Asking for Help

Recently I shared my packing list for my upcoming trip to outer-space to search for slimy space slugs. This week I've been focusing on quick ink doodles as a means of loosening up and denying my inner perfectionist the satisfaction of drawing with a pencil and over-worrying and making too many edits. It's been good practice. But the one thing I just didn't love was how my quick sketch of Fox (my stuffed rabbit) was disproportioned. So I sought some help to learn how I could have improved my doodle of Fox.

Benjamin took the time to sit down with me and walk me through the whole process of making this sketch of Fox. He demonstrated what he was looking for and how he was assessing the subject and taught me a lot about observation and perspective. This is the sketch that he made for me as I observed his work.

Learning to draw and paint is a super vulnerable process for me and I feel inadequate, tender, private and reclusive about it all the time. So I'm especially grateful for people in my life that I can feel safe with who are able and willing to patiently share their skills and knowledge with me because I really do want to be an artist. I just have to come out of my shell sometimes... and that's really hard to do.

Benjamin is the safest person I know to be out of my shell with. My only regret is that he drew this gorgeous portrait of Fox on newsprint. I'll pick better paper next time, because everything he draws is great and something I'll want to save!

Headed to Outer Space

I've mostly finished packing for my Doodle Adventures trip to outer space with Carl the grumpy duck. I tried to think practically and take my interests and hobbies into account.

Sunglasses and sunblock for flying into the sun. Fox for snuggles. Binoculars and a magnifying glass for investigating interplanetary matter (no telescopes needed, thankyouverymuch). And I mean, my favorite things to do are uke, write letters, sip hot tea, read, and be at waters-edge. SO. I figured I'd need something for my downtime when not hunting space-slugs. (There WILL be downtime, right Carl?? Hmm... that glare he's giving me is not looking very promising.)

Carl only suggested packing regular socks which is RIDICULOUS because everyone knows toe socks are superior. Also, one never knows when one might need a banana. In case we find a planet with habitable water, I will definitely need a pool float for lounging about. Although, let's be honest, I know the likelihood of that will be slim and I mostly just packed it (fully aired up) to irritate the heck out of Carl. I can't wait to see him fly off the handle about that! And also about the weighty books and the open container of hot liquid. Heh, heh, heh.

This book is the best. Check out mikelowery.com for this book and more of his awesome and humorous artwork.

Slimy Space Slugs!

I'm spending the evening with Mike Lowery's book: "The Search for the Slimy Space Slugs!" because sometimes it's nice to not have to think about what to draw and to have a grumpy duck yelling at you to get pen to paper, stat! It really helps loosen me up.

I'm prepping for my mission to take on the slimy space slugs. Naturally I'm outfitted with my favorite diving helmet (re-hosed for outer space, obvi), my lego space sweatshirt with homemade shoulder patches, black leggings (duh), comfy air boots and some fat gloves because I hear space is cold and I don't want all of my fingers to fall off.

Now it's time to turn the page and pack my bags. I wonder what I should bring?

Trees

Currently I am obsessed with drawing trees. I've been sitting on this for a few months, letting it gel in my head and waiting to see how it would manifest. Meanwhile I've been collecting a few photographic specimens on my springtime walks, and now these abstract trees, studies in shape and form and texture are all I've worked on for days.

Yesterday I spent my day on a marker-acrylic-colored pencil piece and started on some sketches for future trees. I'm filling my sketchbook with all sorts of trees and playing with them in a variety of mediums and really enjoying the process.

I've spent some time at the library looking at other illustrators' takes on abstract trees and drawn a lot of inspiration from their beautiful work. I've spent time paying attention to trees I meet on my outings about the city and continue to collect inspiring photos of unique trunks, limb and canopy shapes, and leaves and blossoms. It's divine.

Is there any better kind of research than to study the gorgeous work of others and of nature - the ultimate source - herself?

Learning From Others

One way I practice my drawing is by copying work from my favorite illustrator: Gyo Fujikawa. It helps me see things differently and to try to imagine things as she saw them. I particularly love her pen and ink drawings and flip through them when I'm looking for inspiration for my practice.

Here's a few I did a while back. The acorns and ice cream cone are replicas of her ink work and the sundae is a pen and pencil rendering of one of her painted illustrations. All three of the originals are found in Gyo Fujikawa's A to Z Picture Book.

HappyMail

With the dust settling from our recent move, I’m returning to the things I love most: reading, writing, my ukulele, my bullet journal, baking and craft projects. It feels so good to be back!

I got my first HappyMail sent off from the new place today! Here’s a detail shot of the gorgeous envelope, made from a page in an old atlas. I love atlases as much as a grown-up as I did as a kid. Such beautiful colors and artwork!