Joe Before Shopping

"Joe Before Shopping" ©Kathy Ferrell 2012

Hey, there, art lovers! :)

Here's my fifth exercise for "One Drawing a Day". I know I complained about my husband being a "terrible, terrible model" the other day, but I think he did very well for this one! We were sitting at the dining room table and making a grocery list before he went to the store. I was just incredibly busy and stressed, trying to juggle all my mom's business and my own this week end, and I came very close to just blowing off the assignment. But right in the middle of making the list, I just said "Will you sit for me before you go?"

So I grabbed my sketchbook, ink, brush, a little el-cheapo plastic palette and a tiny glass water jar that once held pimentos and started working. Obviously, you can see he was not terribly eager to go grocery shopping. We both hate it, but I hate it worse. But you know what? For the half hour that we sat together and did this...I think we both had a little respite. I know I became very relaxed and when I was finished, I really noticed a sort of refreshed state of mental alertness. Joe said he could see it in my face.

I think this D.A.D. is starting to show its value for me. I'm glad I pushed through and didn't skip this one. I remember this same feeling of calm, alert, mental openness as I was working through Betty Edwards "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" . I think this experience with  a live model was a very good one, and I am really looking forward to participating in the life drawing class that starts in just a couple of weeks!

More soon! Bon soir, mes amis en art! :)

Attack With a Pointed Stick...

Today this "Drawing a Day" thing I'm doing requires one to work with ink and various nibs. I discovered that my bottle of India ink is so old that it was clumpy and required stirring.

A trip to the kitchen revealed the perfect bamboo skewer, and I had soon whipped the ink into a usable form. I decided to simply draw with the pointed stick, to consciously free my often "tight" lines.

So here are three drawings of roses from my garden, done with a pointed stick. Enjoy them and the corresponding classic Python sketch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piWCBOsJr-w

The whole time I was drawing I kept hearing John Cleese in my head.

Time for Growth...

"Francophile" ©Kathy Ferrell 2012, Rapidograph on watercolor paper

Things are finally beginning to relax a little in my "regular" life. My mother is stabilized and happy. I must say, after my experiences this summer...if you know someone who is a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer's, do something to show them some kindness. That must be one of the most stressful jobs in the world. 

Since things are finally getting back on track, I discovered this "One Drawing a Day" trend that is sweeping the world. I was immediately captivated, ordered the book from my local library, and last night took the plunge! I like the book so much that today I'm going to buy my own copy. It's awesome!

Here's the website, so you can see the work of other participants.

http://onedrawingaday.com

This is the first exercise from the book. You're supposed to just gather a few items that happen to be in a room and make a little still life. I was so eager that I just gathered up a few things from my coffee table, and after I got the drawing done, I realized what a strong French influence is comically present, so I call it "Francophile".

Periodically, I try to participate in creativity systems, to open a fresh vein in my own "art mine". I've worked through Betty Edwards "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" twice and I cannot recommend it highly enough, for everyone, not just artists. It is incredible.

I've also worked through Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way". It is very, very good, but for me personally, I feel it leaned a little heavier on analyzing the process instead of making the art. So Veronica Lawlor's book will be my fourth experience with this sort of thing.

Check out the book, it's very cool!

http://www.amazon.com/One-Drawing-Day-Creativity-Illustration/dp/1592537243