Dirty Artist Secrets---or---Scribbles That Turn Into Art

Here is the lowdown; I will do a thumbnail sketch on anything. For a short period of time, when I had *safely put away* (read that, totally LOST!) the previously featured sketchbook, I just used the small lined notebook I was carrying with me. No pen for the most part (altho the first pages are the exception), just a pencil and cheap paper. I love those small notebooks with the gaudy-bright colors that I pick up at the dollar stores or Big Lots. Hey, the $$$ go further!

(c) AMHL 2010

I think this is college ruled paper, so that gives you an idea of the sizes......small, small, small........

(c) AMHL 2008

 Notes to self with a scribble. No idea where I was going! Script in Strata?? Clueless now! Was thinking about something......

(c) AMHL 2008

These are ROUGH, to the point of barely being recognizable. Yet, on the majority of the sketches/scribbles, they developed into finished pieces. Someday I should shoot the sketch, complete with size (tiny!) and then the remaining pieces of art I have. Images may repeat; the pages all looked alike as I was putting them into composite photos last evening after a LONG day....LOL!

(c) AMHL 2008

(c) AMHL 2008

Basically, these were the closest thing to sketchbooks I kept for a long time, interspersed with *to-do* notes, phone numbers, things I can't make head nor tail of....in fact I had several scribbles that I am assuming was a sketch at one time but it sure is not now.
Some morphed into pieces where the core idea remained but the finished product was incredibly different from the beginning scribble. (the two directly above, Frida and Jack Kerouac, took on lives of their own)
And now back to the sketching at hand:

I like this as a photo, just because. One of the things I am constantly reminded of is how sketching with colored pencils requires a different eye for reproducing colors. It is the matter of separating in the mind the color you are looking at and then rebuilding it with shades that just seem unlikely. It is fun.
A close up:

Another thing I discovered quickly is my eyesight is really going down the tubes and most of the work was done with glasses OFF as I could see better. (scary!) Which naturally produced an unhealthy amount of eyestrain which transformed into headache.
I continued working this tag last evening, and while I will add a bit more color, it is for the most part done. I worked in a little fine black mica gel for dirt on the background and will use artistic license to leave the inverted torch lighter than photographed.

 

The mica shows a little better in the close up.

I ended up with a fair amount of texture from the gesso, and while the background wash was darker than what I wanted, serendipity again walked in and put wash lines in the right places! Sometimes, things just WORK. It roughened the fine pencil lines more than I would have liked but you play the hand you're dealt.

Art is an adventure!

I am off for a non-artistic day of shopping, etc and will be thinking about the next tag and maybe photographing one of my collage sketchbooks.

Okay.

I guess I really *do* keep sketchbooks.

They just are not like what everyone else does. That's okay.

I tend to waddle along to my own little drumbeat.

It's a good road I walk on!  ;-)

Pax....

Distracted, Delayed, deMenged! -or- Where The Sketching Posts Went

Yesterday's winter storm in progress....cold....snow....more snow.

I should know my world in January in Indiana well enough to know that trying to do one thing is impossible. I mean, just one thing. Like sketch. Or get a blog post up in a timely manner. I took all the photos of my old *thumbnail/scratchy* sketchbook and shoved them into the computer. This morning I got them into groups so that this post would not roll on forever.

A little background; I started this sketchbook probably 15 years ago. There are some sketches that turned into fiber art. I have no idea if I have photo reference of those pieces. Well....SOMEWHERE.....but I don't know where. So off we go!

 

I still favor the size of this book for rough sketches; it is a mere 3 1/2" x 4 3/4" and is perfect.

PERFECT.

No intimidation.....it's tiny. If you screw up, it's just a little bit of paper. I always have used a Sharpie for work like this, though I go back in with ballpoint or pencil for fine notes. The ink runs too much for me to read later.

You can see the odd assortment of things sketched~~some with a visual guide like the Ampeg  sticker (no, I never got an Ampeg amp....that sticker was as close as I got to one of those *to-lust-after* bass beauties....) and some things I just scribbled. The last photo is significant because those sketches turned into art quilts and were the start of my shrine series that did so well. I never did sketches once the series was started; it was enough to get the general idea down and run with it. One fed the next.

Other oddities; leaves from my Japanese Maple under a piece of contact paper, pictures from quilt catalogs glued over the bleed-thru, and my original *Anne-tangles*. For those of you who might not have believed I was surprised when these became all the rage.....this is why. Been there, tangled that.

Anyway, the CURRENT sketching project had a slight delay due to a SNOWSTORM that decided to deposit itself in our State, thus, quality time with the John Deere (waaaaay too much) and the beginning of my Michael deMeng class which I highly recommend to everyone with a desire to learn new art technique and for those with a sense of humor because the man is a riot!

First, I will show that I actually got the gesso on the previous tag....whoooo-hooooo!!!!! (insert sarcasm)

And then the books everyone needs, whether you're taking Michael's class or not because they are delightful and fun reading, plus amazing artwork.....

 

Somehow I don't think he would mind that I had a little fun with the photo....

