Why didn’t I choose to finish one of those other drawings?
I dunno. Sometimes I just don’t wanna. (Why doesn’t my boss fire me??)
This picture grabbed my attention because it is in Mineral King (White Chief, at the very top end of the trail). It also was appealing because of the reeds and grasses in the foreground, and the reflective quality of the water. It fits the theme of Tulare County, although I doubt many people have actually been to this spot. There was no particular spot that called for color.
This is Tulare County, pencil drawing, from Mineral King. It is Spring Creek. It could be anywhere. If I have this at a show and someone says, “Oh! Is that Yosemite?!”, then my answer will be, “If you would like it to be Yosemite, then it is Yosemite for you”.
Spring Creek, Mineral King
Let the record reflect that YES, DRAWING WATER IS HARD!! (Tee hee hee, perhaps the title of this piece should be “Hard Water”.)
When deciding what to draw next, this particular subject seemed like a good compromise of my theme of Tulare County and what I want to draw because I want to draw it.
Strawberry fields have become a common sight in our area over the past 10 years or so in the springtime. That makes this drawing qualify as Tulare County art, yes?
Using colored pencil for extended time periods hurts my wrist. This little bit of color is possible without injury, and it is very pleasing to see one item in color. Not every picture has a place for color, but this was an easy decision.
Sometimes I want to draw because I love to draw. I want to draw what I want to draw, and don’t want to think about what might sell.
I ignored my common sense, ignored my theme of Tulare County, and this is what came out of my pencils. (as if it just showed up on its own, no effort or decision on my part, I was just a tool, a vessel, and a victim!)
This is an arch that is part of the Roman aqueduct system along the Mediterranean at Cesarea PhilippiMaritima in Israel. As you may recall, I love architecture, stone work, bridges and archways. We had about 3 minutes to view this and then BAM, back on the bus! It just grabbed me. . . the beauty, the antiquity, the Med Sea . . . I was gobsmacked.
So, I took a few photos, and now here it is as a drawing.
My sister, niece and I were all just thrilled to be at the Mediterranean. We were the first and the only people in our group to run to the water and get it without any discussion or delay. It was one of the highlights of the entire Israel adventure for me.
The sharp eyes of one of my fellow Israel travelers caught my mistake in the location of this drawing. I knew better and have no excuse. Thanks, Cog!
What Should I Draw Next could be the call letters of a radio station east of the Mississippi – WSIDN. Okay, there are one too many letters, but tell me how KMJ gets away with only three?? I stole this from Anne Bogel, Modern Mrs. Darcy, with her podcast WSIRN – What Should I Read Next – a wonderful resource for readers.
I digress.
I will be participating in an art show of pencil in May and June. Right now I am in between jobs – murals, coloring books, and fall shows coming, but all are waiting for decisions. That makes this a good time to draw ahead for the upcoming show.
A crystal ball would be helpful. There are too many ways to make this decision:
Draw what I like. My opinion doesn’t always coincide with the opinion of the art buyers and appreciators.
Ask for other people’s opinions. Which people?
Draw what I think might sell. Based on what?
Finish pieces already in progress. Why didn’t I finish them earlier? Lack of interest on my part, some instinct telling me the subject matter didn’t hold any appeal to my audience (who are they??), or an interruption such as a mural or a coloring book or an art festival/boutique/bazaar.
Something local, or something from my travels, but which travels? – China, Israel, the Central Coast, Lake Tahoe, Washington DC, Washington state, Oregon, North Carolina, Alaska, where??
Life is full of decisions, or as my Wise Friend often says, “Choices and Consequences – life is full of choices and consequences.” Oh yes, a crystal ball would help.
How do other artists make these decisions? Probably by sticking to a theme.
What is my theme? Tulare County.
Why Tulare County when it is so poor? Because I live here.
Why do I draw? I draw because I LOVE to draw!
Why don’t I just draw what I love? Because it has to sell.
Now, what should I draw next?
Photos from Israel that have promise for pencil drawings.A drawing of the Central Coast that is languishing (or mulling) in my flat files.A pencil drawing of a fascinating scene in Beijing that I stopped drawing for some forgotten reason.A local scene – Lake Kaweah when it was full.
Drawing lessons from me, not just drawing lessons in general, although learning to draw from me might be a problem if you live in Oklahoma or Minnesota.
Because learning to draw is on your bucket list
Because you had a mean art “teacher” who made you feel like an idiot and you want to undo some of that psychological scarring
Because you used to draw but think you might have forgotten how
Because you don’t like the way you draw
Because you don’t know how to draw
Because your mom/wife/grandma/sister/husband/boyfriend made you
Because you always thought it looked fun
Because other people are having so much fun in drawing lessons
Because you always said you’d learn new skills after you retired
Because it is only $55 a month and therefore much more affordable than violin lessons
Because it is safer than horseback riding lessons (ask Lou about this)
Because I am a dang good drawing teacher
That’s really only 11 reasons, because #6 is NOT a reason to take lessons.
