loosening up

After a extended break, I'm trying to get back in the routine of going to the gym on a regular basis. If there is one thing I've been reminded of by this experience it is that the same rules apply to exercising as they do to drawing: both take diligence, improvement doesn't happen overnight and just as it is important to be loose when drawing, it is important to loosen up before exercising. OTHERWISE, you feel like I do today...awww, eek, awww, eek, yikes...every single move hurts.

you draw, you learn

I sketched this street scene a little over a year ago when Edgar and I were in Charlotte. While he was in a meeting, I sketched out a tall office building window. I haven't posted it before now, however, as I don't think it reads very clearly. I definitely should have used another technique to indicate the pavement. Oh well...you draw, you learn.

I did, however, want to show a better image of the gridded paper I got several comments about yesterday. This paper is part of a lovely journal by Jill Bliss. I really admire Jill's work and love drawing in this sketchbook because it almost feels like I'm collaborating with her on an illustration assignment. To be so lucky.

dear john

Gosh...sorry to leave you hanging. Had I had any idea I was going to be away for so long, I would have certainly left a note...

layered

The main mission of my drawing class' time at Elsewhere was for the students to attempt to document or map out the space so the Collaborative can use the drawings as a wayfinding device on their website. The overwhelming amount of "stuff" (for lack of a better descriptor) filling the space made this task a challenge...to say the least!

In order to tackle this process in a somewhat organized manner, each student was given duck tape to physically mark off an area of the museum that they wanted to document. I also took part in the exercise, choosing to create a "map" of the Station. Rather than trying to draw an elevation or floorplan of the space, I decided to work on utilizing layers or information as a way to express its complexity. This is the beginning of my beginning...

couldn't resist

Post Number 2 for the Day:  I can't help it...Edgar, his feet and this photo make me too happy. It's the little things in life...  And in case you are wondering, I'm still singing about teapots.

stuck in my head

Chances are I'm going to be singing this song ALL DAY LONG. "...here is my handle, here is my spout..."

washed up

Completely and totally random...I know. It's what I do!

For those of you who've been checking in often only to see no new posts...I'm sorry. School ends this week (if only temporarily...I'm teaching summer school) and this means regular posting (and more randomness) is on the horizon!

somewhere elsewhere

wacky, thwacky, matching action game

On my drawing class' first visit to Elsewhere, each student was given 5 sticky notes and asked to place them on items in the museum that they would like to draw. (I know placing a sticky note on an item in a museum sounds strange, but let me remind you that Elsewhere is no ordinary museum.) It was interesting seeing what items appealed to different individuals. Some chose things that reminded them of their childhood, while others picked what appeared to be "easy-to-draw" props. Among the items I gravitated to was this game. The photos and tagline were so cheesy I just couldn't resist. Plus, it makes me nostalgic for the Saturday mornings of my childhood: spent in front of the tv watching cartoons and wishing for games like this.

strapless and stapled

Several of you asked that I post photos of my Beaux Arts Ball dress as a follow up to my last post. Ha...I'm not sure why you didn't think the drawing itself was an accurate representation?!? What was it? The fact that I drew myself 8 feet tall or 90 pounds?

Well, while I'm happy to oblige on the photos, unfortunately, I didn't get any good ones Saturday night. So, instead, I hope this "accurate" drawing clarifies things a little.As you can see I made a few changes in the construction of the dress. It's hard to get fancy when you're holding things together with staples! One word: PAINFUL.

beaux arts bridesmaid

I've always loved...loved...fashion illustration. In fact, when I was little I wanted to grow up and be a fashion designer for this very reason---not so much the clothes, but the drawings of clothes.

I decided to try a hand at it last night as I begin planning my outfit for our department's annual Beaux Arts Ball taking place this weekend. This year's theme is based on Maurice Sendak's beautiful book "Where the Wild Things Are". Lucky for me (sewing isn't exactly my strong suit), this means I can get by with ripping rather than hemming.

half full

In my last post I wrote that life had gotten the best of me. This isn't an entirely accurate statement, however, as it probably reads as though "life getting the best of me" is a negative thing. In fact, it is a great thing. While I haven't been able to blog or, for that matter, even draw...I've been getting the creative charge that provides the fuel I need in weeks to come.

School has been fantastic. I'm especially enjoying teaching Perception and Communication where I'm trying a few "untraditional" teaching methods. A few weeks ago my class went to a Mexican restaurant to "Eat and Draw". As far as I know, no sketches were ruined due to accidents with salsa. Currently my class is working on a facinating project at Elsewhere Artist Collaborative. There is absolutely no way that I can attempt to describe Elsewhere (please check out their website) or this experience with words...so count on drawings doing the work for me in the next couple days.

Several of my students and I are also still helping with the Advocacy Through Design class with teenage mothers at the YWCA. This has been such an incredible experience for all of us. Definitely something I hope to do more of in the future.

Finally, over the weekend my friend Megan got married. Yes...I wore the dress...but it turned out fine in the end (despite having no cosmetic surgery) and I was able to enjoy a great time with my friends. This is super important.

