Day 19:

I did this last night while my son and I were watching recorded Wimbledon Tennis. As I wondered what to do, he said, "Me, draw me!" So I tried. It was hard because he was sitting lower with his laptop not wanting to look up. And, even though I don't think it looks like him, it does resemble him.  See the real McCoy below. (His hair is different there.) I started drawing it in the blind contour fashioln and he said "No, look at the paper when you draw, or something of that sort. So part of it is blind contour and part is  done by looking at him and my paper as I drew.

This is interesting. I have been posting a couple days after I do the art. Because I worried if I could keep up. But it all seems fine in the artmaking department. I got behind on the posting as of late. I think I am going to take a risk and stay current.... What a dangerous likfe I live!

Day 18: A collaboration saves the day!

There was NO way I would have had the energy to do my art tonight from scratch, or so I think. I had my show tonight with my client work from the YWCA's homeless program and it was fabulous. I was honored, humbled and in awe of the art and the evening. And, when I returned home, exhausted yet hyped. Shea's friend Dimitre had started this back on my day 3 I think. He is off in Switzerland now so I thought I would finish it. Probably could use some more work, but oh well. Another day with SOMETHING is what matters most right this moment. Thank you.

Day 17: A teeny tiny yet big contribution - The Tall Flower

Today's art is only about 6 inches wide, by 3 feet. I did not have it in me to do anything, and I did something. So to me, that is big. I am grateful that some how I remember to show up and do it every day. Or at least for the last 17. Good to know that I can do something (fairly) quick. I am thinking about going to buy those giant oil pastel sticks. Thinking they will cover bigger areas. Not sure how they are for blending. But it is worth trying. Will keep you posted. 

Day 16: Premonition? Psychic?

When I originally started this, it was from a magazine photo of a FUNKY, very old lady with big round glasses. After finishing it and before writing this, My friend Michele went and ordered some round glasses. She has blue eyes and short grey hair. Maybe I am psychic! Once she gets her glasses I will post a photo of her next to this and we can compare....

Day 15: Only Day Fifteen?

I have to admit that it SEEMS like day 315! I am not sure if that is good or bad. Began this after midnight so I was VERY brief aesthetically. I loved those first days when I did the work in the daylight. And, I am not sure how to get that back when I am so busy. Next week I will be a little less busy, so yes, I will be able to do daylight art. I want to say "maybe" and I am trying really hard not to. And I REALLY want to say maybe. Commiting is not easy. Especially when I start thinking about next week, is it really going to be less busy? Hello Tish! Just make art!

Day 14: Art is a Mystery

Oh where the heck did he come from?  Not really where i wanted him to go or look like. AND, the surprises are always welcome. It was way too late again tonight. I am needing some sort of changes to keep the inspiration going. Not sure. Maybe too big. Maybe my oil pastels are too small. Maybe still wrestle with subject matter. Trusting the process though.  

Day 13: Is it a dog's world or a cat's?

This began as Friday Dog. (Yes, and now I have Friday Cat, there is a good story behind that.) Doesn't really look like her but I was grateful for her inspriation of tonight's art. Looks more like a hungry wolf. People who were afraid of dogs used to think she was a wolf or some furocious animal. She was a white german shepard and a total lover. She would start barking on command, "Sick em!" or "Where's the kitty?" Friday Dog loved our beloved ZInger kitty. They would sleep together and play. So when Friday Cat came, with that name already, I was so sure she would be a perfect addition to our family and for Zinger after Friday Dog died. It actually wasn't until ZInger was gone that Friday cat started settling in. But she still hates Jack the dog. How did this dog post end up being about the cat?


 As for the drawing. I loved the ease and sketchiness of it. Yes, she isn't white. Let's say she is in the glow of sunset. 

