The Sketchbook Project: Deadline Looms

A Long Way To Go

I totally ignored my sketchbook from The Sketchbook Project until this weekend. August seemed so far away. It's here and I am not nearly done. I've a good start, but it has to be postmarked tomorrow.

What?

Tomorrow?

Hell yes I can do it.

Ask G. I work best under pressure.

The only problem I've run into so far is that I haven't been able to find my colored pencils. So, I am working in watercolor at the moment, something I've never done before. It's all good though because there aren't any rules to what you can fill your sketchbook with and this gives me pause to sigh in full relief.

The Sketchbook Project Tour I chose is called 1,703 Miles and Back and I decided at the beginning, the my sketchbook would be called 'places in my heart'.

So far, my rough and rudimentary watercolors include:

The front door to our home which welcomes us to a place where we feel most ourselves and welcomes those we love.

The tree at the end of the world which is really at the end of Atlantic Ave. Anyone who grew up around here knows this tree and it is a marker, so to speak, for those who got to live our their childhood on the NH seacoast.

Sunset Meadows, of course.

My favorite building. Grand Central Terminal in NYC. Always in awe when I'm in it.

Our back stoop. When Winter finally turns to Spring, one of my favorite traditions is to finally sit on the back stoop in the morning with a cuppa tea. This continues until it snows again. Until it does, I have pots of geraniums and herbs to keep me company.

I have hours to go before I sleep! I'll be pulling this baby together in every free second over the next 24 hours.

This is all for fun. To stretch myself a bit creatively. To think outside of the box and let things flow.

I am thankful it is not a term paper.

First though, the work at hand.

There's a Fall tinge in the air here today but it is glorious.

Enjoy it wherever you are and I'll do the same.

Ciao for now,

PS- Just saw the date of my last Sketchbook Project post. February 6th. Honestly, why do I do this to myself?

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Sketchbook In Hand

 

You know how I was waiting for mail from The Sketchbook Project?

 

Well.......I got it. My sketchbook that is. I received it a few weeks back.  It's been tucked away in the envelope it came in, but now I've got ideas running through my head again. This means, it's probably time to put pen to paper, film to paper, fabric to paper, paint to paper, pencil to paper- or what have you.

 

Can you tell I'm leaning toward a mixed media piece?

 

I'm excited to begin, but I'm also a little hesitant and nervous. What if I don't like how something comes out on the page?

 

Ah. Doubt. The tell tale sign of an artist I suppose. 

 

 

I guess if I don't like the way something comes out, I'll simply create something over it.

 

I've settled on a theme that connects to the tour I chose to be a part of....1703 Miles and Back. 

 

My sketchbook theme is 'Places In My Heart'.

 

I'll give you some updates along the way, you know........when there is  actually more than a lot of white in my sketchbook.

 

In the end, I'm more excited than anything. To think that my little sketchbook, when finished will go on a three city tour (Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Rapid City) and then be housed permanently at the Brooklyn Art Library among so many wonderful and unique sketchbooks, it pretty neat.

 

I promise, I'll get over the artist doubt soon.

 

While I'm doing that, take a look at some of the wonderful sketchbooks from The Sketchbook Project that I've found on pinterest. You'll see immediately what I mean about wonderful and unique.

 

I'm at the desk today working on logo design and some business writing.

 

I know the day is going to fly.

 

What's on your plate?

 

Ciao for now,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beauty And The Beast

Noses & Roses

Have I told you lately that I love..........Saturday? Gotcha. Didn't I?

I love the slow, don't have to do anything pace that Saturday brings. Well, some of the time.

Today is one of those Saturdays.

The hound is busy doing what he does best. Napping.

Dang I love his nose. In fact sometimes I call him Nose. And Meem (don't ask because I will not be able to give you any reason for this).  And Cotton Ears (that one I can explain...because sometimes he has to stick cotton in his ears to prevent ear drum damage from my bad singing........no, no, no....not really........his ears just feel like cotton).

Those of you with pets will confirm (please. pretty please?) that it is completely normal to have at least 50 nicknames for your pals, half of which make no sense at all.

Anyways, like I said, he's busy sleeping. Well, he was. I swear.

Lucan only opened his eyes for a nano second just to try and prove me wrong, then he went back to napping.

On the opposite side of the room, twenty feet away from the beast.........beauty.

Cue the music......."He still brings me flowers..........evermore".

Yeah, I know those aren't really the words. Just humor me, OK?

Did I tell you that due to the constant noodging and nudging of Ms. Cari-Jane Hakes of Hybrid Handmade fame (sorry Mrs. Mojito, I couldn't resist), I signed up for The Sketchbook Project this week? Yup. It's true.  I signed up. The part about the noodgery isn't exactly true, but kinda sorta.

You see, my pal Cari-Jane has participated in The Sketchbook Project before and blogged about it. Then my other etsy pal, Ashleigh from Bleu Oiseau Photography facebooked that she had signed up as well and was pulling her sketchbook together. Then Cari-Jane blogged that she had yet again signed up for this year's Sketchbook Project. So, you see, there was no way I could not take all of that as I sign that I too should participate. Follow? Sure, it might be a stretch just like any 6 degrees of separation, but my three-degrees-to-sign-up ensured that I did. Sign up that is.

If you haven't heard about The Sketchbook Project it is very cool, or like, oh my god, totally tubular if you were a Valley Girl in the 80s.  People from all over the world participate, it is not juried. It's all inclusive.  Sketchbooks are sent out, people fill them up and send them back, then they (the sketchbooks, not the people) go on tour, and finally return to their new permanent home at The Brooklyn Art Library. Click here for a little video about it, if you're reading by email.



The Sketchbook Project, London 2012 from You and I Films on Vimeo.

I can not wait to get my sketchbook. I've got all sorts of ideas running through my head.

Not that that is anything new.

Last night the neighborhoodlums had an impromptu campfire. Cold? Who cares when there is a campfire involved. I layered up.......tank top, t shirt, flannel shirt, fleece vest, warm sweat shirt jacket, two pairs of gloves, winter boots, Bruins hat, scarf and I was good to go. It was toasty warm by the fire.

What's happening in your corner of the world?

It's cold, but not freezing today. There is snow melting off the roof. However, it is wicked windy. Later, some Italian Chicken Soup from the freezer that I will add some dumplings too. At least that's the plan.

Have a good one.

Ciao for now,