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I've been off dancing this weekend and am on my way to a week in the Netherlands with my parents, so there will be sketches later. In the meantime, I haven't posted this yet. It's the first color proof of a new print, another one of my favorite tree in my local park.
I've done some more carving and am two days into a second proof. It has to dry overnight between each color. I'll pull the final round of the second proof when I get home and see how it's looking.
Here it is with the original ink and watercolor sketch and all three blocks.
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I am delighted to announce that I'm going to be the Jeanne and Henry Varnell Artist-in-Residence at Memphis Theological Seminary for the upcoming 2015-1016 school year.
I'll get to make art with students in a variety of ways, help plan chapel and make art for use in worship, talk to classes about where art and the text and the church intersect, and maybe even host a few gospel singing jams with my banjo. I'm just delighted. I was an art and religion major, so my passions and interests all converge in this perfect position.
It's part time, so I'll be able to work around my fall show for Dixon and travel for my other work, but I'm really looking forward to spending a year in upper level learning with smart, engaged people.
I did this sketch of Founders Hall while waiting to meet last week with the guiding committee for my position. I'm happy to be fully official now and ready to start.
I'll get to make art with students in a variety of ways, help plan chapel and make art for use in worship, talk to classes about where art and the text and the church intersect, and maybe even host a few gospel singing jams with my banjo. I'm just delighted. I was an art and religion major, so my passions and interests all converge in this perfect position.
It's part time, so I'll be able to work around my fall show for Dixon and travel for my other work, but I'm really looking forward to spending a year in upper level learning with smart, engaged people.
I did this sketch of Founders Hall while waiting to meet last week with the guiding committee for my position. I'm happy to be fully official now and ready to start.
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I had such fun at the Tower Grove Park Flower Power luncheon last week! I'd never been, and the only people I knew were the busy staff, but several hosts were on the watch out to welcome lost looking guests, which was kind. The Piper Palm House had centerpieces everywhere, on all the scattered tables, and someone, brilliantly, had bedecked the marble busts of composers.
Art is my vocation but is also occasionally a good social ice breaker. Once I was given my champagne, I realized I could stand around with it awkwardly, or I could sketch a while, keep myself busy, and maybe meet a few people in the process. I chose option two. Sketching occasionally makes a good parlor trick.
Art is my vocation but is also occasionally a good social ice breaker. Once I was given my champagne, I realized I could stand around with it awkwardly, or I could sketch a while, keep myself busy, and maybe meet a few people in the process. I chose option two. Sketching occasionally makes a good parlor trick.
Charlie Barnes, the event photographer, noticed what I was doing and took a couple of photos. He also photographed me after the luncheon was over, when I had changed and gone out painting. You can see those photos here.
The ladies at my table continued the kind welcome and made me feel at home. Both women beside me had Tennessee connections, and we had a lovely meal.
I kept sketching after lunch during the program by James Farmer, who was delightful. I felt at home with his Southern accent and family stories. My grandmother from south Georgia sounded a lot like the women he grew up amongst. He had an easy manner and kept everyone laughing, and people were sorry when the talk was over. (Not always the case at these things.)
The ladies at my table continued the kind welcome and made me feel at home. Both women beside me had Tennessee connections, and we had a lovely meal.
I kept sketching after lunch during the program by James Farmer, who was delightful. I felt at home with his Southern accent and family stories. My grandmother from south Georgia sounded a lot like the women he grew up amongst. He had an easy manner and kept everyone laughing, and people were sorry when the talk was over. (Not always the case at these things.)
It was a delightful day in a beautiful setting, and I was so glad for the invitation.
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I'm going to be a little scared to get on the scales in the morning. I began and ended my three day trip at Ted Drewes, and I might even have gone on the middle day as well....
I'm behind on my blog, so I'm going to work backwards because this is an easy post to get up tonight before falling into bed. My last night there was lovely. Frozen custard, of course, because I have to make the most of being in town with it (see the above paragraph), and then I went to a coffee shop called the Stone Spiral to hear some music. I only have a couple of facebook friends that are friends of friends whom I haven't met in person, but I've enjoyed greatly knowing Mike Holdinghaus that way. He's another musician and artist and has great reflections on life. I was delighted to get his invitation to come out and hear some songs and finally meet him and his wife Linda in person, along with a number of their talented friends. A couple of dancers I already knew came through as well, so it was an unexpectedly social evening. My original plan had been to paint till the light failed and then fall into bed after a Target/Ted Drewes run. This was much more fun, and I got to sketch musicians in the bargain, which I always love to do.
I'm behind on my blog, so I'm going to work backwards because this is an easy post to get up tonight before falling into bed. My last night there was lovely. Frozen custard, of course, because I have to make the most of being in town with it (see the above paragraph), and then I went to a coffee shop called the Stone Spiral to hear some music. I only have a couple of facebook friends that are friends of friends whom I haven't met in person, but I've enjoyed greatly knowing Mike Holdinghaus that way. He's another musician and artist and has great reflections on life. I was delighted to get his invitation to come out and hear some songs and finally meet him and his wife Linda in person, along with a number of their talented friends. A couple of dancers I already knew came through as well, so it was an unexpectedly social evening. My original plan had been to paint till the light failed and then fall into bed after a Target/Ted Drewes run. This was much more fun, and I got to sketch musicians in the bargain, which I always love to do.