Day 12 - Pearched for the tease

Friday Cat was perched on the piano as I began my art. Jack the Dog was below, looking up, wanting to play. She ignores him. She teases him, just out of reach. I put her on a tree branch because she seemed like a bird, ready to fly away if dog moved upward. I wish they could be friends. I know she would enjoy Jack if she just gave him a chance. And I do understand that Jack needs to learn not to smell her butt. "Cats are not dogs," I tell him. But he doesn't seem to care. And hissing gives her prupose in life. So all is well I am sure.

Day 11- The clock ticks on...

Day 11 shows my clock, the hands of the clock are misleading...they look like a few minutes after 6 but the real time is half-past-midnight. That is the time I got started – no wonder I am having troubles with this project and am complaining!

Day 10: This little piggy went to....

Love this pig with the withered legs. Probably becasue he knows he will be part of breakfast soon...

Into the double digets, day ten. One day at a time. This day needs to come to an end. Too tired.

Day 9:What's the buzz? (Tell me whats a happening)

 

Found object a half block from my house on my walk this morning. A little empty bottle of E&J Brandy. I enjoyed incorporating it into my art today and changing the label. I found At least 3 of these bottles last year in the same place during my found object project. Makes me wonder who is leaving them. Do they have a drinking problem? Why do they make it onto the sidewalk median in the same place? Are there more of them around, maybe on the other side of the street? My son keeps trying to sell me on the idea that there is nothing wrong with doing drugs and drinking if it makes you feel better. I say why not learn to feel better without the help of mind altering substances? I am glad we are having the conversations.

Day 8: The half and Half Woman

The raised eyebrow takes this sad face into a slightly inquisitive direction. I fell back to my comfortable blind contour drawing style for this one. I was tired and didn't want to wrestle with the question of subject matter. It felt a bit like cheating. Maybe that is the look on her face. I am tired and I wonder if anyone will notice the cheat. Try looking at each half of her face separately. Two totally different looks. Reminds me of a baby and one minute they can be crying and the next laughing. She is caught in the millisecond of change between inquisitive and melancholy; mischievous and weary; hopeful and hopeless. I like that.

Day 7: The Perilous Pear

When my son came home and saw this pear, he said, "I liked the stuff you were doing before better, like the gnome." The tone of voice was important here. Like an art critic who was not a fan.

The perils of visual art are that everyone (readily) has an opinion. Some more vocal than others. I guess that is true with all the arts, but with music or dance, when it is over it fades away. And then a 3 foot by two foot drawing really stays. I would like to say that I didn't care. After all, I did enjoy doing the pear. I loved the stem the most, or actually the place where the stem meets the pear fruit. But I am no saint, my feelings were hurt. I had kept it hanging so he could see it when he came home. Excited to show off day seven. One week. Only 51 weeks to go. 

My response was, "I have 358 more days, I can try all kinds of things in that time." Or something like that. I knew it didn't matter what he thought, and, when I do commissions and get stuck he almost always calls it as it is and is very helpful. I have trusted his eye. He said that he has been around his school art teacher too long. That when his art teacher doesn't like something he comes right out and says so. No sugar coating. I come from a different philosphy. A "don't hurt peoples feelings because artmaking can be a vulnerable place" philospphy. The "find feedback that keeps them motivated, asks questions and learns more" philosophy.


The truth is, Shea was probably sensing the struggle I have been having with this project and the whole "what do I draw?" pain and the newly emerging "this is a BIG piece of paper to fill with oil pastels and smudge with my tired fingers." And on the other side of the coin, 10 minutes later I didn't care (so much). I liked my pear. It is not going to win any awards, but it turned out okay, I enjoyed doing it and I got day seven under my belt. Speaking of belts, that is one reason I love pears as a subject matter, they are very sensual in shape, my full figure drawings almost always have a pear shaped body. Small waist, big hips.

I think I better  close up shop. I am off on a whole other ramble.... 

