DC # 100 - Dance

 Hurry, hurry!  

We don't want to be late - for the DANCE!

pencil in 6x4 studio sketchbook

'Dancing Mermaid' - pigma pen and prismacolor pencil in 8x6 gamma

Thank you, Patrice, for giving a celebratory theme to the 100th Drawing Challenge.  Talented artists are kicking up their heels this week over at her always-stimulating blog.  Waltz on over and join the dance!

Hasten

We have been waiting in winter's chilly grip.

acrylic monoprint on Japanese paper,8"x10"

 Over on Kupreanof, the wolf pack has been howling at the waxing Moon.

acrylic monoprint on Japanese paper, 8"x10"

acrylic monoprint on Japanese paper, 8"x10"

Today the rain is back, and with it, warmer temperatures.

acrylic collage on watercolor paper, 10"x12", work in progress

We hope that spring will...

...hasten.

DC - Tiles

I was lucky enough to receive some very timely photos this week from the incomparable street photographer Denis Shelby:

images of some wonderful tiles which I am pleased to be able show you in response to this week's drawing challenge.

Locally, tiles are not so common, but I gathered what I could.

My friend and mentor Polly Lee made the tiles above as part of a series of work she did in the 1980's.  They grace a shelf in my studio. 

Up at the elementary school, there are mosaic tiles on the exterior wall of the front entrance which were created by the students one year during an Artist in the Schools project.

 The bright colors and sea-theme are perfect for our often rainy harbor town.

Alas, I cannot remember the name of the artist who orchestrated the project. 

I love mosaic work but haven't ever done it myself - well, only one time, thank you Kari, when I made a small paver for our garden.  (Maybe I will show you that some other time).

 I think this is a shrimp.

 The variety of sizes is very appealing in this student's mosaic.

You can find many more examples of tiles over at Ariane's ever so beautiful blog.  Thank you so much for stopping by!  Wishing you a restful Sunday.

Making Books

All over Blogland these days I see books being made.  Inspired by the work of Norma, Connie Rose, Kim and other artists, I took a recent Saturday and made a couple of books myself. 

 

A modest beginning, my books

I used stuff laying around the studio such as prints from the ginormous stack of gelatin monoprints I have accumulated while learning that process, and didn't document my efforts - this time.  It was VERY satisfying!

I cut my covers too small by a quarter inch and had to do some trimming of the frontspiece, but really don't mind - I am learning.

One thing I really enjoy about book making is the blend of stitching and gluing that goes into the fun.

And of course, I wanted an integral book mark.  I am using this little volume for my current 'day runner' list of things to do book.

The other book is larger and comprised of monoprints on standard copy paper, folded in half.

I plan to use this book as a drawing journal.

Hope your week is a creative one.  I am so glad today is my Friday at the Mighty Mighty Day Job, and tomorrow I start my studio week!

Beauty DC

'You know life is what you make of it
So beautiful or so what'  - Paul Simon

More beautiful than the scenery of my island home...

... more beautiful than a break through at the studio...

monoprints on rice paper, this and the following, all are approximately 10" high

... our children!

both passionate about their college studies, both kind, loving, and healthy

In beauty I walk.

With beauty before me, I walk.

With beauty behind me, I walk.

With beauty below me, I walk.

With beauty all around me, I walk. 

-Navajo prayer (excerpt)

 

I thank God every day for the beauty around me!  And I thank Nadine for this drawing challenge.  Do go visit her for many more reflections on the topic by makers of beautiful and provocative art.

Influence: David Dunlap

The practice of daily drawing was one I first learned of in grad school when artist David Dunlap visited our seminar and impressed upon me the benefit of this ritual.
Although I have not always been true to this goal in the (many) intervening years, I have made  drawing a part of my daily routine as important as brushing my teeth since participating in the Sketchbook Project in 2010.
Here are a few of my drawings from the past week:

water color, metallic watercolor and water soluable pencil

inktense pencils and water soluable pencil

pigma pen, inktense pencils and watercolor pencils

These are all  drawn in an 8"x6" Stillman & Birn 'gamma' sketchbook. 

Happy mid-week to you, dear Reader.

Blue

On my drive into the studio Thursday, a sign of spring was floating in the Wrangell Narrows near town.  

Can you see it?  Just to the left of the green can buoy...

... an ice berg drifted over from Le Conte glacier.

At noon Flossy and I walked through South Harbor to enjoy the sun.  Petersburg Mountain is still snow-covered, and a stiff breeze made me glad I was wearing my gloves and hat.

Some boats are still tarped over for winter.

Back in the studio, I experimented with my newly cut stamps, printing with them on mono-prints pulled several weeks ago.

 

The blue sky day seems to have influenced my color selection.

On the way back out the road after work, the ice berg had moved closer to our side of the Narrows.

Hope you are seeing signs of spring yourself (or fall, if you are in the other hemisphere).

Outdoors the weather is all over the place: sunny one minute, spitting mixed rain and snow the next, but inside we are enjoying the roses gifted me by a dear friend in Seattle.

Although they are beginning to fade, the hot pink petals still appeal.

Hummingbirds have been spotted in the area, a sure sign that spring is here, but I haven't put my winter coats away yet!  Hope your week is going well.