As I was looking though my sketchbook/illustrated journals I was reminded that art is more than just images. I often write meaningful quotes in my journals, often with images, but sometimes the words themselves become the art. These came from a particularly difficult 3 week period.
Art heals.
I hope to see you tomorrow for day four!
I’m a firm believer in documenting my travels; as I flip though my sketchbook I’m immediately transported. I went with family on a long planned Alaska trip almost 2 years ago. As I page though my travel journal I remember each place we visited.
I close my eyes and I’m in the hall where hundreds of these delightful wire fish sculptures were hanging, each one made by a student at the local school.
I can almost feel the cool breeze crossing the water.
And sense the bittersweet feeling I had upon seeing the glorious sunrise as we landed back in the lower 48.
All my photographs could be erased from my hard disk in a major computer disaster and I wouldn’t care… as long as I still had my journal!
Tomorrow… day three.
Have you heard of the Five Day Art Challenge? It’s been going around Facebook for a while. It’s premise is to post 3 images of your art for 5 days. A few weeks ago I was tagged by Roz Stendahl to participate. It was fun to go through my sketchbooks and look for themes and interests that emerged over the years I’ve kept my illustrated journal.
I may call what I do keeping a sketchbook but it’s much more than that. As I repost my images over then next few days I hope to give you a glimpse of how important these books are to me.
Today, day one, and I’ve chosen to show my first watercolor done almost 5 years ago. I cringe every time I see that gray blob that’s supposed to be a shadow!
These 2 were done just a few weeks ago. As you can see, fruit is still one of my favorite models but I’m also continuing to work on capturing a much wider scene.
Check back tomorrow for Day Two.
Another bit of inspiration from Neil Gaiman’s Journal, this time from 2007.
And now it’s in my journal too.
“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.”
— Neil Gaiman
From Neil Gaiman’s Journal 2011… transcribed into my 2014 journal. I couldn’t have said it better.
“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.
So that’s my wish for you, and for all of us, and for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.
Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it.
Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”
— Neil Gaiman
I had great plans for the winter holiday hiatus from Sketchbook Skool. I thought I’d take the opportunity to sketch a portrait of every teacher. There were only 14 instructors… 3 terms, 6 teachers each… and each term 2 of them were returning teachers, the founders, Danny Gregory and Koosje Koene. No sweat… plenty of time.
HA! …. it’s amazing how time just evaporates.
I did manage to sketch all 6 instructors in the SBS – Beginnings class: Danny Gregory, Koosje Koene, Prashant Miranda, Jane LaFazio, Roz Stendahl and Tommy Kane.
Have you been wondering what Sketchbook Skool is like? You can find out by taking a free klass. Get a taste of creativity, it may be just what you need to get you through the winter. Beginnings starts again January 2, Seeing starts January 23 and Storytelling starts on February 13.
Don’t be too kool for skool!
Winter has been creeping up on us and it’s become tougher to brave the elements and sketch outside. Thank goodness for the welcoming ambiance of a local café… the Tuckerbox, located on a corner in downtown White River Jct. Vermont.
I love people watching and have been working on sketching figures to improve my grasp of features and proportions. As I enjoyed my mocha I was treated to a splendid view of my fellow patrons. Some, like this trio, were only there for a few minutes so fast was the operative word. I used one of my fountain pens filled with water-soluble ink…. just a touch with my wet brush gave me all the shading I needed.
But then there were the “regulars”… like this fellow. Over the few hours I was there I saw him nurse his coffee, finish his work at the bar, leave and then return for lunch with friends. It was as if the Tuckerbox had become his office.
I loved fleshing out his history in my mind as I sketched him… who knows… blogger? local reporter? … or, boringly… just one of the owners. Maybe I’ll just have to become one of the regulars to find out.
On Thursdays I can usually be found in the countryside, plein air painting with my partners in crime. Ah… but not last Thursday. Here in the Upper Valley we were dealing with the remnants of a nasty nor’easter. Wind and rain… and lots of it.
I really don’t like to be cold and wet and I was longing for a taste of the tropics. No money for an airline ticket, I turned to our local low-cost option… Dartmouth College’s Life Sciences Greenhouse.
The Brout Orchid collection is exquisite!
There are so many orchids and other exotic species in bloom that my eyes crossed as I tried to gauge the best models to paint.
I’ll be returning time and time again as the light fades and winter sets in. Maybe I’ll see you there.
Dartmouth College Life Sciences Greenhouse is open M-F, 8:30 – 4:00. There is no admission charge although donations are appreciated. Directions and closure days are detailed on the website.
I’ve hit a snag as I continue working through all of Danny Gregory’s 328 Every Day Matters drawing prompts. But I will not feel guilty. I’m still drawing… just not what’s on the list.
No deadline… it’s all good.
77 degrees Fahrenheit this afternoon. It’s mid October and strictly speaking, since we haven’t had a killing frost, this isn’t Indian Summer. What it is, is too beautiful to be inside.
I wanted to practice drawing figures and there’s no where better to observe the public than the steps to the Opera House opposite the town green at lunchtime. A couple of hours passed like minutes. If only it would stay as warm.
Dana Burrell... Art 