From Angel Time

 

An old sketch from the period when I was painting angels.  Here is the first large painting that came out of this composition: 

 

And then, unsatisfied with this, I painted over.   Here is the second try:

 

And that one got painted over too.   With something else altogether.  

Swan

 

From the old sketchbook.  

Peaceful World

 

I remember this as a sketch for a painting that I worked on for a while and then didn't keep.  Fun to find birds were there already.  

Mish-mash

 

Back to an old notebook (marked 2004 to 2010!)   Already then, I used to enjoy finding hidden figures in random shapes. 

The Companion again

 

Felt like retrying yesterday's drawing.  Here is the Queen's beloved companion again.

Note:  I cannot sustain my drawing-a-day while working on the finishes of my book.  I will reluctantly put this drawing exercise on hold.  In the meantime I will post images from old notebooks.  

The Companion

 

Starting the week with the Queen's companion.  Who is never without a book!

The Little Demon

 

The Queen has to deal daily with a relentless little demon.  Negative comments, odious comparisons, self-esteem attacks are some of his specialties.  There were years of debilitating aggravation.  The Queen has figured a few tricks of her own. 

The Friend

 

The Queen and her friend have known each other for many years.  They take walks together and talk.  (Food, the human brain, family issues, literature, art, health insurance.) 

The Fool

 

Today, the Fool.  Very present in the Queen's world.  He comes with joie de vivre and also with foolish hopes.  With impromptu plans and impossible projects.  Why is he carrying a piglet today?  No clue.  

The Child

 

The most important person in the Queen's life.  Eliciting all kinds of feelings, from elation to exasperation to anxiety:  the Child.  

The Queen

 

Ripped last drawing.   Was great in my mind.  A mess in reality.  Felt at a loss and decided to go back to basics.  My main "character", the Queen, will be followed by portraits of her entourage. 

Peaceful Moment

 

4 creatures living in peace.  My wish for the world.  Or at least for the weekend.  

Cup of Tea Break

 

Life has felt very hectic lately.  Peace can come from an image if not from the real thing.  

Embrace

 

Inspired by the last piece in Risa and Laird's Ganesha collection.  The tenderness of the gesture spoke to me.  Plus I like elephants.  

Reflection

  

The queen occasionally spends time re-evaluating.  I need to do the same.  But there is so little time!

Post T-day

 

Oh boy, the Queen ate too much!  But it was all so delicious!  

A Parade

 

Drawing from a tiny old notebook:  A Parade to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Green Hat

 

Pulled the gouache back out.  Here finding the "portrait" hiding in the shapes.  Something I used to do a lot with collage. 

I love comics

 

What I wish I could do.  But realize is beyond my scope.  Still, it's fun to try.  

Piled up

 

Another creature pile-up.  Using Prussian blue ink, this time.  (other title:  the dreamer.)

Variation on theme

 

Trying out an interpretation of yesterday's drawing.  

Motherhood again

 

In honor of my dear daughter's birthday, a Mother and child from an early Flemish painting.   The original painting is so beautiful!

3 black and one blue

 

Piles + Ink blots = Piles of ink blot creatures.  Of course!

Blue World

 

Still playing with ordering the craziness of ink blobs.  Something seems to be happening here.   A real drama. 

November Being

 

No thought in mind, this came out.  How November feels, often.   For the record, it felt cold and gloomy last week especially after the change of time. 

2 Funky Trekkers

 

Title courtesy of Gene Kannenberg.   I actually love it when things get a bit weird. 

Ink Blot Tree

 

Still playing with blue ink.  To file under "Controlling the unpredictable".  

Blue Creature

 

Blue ink today.  Surprising results.  

Ink Blot Creatures

 

Last week it was doodles, today: ink blots.  The variations on the game are many.   This one adds the bonus of watching the ink spread on the paper.  So alive!

Blue Creatures

 

This is a game: finding the creatures hiding in random doodles.  

A Pile of Rocks

 

Playing with random pieces from the collage table.  

Weighing Options

 

Playing with acrylics and letting things happen.   

Doodle Tree

 

Starting with a spiral (from Lynda Barrie's workshop) and going from there.  It's fun and relaxing.  

When All Goes Well

 

Once in a while there is a day when all goes well.  Good sleep, good work, good news of Sam,  house clean and back not painful.  There was such a day last week, before lost package, bad sleep, worries about Sam, etc.  I'll look forward to next time. 

To the Library

 

A happy moment of the day: the walk to the library.   Especially if a requested item is waiting for me.  So thankful for my library system.  

Morning Glass of Water

 

On to morning steps with a glass of water. 

And the realization I have been doing this drawing-a-day for over 6 months now.  I could quit and feel a goal accomplished.  I think I will keep at it.  It is very sustaining.  I enjoy it and am still hoping it will unblock something in me. 

Green Socks

 

Eventually one gets dressed.  If that involves lime green socks, it can be a very happy experience.  

Toilette

 

Once one is up, one might as well start the day.  Here is washing face.   (Not sure about using colored pencils on such a rough surface.  Maybe an extra watercolor wash would help.  But no time.)

Getting Up

 

Drawing on everyday life:  The daily victory: getting up!  (A theme I explored many years ago in many drawings and paintings.)

Marching Fool

 

The fool knows best:  keep going, no matter what.  A good weekend of rest will help!

A Tower to Climb

 

Playing with scale and the column becomes a Tower. 

Dots and Stripes

 

For this 8th version of the 4 Trees, I chose some colored pencils that fell off my  pencil drawer.  A happy accidental color combination, I thought. 

Marching Queen

 

Drawing on the theme of the walking figure, here is Marching Queen.  Ready to tackle the week!

Walking Figure

 

Last weekend at Storm King, there were a few marching or walking figures.   The theme inspired me. 

3 Hairy Plants

 

Where plants and columns meet.  

Leaning Columns

 

Leaning on loved ones gives strength.  With columns, with people. 

Column Family

 

Good to take a long weekend off.  And good to be back too.  Here is a little variation on my columns.  Reminds me of playing with blocks!  Which was so much fun both as a child and as a parent.  

Gathering Chi

 

Inspired from my very low-key and relaxing Tai-Chi class.  Just breathing and lifting the arms up sometimes help feel so much better.