Day 348, 4 x 6″ ink on paper
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
She prided herself in blending in and chastised those who did not. There was no need for showiness, she thought. Those fish who swam in salty waters – with their bright blues, greens and pinks were all about flash and fiction. Not her style.
But everything can be taken too far. Soon the naive catfish found herself as a fly on the wall – camouflaged by wings. No longer heard or seen.
Day 315, 6 x 7″ ink on paper
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
The boyfriend’s parents, sister, and five neeps are in town this weekend visiting. We’ve had a really nice time with them. Yesterday I was lucky enough to have two of his nieces keep me company at the studio to make art. The two girls poked holes in paper, smudged pastels and painted as I worked on this little piece. I always enjoy the energy and enthusiasm my neeps bring when making art.
day 309, 5 x 7 ink on paper
A flower stands
hunched over
Its brightly colored leaves
Pleasing fragrance
And sunny disposition
Heartsick
Longing for water
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
I came across a bow last night. It dazzled with its shimmery loops and streaks of silver color. It was lovely. But even the most typical of bows are interesting. Their ribbons curve and gather, merging to create an organic little form that makes us believe if this thing were alive, we might very well find it near bright corals.
Day 307, 3 x 5″ ink on paper
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
I was standing in Gertie, our RV, yesterday and the word ‘Beyblade’ popped into my head. I asked the boyfriend what the word was and he reminded me, “Isn’t that what you got the nephews for Christmas?” Yep.
Beyblades are basically tops. Thinking about this fact made me realize that there are some great marketing folks out there. Tops have been around for ages and have definitely not been a hot-ticket item for decades. Dare I say centuries? Throw some fancy colors, exciting names and a face-off arena into the mix and you have a sought after toy for the 2012 holiday season. Pretty amazing.
Day 289 4×6″ ink on paper
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
It’s interesting to think about the things that come easiest to us – those things that we fall back on because they are comfortable and take little thought. For me, it’s a drawing like this; where the lines and shapes that flow from my pen come naturally. A piece like this feels good to make and is easy to look at. It doesn’t make the viewer think all that much and it certainly doesn’t take much thought for me to create. So what is the purpose of it? Is easy art worth making if it does nothing to challenge the viewer or the artist? I am torn on this question. But at the end of a day that left little time for art, I made these free flowing lines. Combined they create a feeling and an energy that draws me in and perhaps draws the viewer in as well. Perhaps that is enough of a purpose.
Day 284: 8.5 x 11″ ink on paper
Typically, I like winter. I really like it. I love getting out in the snow for a good ski and the crispness in the air clears my head.
Since moving to Ft. Collins, CO though, I have found that there is not much winter to be had. There is no snow to ski on and temperatures tend to hover around 30 or 40 degrees. This is precisely the reason why I think I am hankering for spring. I look forward to jogs on trails and hikes to falls, long sunny days, and branches beginning to bloom.
Ink and acrylic on May 1955 Field and Stream Magazine (pg 1)
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
A few days ago I decided to re-appropriate an old Field and Stream magazine. Creating in this manner was really interesting to me and so I quickly decided I would attempt to complete the entire magazine. Whether or not I do is yet to be seen, but for now, it sounds like a great exploration.
Yesterday I decided to get a jump on page one. I didn’t remember to take an original picture until shortly after I began (see below), but you’ll get the idea. If you look closely you can make out the bird driving the car and a few owls toward the bottom. Beyond that is text.
Nearly original design by Keith Wood
Keeping in mind that I wanted to keep portions of the original design to build on while aiming to create something that felt entirely new, I began drawing. The finished work incorporates the colors from the cover and repeated chunks of shapes, but it has an even greater focus on flowing lines – which I like to think helps emphasize the moving car. After completing the drawing I decided to cut a section of the bottom text out revealing the next page, which just happens to also be text.
As for the cover that I originally began with, well it now looks like this:
Cover with page one peeking through at the top
3 x 5″ ink on paper
Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days
He couldn’t deny the truth of the statement, and frankly he saw no reason he should. Tall and green, strong, a bit awkward perhaps, but always up for a good laugh. Feeling anything other than proud of the label seemed ludicrous.
3 x 5″ ink on paper
As I was drawing yesterday, a poinsettia-like plant began to appear. I’m feeling inspired by the fun of winter and the holidays. I love this time of year. The light, the he winter cold, the time to spend with family – all fabulous.
Last night, we slept in the RV with no heat (it was 26 degrees out and we had a slight propane issue – long story). It was frigid to begin with, but luckily, we had multiple blankets and sleeping bags, as well as Box the cat to keep us warm, so we stayed nice and cozy. But it got me thinking that there are a lot of people out there who don’t have it so great on cold winter nights. The experience reminds me to be extra thankful for the people and the things in my life.
Micah Richardson 