This is all to say the "life" that is getting the best of me is, well, a good life.

unplugged

Please forgive the extended absence...life, away from the computer, has gotten the best of me this week.

another perspective

the fast and the furious

I'm trying something a little new here. A quick sketch and an even quicker stab at rendering using the computer. I gave myself 15 minutes to add color. I could use about 6 hours...but what fun would that be?

EDM Challenge : Something Fresh

a lecture in pictorial form

So many pages of my sketchbooks are filled with this...complete and utter randomness. I'm never sure whether to share them or not, but here goes.

inter-continental mail is fun

My Moleskine has officially made it's trek across the Atlantic Ocean and now safely resides in the hands of Andrea Joseph! I didn't get a chance to scan my drawings before bidding the sketchbook adieu, so I'm happy that Andrea has taken many lovely photos. Hey Andrea, can you come photograph all my work? Please?
Once again, I am thrilled to be in the company of such talents and I simply can't wait to see what comes next for Madame Moleskine.

detail overload

Here we have the capital of one of the many gianormous columns at the National Building Museum. Wow, they are huge. I really enjoy this video of David Macaulay drawing the same columns. I sure could've used his tips when starting this sketch...

in the movies

A few months ago I created some conceptual sketches for a friend of mine, Josh, whose company, MHS Technologies, specializes in custom electronic system integration. At the time MHS was in the beginning stages of the design of a home theater for one of their clients and needed some images to help illustrate their vision.


Yesterday I visited MHS's website and found photographs of the beautiful finished theater. It is so rewarding to see these polished images alongside my rough sketches and witness how the ideas illustrated have come to fruition.

natural drawing history

This drawing makes me happy. My first year class traveled to Washington, D.C. over the weekend to take in the sights and museums. Without a doubt, one of the best stops was at the National Building Museum where we visited an exhibit on the art of David Macaulay. What an inspiration.

Yesterday I was able to take a little time to draw "Macaulay style"..quickly...at the National Museum of Natural History. What fun!

a loyal companion

Hmmm...how does the old saying go? The family that blogs together, stays together? Yep, I think that's it.

Update : Ha!  Andrea just sent me a link to this photo of her cat Flo.  How funny!  It seems Flo doesn't find blogging quite as enjoyable as Pokey. Evidently, she's a little bored.

wishful thinking

Today I had an epiphany. Taking a cue from the classic line in Field of Dreams... "If you build it, he will come"... I've developed my own "mantra": "If you draw it, it will come." In this case "it" is an Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair...a chair I loooooove. Ahhh...

If this type of wishful thinking works for Kevin Costner, surely it should work for me. Shouldn't it?!?

special delivery

I am thrilled, and at the same time slightly terrified, to be participating in an International Moleskine Exchange with 5 artists whose work I admire so much: France Belleville, Gabi Campanario, Miguel Herranz, Andrea Joseph and Juj. To learn more about the project, and see the sketchbooks as they develop, visit our group blog here.

spring classic

I bought a new spring purse over the weekend. I believe it's the first time I've ever had a white handbag. It feels so Jackie O-ish.

a good fit is hard to find

My good friend Megan is getting married in a few weeks. I just got my bridesmaid dress which is, well, a little snug in some areas and a little loose in others. It seems I have two options: 1) Get the dress altered or 2) Cut back on the snacks and get breast implants. I think I'll go with option number 1...at least for the time being :)

another day, another shoe

My mom wears a 7.5 narrow in shoes. I wear a 10 wide. I definitely think there is something wrong with this.

sober meditation

Not exactly a Rodin...but, you get the drift.

engrave this!

Have you seen this before? So, so cool...

work hard. fly right?

Normally I love drawing in airports. On this occasion, however, I was a little burned out. I think an unexpected layover, especially one that eats an entire day out of a 4-day vacation, will do that to you!

fish, chips and a beautiful view

Rather than the aforementioned "gods of drawing" following me during spring break, the "gods of chicken-scratch doodling" did. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

However, I was able to catch a little "drawing" time while waiting for lunch at Pike Place. I love Seattle.

essential tools

[imagine a drawing here]

Not having access to a scanner sucks...its almost as bad as not having a pen! But, I decided not to let this minor setback keep me from posting as, at the moment, I am so inspired. This past week has been a transcontinental "world wind"...uh, literally. I've been to Portland, Seattle, New Jersey (if you count a 14 hour layover in an airport) and Atlanta (amid the tornado)!  

As I write, I am still in Atlanta where I've been attending the National Conference on the Beginning Design Student at Georgia Tech.  The conference is just as cool as it sounds with design educators from across the country making presentations on their teaching pedagogies, student projects and design philosophies.  

My department chair, Tommy, and I presented on...you guessed it....blogging!  Specifically, we addressed using blogs in the classroom as both teaching tools and portfolio devices. We received some valuable feedback and I'm ready to go back home and work on making the system even more effective.

This week has been so refreshing  and I look forward to packing the inspiration it has carried with it in my luggage as I head back to NC  (and my scanner) tomorrow.  

spring break...yay!

I'll be out of town for the next few days...I can only pray that the gods of drawing will follow me. As always, thanks for checking in. Your encouragement makes me want to keep my sketchbook open! Best wishes for the week ahead.

one more for the road

observational sketching