Looking for a Suggestion

For a long time I've wanted to understand the philosophy behind Chinese and Japanese ink painting. It's not easy to find a book that goes beyond the "how to". I have a few "easy sumi-e" books. I'm not all that interested in learning how to wield a Chinese brush. I'm much more interested in understanding their composition decisions and what makes a "good painting" from the eastern perspective.

Recently I did find The Way of the Brush and happily received it for Christmas.

I'm loving the book - it has answers to many of my questions. Although, I will admit that I probably also need a more basic book or, at least, more reading on the subject to fully grasp everything.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Also, I'll be sending out my newsletter in a day or two - please sign up through the link to the right so you don't miss out.

Being Able to Think

Sketch from life of my son watching TV

"Drawing, like so many other skills, is a matter of being able to think of several things at once."

 --Robert Beverly Hale

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Leonardo's Homework

After Leonardo

I ran across a page from Leonardo's notebooks the other day, in Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters. It was absolutely covered in drawings, colliding into one another. It reminded me of "scratch paper" from student homework. And clearly, it was. It was Leonardo working out all sorts of ideas and practicing mark making.

I was rather humbled by that. Do I have any pages like that in my sketchbooks?

So I filled up a page with copies of his homework.

After Leonardo

The above eyes were very small in my reproduction, maybe a inch in total size. I wanted to see if I could just follow the dark shapes at a larger size and get the same moody result. My drawing is more like 5 inches across.

I like a little kick

Page from my journal

My husband said the sweetest thing the other day.

He was eating some jalapeno chips.

"I like these chips, they have a little kick. I like that. That's why I like you, you have a little kick. You have goals and dreams and you go after them. You aren't a usual woman, you are one with a little kick. And I like that."

How blessed am I! Below are some more pages from my journal, with sketches of the family.

Working Out an Idea

Preliminary Sketch for an Upcoming Work

After my successful studio tidy, I couldn't wait to get busy on something new. The other night I sat down and started trolling through my reference library. I eventually came to some photos of my sons from a sketching trip we took one early summer morning. This was about my third sketch - with each sketch I was getting more ideas about cropping, orientation, where problems might exist, and the feeling I want to give the piece.

Some of you have heard me mention on my Facebook fan page that I am going to be part of an upcoming group show in Raleigh.  The show is a collection of nature-inspired works from my local CPSA chapter. They are a fantastic group of talented people - we have a new website, so be sure to click that link and check them out.

Daffodils

Daffodils
7in x 5in

Some more of those cheery daffodils in the front yard!

Redbud Blossom Sketch

Redbud Blossoms
7in x 5in

I did another quick 30 minute sketch while my son, home sick from school, rested.

Sure having fun just playing for a few minutes each day.

Another Spring Sketch

Spring Sketch
7in x 5in

Another quick 30 minute sketch of a flower in my front yard - these are a nice treat left by the previous owner...fun to see them poking up out of the ground.

Sketching Rest

We had a lovely holiday. My folks were in from out of town and we've been enjoying their company. Towards the end of their visit "the crud" starting moving around the family. Here's one of my boys taking it easy just listening to a story.

There's plenty to do in the next few weeks, but don't forget to think about what goals you want to set for the coming year! I'm already scheming. <> :D

Sketching Family Time

A quiet weekend here as I had one boy with fever.

Sketching and Playing Nurse

One of my commandos has caught a tummy bug. Here he is Saturday morning watching a little TV. I was trying out Barbara Bradley's method of not using guidelines while sketching. I'm not sure I've ever seen that advocated before. Amazon lists another book by her, which I imagine is pretty much the same book, it's just not the one I have.