Chuck Taylors

I decided to draw a pair of Chuck Taylors so Lily sent me a photo of hers. Great! Except they were low tops. I had to fudge the extra height and have no idea how many lace holes there are in the high tops. For Christmas I gave each grandchild a framed print of the sneakers as well as an actual pair to wear. Who knew they come in infant sizes? And in PINK!
When Mark asked me what the significance of this gift was I had to remind him that he arrived at his High School graduation in cap, gown and a pair of red Chuck Taylors. When they told him he could not participate in the graduation ceremony dressed like that he went back to the car and changed his shoes. Ready for anything, that boy. Now a man, he is awaiting the birth of his first child, a girl, who already has a pair of Chuck Taylors waiting for her when she comes.

Hand made journals

Here are two newly bound journals. The smaller one was put together several years ago prior to a trip to Ireland. So unsure of my drawing skills I never even made one entry. The larger one with 140# watercolor paper is new and has one painting in it so far. The covers are made from an old collage that I had done several years ago. It is painted tissue paper on board. It never quite made it as a piece of art but I love it as my journal covers. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
Oh! and the signatures are held together with Kettle stitching. They open flat which I forgot to show.

Chickadee

A drawing from a while ago but I wanted to get it up here before I lose track of it. I have great experience drawing these chickadees as they seem to be everywhere about. Soon I shall practise with a few of the other feeder visiters

With due respect to Andrea Joseph whose detailed drawings have truly provided an inspiration for me I drew this for my amazing grandson Connor as his Christmas present. He and I have spent a lot of quality time together over the years (all seven of them). Connor has many special interests so it was impossible to cram them all into his backpack but I had to give it a try. Whether or not the drawing is as successful as I would have liked is open to question. No matter. The reaction from Connor was satisfaction enough.
Oh, and I forgot to label the waffle and that would have been important as the drawing doesn't really look like one.

For the new year I made a watercolor journal as I am not so crazy about the Moleskine ones. Anyway I spent a lot of time at The Center For Book Arts a few years ago and I don't want to waste those skills. Actually at that time I made some lovely journals but never used them as I didn't feel I was worthy to draw in such lovely books. Thanks to encouragement from Danny Gregory I am over that. While still in Stowe I ripped apart an old pad of watercolor paper and folded each sheet. Since it is 140# paper each sheet is it's own signature. Back at home I shall stitch it together and bind it. And USE it with courage. The little angel in the corner is another decoration from the memory box. This one dates way back to the dining room table in Brooklyn (circa 1950) where eight of them circled the centerpiece. Being sentimentally attached to these little cuties I had never really noticed until I started drawing that our little angel actually has a scowl on her face. She just may be upset at the ravages of aging as she has lost her wings. (Maybe I have them:)

A quick little picture done with brush markers and all out of proportion because I was cozily ensconsed in the corner of the couch covered in blankets to watch the New Year's Eve shows on TV and WAY too lazy to alter my position to do a fine drraing. I had fun though.

Thanks to the inspiration I get from the blogs I have been reading lately I decided to start drawing the things of Christmas and try to capture some of the fun decorations. Although this fellow is relatively new I still get that wave of familiar sentimentality when I stand him on the sideboard each year. There are quite a few others I'd like to capture as well. There is something very special about pulling them out each Christmastime and letting the familiar rituals bring back a feeling of stability and continuity. It's a state of mind.

The condo is too small to have an indoor tree what with all the people and dogs milling about. I love the outdoor tree (this year thanks to Tese, Andrew and Maddy who had it up and lighted when we got there). Finally after a few days of rain the snow came and it looked absolutely beautiful. It's a good thing I get up early to sketch because even at such an early hour I was soon joined by Declan who enjoyed watching the sunrise and the squirrel with me. Thanks for the company, Dec!

The First Day Of Christmas

There are quite a few drawings done over Christmastime that I will upload today, therefore they will not be sequential or even timely as it is now January 6 (so soon?). Christmas week was spent in Stowe, VT with most of the family, my sketchbook, lots of snow, and internet access but no scanner so there was no opportunity to upload. After finishing Danny Gregory's class I am very excited to explore and open up to using new materials. Having said that this drawing was done with plain old graphite in my Moleskine. Ding A Ling!