I Love You Today Daddy

The other day my eldest daughter sent me a text message with a recording of her expressing her love for me that day along with a photo of herself at that moment. It was the brightest point in my day. I was so taken that I made the recording into her ring tone as well. Now when I get a text message from her at work I jump at hearing the voice sound suddenly from my pocket and those around me chuckle.

I have 7 children and they are all such a blessing to me. They give my life complete meaning.

I decided to do my next drawing based off of that quick photo she took of herself. It is ebony pencil on Strathmore 500 paper.

Time gets away

Well, so much for staying accountable to producing regular art. I have been working on this chickadee for some time. I started it a year ago and got sidetracked with remodeling a home for my mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law. I had finished the bird and the buds quite some time ago and have spent the last couple of weeks doing the branch and background. I very nearly ruined the background. The Mi Tientes paper has a textured side and a smooth side. Without thinking I used the textured side. The part that drew me to the photo to begin with was the contrast between the backgound being out of focus and the roughness of the branch. It was difficult to make the background smooth with all that texture on the paper. I am happy with the end result.

I suppose my biggest tip is to keep working at it and don't give up during any "ugly" stages. Life is frequently that way.

The inspiration for the piece came from a photograph by Michael Dossett and his website is http://www.mdossettphoto.com/ His photography is very well done and I appreciate his work a great deal. I would appreciate any comments or criticisms about the piece so that I may improve.

This is colored pencil on Mi Tientes paper.

Another key step to redirecting myself was to become a member of Everyday Matters. It is a Yahoo Group that immediately ties you to a host of people just like yourself. People rekindling their sketching habit and finding life in the details therein. The very afternoon of my putting my blog up and notifying the group, I had people from far away places stop and leave a comment. It is a huge encouragement to have that. I am immediately interested in producing art due to that kind of support.

So today is my latest daily sketch. The idea is to let go and just sketch from life. To get into the trenches and get your hands dirty creating something. It is intended to be loose and freeing as opposed to polished fine art.

This is a scene I see every day. It is the Peoria Illinois skyline. I drive to Peoria from podunk Washburn, a small out of the way village, about 40 miles from here. I start my journey in corn and soybean fields and end in a city.

Morning is the best time of the day for me. Everything is new and fresh and unspoiled. No one has had the chance to cast dispersions or create discontent. It is a quiet reflective time for me.

This particular November morning was exceptional due to the vivid sunrise we had. I pulled off the side of the road to quickly snap a picture. In 30 seconds the sun finished its ascent and the sky became a bleak November grey. As an artist I am fortunate in that I can take that fleeting spectacle away with me and enjoy it the rest of the day. I can place it on my drawing table, sketch at it, recreate it, and delve into the tiniest detail of that fraction of time. Many of the drivers on the road with me this morning gave that sunrise a backward glance as they hurried to work, their heads filled with scheduling their day.

This is what I truely love about being an artist. Time stops for me. I can study it and analyze it. I play it over and over like people play a beloved song.

The Start of My Journey of Blogging

For the past few months I have been venturing into the lives of people around the world. Getting a peek at who they are and what they are doing by lurking on their blogs. What an interesting world. Particularly I read artists blogs which is what this blog will focus on.

I find myself metamophising at the age of 42. After 19 years as a Scientific Illustrator for the Department of Agriculture I may become unemployed. My children are getting older and leaving home. My wife is getting more and more involved outside of our home. I suppose it is time for me to re-invent myself and begin again pursuing the dreams I have put on hold for all of these years.

This is a step in that direction. To begin being the artist I am at heart. To follow my interests and be ME.