Scene, Recently #33

I am having internet connectivity issues - such a small thing, but vexing!

Out the road on Sunday afternoon, a sun break created a rainbow.

Monday morning, at the Mighty Mighty Day Job, we looked out the window at these dudes, waiting for the high tide to bring fish up the slough for their breakfast.

Hope your week is going well - and that I get my network fixed today!  WAHHHH!

Glass - DC

glass paperweights given me by my father when i was in high school

tiny pig figurine found at the basement sale long ago

the Sailor brought this minature ship-in-a-bottle home from Japan

door knob found in a Seattle at a thrift store when we lived there

my favorite book case at home has beveled doors that slide out from the top

 Legend (perhaps):

Invented in the Desert

The chemistry of fire

mixed with sand –

Lovely in its translucence.

Let my heart be lovely

Like glass unbroken

transparent

Light reflecting

Fragile, delicate

Containing

Memories

Clear, bright, colorful.

Save my heart from

Being as glass obscured

Opaque

Bullet-proof

Hard

Brittle and sharp

When broken.

Glass is the theme of this week's drawing challenge.  There are plenty of takes on the topic to be seen at the blogs of these wonderful artists: Carole, Norma, Kel, Ariane, Patrice, Renilde, Stefanie, Helen, Mano, Sue, Ramona, Tania, Cindi,. Roberto  Emily Do go have a look!

Reading Poetry

I read William Blake in January.

 This month I checked out 100 Essential Modern Poems from our library and discovered William Butler Yeats, whose poem ‘The Second Coming’ knocked me out.

 And then I saw this at Nylon Camera, and thought of Gwendolyn Brooks's poem, The Pool Players, which is also contained in the 100 Essential Modern Poems collection:

The Pool Players.
Seven at the Golden Shovel.

We real cool. We
Left school. We

Lurk late. We
Strike straight. We

Sing sin. We
Thin gin. We

Jazz June. We
Die soon.

March is coming, with the return of the Sailor on the first, if all goes as planned.  Maybe love poems will be the thing…

 If you would like to join this week's drawing challenge, leave us word.  Still time to get in.

Drawing Challenge Invitation - For YOU

Hello all,  

I invite you to this week's Drawing Challenge on the theme: 'glass'.

To join just leave a comment saying you are in.  Results will be revealed Saturday, February 23 with a link to your DC post.

DC - To the Lighthouse

'the lighthouse' - graphite and watercolor/watercolor pencils in 8x6 epsilon

'The lighthouse was then a silvery, misty-looking tower with a yellow eye, that opened suddenly, and softly in the evening'.

-Virginia Woolf

'To the Lighthouse'

Our Drawing Challenge this time - lighthouse - was presented to us by the amazing artist-blogger Renilde.  You would be wise to follow the beacon over to her place where more lighthouses are gleaming.  (Drawing Challenges are open to one and all; I have found them to be not only excellent fun, but a source of convivial comrades and mind expanding images).

back to printmaking

After finally completing wearable art for the show next month, I am happy to return to my experiments with gelatin plate monoprinting.  My goal is to create images on cloth to be stitched up for my next gallery show in September, as well as images on paper for a museum show here in November.

monoprinting on paper and book pages using acrylic paint and Akura watercolor printing ink

I like the richly layered detail possible with the gelatin process - this is a print on paper

a selection of prints on cloth, both hand dyed and plain cotton - these are small, about 6x8 inches, printed with textile paint and/or acrylics

monoprint on cotton with Akura watercolor ink

Today Lent begins with Ash Wednesday service at churches around the world, including at our little Lutheran church on the hill in town where I will be this evening.  Flossy and I wish you all a sweet season of reflection and a returning to Light.

DC: Stamps (for a New Republic)

photo transfer on cotton, ink, prismacolor; approximate 1"x2"

Southeast Alaska has succeeded from the United States and formed its own country: the Republic of Rainsylvania.  (Petersburg is the capital, of course).

Stamp of the Republic of Rainsylvania

Rainsylvania's motto: 'In Art We Trust'

The lovely Helen, writer of the always stimulating blog, Objects of Whimsey, brought us the Drawing Challenge this week, 'Stamps'.  You may visit her there for a glimpse of the philatelic endeavors of some very fine artist-bloggers.

Daily Drawing

pigma pen and prismacolor pencil in 8x6 epsilon

pigma pen and watercolor in 8x6 epsilon

'Year of the Snake is Coming' - pigma pen and watercolor pencils (including inktense) in 8x6 epsilon

'Inventory' - pigma pen and prismacolor pencil in 8x6 epsilon

Today I offer you a selection of recent daily drawings for your viewing amusement.   The week here is flying by and I am finding contentment in simple things: lengthening days and silvery light, silly pets, laughing with friends.  What's making you smile today?

Discovery DC

I discovered several things this week, while contemplating the drawing challenge theme, 'discovery' proposed by Emily. 

graphite, watercolor and casein in 8x6 'epsilon'

Reading this anthology of art criticism from 1964-1978 by the brilliant and iconoclastic Amy Goldin, I discover new ways of thinking about making art...

'Winter Moons'; 30"x22", acrylic collage on paper

 ...and making this collage I discover some new ways of painting about the things I am thinking about.

Be an explorer - lots more discoveries by some fabulous artists in this week's drawing challenge linked over at Emily's beautiful blog.