Figure Drawing, Redux

I went to a figure drawing session Sunday. I use to go to them pretty regularly right after graduating from college, but then work and life kicked in. And you know how it goes, things fall to the wayside, and you keep telling yourself, "mañana."

But the expression, "use it or lose it" is both annoyingly trite and true. The first half hour, all I wanted to do was to take a butane torch to my sketches. After awhile, though, things started clicking and I'm glad I went. It felt really good to get out and draw from life again and I want to make this a regular thing. Speaking of which: can anyone recommend sessions in the Seacoast, New Hampshire or Southern Maine area?

An aside: I don't think I could stay still for two minutes, let alone ten in an intricate pose, wearing a costume and pointe shoes. Seriously, high five, ladies.

Destination Imminent

 

Ending the day with a bit of sketching and sticking my head in to to say happy weekends, all around.

 

Also, Michael Palin's New Europe has me wanting to travel (Eastern Europe, I miss you). And Twinnings Peppermint Tea, you are the best.

Au revoir + à bientôt.

100 Things

 

If you haven't yet read this post by John Hendrix on finding your artistic voice, may I kindly suggest you do so immediately? After reading it last week, I sat down and made a list of 100 things that I like drawing. It's a terrific exercise and well-worth the time.

And I'll spare you the full set, but the abridged version includes:

1. Concertinas
2. Seaweed
3. Onion Domes
4. Creatures of indeterminate taxonomy
5. Mermaids
6. Mystery, but not mayhem
7. Plaited Hair
8. Vigilantes
9. Violins
10. Questionable sartorial choices
11. Apples
12. Striped Socks
13. Carrots
14. Fascinators
15. Dinosaurs
16. New England Wildflowers
17. Non-malevolent monsters
18. Birch Trees
19. Sleuths
20. Any and all fairy tales/folktales/stories-with-no-basis-in-reality-or-science

All of this begs the question, of course: what's on your list?

An Armistice of Sorts

Why beat around the bush: I am not a fan of January. It's long, cold and typically involves the one two punch of a chest cold and/or driving in snow. So no, first month of the year, we are not on friendly terms.

But (because there's always that margin of error with the things you detest), I'm learning to make peace with January. There's been some moderate successes. I finished sewing the Tova Shirt from Wiksten and am in love. Clearly written, full of wonderful details, it's a delightful pattern, one I'm planning to make again and again. There's a new season of Downton Abbey (Edith, you go girl). I'm also working up some embroidery ideas for a download in the future. And because driving to Québec in January just isn't feasible, I made Tarte au Sucre this weekend. Because until you've eaten a pie that's made up of two cups of brown sugar, you haven't lived.

Structurally Sound

I've been setting aside the first 15 minutes of my work day sketching plates from Anatomy for the Artist. As far as anatomy books go, it's a nice balance between art and science, a solid reference source. Sketching I keep thinking of sit ups: it might not be the most glamorous activity, but the end results are worth it. And I promise, I will never reference sit ups here again ever.

 

Hoping you all have delightful weekends. Me, I'm planning to go eat pizza, then watch dinosaurs terrorize the 21st century. A solid weekend, I say.

Illustration Friday - "Ocean"

 

 For this week's Illustration Friday theme, "Ocean."

Mark Your Place

 

Because everyone and their brother makes a New Year's resolution to read more (yours truly included), here's something to help you out: a bookmark tutorial.

 

You'll need cardboard (I used a leftover mailer), paint, a paintbrush, a pen and scissors.

   

Trace the template onto your cardboard (full size = about 1 3/4 by 4 inches). Cut out, then carefully make a slit for both arms, slightly rounding out the hands once free. After you've cut out the figure, fill in features with a pen and add accents with paint. Let dry.

To use, place arms over the page you want to mark, slipping the body a few pages behind. Happy Reading!