I tried, I really tried to pay attention at this staff meeting. I would occasionally look up and nod, or appear to take a note on the discussion. Then back to the drawing. I doubt I’m fooling anyone. If it’s really important I’ll read the minutes. No, really.
Crumpled paper, pen and ink, 2 x 4 in.
Recently I’ve been seeking finding opportunities to portray form with contour lines – crumpled paper, draped cloth and such. I was recently admiring the complexity and variety of popcorn and thought I’d sketch a few. I drew these with the aid of a magnifier on a goose-neck desk clamp.
I picked up my drawing a few days ago. I was very pleased to see the other illustrations which will be included in the Denver Botanic Garden’s Index Seminum. I was fortunate to come across an actual specimen at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Quite a handsome grass, native to the Colorado plains.
Received nice news from Denver Botanic Gardens – my drawing ‘Achnatherum robustum’ will be included in their publication Index Seminum. I started the drawing during the seed and microscopy class. A few weeks and many hours later it was finished. I’ll pick up the drawing today and post a picture soon.
Finished Root Leaf Flower & Seed over the weekend, here’s the pic of the binding. Paste paper made by myself.
Root Leaf Flower & Seed
“From root to leaf and flower to seed,may all that we have be all that we need.”So goes my favorite Pagan chant. I believe it’s from a book on Yule, but I could be mistaken. I was inspired to make a series of drawings of roots, leafs, flowers and seeds. I’d been working on it all summer (’o8) and finally finished it.
Here are pics of the drawings and picture of the book will appear shortly. The binding is a drum leaf binding, invented and refined by Tim Ely – a marvelous, simple and adaptable technique which allows the facing pages to open flat.
Petroselinum crispum, graphite on bristol
Asclepia speciosa, graphite on bristol
Campsis radican ‘Flava’, graphite on bristol
Parthenocissus quinquefolia ‘Virginia Creeper’, graphite on bristol
Cornus sericea ‘Red Osier Dogwood’, graphite on bristol
Another face study, I’m pleased this is recognizable as Liza Minelli. Again, the scanner washed out the lighter tones and I wasn’t able to bring them back in Photoshop. Might have to read the scanner documentation (aaaargh).
Scanned Liza. No amount of Photoshop manipulation would bring back the light tones lost in the scanning process.
Photo’d Liza with a Nikon Coolpix 990. I used sepia watercolor for this and had to tweak the color in both images.
Hmm, not sure what to do about this discrapancy. I love the scanner/copier/printer – HP Photosmart 3210. Maybe I can create a macro or an automated process in PS which can correct the both scanned images and digital images.
Here is a wonderful list of things to draw I found at the several Everyday Matters sites. I’ve done several drawings using these ideas, perhaps I’ll start again and post each of my drawings. Or not. We’ll see. I love that these objects are all around – no travel or expense required. I’ve also come up with a few of my own ideas, brain-stormy style. I’ll never again be able to use the excuse ‘there’s nothing to draw’! Read more.
