3 x 5″ watercolor and ink on paper
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
Long stems grow skyward
Tickling clouds above
Strong
Resolute
Arting for 365 Day 268: Stand Tall
Tag Archives: drawing
Arting for 365 Day 198: Wings Made of Leaves
~3 x 5″ watercolor and ink. Available for purchase https://www.etsy.com/listing/114911133/wings-made-of-leaves-mixed-media
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
While waves and water provided him a life, he felt most at home among the trees. Each leaf a shelter for his thoughts. The rustling and swaying of branches music for his soul.
So attached to the trees was he, that upon each ascent, he imagined his wings were made of leaves. Playing music in the wind. Bringing comfort in flight.
Arting for 365 Day 177: Buds in Abstraction
~3 x 5″ ink & watercolor on paper
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
Holy smokes folks, I’m cutting it close today! But as you can see, artwork #177 did get created (pat on the back for this girl).
Last night, long after the sun had gone down, I grabbed a few interesting dried flower buds from a little bowl that is decorating the house I’m staying in. I laid them out on the table and did a small drawing. The buds’ structures were really neat and oddly sturdy – so strong, in fact, that I think you’d break a tooth if you decided to bite down on them. Luckily, I stuck to drawing.
Upon finishing the initial study of the little buds, I decided it would be interesting to break each of the structures up into sections and add color for a bit of dimension. I finished off the graphic little drawing by adding a wash of green watercolor to the background.
It’s a bit of an odd drawing- especially the juxtaposition of the strange green wash next to the clean ink work- but luckily I am a fan of odd things.
Arting for 365 Day 172: In Gold We Move Along
I’ve been lucky enough to have some really incredible bosses over the years. So a few days ago when my former boss, and all around great lady, called to see if I’d be willing to head to Crested Butte to help her son out with his clinic, I was more than happy to do so.
I spent much of yesterday packing – both my suitcase and bins to take over to Gertie. As some of you may recall, Gertie is our new/used RV that we will be well on our way to being moved into upon my return.
As I loaded up clothes, I realized my mess of art supplies should also probably be organized, at least to some extent, to make moving a bit easier. As I sifted through odds and ends I came across some textured, gold paper. The paper is a bit over the top and actually reminds me of a prom dress my sister had in high school (early 90s). I decided the textured find would be perfect to use for day 172’s piece.
I was able to wind down and have a lot of fun creating these two pieces before heading off for my new adventure high in the Rocky Mountains.
Arting for 365 Day 168: Stinger
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
Lately I’ve been uploading my original drawings and messing around with them in Photoshop. I don’t typically plant myself in front of a computer when making art. As a matter of fact, it is the farthest thing from how I prefer to create. So I’m not sure why I thought this sounded like a good idea – perhaps it was my subconscious telling me I better figure out an art that can be done in our tiny new RV space. At any rate, this has been a new adventure for me and I’m shocked to admit I’ve enjoyed it.
The process does take MUCH longer as I am not yet a whiz when it comes to drawing with a stylus and tablet (I’ve got a little Wacom). It takes some getting used to – drawing onto something whose marks are only seen on the computer screen. But because the new skill has yet to come easy for me, it pushes my brain a bit – which is always good. The other super thing about creating this way is that Photoshop allows me to create layers. This means that once I have finished up the painting – putting each color on a separate layer, I am basically magic in my ability to easily change those colors as I like.
This is probably as close to embracing technology when making art as I get.
3 x 5″ Original Drawing
Arting for 365 Day 167: Bandit
Scanned original “painted” in Photoshop
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
Eyes framed by dark fur
Prompting thoughts of Zoro
Until they are exposed
Mischievous nature
Bandit identity
Original 3 x 5″, Ink on paper
Arting for 365 Day 164: Beet Juice, Lines and Cuts
11 x 14″ Beet juice, ink, and cut paper
Using natural pigments to create work is something I’ve experimented with in the past. Pomegranates, blueberries, raspberries – they all have a lovely color that stains paper really nicely. So yesterday, after a friend had left some beets for us, I was excited to create a piece using beet pigment.
Inspired by day 163’s piece in which I created drawings by finding pattern in the paint, I hoped to explore a similar path for yesterday’s work. I started the process by pushing beets onto paper in order to create the initial design. From there, the stains would act as the base on which my ink drawing would build from – working around the stains on the paper. Once the drawing was created, I cut the paper, working within and around the ink drawing. One step in the process therefore directed the next step.
The result is a delicate 11 x 14″ piece whose sequential steps were integral to it’s development as a finished work. On top of that I really like the combination of soft color, hard edged cuts and organic lines.
Arting for 365 Day 163: Repetition, Design, Bottle Caps
13.5 x 7.5 (including frame) Bottle caps, ink and paint
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
We had been collecting bottle caps for some friends of ours to use. They had planned to decorate costumes with them for an event that takes place here in September, but as the date of the event rolled around, they ended up not needing them. Upon realizing I had a collection of bottle caps to use to my liking, I brainstormed ways to incorporate them into one of my daily works. This piece is what I came up with.
I started with the caps and a bad framed art print that I had picked up from a box labeled “free” in the hood one day. After gluing each cap onto the glass, I painted a layer of white over each. Initially I created whatever design I felt like, but as I looked more closely, I noticed that my paint application had created interesting patterns. I immediately switched gears and began to create designs based on the natural patterns in the paint.
While I think I would leave more of the bottle caps showing next round, I do really enjoy this piece. The repetition of the caps draws me in and because each design is unique I want to continue to look at it. I think the misshaped bottle caps packed tightly together within a frame that is a bit gaudy and 80s looking is odd and humorous. I definitely want to create another one of these, which means I will have to drink more beer. Oh the sacrifices I make for the sake of art.
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- Day 163
If you like this piece, you can buy it!
Arting for 365 Day 112: Nature
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
Yesterday our friend hosted a gourmet camping party to celebrate her 40th birthday. It was about as far from hard core camping as you can get, but was oh so lovely! We had delicious food, paired with some amazing beers – thanks to the slew of home brewers in the group – and wine. If the shindig wasn’t awesome enough, we topped it off with some forest croquet.
Being out in nature is always inspiring. And as it came time to create my day 112 project, my friends suggested I use a bit of nature. -A brilliant idea. We pulled out some pens and got busy drawing on leaves.
I love the simple designs. I also love that the leaves started out flat, but as they dried overnight, curled. Because I like the new form so much I decided I’d take a crack at resin again – coating them before they got too brittle. I feel like I’m going to turn them into necklaces.
Arting for 365 Day 111: All Natural Approach
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
The tooth had been giving him fits for days now. He’d tried some herbal remedies and ointments but they just weren’t cutting it. After reading up on the issue in Everyday Health Questions Answered; A Guide to Holistic Healing, the progressive lion determined the tooth must go.
While he couldn’t say he was thrilled with the idea of removing his canine, he did feel oddly pleased with his recent choice to switch to a vegan diet – a justification of sorts. As his tooth was being pulled he reflected that, without a doubt, this all natural approach to life was really the best thing he could do for himself – the king of the jungle.
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- Holistic Approach, ink on paper
If you can’t live without this, you can buy the original or a print.
Micah Richardson 
