Tag Archives: ink

Arting for 365 Day 166: Beet Again

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Day 166 (10/11/12): Beet Again

13 x 23.25″ Beet pigment and ink on paper

I have heard many a folk proclaim that beets taste like dirt. Nonsense, I say. I love the beet – pickled, raw, roasted – doesn’t matter to me, it’s all delicious. So after using the slices of beets in day 163’s project, I decided I’d boil them along with the whole beets we had, to make something delicious. As the water turned a lovely shade of purple, I realized I could use it for another beet project.

Using a turkey baster, I sucked up the juice and squirted it onto a 13 x 23.25″ sheet of paper. Sadly, the results were hardly noticeable. In the pot, the liquid appeared rich in color, but upon squirting I realized it was really watered down and made a pathetic stain that you had to strain your eyes to see. Now though, I was fixated on creating a beet piece and my excitement for eating the veggies disappeared. I grabbed one of the newly cooked beets and began drawing with it on the paper as though it were sidewalk chalk. As I did so, I realized the pigment was pulling out the original squirted on design. I rubbed more of the deep purple vegetable over where I had originally squirted the water, pulling out the underlying lines and shapes that now appeared almost raised (see below).

From here, I grabbed my trusty pens and started drawing. I outlined the shapes and some of the bits of vegetable that had stuck to the paper. I then began incorporating patterns of lines. As I was building the design up, it really looked like human innards. Intestines here, a heart there – but as I continued to add flowing lines, the innards became less apparent (although I still see them) and the flowing paths became stronger.

I am quite fond of the piece. It has depth and movement and I am fascinated with the process of creating in this manner – where one step directs the next.

As a side note, I had few beets left over that I did get to enjoy in a yummy salad.

You can buy this fun piece if you’d like!

Arting for 365 Day 162: Long Neck Lady

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Day 162(10/7/12): Long Neck Lady

~3 x 5″ Ink on paper

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

This weekend was one filled with quite a few art firsts. As some of you may recall I showed my work at a local farm’s harvest festival (first #1) on Saturday and Sunday. The boyfriend and I got to the festival around 8 am Saturday morning and begun hanging my work in a small, dilapidated old barn that had a ton of character (first #2). The barn’s roof had blown off in areas exposing the sky above, and the doors were long gone. Thick straw covered most of the floor creating a soft cushiony blanket below. It really was a pretty neat space.

The barn. The side you see here had all sorts of kid’s art stuff set up.

After hanging a few paintings and setting up a small display table on the squishy straw, the boyfriend headed back into town to do some work and I proceeded to try to stay warm in the 30 degree weather. As a few flakes of snow fell through the open roof, I realized I had never before shown my work in such cold temperatures (first #3). All day temps hovered around 35 and the wind blew. The few folks who were at the event huddled around metal fire filled trash cans, turning their bodies rotisserie style in order to stay warm. Needless to say, Saturday was not the best or busiest day for me or any of the other vendors, for that matter. They shut down the event early and I spent the rest of the night at home trying to warm up.

My space

Luckily though, Sunday was gorgeous! The day was sunny and crisp and folks were out and about. I met a lot of great people, had some friends come out to visit and really enjoyed myself. After wrapping up, one of my friends came back and stayed with us, making us dinner and then she and I did some drawing. Long Neck Lady was one of the pieces I worked on. All and all – a lovely day!

Loved the crazy crown of feathers on the heads of these chickens!

Arting for 365 Day 138: #1 Goal

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Day 138 (9/13/12): #1 Goal

11 x 14″ ink on paper

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

The young moose was ready. She waited patiently, hoping that some strapping bull would be along to save her.

You see, living in this neck of the woods wasn’t always easy and at times she wondered how she and her little one would get by. Weather was unreliable; and larger, more aggressive types often left her little in the way of food. Needless to say it was a struggle.

But this! This would solve everything. She was beautiful, available and was certain she’d be great in the wife department. Convincing a well-off gentleman of it would be her number one goal.

