It’s Complicated

I have learned to draw from photos on my laptop instead of mediocre prints from my mediocre printer on mediocre paper and instead of waiting for high quality prints from Shutterfly. This means I can enlarge on the screen for understanding the detail more. This also means I can’t measure. Everything is a mixed bag.

The complicated custom collage drawing began with these photos, and even more.

Then I began laying it out on the giant piece of paper, using the approved sketch as my map. 14×18″ is a lot of real estate to cover with the point of a pencil.

Can you see the lines on the paper? “Just barely” is the answer I am looking for.

This is a big job, a complicated one, but I, your Central California artist am up for the task.

Custom Complicated Collage

When a group of words begin with the same letter, it’s called “alliteration”. Did you know that? Do you care?

The owner of this cabin has hired me to draw a 14×18″ collage that incorporates many different views and pieces of her unique and well-designed place.

After several versions, this is the one that pleases her the most.

Can you use the word “mayonnaise” in a sentence?

How about this: “Man-aze a lotta stuff in ‘at pitcher!” (Say it out loud; you will get it in a minute.)

In addition to messing around with words, I do love to draw. Good thing, eh?

Finished Pencil Drawing Two

Two pencil drawings of one boat – one truly beautiful boat, called a Chris Craft. These are quite a Thing, maybe the Rolls Royce or the Harley Davidson of the water. (I just made that up and hope I didn’t insult anyone or any brand here.)

Can I drive?? Is that what it is called to run a boat? Or is “pilot” the correct verb? 

Finished Pencil Drawing One

Color has been added to the Chris Craft flag and to the reflection. Another happy customer, and of course the artist is also happy.

P.S. The pinstripes were intense, and the flags were pure joy. I am particularly taken by the way the American flag curls. Simple things, for a simple person. (Me, not the customer) 

Are We Happy Yet?

I don’t want to talk about wildfires, evacuation orders, plagues, epidemics, or politics. I just want to draw and make my customers happy.

This is before:

And this is after:

Now I am waiting for my customer to tell me if this is what she requested. I can keep going, if I have good instruction. It is a pleasure to work for people who know what they want and express it clearly.

Yes! Happy customer!

P.S. Happy artist too.

Completed Pencil Commission?

Completed Pencil Commission in steps, that is.

The rosy color is probably a result of the light through the window that is tinted by heavy wildfire smoke.


Much of the time while drawing this, it was very very smoky out the window, and as I drew the pine trees, I kept thinking, “Torches, they are torches!”

Last I heard, they are still standing and green.

P.S. The customer stopped by my studio and we decided that the driveway is too undefined and that we’d like some color in the drawing somewhere. My commissioned jobs are not finished until the customer is completely happy.

Custom Drawing Almost Finished

These parts are unfinished, pending decisions:
 
1. Pinstripes where the boat goes from horizontal to vertical on the stern requires the customer’s input, because this area looks different in several of the photos he provided
 
2. Reflection of flag in the water – color here? What will the customer decide?
 
3. Chris Craft flag on bow – color? Another decision for the customer to make
 
4. Is ONE MOHR FRY too bright? I can tone it down to be more in line with the light on the stern, or we can keep it bright so it pops. (and now I can see that the second R needs a bit of work too.)
 
This is one of the most fun commissions I’ve done in awhile – perhaps because the subject is new to me. It is challenging to figure out textures I haven’t done in awhile, and the fun comes when they turn out well and the customer is happy.
 

I make art of places and things people love at prices that don’t scare them.

Better in Person

I know, I keep going on and on about this giant circle of lemons. But if you could only see it in person. . .!

I vacuumed the studio, rearranged things to lessen the working clutter and make it look more like a gallery and showroom (as much as an 11×14′ former shed can). Then I set up the easel and covered the painting.

We laughed together about the unveiling, and the first thing after, “I love it!” was “It DOES look better in person!”

They brought their specially made frame, and it was PERFECT.

P.S. We look better in person too. Thank you for your concern.

Three Rivers Post Office

When it was time to mail the cabin drawing to the customer, I packaged it. Trail Guy came out to the studio to offer his delivery services, and I was delighted to not have to interrupt my work with a trip to the Post Office. Yes, I know it is only 3-4 miles away, but in the summers, my work days are limited because I keep going to Mineral King instead of keeping my feet planted in front of the easels. So, I value my work time and appreciate not having to do my own errands.

Trail Guy returned from the Post Office with the receipt and an explanation of why it cost $18 to send a piece of paper to San Diego – had to buy a box, pay for insurance, etc. And “piece of paper” isn’t meant to discount the value of an original pencil drawing, but essentially, to the post office, it was a highly insured piece of paper packaged carefully in an overpriced box.

He turned toward the counter in the painting workshop, picked up a taped-together bundle of cardboard and said, “What is this?”

Ahem. That would be the drawing that I thought he had just mailed.

When I got back up off the floor from laughing, I emailed my customer to tell her to expect a box of cardboard, minus her drawing before actually receiving the drawing.

Later that afternoon, I went to the Post Office with the actual drawing. The clerk retrieved the box from the back, we opened it, inserted the drawing, and she taped it back up. No new packaging, no new payments. It was in time to go out with that day’s mail.

I LOVE THE POST OFFICE IN THREE RIVERS!!

This is the Kaweah Post Office, not the Three Rivers Post Office. The unframed original is available for $200. Interested? Give me a pair of minutes to look for it because I can’t find it right now. What else would you expect from someone who mails empty boxes to customers?