Abstract Art Blog

A Year of Making Art, Day 150: After the Dog

September 16, 2007  Day 150

I am so sleepy today!  We got up at six a.m. and took Laura to the airport at eight after she made us a big breakfast of bacon and eggs.  When your guest makes breakfast on her last day, you remember her visit with pleasure and look forward to her return.

Later I worked on today's drawing, using all three kinds of pens:  calligraphy, fine point, and brush pens.  Having them all available at my fingertips makes it easy to select which one I need for a particular task.

  Drawing #152  14" x 11"

I don't feel depressed now that Laura has left, but I will miss her.  She fit into our household really well, and I think all three of us felt that we had enough personal space.

There was a funny incident on Saturday when we were going to join Adrian and Roxy (the neighbor's dog) on a walk.  When we went to get Roxy, she wasn't available, so we were going to go for a walk without her.  But Adrian said he had other things to do if the dog wasn't coming.  So now Laura and I know where we stand with him:  after the dog.

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead in case we travel and I'm not able to post.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 149: When Families Disperse

September 15, 2007  Day 149

Today is Laura's last full day here, and I'm already feeling that I will miss her.  As I get older, I see more and more the benefits of families staying in the same area instead of spreading out across the country like mine did.  It's the American way to leave home for brighter opportunities elsewhere, and there are many benefits to that way of life, but we give up a lot for it.

In today's drawing, I used the blunt ends of my new pens as well as the fine points, and then filled in spaces with the brush pens for interest and emphasis.

   Drawing #151  11" x 14"

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead in case we travel and I'm not able to post.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 148: The Benefits of a Commitment to Art

September 14, 2007  Day 148

Recently I've been complaining about having made this pact with myself to create at least one drawing a day and write about it.  My sister Laura is here for ten days, and I'd much rather go off and play with her.  Yet, that is just the point of my commitment.  There are too many things in life that take us away from our art.

Laura doesn't mind that I spend the early part of the morning drawing and writing about it.  We have the rest of the day ahead of us.

This morning I tried again to get used to the new ZIG pens (see previous post).  Whenever there's a change in tools, it takes me time to be able to utilize their potential.  At first, I resist.

Drawing with the calligraphy pens seemed strange at first, but now I love them and miss them.  I thought I'd be thrilled to have 42 new colors to play with, but instead, I'm missing the old pens.  I still have them and can use them, but I want to become acquainted with the new ones first.  This morning I tried a sketchier approach with the fine point tips, limiting my palette until I become more comfortable. 

  Drawing #150  11" x 14"

And now, off to play.

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead in case we travel and I'm not able to post.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 147: Making a Living as an Artist

September 13, 2007  Day 147

I received my new set of 48-color ZIG permanent ink, acid-free, archival quality, lightfast, waterproof, fade-proof, non-bleeding pens yesterday afternoon.  There is a fine point at one end and a thicker blunt point at the other end, allowing for a variety of line-widths to be made.  The thick ends are good for filling in areas, as I did in this morning's drawing when I tried them out.  I used a template for the circles and a ruler for the lines in this drawing, experimenting with the new pens.

  Drawing #149  11" x 14"

The new pens were a disappointment, however, because I was expecting calligraphy pens, which I've come to love.  Basically, I think it takes me a while to get used to any new tools for making art.

Yesterday afternoon Laura and I stopped in at some local art galleries while doing errands downtown.  It's always fun to see the variety of local talent in the Ithaca area, which is a great place for artists to live and work.  Unfortunately, it's not a great place for them to make a living on their art.  Some do survive as "regional artists," but they put a lot of effort into this project.

I used to think I had to try everything available to market my art, but that can only make one frantic and scattered.  What's more likely to be successful is steady, patient effort in a focused direction.  Since I am not a steady, patient person, this has been a hard lesson for me to learn.

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead in case we travel and I'm not able to post.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 146: The Value of a Support Group

September 12, 2007  Day 146

Last night's bipolar support group meeting was warm, supportive, and thoughtful, with a good laugh thrown in here and there.  My sister Laura came with me, and she was very impressed with the quality of the discussion, especially considering it is a peer-run group without any outside "expert" to guide us.

