Day 979 -21 Days left

March 27, 2017March 27, 2017Leave a comment

Till 1000. The goal is nigh!

Taking an online class in extreme journaling with Julianna Coles. All my questing for a book at goodwill, salvation army, thrift stores and in the garage where I found a forgotten stack of books I found the perfect book in my son’s recycle bin in Atlanta. It’s a heavy thick very slick Saks sales ad. Since it was trash I didn’t feel bad about altering it. It also had some nice photos of women in it.

Despite babysitting the grandchildren single handedly, lecturing to middle schoolers about art quilts aka show n tell and driving about four hundred miles I bounced out of bed to start the monster mash process this morning.

I worked on the cover since I did not like the big script Saks on the cover.

Oddest thing happened when I opened a huge old Bartletts to cut out poetry. I don’t think I even turned a page. It opened to a page that held a poem about “locking all your heart aches inside” and “hide it in your trunk” “will hide all your failures””will rise to meet you yet” and of course I cut them out and glued them on.

I don’t think it’s quite done the more I look at them. Bout maybe they are never done? They will tell me. Lots of fun. Go sign up.

The first double page spread. Thinking it’s still too busy.

I painted stamped collages scribbled and painted and lettered and I could go on but it’s time for French. Acrylic paint caran dache neocolonial ii prismacolor paintstiks paint marker.

The books about the size of a piece of printer paper. Can’t wait for the next chapter.

Margaret xoxoxo #julianacoles

Day 977 So what’s up?!

March 25, 2017Leave a comment

If I were home I would be heading to the Steeple Chases the second leg of the Triple Crown today with my friend Kathe. Oh well. Instead I am babysitting my grandkids which will be a lot of fun too. They are so sweet.

The Two Year Old Harness Races Aiken SC

I really think this is two pictures. I drew it leaving against the fence on the far left. The people on the right were a few feet from me. The guy on the left down the rails. I filled in with people who wandered by. That caused the problem with this drawing. The ladies in the middle are far too short.

It looks great cropped like this.

And not bad like this. I mean those ladies could be kids right?! Or the guys on the left really tall?! Hmmmm.

Going to blame it on Kathe I had to hide to fill in the middle. She started bragging about my drawing. Eeekk. Not what you want when you are drawing people and they want to look. NOT if you have political sketches in your book too. Double eek.

Andy way drawn in a Stillman and Birn Alpha with a Lamy Safari.

Ted Nuttalls transparent Palette.

Ttyl time to babysit. Pray for me!

Margaret xoxoxo

Day 973 St Patrick’s Day in Augusta

March 20, 2017Leave a comment

We had an Urban Sketchers of Augusta meet up at Artus to draw the St Patrick’s day parade Friday. Fun time with Sandy from Artus and AC who fell in love w my Lamy EF that I lent him and sweet Katie Padgett.
These guys were enjoying some Guinness in front of Soy Noodle House and watching the parade go by. Architecture is a little wonky because I was standing on the sidewalk looking around the mob that passed by. Some of them would just stand in front of me. Eeek.

Whiskey Bar still needs paint. These two are on 280# Arches cold press. Oops cut off their legs.

A great pirate ship passed by. I taught AC and Katie that u don’t have to draw everyone you see but can add people from different floats to the one you are working on. Who will know!? Just you.

One float was full of an adorable group of older women from St Johns Towers a retirement home. I forgot to draw the crowd in front darn it because I was so enthralled with the old truck and the ladies.

These two are in my Stillman and Birn Alpha which is almost full.

All are drawn with my Lamy Safari. Painted w Ted Nuttalls transparent palette.

Ttyl class in Aiken.

Margaret xoxoxo

Day 968 Hmm I know I have something to post.

March 15, 2017March 15, 2017Leave a comment

Number three does this mean it’s a series. Still not colored because I am sitting in a dental chair. Eeeekkk. Woke up and thought about it last nite. How to color it. Leave it plain like the others or alter it. We shall see.

