Sketchbook pages

 

Here are a couple of more pages for my Sketchbook Journal with the subject of Lines and Grids. The idea for the above piece came from my visit to the Crocker Art Gallery in Sacramento. Guess that there is a connection between seeing other work and translating it to your work. I used metallic colored pencils.

This was done with black pen and colored pencils.

I can feel the pressure mounting as I must get the journal done.

It's so easy to say that I'll do it later!

Sketchcrawl

I actually made it the a Sketchcrawl gathering which was held in Davis, CA. Pete Scully organized this group and all went well. Lots of inspiration, pleasant company and fine food. Of course, what to artists do while waiting for lunch to be served? They sketch each other!

Then we went outside and drew the restaurant!

Fabric painting

The artists at Every Day Matters are constantly challenging and inspiring me. Shirley reminded me that I had Paintstiks hidden in my studio. They are oil sticks that can be used on fabric. It's hard to see the colors on this piece as I hid them under the stitching. However, the shape which I drew during my figure drawing session shows up. I cut the shape out of freezer paper, ironed it down and, with a stencil brush, added the color. Since I'm giving myself the permission to experiment, I added the dense stitching instead of just an outline and then quilted it with invisible thread on fabric that I had painted.

The twins have arrived!

I'm so excited and want to share the newest additions to my oldest son's family.

This is big brother Oliver with his mom, Lindsay,  holding Isla who was the first baby to come home.

These are the new sisters, Isla (Eye-la) and Ruby born Sept. 27th.

They live 2,000 miles away, but I do get to visit for two weeks in November!

I'm learning

I'm trying to overcome my fear (of failure?) and draw faces. Really now, what is going to happen if I draw in my sketchbook? For me, the fact that these faces each have their own look is a big deal. Now only 9,995 more to perfect this aspect of my art.

Today I attend the grand opening of the new wing at the Crocker Art Museum here in Sacramento, CA. This addition to the Museum is so terrific! Edwin and Margaret Crocker (made his money when the railroads were being built) bought a mansion and had it transformed to include an art gallery in 1886. From 1869-71 the two of them collected more than 700 paintings and 1,344 master drawings during a European tour. In 1875 Edwin dies. In 1885 Margaret gives the Crocker Art Gallery and collection to the city of Sacramento and California Museum Association.Over the years there have been additions to the collection and renovations of the mansion. 1997-99 the idea is underway to build the Teel Family (they own a grocery chain) Pavilion which acknowledges their $13 million gift. Today on 10-10-10, was the public grand opening. One room displayed a collection of work by Wayne Thiebaud. Since I seem to like contemporary art, I was blown away. So humbling to see so many outstanding pieces. 

I do hope that you have an opportunity to visit this museum that is now able to display the old and the new.

Oh yes, they had a large gift shop and An Illustrated Life was on display. A woman was glancing through books and I told here that this book was so filled with journal pages of talented artists and it was so inspiring. I noticed that she had the book in her hand as she stood in the checkout line. I felt so proud.

Great Portrait and news

This wonderful portrait was done byYevgenia Watts who is a member of the Everyday Matters group. She has set a goal of 206 portraits in 206 days. Oliver is my oldest grandchild and this is right on!

The big news in our family is the birth of twin girls, Oliver's sisters. They were born Monday, September 27, about one month early. Isla (Eye-la) and Ruby have lots of hair and are doing well. Early babies need to learn to suck, but they are working on that process. Hopefully they will go home within the next week. Since they live in Ohio, and I'm in California, I will have to wait until the end of this month before I get to hold them.