil in moleskine sketchbook.

The other sketch is of a wooden carving in the courtyard of Church Street Cafe. It's an example of the folk art called Santo, ie. wooden carving of saints or other religious figures. This one is Saint Francis, I believe. Pen and ink in moleskine.

A Sign of Spring

2007-05-04T23:16:00.000-07:00

What better sign of spring (EDM challenge # 59) than the humble, persistent, ubiquitous dandelion? Bane to gardeners, but one can't help but admire the indomitable life force.

Hanuman the Monkey King

2007-04-09T17:30:00.000-07:00

EDM challenge 36 is "Draw out in public." This rod puppet from Indonesia is on display at the Burke Museum as part of the Pacific Voices exhibit. In the stories often enacted with these puppets Hanuman the Monkey King is beloved for his courage and humility.

Drawing in public, I was struck by how the museum visitors seemed to lower their voices as they approaced the display where I was working. It was as if they respected and did not want to disturb my concentration.

From my watercolor sketchbook

2007-03-25T20:21:00.000-07:00

I've just begun to sketch in the watercolor moleskine I bought several months ago. I first had to start out by doing a most hideous sketch (not on purpose, and no, I'm not going to post it). Once I got that out of my system and "ruined" my sketchbook I'm free to move on and not worry about trying to be perfect. This of course results in somewhat better work. So here are grapefruit again, this time in my red bowl for EDM challenge 111. The outstanding characteristic of the bowl is its deep red glaze. I love red, and I love this bowl for its redness.

I've also done a sketch of a banana, which just happens to be EDM challenge 24. First I took a bite, then I sketched, then I ate the rest. Hmmm. Sort of a deja vu experience. I seem to have a theme going. Is this turning into a food blog?

Reclining: a foot study

2007-03-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

I've seem to have become obsessed with feet lately. Here's a study from my sketchbook, drawn while resting in my comfy recliner.

Girl Scout Cookies

2007-03-07T21:03:00.000-08:00

It's spring and the Girl Scouts are out in full uniform with their tempting boxes of cookies. I picked up some thin mints and sketched before I ate. Two versions: acrylic and Pigma Micron line drawing. Which do you like?

Light bulbs

2007-03-04T20:11:00.000-08:00

We had a major windstorm last December and were without power for 2 days (and we were lucky because some lost power for much longer). The experience left us with a renewed appreciation for all the ways we rely on electricity. I post this light bulb challenge (EDM No. 108) in gratitude for light in the darkness. Also heat and hot water, cooking, laundry facilites, dishwasher, not to mention TV, computer, music and electronic games, phone answering machine, cell phones and camera charging...
This drawing was done in graphite and colored pencil.

Greek peppermill

2007-02-27T21:53:00.000-08:00

EDM challenge No. 104 is to draw some salt and pepper shakers. Here's the best peppermill I've ever had, a Christmas gift from my daughter. It's imported from Greece and as lovely as it is functional. It's a beautiful shiny copper, so I'll have to give it another go in color, but for now here's a pencil rendering.

Making the leap

2007-02-22T16:13:00.000-08:00

Inspired by the artists in the Everyday Matters Yahoo group, wanting to participate fully, I'm diving into the world of blogging. I plan on figuring out how to swim once I hit the water! Here's my offering for EDM challenge no. 106, "something sour." It's done in acrylics.