Options. Watercolor acrylic pens gel pens paint markers. We shall see. Oh and collage.

I spent most of the day working on these two in photoshop and test printing Sacred Heart on various papers. Oddly my big HP did as well as the Epson. Hmmm.

I want to stitch the big Mill together to get rid of the seam. No success yet. Soon I hope. And the colors are off when I print. Waiting for one more cartridge for the epson which I know is archival. I did run a piece of watercolor paper thru the HP without a hiccup. Who knew you could do that?!

Ttyl

Margaret xoxoxo more photoshop and printing adventures to come.

Day 966 coloring in my coloring book

March 13, 2017March 15, 2017Leave a comment

I drew these two guys last Thursday as part of my #oneweek100people2017 as they pushed and shoved the heavy scaffold into place that would allow them to hang the new Augusta State Univeristy sign four stories up in the air.
I have two say these guys were working very hard and were as good as having dancers to draw with their interesting poses. This is the first page I drew.

Here is page two. Drawn with my Lamy Safari with Lexington grey ink in my Stillman and Birn Alpha.

You can see the scaffold better in this painting. Drawing three of the big event. They almost had shoved it into place when I drew this.

UPDATE: And a week later they are still working on top of the building. It’s very cold today. Hope the finish before it goes down to 24 tomorrow. Who turned off Spring?

Here’s the original sketch. I painted these after I got home. Colors used Quin coral, gold,burnt orange. Cerulean and hematite geeen on windows with ultramarine and burnt umber shadows. The building is Quin coral and burnt umber. Their jackets are Lemon yellow and hematite green. The sign is ultramarine and mineral purple.

I have a giclee quality printer that I am finally getting set up for print making. It’s been in the garage for quite a few years because it’s about two feet long and takes up the whole desk but no more.

It’s hooked up and it works. I was told it might not. New cartridges cleaned the print heads and it looks like we are in business.

Hurrah!!

Will let you know when I start making prints. Soon. I promise.

Ttyl

Margaret xoxox

Day 965 141 People in one Week

March 12, 2017March 12, 2017Leave a comment

Well I made it. Added another another 14 people yesterday when we were at the Standardbred Harness Races yesterday at McGhees Mile Track in Aiken. Starting from the last one draw to the first one drawn at the end of the post. I am going to paint some of these today I think since this is day 7.

Flipagram of the sketches.

All of them are drawn with my Lamy safari in Lexington Grey ink in my Stillman and Birn Alpha. Most were drawn from real life except the 20 or so talking heads.

In the window at the Mexican cafe on Laurens street in Aiken.

At the races. I was afraid to shop out my sketchbook after I did this because a certain bird was busy telling people what a great sketched I was.

Off MSNBC Friday nite. ditto that

Hanging the new Augusta State University logo sign at the Dental School Friday. These guys were working hard. Two guys only but they hardly stood still pushing and shoving the big scaffold that would take them to the top of the four story building.

More of the two guys. One worked continually nonstop the whole hour or so I was drawing. Pulling and pushin. And backing the truck up.

Contour drawings because they were moving fast. The angles they got on their bodies were as good as any dancer or yoga as they pushed and shoved the heavy scaffold.

In line waiting at chic fil a and the dental school check in.

Too right luck at chic Fil a and a guy waiting to see the dentist at the college.

A three generation family at chic Fil a

More tv talking heads.

My heroine Rachel Maddow. So brilliant.

Talking heads MSNBC especially like the Bernie Head.

Lawrence O’Donnell taking heads. Love him too.

Rachel Maddow and her talking heads

Panera sketches Tuesday

Panera Tuesday

Panera Tuesday the rest are at Panera Monday and a few more talking. Heads from MSNBC.

Heads on Morning Joe.

As I said will paint some of these. I love having my own coloring book. Total people. Depends on how you count them. 141 if I count all the contour drawings at the Dental College and in the crowd at the races.