In this morning's drawing, I started with blue, but soon I was adding so many colors that I had to tone it down with some fine black lines.  I also filled in some areas with gray to take away some of the bright colors, and to add emphasis.

  Drawing #148  11" x 14"

I started to see double at one point, and realized I need to take care of my cataracts before the end of the year.  I'm really looking forward to being able to see clearly again.

It was fun looking at houses yesterday afternoon.  We saw a wonderful old renovated barn with the original beams intact.  Laura discovered she could get a lot more house in Ithaca than in south Florida for the same money, although we don't have the large inventory there is in Florida.  The housing market hasn't gone berserk here as it has in many parts of the country.

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead in case we travel and I'm not able to post.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 145: Book Club Meeting a Success

September 11, 2007  Day 145

Last night's book club discussion was a success (see previous post).  We had three times as many people as usual, which was intimidating at first, but the large number meant there were lots of people to talk about the book.  All I had to do was to pose some questions and issues.  Laura said she enjoyed it, too, and tonight she'll come with me to my bipolar support group meeting.

In this morning's drawing, I went back to black, using a calligraphy pen and a fine point Nexus pen.  I'm not unhappy with the final result:

  Drawing #147  11" x 14"

This afternoon we are going to look at houses.  Laura would love to move here, but I think they are going to end up in Florida.

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead in case we travel and I'm not able to post.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 144: Anxious?

September 10, 2007  Day 144

Today is Elsie Stoessel's birthday.  She was my ex-mother-in-law, and a great lady:  a lover of books, art and nature.  She always stood by me and Blixy, and I chronicle her last years in my memoir, The Bipolar Dementia Art Chronicles. 

I didn't understand why I felt anxious this morning, but just realized it's because I am the leader of tonight's book group discussion on The Pickup by Nadine Gordimer.  It was a great book and my sister Laura will go with me.  The meeting is at my friend and neighbor's house, so all in all, this should be low-stress.  Should be.

In this morning's drawing, I used my favorite combination of reds to purple and orange, creating an egg-like shape filled with bright patterns.  A new set of calligraphy pens is arriving this week with 42 colors, so I'm looking forward to having more shades to work with.

  Drawing #146  11" x 14"

It's a gray day here, wet and muddy since it rained most of yesterday.  Laura and I got in a walk when it slowed down, and then we all watched Federer beat Jokovitch in the US Open tennis final.

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead in case we travel and I'm not able to post.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 143: Crash Day

September 9, 2007  Day 143

Crash day!  After feeding eight people lunch and dinner yesterday, playing Dance Dance Revolution, ping-pong, and the "Oh Hell" card game, then getting up early this morning to get Laura's husband to the airport, we are crashing.  It is raining on and off, which is fine.  We can relax, watch the men's final of the US Open tennis tournament, and read the Sunday New York Times.

I went back to blacks and grays today, feeling that I was getting back into the drawing groove.  With Leonard Cohen for inspiration, it went fine:

  Drawing #145  11" x 14"

One fun thing for me yesterday was showing family members my studio and art.  And, I sold a painting!

  Meadow Three 24" x 18" Acrylic on Paper

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead in case we travel and I'm not able to post.)

 

A Year of Making Art, Day 142: Need to Bake a Peach Pie

September 8, 2007  Day 142

After an acitivity-filled day with Laura, her husband, Blixy and the kids, we were all exhausted by ten p.m.  Today we have two of my brothers coming with their wives in less than two hours, and I need to bake a peach pie.  Thus, this entry will be short.

My drawing today is decorative again, but was fun to make:

  Drawing #144  11" x 14"

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead in case we travel and I'm not able to post.)

A Year of Making Art, Day 141: Sisters

September 7, 2007  Day 141

My sister Laura is here!  Yeah!

After breakfast on the porch this morning, I did my drawing, choosing a fine-point black Nexus pen.  Somehow, the drawing happened very fast and I was done.  I guess I really want to go play with sis.

  Drawing #143 11" x 14"

Yesterday, after we took a walk in the woods, we opened a bottle of champagne and drank it with a dinner of  luscious crab cakes.

Why do we live so far away from each other?

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead in case we travel and I'm not able to post.)