Dreams

There are days in early spring that give you hope. There is a scent of earth and sea on the wind and the grass shows a hint of green. The air is cool but with a promise of warmth and the sun feels warm through windows as days lengthen.

Instead of icy rain and snow, precipitation seems softer, less driving, coaxing life from the ground and from my soul.

But here, in a short season land, it takes time for promises to turn to truth, so I wait and dream of sweaters tucked into deep closets, boots banished to the basement and open windows.

A little sketch of sandals spurs this dream on and let me dream of hot days.

Illustration Friday - Speed

Everyday life

I am trying to draw and write every day. Sometimes objects are interesting sometimes mundane. This is what was on the dining room table this morning as I sat with my coffee.

I've bought a Moleskine sketchbook on Ebay as it seems impossible to find one in Canada. These Italian notebooks have sturdier paper which will hold a more diverse range of mediums and not bend and ripple like my current sketchbook.

'I never travel without my notebook.
One should always have something sensational to read in the train." Oscar Wilde

More Cats

I have always had cats in my life but never had that bond that some people strike with them. But this week for some reason I am drawing cats. House cats, large cats, coloured cats. I don't know why but they seem to find their way under my pencil or brush.

The other thing that has occupied me this week is a video cam of a bald eagle nesting. This is live and on Horby Island, British Columbia. It becomes rather addictive and I have it sitting in my task bar all day, pulling it up to see what's happening if they make a sound. The eggs are due to hatch around the end of the month. Have a look. I think you'll enjoy it. Adjust your viewing time to BC time. http://www.infotecbusinesssystems.com/wildlife/

More perspective

Perspective is foreign to me in many ways and pushes me well outside my comfort level. But I still pursue it for reasons I'm trying to analyse. Ask me draw a dog or a person or a still life and I'll tackle it without fear, but ask me to draw a simple room or street stretching off into the perceived distance and it strikes fear into my heart.

I think its because there is so much technical about it. It isn't free flowing. It hasn't got curves (I'm sure that comes in a later lesson) to sweep around. It needs precise measurement that smacks of mathematics - one of the things that I have never gotten along with.

But I am determined to conquer it. Poor Robin, she has her work cut out for her with a full class of people all at various levels of knowledge and experience. I am in the back of the class on this one and climbing the learning curve slowly with many mistakes. I wait to find out the results of the quiz and drawing 'problem' provided with as much anxiety as if a final grade depended upon it.

Here is what I hope is a correctly portioned room based on instructions for this exercise. I'll get it sooner or later. Or spend the rest of my life avoiding long streets and rooms!

Cats

I seem to have experimented with a lot of cat drawings and paintings lately, from meek house cats to laid back lions. They have interesting shapes and colours and can be quite a challenge to draw.

I need the practice though and will continue to sketch them as they arrive. This week's drawing thread is of cats as well. Must be a portent.

This is the initial line drawing. I may try expanding it with watercolour. Keep your fingers crossed!

Stilled life

I have had a headache all weekend that I can't shake and have been so tired. Its likely a combination of stress and work and life in general, so I've retreated to art for most of the weekend. It hasn't helped the headache but it feeds the soul.

This is a drawing for the weekly drawing thread and a reference that I've had tucked away for months,but never had time to make a start. I finally had a good look at and pulled out my sketchbook. Mechanical pencils 2H & 2B did the rest.