Say it isn't so!

It can't have been 5 weeks since I've put anything up! The creative doldrums really took over, I got busy, had a pout about what was not happening in my studio, and I didn't go in....for 3 weeks or so. Today I realized that I was only perpetuating a negative state of mind, and I sent myself back in. The tiny things I had done and cast off as awful looked a little better to me today, so I am putting up a few, They are ATC size, 2 on gesso-covered moleskine paper (not the nice stuff) and one on 300 lb. cold press. So we have a stubby palm tree, a row of tall palms that you see lining some streets in Los Angeles, and a tribute to the canyon view from my house. The row of palms was done in watercolor pencil, the others in traditional watercolors. And all are imaginary landscapes.

EDM # 100-- Draw or paint a landscape.

I am also working on a larger piece, trying to capture a Joshua tree in watercolor, taking some time with it. If I get some ambition I may post the stages so you can suffer along with me.

EDM Challenge #99

"Something that represents a New Years resolution of yours."

Learn to use watercolor!

Random EDM Challenges

Number10-- draw your hand-- and 101- draw a bar of soap. The soap is in my studio and has bits of watercolor on it, and the hand would not be constrained to ATC size.

something from the past

While waiting not too patiently for a muse, I decided to upload for you the only drawing I have left from my college years. This was done in 1977.

EDM # 206

I loved the idea of cutting the challenges up and putting in a jar. So I did that today, and pulled out # 206---"Draw something that is familiar to you that you know is called something else in another region."

Meet my cell phone, otherwise known as my "mobile." I tried to show the cute leopard pattern case. Still kee;ing the format small, ATC size.

new mini-collage

Still trying to do something, anything, to break through the creative doldrums. These were fun little miniatures to do.Yupo, again, scrap pieces in ATC size. Watercolor wash, and then I added a few drops of alcohol inks. Fun to watch them reacting! I then salted them. I liked what I ended up with, but I wanted something with a more organic feel on the reverse. So I put together little collages of fabric, potpurri bits and pieces, ribbon, and lace. Some of the alcohol ink smudged on the back, which I didn't mind.

plum canyon

Right now there are flowering plums in bloom all over town. So I made one more attempt, keeping the small scale of the artist trading cards. I used masking fluid on Yupo, but was not terribly happy with the surface of the Yupo after the masking fluid was removed-- it seemed to have acquired more tooth. I ended up using the fan stippler to repaint over the areas I had masked. Not thrilled with these.