Every Day Objects - Drawing Challenge

Sitting cozy in my red chair this evening after a cold and busy day, our dining table and chairs looked pretty ordinary, and a fitting subject for this week's drawing challenge as proposed by the amazing Kristen.  

We enjoyed a really fine Thanksgiving feast right here day before yesterday.

  'Ordinary' pencil in 8x6 sketchbook

The every day objects in my home are comforting in their familiarity.  Drawing such objects is a way of seeing them more clearly.  The time spent observing and moving pencil across paper is a mediation, a wander back in time through the magic of memory.

How many meals together at this table?  

How many more?   

 

    At Kristen's Sunny Spot you can take a look at the interpretation of this theme as presented by an extra-ordinary group of artists from all over the world.  I'm headed over there now, myself.

Wishing you all a glorious Advent.

Daily Drawing

Recently appearances in my sketchbook.  I am working in an 8x6 Stillman and Birn 'Alpha' series book.

study for woodcut block - pigma pen

(I am signed up for a woodcut printing class with a visiting artist, Mete Hanson, who will be here next week).

'The Burden of Winter' - pigma pen and inktense pencil

inktense pencils

 'Totem' - pigma pen and prismacolor pencil

Flossy and I are taking the day off tomorrow in honor of the National day of gratitude here in the US.  Happy thanksgiving, all!

Post Script:

Pastor Mike wearing the new stole at PLC last Sunday.  All praise to our kind and loving Creator!

Autumn Drawing Challenge

It was too late, too cold; autumn here passed away at the time of the full moon last week, but I decided to play anyway.  

Then on Wednesday, an insane amount of snow began to fall.

a few of autumn's last hold-outs

 By Thursday morning, at least 14 inches of powdery snow covered our little Island.

I chose to wait at home for my excellent neighbor to plow out my driveway and didn't get into town until almost noon.

Snow covered Sing Lee Alley, on the way to my studio which is located in the large barn-shaped building with the red roof.

It was fun to have a 'snowcation'.

(Of course, Flossy LOVED it).

I think the winter weather has brushed off on my painting!

untitled as yet, 14"x10" acrylic on heavy, rough watercolor paper

'Autumn Spirit and the North Wind' prismacolor pencil and pigma pen in 8x6 sketchbook

Thanks to Ariane, our beautiful last rose of summer, for this drawing challenge.  Be sure you stop over to her ever so beautiful castle for links to other players in the Autumn challenge.  

100 Year Celebration Stole

As mentioned in my last post, I have recently completed a couple of projects, one being a celebration stole commemorating my congregations' 100th anniversary.  Last evening I presented the stole to our Pastor and the church council.  I'd like to show you a few detail shots of the piece as it was being created.

You may remember when I dyed silk dupioni and raw silk for this project during the summer.

The dupioni is ombre style, running from bright yellow-green through deep indigo.

Tracing a pattern for the stole from an existing one, I drew a simple design on freezer paper and ironed that onto the silk which I had prepared for fusing with Misty Fuse.

freezer paper being traced with tree design

 I included 'stars of gold on a field of blue' in honor of Alaska's state anthem.

The golden hills at the lower edges of the stole were cut from remnant silk velvet I had dyed long ago and serendipitously kept in my scrap bag.

Once the design elements were fused I edged them with dense zigzag binding stitch.

The finished stole.  I can't wait to see it being worn by Pastor Mike this weekend!

P L C: 1913-2013

Breathing Room

Last week, my Mother shared a link to a guest post by Jane Davies over at Diane Trout's place on making hot glue stencils.  

Today I celebrated completing two major projects by relaxing with my glue gun and gelliplate. Talk about FUN! 

After some free-form doodling directly on a teflon sheet (parchment paper can be used instead) I  drew a design on paper and placed it under the teflon.  

While the glue is still hot, slip a second sheet on top of your design and rub gently to smoosh the glue flatter.  (Jane Davies video tutorial explains all)! 

I ended up with about a dozen stencils in short order.

Kinda hard to see them, sorry.

Soon I was happily up to my elbows in ink, pulling monoprint after monoprint! 

The recent change in our weather was my inspiration.  

Snow is in the air...

...but not yet on the ground.

 I added the stars with silver acrylic paint and my rubber stamps.

In addition to snowflakes, I 'gloodled' a forest of pinetrees.

I am still loving printing on Japanese papers, but am anxious to try Rives BFK, as recommended by Roberta Warshaw.

I will reveal the two major projects in the next week or two when they have been presented to the future recipients.  Nice to have some days with no deadlines at last!  Hope you are finding some time to breathe and explore a new avenue.  

Happy weekend!

Frost

 Winter is creeping down the mountains toward us and the bright sunny days signal colder temperatures.

The sun is sinking lower and lower in the afternoon sky, fading into deep dusk by 4:30 pm.

 Overnight, fog coats branches and leaves with a glittering rime of frost...

...which brings out the delicate lacy textures of the different plants.

 My camera was not able to capture the astounding rich red I saw along side the logging road.

'Winter is coming', as goes the motto of House Stark.  

DC - Tattoo

'Fancy Tattoo Designs' - pigma pen and prismacolor pencil in 8x6 sketchbook

My Sailor rarely asks anything of me and has never told me what to do with one exception: NO tattoo!  I have respected that request (he has no tattoos, either), but know what I would have if I do ever decide to get inked:

the snake around the heart, above.

Thanks to talented artist and blogger Patrice for the challenge this time.  Visit her amazing place for more art-on-skin by fabulous artists from around the globe.

A Lovely Ladies Luncheon (by Flossy)

As you may already know, I have a very important position in local government as Assistant to the Mapping Technician.  

 I do all the calculations, in addition to Other Duties as Assigned.

It is absolutely exhausting.

Recently, the Mapping Technician (Mother) left our office mid-morning to meet with some Important People, leaving me alone to work. 

 Before I knew it, Noon had come, which is when I always get to take a little walk outside, but I was still Alone!

 Of course, I was understandable distraught, and called out for Help!

 

My good friend Aunt Valerie, who works Downstairs, came quickly.  She suggested that I come home with her for a Lovely Ladies’ Luncheon!  Of course, I was thrilled to accept, and we whizzed off in her little blue car.

 Aunt Valerie lives at Jazz’s house. 

 Jazz is a taller than I am, and her food bowl was a bit hard to reach.  

I managed to help myself and ate daintily, 

 one piece at a time.

Jazz also has a Cat.  I never did figure out why she was so ill-tempered...

Her food bowls were at a much better elevation.

After lunch, Jazz invited me out into her yard for a Pee.

I had an absolutely marvelous time.  

Thank you, Aunt Valerie and Jazz, for your hospitality. 

I hope Readers get to go to a Lovely Ladies Luncheon some day.  Eat from the tall bowl first, and watch out for Cats!