Figure drawings

 

Encouraged by others in the EDM group, I have started attending figure drawing sessions. I have a long way to go, but there are glimpses of hope. You can, at least, recognize a person!

The total session lasts three hours. We start with 2 minute drawings and end with one long pose that lasts about 35-40 minutes. 

Also, there has been discussion about scanning graphite drawings. Finally I paid attention to the options on the screen before I scanned and voila! the drawings are darker, easier to see. I continue to learn. Thanks for discussing this topic.

A Tribute

Over a year ago, I purchased An Illustrated Life by Danny Gregory. It is a wonderful collection of pages from artists journals. Reading more, I discovered that Danny started his intense journal keeping as the result of an accident that left his wife in a wheelchair. He expanded his passion into a movement called Every Day Matters. He encouraged us all to draw everyday and remember that Every Day does Matter.

Last week his lovely wife died. All of us who are aware of their life-even though it might be only through the internet-are shocked and saddened by his and his son's loss. It seems that the family had made the best of a difficult situation.      If knowing that thousands send their love, 

I can only hope that it helps to easy the pain.

Mackintosh study

My Retreat is over and, as usual, it was a time of renewal. For me, the days were not as productive as I would have hoped. My aching neck controlled my activities. I'm going to a physical therapist about that this week. Anyway, someone had brought a book about work by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, 1868-1928. His style was similar to Frank Lloyd Wright's. You might check it out at www.crmsociety.com. Mackintosh was a Scottish architect, designer and watercolourist. The above piece was my copy of one of his botanical drawings.

Yes, the ATC's were well received and I, in turn, received a variety of keepsakes, from bookmarks to a small hand made book, pens, and origami. The final treat is to see the wall on the last morning where people post the work they have created over the time at Santa Sabina. Maybe I'll post a couple of pictures after I download them.

ATC's as Keepsakes

 

 

 

  

In a previous post, I shared the fabric postcards that I made as keepsakes for my annual Retreat. This year I've created ATC's for 32 people. As you can tell, I was not limited by one medium. There is watercolor, pen, colored pencil, rubber stamps, and dripped ink. Yes, there are more that I haven't posted.

Tomorrow is the beginning of the Retreat. This gathering is sponsored by the Friends of Calligraphy (FOC) and is held at Dominican University in San Rafael, CA. We have a big hall where the work tables are located. In the mornings and afternoons there are quiet times-no talking in that room. A little bell rings and we walk just steps to the dining hall where meals are served (plenty of talk then!). Individual sleeping quarters are upstairs. We can go for walks, sit in the sun, read, do lettering or any kind of art. 

You may guess, I'm ready!

February's mandala

 

For years I have done one mandala a month. OK, I've missed a few months, but I seem to be back on track. This piece is paper. The lines and lettering have been done with a Micron pen. I see other options for this format, so I think that I may work in a series with this layout.

The quote is: Love alone is the basis of harmony and the right use of all Life energy. In human experience, this grows into a desire to give and give, and give of all the individual peace and harmony unto the rest of creation. The quote is found in a book titled Unveiled Mysteries.

Yes, I do seem to like bright colors.

Quilted mosaic

Mandala Joy 16 1/2" x 16 1/2"

Recently I took a quilt workshop from a talented woman, Julie Hirota.

She introduced us to the idea of creating a mosaic out of fabric.The colored fabric is bonded to the a product that is then heat set to the base fabric, which is black for this project. After the design is set, the quilting begins.

The possibilities for design are really unlimited.

Next "line" lessons

 

Ahhh, the humble line. 

My book continues to guide me in exploring the power of the line. . 

These exercises help to make me more aware 

of the parts that go into any drawing.