I’m really enjoying the change in the weather and the color. I have a vase of flowers on my kitchen table right now and I sketched them in watercolor last night. I enlarged the image and I really like the look of all the paint blooms and white spaces. I am planning on attending a watercolor open studio group later this month and I was warming up a bit as it has been awhile since I have touched a brush.
Part way through drawing this I realized that I was using quite a “vice grip” on my pen. Afterwards, I made a conscious effort to hold my pen more gently and I could see how this made a difference in my line quality. I will be thinking more about my posture and grip when making my next drawing.
I really love the Epsilon Series paper in the Stillman & Birn sketchbooks for pen and ink. The pen glides over the paper with no resistance. Unlike other papers, the ink dries quickly and doesn’t sit on top of the paper increasing the potential for smudges. I wish this company sold this paper in tear out pads though. They do carry it in 22″ x 30″ loose sheets, but I don’t have a good way to store paper this size.
Evening sketching, fiddling around with different textures in pen and ink. It is based on a photo I took over Easter weekend.
A sketch/experiment on a blank greeting card made as an Easter card for someone I know. This is really unlike my normal style and was something I did more on a whim. There are elements of it that I like, but I would like my next attempt to be a little “tighter” and less sloppy feeling. I Unfortunately, the fountain pen I was using started writing really scratchy and leaking ink. I tried to fiddle with it but it only made the problem worse so I think I will have to get rid of the pen as it is unusable at this point.
It seems that these days all I am doing is pen sketches which is okay with me. I recently found my copy of Rendering in Pen and Ink and am inspired to do a really big, detailed drawing in just ink. Since I am living a bit simply right now, I think I will work on some small ones for now. I may really take my time and work on one drawing over multiple days.
We had a lovely Easter. I hope you did as well.
Living and Sustaining a Creative Life: Essays by 40 Working Artists. Edited by Sharon Louden.
This book is a collection of 40 essays and interviews which are first hand accounts of what it is like to live and work as an artist. I really enjoyed this book because, for the most part, it is really down to earth and the essays were short little nuggets that I could read in one sitting. The various artists are very upfront about their lifestyle and the struggles they have had in earning their income from their art. There are only a few examples of “art speak” and I skipped over these essays.
One of the similarities I see in all these artists (as expected) is that they are disciplined with their time. It seems that the artists with children require the most discipline to get work done while their kids were in school, daycare or being cared for by their partner. Having a supportive and self-sacrificing family also seemed to be crucial to their success.
Besides living in NYC and being a people person, the common trait I noticed in all these artists was the willingness to take a calculated risk, much like any entrepreneur. I fear the unease of not being able to plan on stable income, especially with a child to support, would be too uncomfortable for me to tolerate. This is why I am personally thankful for a full time job with benefits. A number of the artists featured in this book worked side jobs or full time jobs for a long time before becoming successful, and it encouraged me that they still considered themselves artists throughout.
After a particularly rough day, I decided to get my mind off things and do some sketching. I had one of the nicest times drawing in months.
Not having cable or internet access wasn’t as difficult of a transition for me as I thought it would be. I’m enjoying finding my own inspiration for a change instead of being constantly inundated by all the images on the web. I am working with my hands more: sewing, drawing, and cleaning. I am listening to more music. In a way, I feel like I am at an artist retreat.
