Finished!

Day 31: Draw something you collect.  I have another rack up the hill that has another probably three times as many as shown here.  This is a bit rushed and wonky (no, the bottles weren't really changing size, and no I'm not drunk), but it's done.  They don't call it a challenge for nothin'!  I started this May Challenge after seeing a post from Borromini Bear on May 1st. I happened to have crayons handy, and so with no planning or forethought I found myself hanging in there, every day, drawing the things on the list.  What did I get out of it?

• a rekindled love for crayolas
• a new appreciation for the group of artists with whom I shared this trek 
• a daily habit
• a sense of accomplishment
• 31 new drawings

Bienvenido a Barcelona

Day 30: Draw a Chair.  I drew this chair once before, as a little mini demo in my book.  I think I also sketched a few of them 100 years ago in design school.  I've always liked them.  They're kind of the Audrey Hepburn of the chair world to me.  Beautiful lines, elegant without being fussy.  Hard to believe it was designed in 1929.  That Ludwig, he was ahead of his time.

Little known fact: It was actually a collaboration between Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich, the first woman the join the Deutscher Werkbund.  It's usually attributed just to him, but not so.

Oh my God.  I sound like Cliff Clavin from Cheers.

Dreaming of Wells...

Day 29: Draw Something Architectural. I took some photos of this house when I was at an art workshop in Wells last summer. I'm just planning to head there this summer for the Toni Onley Artist's Project, and dreaming of camping in my van, painting all day, picking a little guitar by the campfire at night. Ah, Wells...


Only two more of these crayon drawings to go, and I'll be done! Woo-hoo!

How To Make A Watercolour Sketchbook Journal - Video Tutorial

Ok, this is my first attempt at making a how-to video, and it happened at about 11 last night, when I turned to Greg who was watching a movie on the sofa and said, "Hey, wanna come video me making one of these books?"  And so a video production was born.

Here's Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 on youtube.

Forgive the weird lighting and the 'where am I going with this again?" tempo of it, and go make a sketchbook!  I really hope you do.  Let me know if this makes sense, or if you have any questions.  And if it works for you, please let me know (and send me pics!)

I watched a bunch of videos online to figure out how to do this, but biggest credit goes to Teesha Moore.  Thanks Teesha.  And thanks Greg for turning off the movie you were watching and playing cameraman for me.

Return of the Cone Heads

Wow, only three more of these 'Every Day in May' drawings to go.  I almost want to just crank through them right now and be done.

We've been stepping over the boobie-dog and his giant cone head for two days now.  He lays in the most central thoroughfare he can find and gives a couple of wags each time we pass by.  When he eats he places the cone over his bowl, making perfect contact with the floor, and eats inside his own personal dome.  I knew when he tried to take off after a marmot today up at my work that he's on the mend.

I've been spread out on our dining table with my crayons 'Every Day in May'.  It's kind of taken over our living space.  I had a little studio up until recently, but the space is being converted into a daycare and we had to move our stuff out.  Now I'm setting my art gear up in the second bedroom here.  I think I'll use it more this way anyways.  I'm having fun unpacking and setting up.  There are all kinds of goodies in these boxes - yet to be used.  Fun times ahead.

New Journal in Action

I LOVED using one of my new journals I've been making for life drawing last night.  Perfect timing, since Day 27 is: Draw a Book.  I hand-bound this one with wine coloured hemp, same for the closure.  The format was fun to work with.  I loved having the fold-out flaps.  It really let me play with the composition.   Two sessions will fill one of these little books (maybe three).  I'll be able to use the covers, inside and out, for painting as well, since it's all the same sturdy WC paper.  They'll be fun to decorate up.

Day 25: Draw a Glass - The kind you drink from.  That'd be one of these.  I was going to put the UB40 lyrics in this sketch, but after asking Greg if he remembered exactly what they were we both found ourselves droning over and over "Red, red why-e-eye-e-ine, goes to my heh-e-eh-e-ed".  I couldn't do that to any and everyone who ever looked at this.  So, it's Lord Byron instead.  This excerpt is from a poem called  LINES INSCRIBED UPON A CUP FORMED FROM A SKULL  It's worth a read.  It's here if you're interested. 


Thanks for the Yogi inquiries.  For those of you who're interested, here's the update.  He's home.  Surgery was successful.  Getting around is pretty tough; he can hop but he gets tired and sad - big woeful eyes.  I've been carrying him everywhere - all 75 lbs of him.   We're a sight in the elevator, huge cone like a bonnet on his blonde head, limbs sticking out everywhere as I wrap my arms around his middle and try to keep him hoisted off the ground.   Oh well, it is what it is.