DC - Nude

It is the way we come into the world:

Vulnerable 

Innocent

Exposed

A long time ago we stood that way

my friends and I

on a series of beaches in Southeast Alaska.

Only thing we had on was our Xtra-tuffs

for Bren's STRONG photography.

Last night I looked again at two photographers I believe are among the best of my generation:

Sally Mann and Robert Mapplethorpe.

Both took intensely personal pictures of the nude figure:

she of her children, her husband; he of his friends, his lovers.

I'm not going to lie.  Go have a look, they are the best.

Also last night, I remembered years of drawing from the figure at art school, and drew a couple quick sketches, just out of my head, for fun.

Nude over watercolor doodles in 6x8 sketchbook

 Nude after Sally Mann, pigma pen in 6x8 sketchbook

Over at Patrice's, many more artists have unveiled the bare naked truth about Nude for this week's Drawing Challenge.  Have a peek if you dare, and come join me next week as I host the next challenge.

Nest DC

The bare and barely leafed deciduous trees of early spring here in Denver provided good views of the subject of this week's drawing challenge.

The days have been cool and changeable here, breezy and showery.  We have been hard at work getting my parents ready for a big move later this year.  It has been good weather for hauling boxes.

 

'Spring Nest' pigma pen and watercolor in 5x7 moleskine sketchbook

Many more wonderful artists are feathering nests over at the beautiful blog of Ariane.  Fly on over for a peek.  I am about to alight there myself!

Drawing Challenge: Water

Patrice had us thinking about water, so blessedly abundant here in the Pacific Northwest. 

In the neighborhood on Friday morning, rain clung to the delicate branches of this newly sprouted bush.

Just the day before, this was the scene as Daughter and I took Flossy around Greenlake.

Water-creatures were out basking.

Public art seen along the Elliot Bay trail this blustery afternoon...

...ends up here, draining fresh water into the Bay.

 In many parts of the world, water is in scare supply and some have to walk miles each day for enough of this precious stuff to survive. 
I never take water for granted.

Being by water refreshes and restores serenity.

'Water Works' - pencil and watercolor on 180 lb. cold press paper, about 6"x4"

Float on over to Patrice's always-refreshing blog for more water images from a myriad of marvelous artists participating in the drawing challenge this week.

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).

Daily Drawing

'Her Complicated Hat' pigma pen and watercolor in 8x6 epsilon

'Jellyfish Land' watercolor and casein paint in 8x6 epsilon

watercolor, prismacolor pencil, casein paint, etc, in 8x6 epsilon

Here is a little offering of recent sketchbook pages; I continue to make time to draw most every evening before climbing the stairs to my book and bed.  Hope the week is rolling smoothly along for you.  My calendar shows a skull and crossbones as well as a full moon and lunar eclipse for today! Look out!

Versatile Drawing

It's been some time since I posted any of my drawings...

...mostly because the drawings have been...

...too much outpouring my guts...

...diary rather than journal or painting.

Today I snapped the ones that seem safe to share with all.

Do you use drawing as a way to process your worries and fears?  I find it very helpful, myself.  Versatile drawing!  Much to be grateful for!

Tree House

The drawing challenge this week was 'Tree House', the theme chosen by the incredible Rachel.  I enjoyed thinking about tree houses the past couple of days, remembering how much I loved being in them as a child; the books I have loved that featured a tree house; the one the Sailor built out in the back yard walnut tree for our children when we lived in Seattle, really more like a floating boat deck - no roof or walls, just a floor and a railing...

Once the Boy got hung up on a branch coming down out of the tree, and I rushed out with scissors intent on cutting his shirt to free him.  He came down quite suddenly, falling into me, and there was blood everywhere as one of us had been stabbed by the scissors.  I thought it was him hurt, and was all horror - but realized that no, it was me, bleeding from my arm!  We laughed like cats at that later. 

Pigma pen and watercolor in 8x6 'gamma' sketchbook

Anyway, I love tree houses.  Maybe I will get to live in one some day.  You never know.  Make sure you go by Hi Happy Panda and have a look at the tree houses artists in the challenge drew this week.  Thanks for the fun, Rachel!

Daily Drawing

'Bubbly' - watercolor & gouache in 8x6" 'gamma' sketchbook

'Geometry' - watercolor and pencil in 8x6" 'gamma' sketchbook'

'Grid' - Cran d'Ache and pencil in 8x6" 'gamma' sketchbook

'Skiff' - Pigma pen and watercolor in 8x6" 'gamma' sketchbook

Happy 4th of July - Independence Day here in the United States.  Flossy and I are off to the parade and dog show in the little town.  Pictures of this craziness to follow!

Daily Drawing

watercolor pencils and watercolor in 9x6 sketchbook

Daily Drawing

Here's a little sample of what's been going on in my sketch book - and HAPPY FEBRUARY, by the way!!

Dog Mask - Pigma pen and watercolor in 8x6" sketchbook

My Dragon - Pigma pen and watercolor in 8x6" sketchbook

Sample Color Mixing - Watercolor and Pigma pen in 8x6" sketchbook

Daily Drawing

pigma pen, watercolor and gouche in 9x6 sketchbook

pigma pen and watercolor in 9x6 sketchbook

pigma pen and watercolor in 9x6 sketchbook

Recently I am enjoying using watercolor in my daily drawings, usually putting down the color first and then responding to those forms with my pen.  Doing anything different with your work today?

Don't miss out on our first-ever Give-away.  Leave a comment on the January 12 post - I am drawing the winner tomorrow.

Brush in Hand

I was privileged to spend most of this day ensconced in my cozy studio, brush in hand.

  I warmed up with a very quick charcoal sketch of this morning's walk...

and a poem I came up with yesterday morning.

Then I opened the door into my new 8.5x11 sketchbook with watercolor and Pigma pen.

  I added a bit of detail to my imaginary furniture with Prismacolor pencils.

 Mother always accused cats of being snake-like, until Chester B. Good came to live with us.