A Good Day

Dearest Alex,

Today was a good day. I've had such trouble getting my drawings to behave lately, so to have everything work out splendidly today came as somewhat of a surprise.

My intention, when I woke up, was to finish the last third of a very complex two-page spread in ink (yes, the drawing is complex enough to require me to split it into 3 parts and make it very "wide screen" for me to tell the story the way it should be told) and then to take the three pages outside and paint in this glorious, unusually warm March weather. As is usual with intentions, this intention did not come to pass. The last drawing proved very intricate, then I had to go back on the computer and add the floor design I forgot to add with my initial printout, then I traced that design with ink as well... By the time I was done, and have consumed some lunch, it was 15:30. Too late in the day to begin painting outside. Instead, I finally had a shower, lathered on sunscreen, and took my iPad and Harold Speed's book on Oil Painting to read.

I could barely focus on the pages--the sun was that bright--so I got my wide brimmed hat and sunglasses, reposed in a collapsible chair and spent the following two hours reading and taking notes. There was quite a nice passage about art being an expression of that something intangible, a proof that there is a world outside of our perceptions... But, I did not copy that down, focusing on phrases I may quote in some of my upcoming articles.

I also flirted with the idea of writing my April article, but I decided that needed more intellectual stimulation than I could give lulled by the warm sun. However, I did decide (while I was in the shower) to focus my article on introducing elements and principles of design, and then exploring the most useful drawing tool: the line. I will have to create a number of sketches to illustrate my point, so I should get moving on the article soon.

Jay is the only one of my friends who contributed his sketch page for my previous article, but there were a few others who said they will contribute in the future. I do not understand why all of them are so reluctant. We should help each other as much as we can, instead I find most people threatened by other's talent. I cannot see the downside. They can watermark their sketches if they so wish, the way I do, and I will link to their site and spread the word about them. Sure, my blog is new so it does not have as many followers, but that will change as more and more people discover the wealth of free information available to them with each article I write.

Yes, I know I do not know everything, but I've been well educated, and I continue to educate myself, so I know something, and every little bit helps.

So, despite my not getting to paint as I wished, I did have a wonderful and productive day.

The weather will worsen by Friday, so I'll stay indoors again, and maybe by next week I'll have that 3 part painting done, and another giant hurdle crossed off my illustration path.

Tomorrow, if I manage to get tickets, I'm off to see Seagull at the National Ballet of Canada.

Life is good.

Love,

M

Testing the phone app

Just want to test the phone app, so I can see if justification works.

Guess I'll find out soon enough. This typing is somewhat irritating. The keyboard is tiny. Why don't they have this app for iPad?

Questions?

New Art Help! Article

Dearest Alex,

The new Art Help! article on Sketching is finally up.  I've written it ages ago, but I did not have the time to scan images into the computer to illustrate what I wished to say.  As it is my illustrations are very rough, but then again, the whole point of the article is rough sketches.  If you wish to see it, you can click on the following link:

Art: Help!: Sketching

I well remember those days when I was obsessed with making perfect sketches, and that is just not constructive.  Nowadays, my initial sketches tend to be mostly squiggles only artists can interpret.  For example the sketch below.

This sketch is tiny, maybe inch by inch.  However, it contains all the information I need to create something bigger and more beautiful.

Now, that the article and taxes are done, I'm looking forward to continuing AIMH.  I did do a layout sketch for the last two-page spread in the book, but I'm still not 100% happy with it.

What do you think?

I may either stick the text some where on the image, but since this image will likely be smaller than the format of the pages, maybe I'll have the text written above and/or below.

I need to fix the structure, maybe get more bend in the characters, emotions...  

I've scaled the image up, so I'll be able to get into the details of the faces better--I need to figure out the design for the people as well.

Tomorrow, I'm going to see a dermatologist (FINALLY!).  I think I've developed some allergy to the medicine I'm taking, and there is an awful red rash thing on my hands (especially on my drawing hand).  I haven't slept well in weeks, the gauze on my hand is irritating, and the rash is itchy so I keep waking up if my hand touches my pillow a certain way.

However, I do believe that my overall health is improving.  I just need to get back to doing regular cardio.  I've lost my routine in Cuba and have not gotten it back since.

Yesterday was a glorious day!

I planned to finish the article yesterday, but it was too beautiful to say indoors.

Will let you know as soon as something interesting happens.

Love,

M

P.S.  Whenever I try to write on my iPad the words get mushed together, so I guess I won't be able to keep writing as regularly as I would wish.  Unless there is a blogger app...

Checking In

Tax season. Oy vay. What more can I say? M