Ttyl

Margaret who has to paint. Xoxoxo

Day 964 100 people in seven days Day SIX

March 11, 2017March 11, 2017Leave a comment

Time to finish up those 100 people. In the meantime there’s always the tv to draw from.

I am completely absorbed by the unfolding spy whodunnit on Eachel Maddow every nite on MSNBC. I even take notes and draw some of the talking heads or players in this dramatic story. Last nite it was General Flynn who was working for the Turkish government to the tune of $500000 while he was head of our National Security.

I don’t think Robert Ludlum or John Le Carre could make this stuff up. Just crazy stuff going on.

And yesterday ALL the holdover Obama attorneys were fired and told to clear out by close of business. Usually they stay to finish up their cases and then leave. Not this time. And Hannity a tv talking head seems to have precipitated it. Hmmm.

The double page spread. Still have to find one more head to draw.

Colors used. Quin coral and gold and burnt orange. Burnt umber and ultramarine and cerulean. A dab of orange.

Ttyl off to the flat track horse races in Aiken. No nekkid painting today. Going to miss my painting peeps.

Margaret xoxoxo who hopes it’s not freezing cold out today.

Day 963 Rachel Maddow!

March 10, 20173 Comments

These sketches brought the total of people drawn for the week to 82 or so. Has been riveting lately. It’s like watching a spy novel written by one of my favorite authors John Le Carre or Robert Ludlum unfolding in real life.

So why did I write all the notes?! My mind tends to drift when I don’t take notes. It’s rather like a doodle for me. It keeps my attention focused and it helps me remember what’s been said. Truly I think I would be paying attention with or without the note taking BUT I kind of like the way it looks too.

It’s my writing on my art work taken to the extreme. And you know I do love to write on my artwork. It gives a sort of Susan Shie flavor to it.

I almost left her without her black jacket and top painted. I took a pic like this in case but decided to paint it and I like it better painted.

Here’s the sketch.

And a sketch of her only guest that night US Congressman Eric Swalwell who is also fascinating. Not to sure how his right cheek got so much darker. Oh well. I guess I could go back and paint the other one but just been too busy. Getting close to the 100 people mark for the week.

The sketch. These are done in my Stillman and Birn Alpha with a Lamy Safari loaded with Lexington Gray ink.

Colors used. Quin gold Quin coral Quin burnt orange cerulean burnt umber ultramarine blue.

Ttyl

Margaret xoxoxo off to do her last ten people.

Day 962 its all about the Catsup!

March 10, 2017Leave a comment

Off drawing something somewhere today so thought I would share this new painting with you.

All about the Catsup based on a picture I took on my birthday at Flying Biscuit in Candler Park on McClendon in Atlanta. I had my camera propped on the counter which gave everything an odd angle.

I lightened and brightened the catsup and darkened the counter so it would stand out. I added some Indian yellow to Quin red to make a lighter brighter catsup color. So far I like it.

Last Wednesday my friend Drew said I had made her look like she was drooling. Oops. I hope I fixed that.

Colors I have been using Quin red Indian yellow ultramarine blue and thalo blue titanium white. Burnt umber. A liquitex light blue and flesh color and a tad bit of primary yellow. And that’s it.

Here’s the picture.

Thanks for reading.

Margaret xoxoxo

Day 961 – Day 2 -OneWeek100People2017

March 8, 2017Leave a comment

No idea how many people I have drawn now. 20 last evening at Panera and 11 more off MSNBC. Right now this Al Franken sketch is my favorite.

I also like most

Of this page except for Eve. What happened there?!

And this page except Lawrence.

The blank spot is for the no longer missing Christopher Steele who Al Franken said he would go to the ends of the earth to interview. Go Al!!

Think Lindsey Graham looks good as does Adam Schiff. Both have interesting faces. Rachel. Hmm will try again.

Panera. Soooo cold. I thought I would freeze. I started to go to the chic Fil a bit it was crawling with people and sooo noisy. So I left and went to the quieter Panera.