Tag: pen and ink

old house sketch

Old Houses and Tiny Houses

old house sketch
©2014 Carolyn A Pappas, Red House (6-15-14). Ink in 7×10 inch Stillman & Birn Epsilon Series sketchbook.

A house nearby has been condemned for many months and it about to be demolished. I sketched it from across the street, albeit from an odd angle. The doors and windows have been removed and I’ve seen little critters go in and out of it. Heavy equipment is sitting in the front yard, waiting to get started. I am curious to see what will be rebuilt in the location.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about houses and homes, especially since I’ve been in this flux mode for the past few months. The project is going to be delayed by a few weeks due to some unforeseen scheduling difficulties and I am feeling so antsy to get back into my space again. Being between homes is an unsettling feeling.

Another part of me is thankful for what I have, and I am a lot luckier than a lot of other people in my situation. I’m thinking about how I am going to decorate my new space once I move back in and I have an idea of something clean, uncluttered, with a muted palette. I am having fun shopping for a new rug, lamps and a cabinet for my art supplies.

Recently I saw the new documentary called TINY. It follows a couple building a tiny house from scratch, with no prior carpentry experience. A number of other tiny house builders and residents are interviewed throughout, including Macy Miller, whose blog I follow. I really enjoyed the film, and it has gotten me thinking about my ideal living situation.

I do not think a tiny house would be feasible for me at this point in my life, as I could afford the house but not necessarily the type of land I would want, but it is something that I fantasize about from time to time. If I the opportunity, I would build a tiny house to live in and another one next to it as a studio, like Kate Johnson’s.

Update: My scanner is unplugged and I don’t have a good place to set it up, so I will most likely be photographing drawings out of my sketchbook for the time being, like I did above. I am also starting a larger (for me) watercolor (no ink) for my weeknight painting group. It’s an unusual subject for me so I think I will wait and post my in progress photos when I am finished, in case things go majorly awry.

reservoir

Whimsy

reservoir
©2014 Carolyn A Pappas, Drive Over the Reservoir (2-26-14). Ink in moleskine.

A few weeks ago someone came to visit my house to look over some of my artwork (kind of like a studio visit, but not quite). She said to me that she sees whimsy in my work some of the times but not at others.

This has got me thinking a lot about the direction that I see for my work in the future. I have never thought of my work as “whimsical” before but I have been feeling that my work has been missing something for awhile now and some whimsy might be just right.

I have started a new pen and ink (and watercolor) which is based on my imagination and memory. It’s a little scary to work on because I am not using a set up from life or even a photo references for the most part. When I have more of the ink done, I will post some work in progress pics.

tree trunk

Special Tree (5-3-14)

tree trunk
©2014 Carolyn A Pappas, Special Tree (5-3-14). Ink in 7×10 inch Stillman & Birn Epsilon Series sketchbook.

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.

Recently in my sketchbook.

leaf pen and ink drawing
©2014 Carolyn A Pappas, Old Leaves. Pen in 7×10 inch Stillman & Birn Epsilon Series sketchbook.

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.

pen and ink tree sketch
©2014 Carolyn A Pappas, 4-20-13 sketchbook (Split Tree). Pen in 7×10 inch Stillman & Birn Epsilon Series sketchbook.