#26

Thank you Jess for the beautiful house-warming present. It's a very beautiful plant and fun to draw too! :-)

"Orchids" pen and ink on paper

A Witch in the Family

Recently, I read the book A Witch in the Family, by Stephen Hawley Martin. This book started off with a strong likable narrative voice telling an in-depth account of the Salem witch trials. Martin expertly tied together the different factors that led to the Salem hysteria; from introducing the political climate of the times, to the persecution the Puritans suffered, to the mental stress they were put under by their own religion. His analysis of all of the different factors, combined with his own, created a very engaging read. 

However, once you reach the last third of the book the experience completely changes. If you are a person who believes in the metaphysical and the power of faith you will love his theological musings. If, like me, you we reading the book for some insight into the witch trials the last ten pages are not worth reading. With the sudden switch of focus at the end you realize that the witch trials was simply his way of leading into the spiritual ideas he wanted to share. It's also not very comforting when the researcher of these spiritual beliefs admits that Googling something was a common method for finding information...

All in all I enjoyed the first half of the book and barely made it through the end. So I give A Witch in the Family a 5 out of 10.

If you do happen to want a read of this book you can find it on Amazon.

#25

"Hanging" pen on paper

#24

Inspired by the wise words of a fortune cookie in last night's dinner. "Great things are accomplished only by the perfection of minor details."

A day for Art

This doodle a day project has really been motivating me to want to focus on my development as an artist. So This Sunday I took a little trip on over to Gillette Castle in East Haddam.

It was beautiful, The grounds are all very well tended and the castle itself? Stunning. I love the detail the architect and builders put into every bit of the project. The stone pathway winds through the estate with solidly build walls and jagged decorative bits on top. The castle itself was overwhelming. Every window grinned with stone overhangs, the porch lights were a mosaic of broken glass, and ivy delicately crawled up parts of the building. The castle was so fantastic (in the traditional sense of the word) and yet felt so connected to the surrounding Forrest.

So, feeling daunted by the majesty of the actual castle I decided to sketch the pavilion that was a short way down the hill from it.  I set up shop on the grass and started sketching away. For a good two  hours or so I enjoyed in the warmth of the sun and and the chatter of the tourists and sketched away. It was totally the best afternoon I had for myself in quite a while.

I can't wait to return and take on that beast of a castle.

#23

Drawing ink with pen and paint brush on paper.

#22

Ink pen on paper. 'nough said.

#21

More steam punkery to start off another lovely day.

#20

"Wires" Black drawing ink drawn entirely with the dropper from the bottle. Even the signature ;-)

doodle #19 featuring Middletown

I've learned a lot about Middletown already, based on the various tourist signs placed strategically around town. (Thank you to whomever put the work into those).  I've learned that Middletown has been around since before the revolution and has gone through it's ebbs and flows of prosperous times and hard ones. It's most prosperous was before the Revolutionary war when they were one of the main ports in the Colonies.  Then when the war happened the town struggled until the industrial revolution hit and factories sprang up all along the river. Along came machines goodbye went the jobs. Middletown is now redefining itself with restaurants  and art. Main street (on the North End)  is a menagerie of amazing restaurants. From diner food, to fine Italian, to coffee shops featuring music and local art there's an option for everyone.

Now, to the doodle. Along with old towns come old graveyards. I love to visit graveyards-- strange sure, but let me explain. I love feeling connected to my past and the quiet calm that is somehow always enclosed in them. Even the one I visited in Middletown [it was right next to a busy roadway and an active railway] Still quiet and beautiful. And gravestones are so fascinating- from the carvings to the typography to the wear of the stone; love 'em.

This sketch is not an exact replica of any gravestone, more a compilation of several with features that stood out in my memory.  On the next day that isn't raining, I totally want to go back and do some real sketching.

#18

Just say no to the dude hawking opiates.

#17

Sometimes it's seems impossible to find one's inner peace...

