MORE CORVID CREATIONS

This could be an on- going past time and refreshing easel break.  Another quote from Brush Mind;  "One stroke painting leaves little room for thinking; the moment it's started, it's already done."

ANOTHER CROW DAY

The parade of shinny clever crows are still catching my eye. Yesterday I sat outside with Sumi ink, brush and paper and captured gestures much like being in the ballet studios . What fun. Especially after having read Kazuaki Tanahashi who wrote Brush Mind and I quote: "The quality of the line is what matters most-how deep, strong, or honest it is. It doesn't matter how good or unusual it looks".

TIME TO CROW

It's that time of year when the sun and warmth lures us out of the studio. Our back yard is old, large and loaded with animal and plant life.

This is also when the crows strut around in those shiny black feathers and begin luring me into sketching and photographing them. This bird in particular has so many physical gestures  and expressions. I can feel it now.  sketch pad in hand and crow calling, crow landing, crow flying with mate, crow eating , crow, crow crow! 

Time spent being out in the community does cause some studio strain and yet I have found that being out among interested adults and school populations  has been rewarding. As I shift back into my work routine there is an added enrichment to what I do as well as a  feeling of being fortunate enough to do it. Yesterday I spent the afternoon at Westview High School  in Beaverton for a Career day event as one of many speakers. It was fun to talk about art as a career choice and to see so many students attend the session. Hopefully that gained something that will make their journey easier. 

Vines and Lines

The second Thursday of each month I am teaching how to draw the figure in an hour session that includes a glass of french wine and low impact instruction with results.  It is amazing how quickly those who have attended can progress in such a short time.  Annie Salness joined in last week making fun and helpful contributions. My visiting sister and mentor also attended making it a sweet memory. all are welcome. 

Meanwhile back to rehearsal and the quick sketches. As I read other blogs of artists it is amazing to see the variety of topics for inspiration. We are everywhere! Looking at cows, cowgirls, trees, stumps, shacks, barns and long streets. Lucky us.

 

Big and Small

In her blog, painter, Karin Jurick recently talked about how working on a small painting is a break from the more challenging work on a large canvas.

I find the same kind of relief with windows that I often put on my large pieces. The one on this canvas in progress may or may not stay in the composition but it has served the purpose of a relaxing distraction.