Okay, there is no odd thing in my hand photo today because yesterday That plow was the odd thing in my hand all day, and I am doing good to type this morning.

But I do have e-mail Spam humor. As I live and breathe, this was the header:

Jamaica Awaits Me!

And I it.

Not happening......I can barely get to the mailbox.

And now it's off to studio land, to try and accomplish something while I sit and look out at the gloom and grey of the continuing snowfall.

No more plowing.

Jamaica awaits me, ya know!

Pax....

Before Zentangles......

....And I do mean a LONG time before zentangles took everyone by storm, I had a sketchbook where I would take a piece of a magazine photo, glue it somewhat in the center (though I don't suppose it would HAVE to be centered) and then took heavy Sharpies and looked for *line* in the remnant of photo. Below is an example.

This was the first one I did.....and as I post the others, you will see progression. I liked the idea of starting with a piece of a puzzle, then letting the pen and brain wander. Actually, looking at this, I would like to go back in and fill in the white areas...I was not sure how far I wanted to take the drawing. It was an experiment only.

The sketchbook is 9" x 12" I think.....somewhere around that size, so it gives an idea of the line size.

Looking back at these, and the current paper scrap journal, I see that I am very drawn to repetitive shapes/lines, though they may differ over time. That I am a *motif* person. Hmmmmmm......

I believe it was Anna Rose who urged me to further research zentangles, and that was when this sketchbook came up. I may actually take it upstairs inthe evening, as it is easy to work on.

This was never *day work*---that is saved for commissions, etc. It was always *evening work*---unwind, doodle, see what happens.

I will post a few more of these because, as painfully ugly as this one is, the ones afterwards got better.

Sometimes you have to post a few Bow-Wows to appreciate the nicer work! LOL!!!

So yes, this is an "Anne-Tangle".........heeheehee!

Pax....

Church Banners, and Why They Are So Time Consuming

I have to admit that anything that starts from a sketch so simple should not end up using such a large portion of your life to produce. However, in my area, the problem has been finding supplies, as I have stated before, and after numerous (way too numerous) hours on the internet searching for background fabrics, and candle fabrics, everything is beginning to be a bit closer to coming together. And boy am I relieved!

While this does not show the wonderful shimmering quality of the flame fabric, trust me when I say it will be seen from afar! Trying to photograph the holographic pieces are hit and miss. I also plan to put a bit of angelina in the very center of the flames when everything is attached, as I will have to use fabric glue and don't want to reheat the fiber again. It's right where I want it color wise and one more hit with the iron and who knows???

And this is what appears to be a small amount of work, the candles cut, the *glow* of the flame and flame proper fused together......how deceiving. This was an amazing amount of time! Since it's almost all silk, it has to be handled with extreme care and everything has to be perfectly on-grain.

And the little *wax drips*? They can't be just fused, but zigzagged around all the way to make sure they stay on. After three backing support products, I finally discovered that tissue paper works the best.......grrrrrrrrr.......let's see, eight small candles, two large candles, and I am pretty sure that equals Anne losing her mind!
The next step is getting these onto felt, then a slow, broad zigzag all around the edges to secure everything so it doesn't ravel out!
And that's the Monday update on the monsters---stay tuned for more of my perils and adventures right here on El Milagro!!!
And I hope you have a wonderful, easy-going type week, and think of me slaaaaaaaving at the sewing machine! ;-) LOL!!!!!

Pax.

Sketchbooks: Ex Votos

(I should have posted this on Valentines Day! )
Back to sketch books and my ability to over do anything. This really, really did start as a simple sketch. What I ended up with was a nice textural piece that is from a photo I took in the Virgin of Guadalupe Grotto in New Orleans. The marble plaques---ex votos---cover the walls of the grotto, which is darkened from soot from votive candles left lit by those offering prayer or thanks. The walls were originally painted a rather bright robin's egg blue, but were then repainted a lighter shade. Both colors are visible and both are tempered from the soot.
It is an interesting and humbling atmosphere to enter; the doorway is not average height so you must stoop to go in. Inside, though lit only from one small window and with the candle light, it is fairly dark, which does NOT translate to cool. It is quite hot and close and smothering. However, there is a lot to look at artistically, so I was in there until I thought my head would melt. Frankly, I would have been there longer, clicking off more shots with the old film camera, but I can take only so much heat then I'm out. (Yes, it was Anne's pre-digital age.....)
The one thing I wanted to get *right* in the sketch was the textured walls and the dirt. That I am happy with. The ex-votos themselves are okay. The piece pleases me. I know there could be more work or better work but the imperfections seem appropriate.
Since the hearts or rectangles are mounted individually to the walls as they are provided, there is little rhyme or reason to how they are placed. And the walls curve, so pieces are straight for a while, then suddenly there is another crammed in sideways, with a bit of the edge sticking up.
It is beautiful discord.
It tests the idea of order, yet there is a sense of acceptance since it is a holy place.
It is a place of belief and thanks.
Hopefully a bit of that is conveyed in the painting. I couldn't stop at a sketch---it drew me in. It had to be all that it is.
Merci.