#16

No doodling time this morning. So today all I have is the image of my cat Phoebe. Isn't she pretty?

doodle #15

oooo! A background!

Sunday Doodle

sleepy day today :)

So behind on posting!

On my honor I have still been doing one doodle per day; although getting my scene shop ready for the open house on Thursday took all of my attention. So; better late than never- more doodles!!

Thursday's Doodle: "Continuum" inspired by the performance of the group by the same name.

Friday's Doodle: Inspired by the best part of the new pirates movie-  the love story between the mermaid and the missionary. :-)

And today's doodle: "Steaming Forward" my little Steampunk doodle-e-do. 

Huzzah! We're caught up now!

Doodle number 10

No time today. 5 second sketch depicting how I'm feeling about that.

Doodle number 9- featuring Krikko

I recently met the most amazing artist. His name is Krikko, also known as Gregory "Krikko" Obbott and he does pencil drawings of famous cities. Pencil drawings of famous cities that are two and a half stories tall and fifteen feet wide. with details right down to the people walking on the street. I walked into the Krikko pencil drawing museum in New Haven (CT) and was stunned by the art that met me. There where 2 of his giant works on display and quite a few "smaller" ones.

Krikko is a Nigerian-American Artist/Architect who lives and works mostly in New Haven CT.

One of his most well known pieces is "Super  Big Apple" which is a 15'x20' pencil drawing of Manhattan.

The patience and passion this man has is completely awe inspiring. While I was visiting the museum (also his home) I got to speak to him. And the one thing that really hit me was his exuberance for his work. He has a bedroom right next to his studio and he never uses it. He normally just sleeps on the couch in front of his desk so that as soon as he awakes he can pop right up and keep working. I so wish I had that kind of passion behind my work. I feel like I let the necessities of life get in my way faaaar too often.

"Super Big Apple" pencil on paper, 15' by 20'.

This picture took him a little over 2 years to create. 2 years! I get frustrated if I spend more than 2 days working on one piece.

Check out more of his incredible work at his site at http://krikkomuseum.com/index.html

So, inspired by my encounter, I took my 20min morning coffee sketch time to do a tiny tribute to a true drawing master.

doodle number 8

I call this one "Bamboo Smoke." Sharpie pen on paper.

Correction

The metal band "Chaotic" is actually Spelled "Kayotic." figured that one out when I went to their show on Friday. In honor of their second great performance:

Doodle number 7

Today's sketch was inspired by my wedding dress research. I'm thinking a 50's style cut would be nice. :) And as I drew, it twisted into what I am now going to call "Grey Alice." Pencil, Colored Pencil, watercolor-pencil, and marker on paper.

Doodle a day

Strange morning this morning. I apparently thought speaking with a British accent and saying "witty" things was hilarious. The best of which inspired today's doodle.

doodle-e-doo

number 5 :-)

doodle-a-day 4

In a strange mood this morning...

Doodle number 3!!

A doodle in honor of my other goal for the summer: learning to speak Italian. Not a completely random goal, I promise. Next year when Alexander and I go on our honeymoon we're going to Italy and I will be meeting his huge extended family. I am determined to not need a translator on the trip.

doodle-a-day

Went to see my friend Chris in his first performance for the band Chaotic ever. :-) He so totally rocked the metal socks off everyone!

Introducing Doodle-a-day!

As if I didn't have enough to keep up with I have come up with a new project to keep me busy. I call it "Doodle-a-day."

Pretty self explanatory, however; the plan is to do one piece of art (that is not work related) every day for the next 365 days.  Most will be done in the 10 or 15 minutes I spend waking up with my cup of coffee. Others,like on weekends I'll try to take a little more time to do it. I've seen it done in photography, but have yet to find a fellow doodler. I'm sure there's a reason for that, but I am determined to try my hand at it. So; dear reader, wish me luck! And I hope you enjoy the journey.

Here is doodle-a-day numero uno :~)