Side Tangent: After listening to a story titled, Can Marriage Save Single Moms From Poverty, I created this piece. The basis of the report was that single moms are four times more likely to live in poverty than those who are married. First off let me state that I am not a single mother and so cannot begin to understand the difficulty of making ends meet with a child. Secondly, it is obvious that financial situations are better when there are two incomes. All of that aside, I believe the conversation should be a completely different one. While the issue is complicated, and probably needs a multitude of approaches to solve, I like to think pushing the idea of education and job training rather than finding or keeping a husband should be the priority. Giving women the tools to be self-sufficient helps give them control over the problem. If they happen to find a fabulous husband or partner along the way? Great!

If you would like a print of this piece, it’s available here. Please email me regarding original.

Arting for 365 Day 137: Adapt

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Day 136 (9/12/12): Adapt 2

5 x 7″ Watercolor and ink on paper

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

After creating day 135’s more emotional piece, I decided I wanted to focus on something much less intense for day 136. I pulled out the watercolors with the intention of creating something bright and visually interesting.

Originally these pieces were one, 9 x 12″ watercolor. As I worked on the original, I felt pretty good about the red and orange design and felt equally satisfied when I was completely certain it was done. My certainty faltered a bit when later in the evening I pulled out my day’s work to share with the boyfriend, and realized I was not a huge fan of the piece. The bright reds and oranges that I thought were so obvious in the painting earlier now seemed overtaken by a lot of pink. What I first thought was a great painting now appeared cheesy.

5 x 7″

I realized that salvaging the piece was my next clear goal and could probably be accomplished if I cut the work down and approached it as two new pieces. I pulled out my always reliable ink pens, hoping they would save the day.

I feel like the ink pens came through for me as I am pretty pleased with these two 5 x 7″ works and may even turn Abstract 2 into a larger painting.

Adapt 1 and Adapt 2 are both available for purchase.

Arting for 365 Day 134: An Odd Character

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Day 134 (9/9/12): An Odd Character
7.5 x 8″ Watercolor and ink on paper

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

He was not ordinary. He did not wear trendy clothes, nor speak the local vernacular – in fact he rarely spoke. His most favored company was his own and his spectacular ability to be wholly unaware of those around him made him appear rude and out of touch.

But if one could follow in his footsteps for just a day, they would soon see he was not out of touch. Simply out of place.

If you think this piece is pretty neat and you want to buy it, you can do it here.

Arting for 365 Day 130: Evolution

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Day 130 (9/5/12): Evolution

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

I heard a report on the news yesterday that ivory is once again a hot commodity, especially in China. This means poaching of elephants has drastically increased.

It was a pretty disheartening story, especially because I find elephants to be really amazing animals (strong, smart, wrinkled with character). But the report also got me thinking.

It is said that elephants have already begun to evolve smaller tusks due to poaching. Will this continue at a more drastic pace until the tusks are basically worthless little nubs? What kind of evolution would it take for elephants to truly defend themselves against poachers?

Feeling like you can’t live without this drawing? Buy it here.

Arting for 365 Day 129: Beetle Army

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Day 129 (9/4/12): Beetle Army

8 x 8″ watercolor and ink on paper

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

The mass of armored bugs moved under feet like an army passing through. Determined. Focused. Efficient.

Obstacles were inconsequential – rocks pushed aside, water traversed with ease.  Hell bent to reach their destination, they scurried below.

This piece available for purchase here.

Arting for 365 Day 127: Time and Age

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Day 126 (9/2/12): Scissor Cuts

8 x 10″ Watercolor and ink on paper

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

After spending countless hours drawing umpteen lines, she reached for her scissors and began to cut. The strips of paper falling below made her think of pasta. Homemade pasta.

She imagined a plump Italian grandma rolling out dough. With ease she would create perfect, uniform noodles the girl was sure came only with time and age.

Later the entire family would come to grandma’s to share in her creation – enjoying stories and laughter over a bottle of wine.

The girl continued cutting her imperfect strips. Time and age, she thought.