Baker in the Making...

I don't know if I'm ever going to finish this!

The photo that inspired it's beginning.

Face Facts! 03-06-10

If you know me, you know I'm a fan of graphic novels. Though these guys are more comic book like. What I like about drawings like this is it just takes knowing where to put your shading, not being master artist. I love the bold lines and block shading that still gives a three-dimensional look.

You don't know how many times I've giggled, even laughed out loud, at the "confused" guy in the middle!


Medium: Sharpie markers

My Cup Overflowith 12-25-09

To recognize the truth, first recognize that you are the truth.
Happiness is every human being's birthright.

In an attempt to renew my hope in mankind, faith in the unknown, & manifest what I want & deserve, this creation was born. Some of it's hokey now that I read them again - but I needed the "positive" saturation at that time.

The tabs have lots of inspirational sayings, which you may be able to read when zoomed in.

...And some of them open!





Every smile is a direct achievement.
By honoring your words, you are honored.
Self-reliance conquers any difficulty.
It's not life that matters, it's the courage that we bring to it.
The mind is energy: regulate it.
True wealth is the ability to let go of your possessions.
Delight the world with kindness, grace, and compassion.


Medium: Colored pencil, Yogi tea bag tabs

Chinese Wrapper 01-2010

Have you ever gotten the crunchy noodles in a wax paper wrapper from a Chinese food take out place? This picture was on one of those wrappers that I saved, a long time ago.

I started this in 2004 & didn't finish it until January 2010 in Asheville, NC. It sat as the first partial sketch drawing below for y-e-a-r-s: December 2009 according to the stamp on my photo!

My artistic motivation waxes and wanes. What can I say? But now it's finished - mission accomplished.

Medium: Pigma Micron Pens

Yin, Yang Variable 12-06-09

Mayhem

"I am free
in all the ways you
are
not."

"I felt like destroying something beautiful."

Let Go!


Pain would be the one word I'd use to describe the inspiration for this picture. No that's not a halo you see. The tip of the penis is a smoking gun. (I need to doctor that part to blend in more.) The palm of my hand has a heart, if that's not apparent too.

Why did I get to the point of drawing this? Unrequited love. The fact that the emotional stake for women usually far outweighs that for men. Anger at the lack of understanding of why something like this has crossed my path and at the people who I gave my heart, only to have it shot down again. Admittedly, I was also being a brat about some people having better luck than others despite their actions.

It, pain, refines artistic expression; that's all I understand. This is still one of my favorite drawings yet.


Medium: Pencil

Relationships 12-05-09

"It's only after we've lost everything, that we're free to do anything." - F.C.

I was thinking of a heart monitor when I drew this. The people I've shared my heart with and my aspirations for a clean slate (the lines to the right indicating unknown). I was mindful of space in that I wanted the drawing to be 3-dimensional and from a bird's eye view. I also wanted the sense of time to be there - a journey on the path. These were momentary thoughts. I did just let a lot of it flow & this is what happened.

If you notice the flat-line at the end, you're right. This was a flat-line moment in my life. Unfortunately, I can't really explain it on here, because the people involved would be revealed. On the positive side, when flipped sideways, I imagine an upward path. I don't know why I'm always looking for it. ^_^ But, I do.


Medium: Sepia Pigma Micron pens, green marker

Impact 11-08-06

This was started 11-14-04 and picked back up 11-08-06. Sheesh. I'm still not satisfied with it. Really I wish I never added the black & just left it browns & reds. I was mindful of this early on, but, I wanted to make the door look older. I'm finding my way through experimenting with how to go about this whole "art" endeavor. One thing to learn, I guess, is that not every piece can turn out like I imagined & sometimes we make poor choices as an artist.













It may sound like hooey. Though, part of what I was thinking when I started was the idea that a tree, once alive, has one place as being a resource for us. This is why I put the eyes there. Although it has it's place, it's still a sad reality considering the amount of consumerism. Plus, I wanted to practice drawing eyes. I wanted the green to contrast with the reddish browns and the door to look old, like the old style keyhole.

Medium: Colored Pencil

Where are you going? 11-06-04

This was painted the same day as the Siamese cat. Christina had a "how to" watercolor book when we were teaching in Quinhagak. It must have been our second year. In an effort to alleviate boredom we had a craft day.


Medium: Watercolor

Meow 11-06-04

"The Chinese word for cat - mao - is pronounced the same as the word for longevity. For this reason, the cat is a symbol of good luck & long life. Chinese artists often paint these playful, curious creatures interacting with butterflies, which are symbols of love. Chinese painters also believe that each brushstroke of the cat's face & head should reflect the animals mood & personality."


I decided to try this out because I can remember my grandmother having a Siamese cat. And of course, I loved "101 Dalmatians:" "We are Siamese if you please. We are Siamese if you don't please."


Medium: Watercolor

Black Mesa Rock 08-31-02

Kayenta, Arizona

After a short hike to our vantage point of the valley from Black Mesa, Mary & I drew a bit. It was our aim to find a sanctuary with inspiration to draw. This was a big deal for me. I had never attempted to draw much before & had always been self-conscious about it. This is really faint, I realize, but hopefully you can see the subtleties. The light was also behind the rock which is challenging.

We had to leave our post before dark as to avoid cougars. Though, it was nightfall by the time we got to the car. On the Navajo Rez in 2002 there were no street lights on many of the roads. There were, however, pot holes that I could fit half of my car into. We got lost a bit trying to figure out how to get back to the main road, which seemed obvious when we were trying to find a place to start hiking up in the light of day.


Medium: Pencil

I hope you can see the image of those red rocks as a right foot jutting up to the sky. This was behind Kayenta Community School where we did our student teaching. One day Mary & I hiked up there & climbed the "big toe," at least 50' high. It involved some scaling & squeezing. But, the hardest part was climbing back down the smooth rock, which didn't have too many foot holds. On our walk we saw Indian Paintbrush plants. The ashes of an extinguished fire locals would have said were from Skinwalkers.

Ol' Faithful 08-10-02

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming


Why did I start with this one? Post high school, this was my first attempt at drawing uninhibited, thanks to Mary's encouragement. Old Faithful was an inspiring subject too. We were sitting in the park, waiting for Ol' Faithful to blow her top when the clock struck. Mary had her pastels out to sketch and I'd been toying with the idea of drawing. I've always wanted to be the "artist" in the group but too shy to even try anything. So, this was my chance - no pressure and a happy moment.

This was the semester of my student teaching. Mary & I were in the American Indian Reservation Cultural Immersion Project through Indiana University Bloomington. We drove from Indiana with her sister Theresa to Denver, Colarado. Then, Mary & I went up to Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming for a night and day... over to Moab, Utah to raft... and down to Kayenta, our final destination.


You'll find that my drawings or crafts are not so remarkable. I am an ordinary person, with the artistic background of one high school basic arts class and family members or friends who are talented. The times I have chosen to pursue have usually been high points or low points in my life. I cherish each time I've actually completed a piece of art.


Medium: Oil pastels