Day 6: An Invitation

I invited my friend Michele to give me some ideas of what to draw tonight. I told her I was cutting my paper smaller so it would be tall and skinny—because it was late and I was tired and hoped it would take me less time with less square footage. Her suggestion was a door, it would fit on a tall skinny page. A door. I could do that. Then I remembered a piece a woman artist I know did.. A red door in a tree that she titled “The Invitation”. Thank you Michele and Ellen for inspiring me tonight.

Which led to an idea. How about if you all, everyone, anyone, someone, offers me a suggestion each day as to what to be my subject matter? Maybe it is just a matter of looking around you and naming the first thing that catches your eye. Or maybe it is something that is in your heart in the moment. Granted, I might take the offering and I might not, or I might get more than one (I am thinking optimisticly) and I will have to choose, or not. It sounds like a plan to get me over this hump I have been feeling the last 3 days of “what the *#@! do I draw!”

And if you give me a suggestion and I use it, I will gladly give you credit if you will let me. It takes a village to do art, too, not just to raise kids. Are you game?

Day 5: Setting a Place, Placing a Setting

I can see that a big part of this project is going to be finding things to draw that I feel excited about. Tonight I was in a quandary again about my subject matter, WHAT to draw. That darn blank canvas! This will wear on me quickly. I finally decided to do a piece of silverware, from my childhood. Then I realized I would need more than one item. A setting ended up filling the page and then a few peas moved in. I used some old oil pastels so they were a little dry and now my finger hurts from blending. Not an overly exciting process or result today. And I was exhausted when done. (Might have something to do with being up so late last night…) And, it got done, so I can claim day 5.

What to do about subject matter? For years I did my blind contour face drawings becuas I just drew how I felt or what I was working on in the moment, maybe I could do that again, and, I want to try new and different. I want to push myself, go outside my comfort zone. I could go back to my found objects (my last 365 Days of Art project that I finished in May) and draw a found object each day? One thing is clear, I can’t spend so much time on the “what to draw” or I won’t be getting past day nine. Maybe I could have someone else decide what I draw? It needs to be fun or it won't be happening. 

Day 4. Gnomb nome gnome

It is almost one in the morning. Worked today so no time to work in daylight. Finally got to it at 11:00 p.m. All good if it is a quickie. No luck. First, couldn’t find a photo of what I wanted to draw. Then, when I saw the piece my son did today, a gnome, I thought, “Okay, I can do that, too.” Two hours later... I had fun. I am tired. Watched television while I worked, not quiet like during the day when it becomes a meditation. Need to  figure that out….

I am not sure when it started, gnomes (which I had to spell a few times before I remembered) became a scary joke in our household. Then Malcolm in the Middle had an episode with a mean and scary gnome which fed the story we had going. I kept threatening to put one in our garden and Shea would exasperatedly respond, "No!" Well, his half birthday was this month and a gnome found its way into our house. This little guy has been the subject of a few of Shea's art projects. Today he had done a huge oil pastel of him that I loved. And when I couldn't find the duck-prior-to-oil-spill photo that I wanted, the gnome was it. Art is one of the ways we connect these days. I am grateful. The slightly curled lip was  supposed to give him a mischievous   look, but I think he looks more wistful than a troublemaker...

Two hours. Can I keep it up at that rate? I did enjoy the whole process. It is the getting to bed after 2:00 a.m. that is hard because I always wake up at 6:30 or 7:00 a.m.

Who needs sleep. Hooray for another day!

Day 3: The eyes have it

Day three, do I dare say that momentum is building, this early? Tonight my son and his buddy wanted to play, too. They chose photos of faces and sharing a piece of paper worked side by side. One of those proud human moments, and then being my son, it was a proud parenting moment. Art has definately been a place where we meet. Where we spend quality time. Seeing Shea and Dimitre playing with color on paper was just about as fabulous as it gets. That is the whole idea with my art. Get inspired and inspire someone else. Then they pass it down the line. Love it. Didn't love my piece as much today. Guess it was more of a struggle. I learned not to outline in a dark color. In my past work I have used thick permanant marker to draw, wanting to go with whatever I first put down. But in this medium (oil pastels) The dark lines don't seem right, or at least not today. No matter, I still loved the process. AND I love that I am doing it during the day. For my last three-365 Days of Art projects, most of the work was done at night. Especially on work days. I have not been able to allow myself to play during work hours. But the thing is, I work from sunrise to sunset and beyond. So why not? Well it is happening naturally. Somehow something changed and I want to, have to, do it during the day! Yipee skipee. (Ahhh, an Arlene moment.)

