Lovebirds

I finally got my desk set up at the new house and have a great place to work with lots of light, so I stretched my painting muscles a little. This painting is made up of four separate canvases measuring 6 x 6 each. I don't have any idea why I painted one painting on four canvases, it was kind of a pain, but it's done now. I started out with the background. I wanted to try out a technique that looked a lot different in my mind but once I had it, I needed something for a subject. I, of course, went to my fall-back, birds. These are cranes. I've had a fascination with cranes for a few years. I always heard they mated for life. That's why you see them so often depicted in art in pairs. And then I read somewhere they don't necessarily pair for life. I don't want to believe that though. So here are my two lovebirds. Symbols of new our life together and a forever love.

And here is the sketch for the cranes which pretty much says what I just said.

And here are a few sketches from the last month or so. There aren't many that's for sure.

These last few sketches are of animals from John's sister Mary's farm in San Saba. Sweet goats and an incredible goat herding donkey named Rosebud

I know it's upside down. I actually had the sketchbook turned upside down when I drew it. It's in there now though. We just have to embrace it.

This is for the birds

Whew! Been awhile since I've posted, or even visited this little spot. I don't have just a ton of work to post but there's enough to make a too-long post. I find lately that I'm reluctant to share online. I'm paranoid, I guess, about copyrights and such, but also I tend to use my sketchbooks as journals and I really just don't feel like putting all that out there. Now if we were sitting at my kitchen table, I'd have no problem with you looking through any of my books, but there's something disturbing about the impersonal nature of blogging. Maybe it's just a phase I'm going through. 

That said, here are a few sketches. Strangely enough I uploaded them in the opposite order they were created. It'll be just like traveling backward in time. Like Dr. Who. First up, a saucy flamingo painted in my watercolor sketchbook with gouache. As the journaling notes, I've fallen back into the bird habit. Hard. I thought I'd moved on, but here we go again. I may never finish that longhorn painting on the easel.

...and a Sooty Tern, for you consideration. Ballpoint with acrylic and gouache accents in moleskine

...and a couple a dancing Pelicans... acrylic and gouache in moleskine

I'm dying to learn the art of graffiti . When I worked at the bank I used to sit in my car at lunch and look at the train cars stopped in the rail yard across the street and marvel at all the graffiti. How do they do that? Make art with spray paint in minutes all the while looking over your shoulder? Cool. I want to study it more. Clearly just trying to write my name in this stylized manner strained my brain. Ballpoint pen in moleskine

 

Okay first of all, I don't really draw people that well. Okay. That's settled. I know I need practice so from time to time I practice with my own face. And anytime someone sees these self portraits I hear how they don't look like me. I can't really tell. Sometimes I know they don't and sometimes I just don't care. I drew a face. I used mine as a guideline. We'll leave it at that. Ballpoint pen in moleskine.

These last two offers were done during and just after our ski trip to Santa Fe. We had a great time. Loved the city and I think we will definitely go back. However, I'd never skied before and it was a bit (just a bit) of a traumatic experience for me. Above, acrylic and pen in moleskine. Below, uniball in moleskine.

So...that's enough for tonight. I'm thrilled to have more time to draw and paint and hope to post a little more regularly. It really is a good motivator. Hope you all have a fabulous rest of the week. 

Behold the Mighty Longhorn

Well, mighty might be an overstatement, but they're pretty darn interesting. I was given the idea, or the challenge, of painting a longhorn over dinner Christmas night and have been thinking about it (mostly thinking--can't seem to find time for anything else lately) ever since. I know what it looks like in my head but haven't been able to devote enough time to getting it out on paper. Here is my version of watercolor, trying to stay loose and a tiny bit abstract.

Here is what turned out to be a cartoon version. I'm ok with that, but not to worry, this is not our final direction. Point of note, I used India ink to sketch him in and work the background (which is not at all forgiving, thus the cartoony-ness) which makes it look shiny. No bueno

This is a sketch trying to learn the ways of the cow. Well, at least I got the horns right. Hope to rough in the painting tomorrow. Canvas is prepped and waiting.

Happy First Birthday, Little Blog

I actually started this blog a year ago on Christmas, but that was just the setup and trying to figure out how it works. On December 29th I actually posted my first little painting. My goal was to draw more, paint more, see more, and be more grateful for my wonderful life. I'm going to call this year a success. I've painted more than I ever have, filled sketchbooks and gained enough confidence to want to take on more complicated projects. Now if I could only find a little time.

These two sketches are from earlier this month. The only things I've done this month in fact. Below is a sketch for Christmas ornaments and the only ornament I actually painted. It needs a little finishing but I lost interest. This one will go to my friend Glenda who collects mouse ornaments and gave me the idea.

Happy New Year Friends! I'm so excited to start 2012. Best year yet. Wait and see!

Merry Christmas

I've wanted to make a Christmas card for a long time. Or any card. Still do. I tried to come up with some kind of Christmasy design that wasn't too cheesy and revolting. But no luck. And then I saw a commercial with polar bears on it. (Not the Coke commercials, this was painted way back in Sept.) They were just so lovely, I wanted to make one, so I painted one in the ole' sketchbook and one on canvas paper. I did have them made into cards but the color was horrible and flat. Really disappointing but expensive so I sent them anyway. Here is my little bear. Think I may do more. He was a fun lovely afternoon.

Anyhoo, I want to wish everyone a fun holiday, full of hugs and laughter and food and family. And I hope you didn't get too tangled up in that commercial web they start setting for us in August which nearly ruins Christmas for everyone every year. I hope you remember the reason for the holiday. I hope you go to bed tonight thanking God for the many wonderful blessings in your life. I hope you tell the people you love why you love them. And I hope you have the very merriest of Christmases.

A Word About The BIrd

I posted the raven picture last night. Prematurely. I think a lot of artists fall into the habit of thinking a painting is finished and then coming back and seeing nothing but flaws. Its ok, no big thing. I worked him over again tonight, but I doubt you'll be able to see much difference. I think he's still not right.

But the post was also premature because I wanted to tell the rock and bird story but when there is a 15 year old in the house wanting to use your computer, things sometimes get rushed. I've wanted to paint a picture based on the Cowboy Junkie song Rock and Bird for years now. I tried one other time with a horrible outcome. I think I may have to try it one or two more times still. I love the Junkies, have forever. Love them when I'm happy and things are good, and especially when I'm sad and low. At first Rock and Bird sounds kind of upbeat, and then when you listen to the words, poetic, and eventually kind of sad.

So anyway...here are the lyrics that bounce around in my head when I look at this painting:

She captured both rock and bird

Tied one to the leg of the other

Kept them as prisoners

Until they knew who was master

Then she threw them to the sky.

Bird with unbarred wings disappeared

Rock with weighted heart returned

And rock became her anchor

And bird became her wings.

I'm a rock, but I've always wanted to be a bird. Maybe that's why I keep drawing the stupid creatures. I'm just looking for my wings.

Nevermore...