Mike not only plays great but has the niftiest mandolin I've ever seen. A metal one with a resonator top. I'd only seen guitars like that before.
I'll get the rest of the work scanned in and work backwards through my trip over the next couple of days. Off to cuddle my dog a little and go to bed. Long day.
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I'm in New York visiting one sister and celebrating a birthday with another. We're mostly here to see theater, but I'm doing a bit of sketching as well, of course.
Above is my taxi ride from La Guardia, and below is the view from the diner where we had lunch. I was so happy we snagged a booth in the window.
We went to see Helen Mirren in The Audience last night. I was so excited to see her on the stage.
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I got to show off one of my favorite places on Saturday. I led the Memphis Urban Sketchers into the heart of the Old Forest in Overton Park my wildflower glade that was blazing with wood poppies, trillium, phlox, and mayapples. I'm continuing my love affair with mayapples this spring. I'm planning a possible three part print of them (I'll do one first to see how it looks), so I sketched some more closer up to give me a bit more information to work from.
Even some long time Memphians didn't know the beauty we have hidden in the forest. It took me years to find it myself. People didn't much go into the center of the forest when I was growing up, but I have loved finding it. I always say that I have the best of all possible worlds. I live in the heart of the city and walk in a forest every day. It was fun to share the magic.
Even some long time Memphians didn't know the beauty we have hidden in the forest. It took me years to find it myself. People didn't much go into the center of the forest when I was growing up, but I have loved finding it. I always say that I have the best of all possible worlds. I live in the heart of the city and walk in a forest every day. It was fun to share the magic.
Before diving into the forest we met up by my favorite tree. Elizabeth laughed at me for sketching it yet again.
Of course Mr. Darcy went with us. I don't go the park without him.
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I've kept thinking about that mayapples watercolor sketch, and I'd like to try a print from it. So I went back today on my dog walk to do a couple more sketches for some more information to work from.
It depends on the time I have available, but now that it's nice, I'm trying to carry sketching gear more regularly on my daily walk to just have when something catches my eye. I'm not a huge fan of butt packs, but I won one in a kayak race years ago, and it does do the job nicely without making my back hot while I'm walking. I've got one pencil case in there with pens, an ink brush pen, a water brush pen, and a teeny-tiny watercolor kit in a mini Altoid tin. I usually take the smaller square Handbook journal, which is my new favorite sketch book, and I put in my trusty Thermarest inflatable butt cushion. It's not only nicer to sit on, but it protects from both damp and cold as well. It deflates, folds in half, and rolls up. In a week where we've had a lot of rain, it's essential for sitting on the ground in the forest, although a folded up plastic sack would also offer the essential damp protection.
I'll be sharing these and other tips at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens when I teach a class on the practicalities of outdoor sketching on Saturday, May 30th from 12:30-4:30. More information here. I'm excited to get to teach at Dixon in their beautiful gardens.
I'll be sharing these and other tips at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens when I teach a class on the practicalities of outdoor sketching on Saturday, May 30th from 12:30-4:30. More information here. I'm excited to get to teach at Dixon in their beautiful gardens.
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It's finally warm enough to sketch outside again. Cloudy, but warmish. I ran down to Elmwood Cemetery today to drop off some prints for their gift shop, and I also sketched this gorgeous magnolia while I was there.
I've been having fun with the fountain and brush pens. I got a new bold tip Lamy fountain pen, and I tested it out last night. I was mostly carving a new print block, but I took a couple of breaks and sketched Mr. Darcy while he lay beside my chair.
I've been having fun with the fountain and brush pens. I got a new bold tip Lamy fountain pen, and I tested it out last night. I was mostly carving a new print block, but I took a couple of breaks and sketched Mr. Darcy while he lay beside my chair.
Mr. Darcy also accompanied me to the farm today. The daffodils are blooming on a hilltop out there. Every year I try to sketch the beauty, and every year I fall short, but here is this year's effort.
It feels good to be out in the world sketching again. I hope spring has really come.
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It's been a darn cold couple of weeks here in Memphis. We had a week of ice. Not snow, just a sheet of ice. I've been managing to walk the dog, but mostly I've been hibernating and waiting for better weather. So here are a few sketches from earlier I forgot to post. Hopefully I'll get going again soon. Nice that I'm at least having a non-busy period to go with my winter sluggishness....
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It was absurdly cold on Saturday morning, so the Memphis Urban Sketchers met indoors at the Arcade. Usually we scatter to paint, so it was fun to sit in a group, look at each others' sketch books, and (because I have to when I go there) eat sweet potato pancakes.
