New Drawing and More Stole Photos

Hello again! I'm starting to get the hang of updating my blog again. Not so hard once you get started. I haven't drawn anything in months (since starting my job) and finally felt the urge a few days ago and picked up my pen and paper. Here is one of my recent ones. I'm sometimes asked how long it takes me to do one of my drawings. Since I draw so many little lines, they are usually from about 1 to 3 hours for a 9 x 12 such as this. Depends on the pen size. This one used a smaller pen than usual so it took about 3 hours. It still needs a little bit of work on the shadowing. I used to steal ideas (or be inspired by) from my son. Now it's my 4 year old inspiring me. I drew a circle and then gave it to her to add to and she added butterfly wings and asked "Can butterflies be circles in the middle?". I said "Why not?" and then decided to draw my own. If you are looking for inspiration, especially for something new and exciting, don't forget to look at the world through a child's eyes.

Also, I have the full length photos of the stole I just finished. Unfortunately I took photos with me wearing it and they are not my best! Nor does my clothing do anything to show off the work. Anyway, here it is. :)

And, I have to brag a bit on my 8 year old son. If any of you know what Accelerated Reader is (a program offered in many elementary schools), well, my soon reached the goal of 100 points only 6 weeks into school!! I'm sooo proud of him! The 100 point goal is an end of the year goal! He is actually at 117 and just about to take a test on another book, worth 44 points, so it won't be long until he reaches 200 points. The kids read books with certain point values and then take a test to receive the points. The program has it's good and bad issues, but he loves reading and loves reaching these goals. Way to go Miller!!!

Working in a Series

I finally have a series! Yes, I work with similar colors and similar imagery very often. But, this time I actually created works all at the same time (well, started them at the same time). It feels really good to have work like this. I'm not exactly sure why just yet.

The pieces are the only ones I was really satisfied with after playing around so much on my retreat. It took several tries but I finally got the hang of a monoprinting technique, or more like a collograph, printing on fabric that I like. I placed objects on a piece of plexiglass to add texture and dimension and then added acrylic paint. I then laid fabric on top to make a print of the image. I then repainted it several times, sometimes moving the objects and sometimes leaving them in place and printed new pieces on fabric each time. I'm now adding stitching. I've completed two. Here is a photo of one. Well, actually, I'm not sure it's done. I'm liking the minimal stitching on them and trying to resist the urge to over do it. I often feel like I take things too far and end up ruining them. But, maybe it needs more. Hhhm. I was listening to NPR the other day and they were interviewing a writer (of course I don't remember who) and discussing how books, or the written word, is a living thing, always changing. For example, they mentioned a famous writer writing 39 different endings to one of his books (before publishing) and then after publication, that it changed again many times with each edition. I wish we had that option with artwork sometimes. Of course, as long as it is in my possession I can change it anytime I think it is needed, even if I thought it was complete before and had made it over a year ago. But, once it leaves my hands, that's it.

This piece is on cotton canvas and has acrylic paint, colored pencil, cotton embroidery floss and painted lutradur. What do you think? Finished? Or not?

The other is being donated to Collage Mania II.

Thanks for looking! What are you doing to feed your creative soul today?