Day 2: The Neighs Have It

Oh my, I LOVE how thick I am putting the color on and how messy it gets! YES TO MESS! Can't wait to get an actual studio so making a mess will be invited. Versus my studio in my living room that still needs to be some semblance of a living room. (Though it is still a great set up.)

I love going big 3 feet tall by two feet wide. So satisfying. My paintings have been almost this big but it feels a little unexpected with the oil pastels. My fingernails look like a car mechanic's. Whenever my clients look down at their hands in dismay because they are covered with paint, I say something like, "So now you can feel like an artist." It is true for me. I used to cringe when I got paint on a brand new pair of pants. Now I think of it as a christening. I am grateful to be doing art and having paint and oil pastels under my nails, on my floor and on my clothes. Life is good.

Thought of my friend Connie as I worked on this horse. She is a horse lover extraordinaire. She lives for horses. I miss her and doing this horse helped me feel like I spent time with her, even if it was just in my head. (Hope you read this Connie so you can know we spent time together, even if just in my head!) I also figured she could give me some clues on being more anatomically correct. I didn't care that it was off though. Naming this series as "studies" gives me permission to not be perfect. If it works!

Day 1: My newest 365 Days of Art Project

Day one - The Rooster Who Wishes He could Lay (Eggs)

I think I have got it. After a month of being finished with my "365 Days of Found Objects and the Writing They Inspire" project which ended in May, I have been longing for something new. I tried two new projects for a few days to a week each, but they just weren't getting me excited. (graffiti words was the first and the second was a word that I wrote about.) This one came in the back door which may always be best, it found me. I had a fabulous time drawing this rooster. Portfolio water soluble oil pastels on 3 foot by 2 foot butcher paper. A 3 inch rooster had mysteriously found its way into my hand as I rummaged through some sand play items. (Honest, I don't remember picking it up) It took me by such surprise that there was an audible sound of surprise that came from my mouth. I knew I had to draw it and I had an urge to go BIG! I thought of it as a study, but instead of it being a teeny tiny study, it was a big giant study of color. My fingers were ecstatic as they pushed and blended thick heavy globs of the oil pastels. I loved feeling the texture of the back drop that was under my thin paper. I loved that the paper was inexpensive and cut crooked. I loved that it was big and bright. I loved that I didn't care how good it was. I loved that it happened quickly. (40 minutes went by in a flash.) I loved that the rooster was sitting on his duff, like he wished he could lay eggs like his female counterpart.


I could get used to doing this. Could I do it every day? Could I carve out enough time to do 365 days of these giant daily studies? This first one took 40 minutes. Can I give myself that much time every day? Maybe it would even take longer! My past Daily art projects had a built in way of spending mere minutes if needed. Can I do that on a project of this size?


I am willing to try. It is time that makes it feel more like a spiritual practice. A visit to my inner self. The cultivating of an inner life. On this, "Day One: The Rooster" the year prior came to me. The difficult moments of working through old excruciatingly painful anxiety. Working through shame and embarrassment. Working through blocks that have brought me to a more vibrant and alive life. I felt gratitude as I laid down the thick colors. I felt hope and peace and forgiveness. 365 days of that? Oh, sure, every day won’t be this prolific. Or maybe it will. Whou knows. I am grateful to be playing with art materials and having something to do daily to feed my soul!


And, it got me writing this blog, which I had wanted to do on my last 365 Day Art Project but didn’t think I had it in me! Yippee!


Stay tuned!
Tish