Day 293 of Week 42 October 2023, Thoughts About Moxie

Live Study in Pastel 2001

This week has been slow. Overwhelming by the new painting to start?. I expect the first post tonight because I am anxious to set up the canvas. Time got away from me.

I saved about 90% of my live study drawings from both drawing courses, 101 and intermediate. They are reference for confidence when I'm feeling depressed about everything. The reminder that I am not without some talent is like the voice of a best friend we always listen to. 

The night before handing in my final project, a portfolio of drawings, I was up into the wee hours of the morning, running on empty, sheer will to finish the way I want them. After the grading, I went through my drawings. To my surprise, I  didn't remember making the wavy line on her right arm. It was a disturbing shock.

After a while, the memory began creeping back as how I felt running on empty. Empty is when you are beyond too tired, without sleep for well over 24 hours. You can physically and mentally feel the empty as a clear uncluttered thought plane. Whatever you have, your moxie is there in its raw form.

Each time I begin a painting, I remember that thought plane. It helps me push away cluttering ideas, grand ideas, unrealistic ideas that can obscure what I want to achieve. There are several factors than can impact on a person's ability to make decisions. As we age, our sharpness can diminish. Decisions are uncomfortable when they don't flow easily. Memories that hold us up are nice to have. 

I might frame the pastel. 

Finding the Cosmos

Cosmos Drying In Sunshine

Did you know that some computer systems have a main Pictures, and a User Pictures? I didn't. I save multiple versions of the drying in the sun cosmos for a drawing. The picture didn't show up in  my regular Picture file. A hunting I did go. 

Ask me how I got there? Well, I clicked on This PC > Windows (C:) > Users > Libraries.

I became interested in flowers drying on the stem circa 2010 when an abundance of irises bought online finally bloomed. Dry irises are beautiful. Cosmos are also lovely when the sun is hot enough to give them a chance to dance.

Sitting on your deck daydreaming, things can capture your imagination. Drawing is a good brain exercise.

Pallette Knife Funny

Palette Knife

Painting yesterday afternoon, I took out a small glob of white from the jar. I rested the palette knife across the edge of the (chipped) dinner plate I use to mix paint. As I'm turning to my left to put the jar away, my right arm hits the palette knife handle, flipping it in the air. I clean up the paint on the floor noticing there doesn't seem to be the quantity I took out of the jar, but I didn't see any more paint anywhere...

because the palette knife flipped the glob of paint onto the back of my neck where I didn't see it until an hour or so later. 

It was a mess! Thankfully, not all of the about teaspoon of paint dried in my hair or on my neck. My pony tail got unstuck without much pulling. Clean up was easy.

I laugh well.

Salubrity Summer
Mixed Media, Ink & Acrylic 14"x18" drawing

I was working on my abstract ink and acrylic drawing from March 2023. It was too flat with very little depth and colors that were trying to get away from each other.  There's more to paint now that I focus on the story the drawing it trying to tell.

Salubrity Summer from March 2023

March 2023: Day 81 of Week 12

My, 2009
9" x 22" ink & watercolor drawing

 A bonus of Spring cleaning is the rediscovery of things one might have forgotten. Memories can resurface as well.

However, the above doodle drawing produces no memory of what was going on in 2009. I might have been watching television, sitting outdoors, waiting for laundry to finish or drawing for the love of it.

Doodling has a quiet comfortably alone vibe. It is relaxing, mind cleansing and a mental stretching that opens think muscle. Anyone can doodle. Think of it as visual meditation.

Do you regularly doodle? Zentangle? Draw?

Summer Vibes In Progress

Salubrity Summer, In Progress Drawing
18" x 24" Mixed Media Acrylic

Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea,

Drink from the wild air's salubrity

from Poems, 1904 Household Edition

Ralph Waldo Emerson

1803 ~ 1882 

The original, "Merlin's Song," in May-Day, 1867, has only one stanza that doesn't include the often used Emerson quote.  In his book, Poems, the poem, Merlin, has the quote.

The year 1904 is the publication copyright date by his son, Edward Emerson. RW Emerson copyright of the book is dated 1867, 1876. You can read more about Poems, Household Edition, at the website,  Wikisource.org.

Salubrity is a new word to me that I rather like. Thus, the drawing in progress has a title. Wild air in a way, I feel, has a summery vibe.

My spring cleaning is helping me feel enthusiastic about warm sunny summer days. I'm also pleased that I found my fabric remnant bin. Like an Alfred Hitchcock drama, the bin has been about two feet away from me under the card table. I lol for that one.

How was your week-end?

Update, 13 March 2023 late afternoon:

After painting more, I'll let it rest before finishing the colors. For now, I'll not be adding more drawing because it is busy enough, and, color will bring it together.

Sketching: The Difference a Line Makes

 

View 2. After

The Hm? Look. Before

The scalp line in the first sketch is rounded, (right side). In the 2nd photo,  that scalp line is not rounded, making the face look square. A small adjustment can make a difference. 

Daily drawing takes time to blend in as an every day exercise. The key to its success is to adjust in a kind way without feeling bad about missing a day or days. 

I'm going to take my own advice by keeping my sketchbook within easy reach. 

Today, I used a drawing pen (instead of a ballpoint pen) with a relaxing slow hand, not the light quick sketch style of my last pen portrait, Reading. 

Both drawings are done from a photo. It was fun taking selfies at the optometrist's office waiting room. In the future, I'll work on happier selfies to sketch from.