Drawing lessons begin on Tuesday, September 6, 2016.
I might have a little space in a class or two, and can’t find my waiting list. Are you thinking about taking lessons? Here are 12 reasons to consider drawing lessons:
Because you were told it would be a miracle if you ever learned to draw
Because you want to be the first person who proves me wrong when I say that I can teach anyone to draw
Because you want to be able to sketch ideas in order to design clothing
Because you want to hone the skills you already have
Because you need something to do
Because you want to meet women (That’s what Ralph said.)
Because you paint a little and your shapes look wrong
Because you always knew you could if you had a little help learning how
Because if you don’t pay me monthly, you won’t bother drawing
Because you think it might help you sit still
Because you are about to go to art school and are afraid you will look incompetent
Because you are an elementary teacher and drawing skills are expected of you
(a baker’s dozen, perhaps?) Because maybe you could get as good as Lou (see “Armed” above)
I paint a lot of fruit. I don’t paint very many nuts.
I drew walnuts a few years ago (feels like 5 years, probably is 10).
Wow. That’s pretty good, if I do say so myself! And I do. I LOVE to draw. However, drawings need frames, and oil paintings sell better than pencil. Sometimes I ask my boss if I can draw, and she says I can after I finish all my work. Sigh.
A couple of years ago (feels like 2, must be 4), a friend commissioned me to do some 2×2″ paintings of all the best selling produce in California. Maybe it wasn’t the best selling – maybe it was the crops that California produces the most of.
Those are the only paintings I’ve ever done of nuts – a walnut on the upper left and almonds on the upper right.
I have 3 nephews. 2 of them are “creatives”, one an accomplished graphic artist supporting a wife and 2 children, and the other about to start his junior year in college as a music major. Might be performing arts, might be music theory. . . can’t remember exactly and embarrassed by asking him too often.
Music Nephew and I have been having an email conversation about “the arts”, and he mentioned how a musician friend of his gets in the way of his own success. I responded with something that I think you might enjoy, Oh Blog Readers (all 4 of you or so. . . maybe 6 or 7, but I still don’t know how to access or read the blog stats).
Most of us trying to make it in the arts are usually in the way of our own success. I’m gradually learning to redefine success. I know I don’t want to spend hours and hours on social media trying to build up a following, so I’m not – that’s success. I’d rather have real people that I know just happily following my blog and thinking of me when they have an art need – they do, so that’s success. I also don’t want to do the crazy hard work of building up a body of work that might appeal to galleries, which I’m not, so that’s success.
My life’s work is to discover and display the good things of Tulare County, a place I love to hate and hate to love. Sigh. Thus, the mixed ideas about success – I am portraying this place, but sometimes I want to live somewhere with a less hostile climate, cleaner air, and richer more educated populace.
If you made it to the end of this bloviation, you deserve a reward. Here, have a look at a successful pencil drawing of a bridge.
Marblefork Bridge, pencil on paper, 11×14 framed, currently hanging at the Courthouse Gallery in Exeter.
I have many unframed pencil drawings. It costs a lot of money to frame a picture. I have a lot of frames, and a big box of mats. Matching drawings with mats and frames is a process.
“Process” is a nice businessy word that actually means ‘BIG FAT HASSLE”.
This is how I frame on short notice.
Here is a frame that might work.
Here is another one.
Just grab them all.
Where are the mats? Get the whole box!
Hold a picture up to a frame with another picture in it to see if it is vaguely the same size. Don’t worry too much about the best color, because time and supplies are limited. Besides, they are all grays because they are pencil.
Yep, that might work. Unframe the drawing.
Oops, this one is a little short on the top and bottom. Better extend the drawing.
Okay, that’ll work. Get it in the mat.
Looks fine, get it in the frame.
Dang, is that a hair under the glass? Better unframe it.
Put it back.
Dang, it’s crooked. Better unframe it again.
Straighten it and put it back.
I FORGOT TO SCAN IT! Better unframe it.
Scanned, put it back.
WHAT’S UNDER THE GLASS THIS TIME? Better unframe it.
Put it back. Yeppers, that’ll do.
NEXT!!!?
Ahem. The bottom of this is a little crooked. “Unfinished” is a better word. It’s not wrong, it just isn’t done yet. So there.
Those are the only paintings I’ve ever done of nuts – a walnut on the upper left and almonds on the upper right.
