Art Swarm Fun

Warm hearts

Creative thinking

Creamy paints

Squishy gelli plates

Lucious markers

Sharpened pencils

Waxy thread

Laughter

Meandering books

Exploding pocket books

Meditative Labyrinths

Rich coloured pencils

Smeared book covers :)

Glistening paper beads

Fun book pockets

Expressive stick figures

Sketchbook fun

Friendships forged

Memories made
A happy birthday girl

Art Swarm at the Bee Hive

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Where have I been?

First off,

This blog has mostly been ignored by me these last couple of years. Life events have kept me away from writing and oddly enough, tn purchase of my iPad. I've found it really hard to post via the iPad. I've tried different ways to post from my iPad and haven't had much luck.

So, here I am, again, I still haven't found a good way to post from my iPad, so not sure if it will work, but I will try!

I've just had a wonderful time away, a renewal of sorts.

Sights and sounds of the first day or so of my holidays

Early morning sun on my head,
Golden maple leaves crunch under my feet.
The smell of the forest hangs in the air.
A crisp cool wind nips at my cheeks.

Light flickers on in the Bee Hive,
The heating fan whirs.
Crisp sheets of Canson Mi-tientes feel rich in my hands.
Laughter and chatter as plans are made.

My heart warms as I meet these new friends.
The start of a wonderful week.

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Art Exploration Pencil Crayons: Part III

The last three days I've been drawing the same thing, over and over, but with different products. I began with my Derwent Inktense Pencils, from there I tried my Prismacolors. Today I've tried my Caran d'ache pencils.
Caran D'ache Supracolors and Derwent Inktense are both water soluble. Inktense pigment becomes ink and permanent when water is added. Caran D'ache Supracolors turn into a watercolour. They can be reactivated with water at any time.

(all were completed in the same size, on the same type of paper Strathmore 500)

Caran d'ache Supracolor

Prismacolor

Derwent Inktense

Art Exploration Pencil Crayons Part II

Yesterday I drew a green apple with Derwent Inktense pencils. Today I have drawn the same apple, but used Prismacolor pencil.

 

It's produced a very different look. Derwent Inktense can be used with water to create a painted look. The Prismacolor has been blended, but no water has been added, because that wouldn't have done a thing.

Tomorrow I may need to try this again, with my Caran D'ache watercolor pencil crayons to see what results they may bring.





Prismacolor



 

Derwent Inktense



Art Exploration Pencil Crayons Part I

I've been learning some new drawing and pencil crayon techniques. I'm really happy with this new drawing, except for the bottom shadowing.

It's about 5x5 inches square on Strathmore 500 with Derwent Inktense pencils.

Glazier Codex: 2 new books!

Well, I haven't posted much for a long time, but I'm really happy to share my two new works! These books are in the style of the Glazier Codex and based on a model from 500 AD. I'm not going to pretend their exact replicas, but they are certainly 'in the style of!'

One book has a wooden cover with mahogany goat leather for its spine and wrapping. There are two carved bone toggles which I stained with terracotta coloured ink. That book has leather wrapped that continues off of the spine and wraps around the edges of the book.

The other book's cover is paper covered davey board. The leather used on it is deer hide. It will soon have toggles, as well.

Enjoy!

Why?

This afternoon, as I was driving to a friend's for a visit, I saw a young man with a heavy backpack and his arms full of what looked to be books. Snowy rain was falling and he was obviously struggling. I looped around the block and pulled up half a block ahead of him.

I got out of the car, and looked up the block to him, said hi, opened my trunk and pulled out a cloth grocery bag. When I turned toward him he was closer and I smiled and began to say "Can I help you."

He spoke over me and said "I don't want a ride." I said, "Oh, I was thinking I could help you. It looks like you're having trouble and I thought you'd like another bag."

I held it open and he began putting his books inside. I noticed that the reason he'd been holding the bag close to his chest was because it was not only full, it also had a broken handle. As we filled the bag, I asked if I could give him another for the rest of his books, so he could manage better, since the handle was broken. He said no, he would be getting another soon, and this was enough.

All through our exchange he kept on saying "Why?" More than once I simply said it looked like he needed something to carry his books in and I'd wanted to help.

So, what's the big deal?

Well, this young man was also a man with a disability, obvious to anyone who looked at him.

As I drove away, watching him continue on his way, I was struck with an overwhelming sadness. I realized a simple and painful truth. His question of "Why?" had brought that painful truth.

In my own privileged world, of health and what people refer to as 'normal,' an offer of help is welcomed with thankfulness. It's not that I expect it, or assume I deserve it, it's just that it is a part of my life experiences. This young man I'd met, however, did not have this happen as a regular occurrence and as I drove down the street I realized that for him this simple act had been so out of the ordinary that he'd had to ask, why.

 

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