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Sketchbook #057Monday, April 09, 2012
The Rapture Rabbit

Here's a little sketch for April from the small things calendar series.

I have a little ceramic rabbit very similar to one my mom had at home. I love the way he's looking upward in this sort of pseudo rapture kind of way, like old religious paintings. So it seemed appropriate in an odd way to feature him here.

Many things on the table this week, exciting new paintings are going in the etsy store this week, then some artist samples. I'll keep you updated.

Have a great week everybody.






Sketchbook #055Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Peacock Pitch

Every so often I'm asked to make a pitch for new products. I rarely do it anymore, too much trouble and rarely does it net anything. But if I have the time and some good ideas I'll go ahead and try something.

Here's one from a few years ago. I decided to do it small and in watercolor to make it interesting for myself. I wanted to do it in a journal style with brown ink, sort of sketchbook. Which is why I thought posting it here would be fun : )

Hope everyone's having a great week. The weather here's been terrific. I got a walk in this morning in shorts and a sleeveless top already! Woo Hoo!





Sketchbook #054Monday, March 05, 2012
Alabaster Birdbath

A few years back I did some roughs for a calendar based on small things. This one is based on a tiny alabaster birdbath I received as a gift for taking care of my lovely neighbor Kelly's plants while she was in Italy years ago.

Kelly's grandfather owned the building we both lived in just a block or so away from the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in south Saint Louis. She thought of me when she saw the tiny birdbath because I was making very large pastels (3.5' x 5') at the time of a series of birdbaths and garden statuary. Good memories. I loved what I was working on at the time. I really enjoyed Kelly, and the old red brick 3 story building with it's 15'ceilings and the marble fireplace in the dining room where my studio was. It was a good place to be : )

Have a good week everyone, may you have good memories this week too!





Sketchbook #053Monday, February 27, 2012
Getting Ready for Spring

I found this oil rough this morning as I went through some old sketchbooks. It reminded me of spring, something we're all anxiously awaiting here.

It's getting warm and the cats are clamoring at the windows waiting for the screens to be put in. Just a few more weeks and they'll be able to sit and look out the studio door again and feel the spring breeze!

Happy Monday!





Sketchbook #052Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Flea Market Love

Here's another tiny oil sketch for a calendar for February. I thought it would be nice to hold a love letter surrounded by old patterned scraps of ephemera and fabric.

I bought this red glass hand at a little antique place down in Georgia, they had a blue one too, later I found a green one. I had a notion to collect them all, wouldn't it be cool to have a bunch in different colors? But decided eventually on the red one. I don't know, it seemed the most human, the warm red glass pulsing, almost glowing in a way.

I have it in my studio now with a Marcel Proust quote in it's palm that a friend brushed in ink for me years ago:

"It comes so soon, the moment when there is nothing left to wait for"



Life is short, live in the moment and love every minute.





Sketchbook #051Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Virignia and Me

This should really be called a journal entry rather than a sketchbook entry.

I've kept journals for many years to keep bits and pieces of my life together, the detritus that floats through our lives. I'm not a very sentimental person, and have never taken a lot photographs of my life, just of things that visually strike me I want to record for later work, or images that take me to an emotional place.

This page and half is from a black leather journal with grid pages I bought probably 15 years ago. I used to keep a lot of personal entries and loved to take those small polaroids that were the size of postage stamps, some of the few photos I've taken of myself. God I loved those polaroids, they were so special, intimate, beautiful in the way they'd capture low light. I wish they were still around.

Here I collaged a portrait of Virginia Wolfe with a sleeping Buddha and some dried hydrangea blossoms from one of my mother's many bouquets she gave me over the years. Don't know why the bandaid's there, but it works somehow. I like the symbol for something mending, or a wound that's hidden. I took these tiny shots of me at night while I was working, not very flattering, but they show me while I was thinking and working things out, which I like.

This seems to be a time where we are all thinking and working things out, so many changes, transitions, adaptations going on. Exciting, scary, and filled with possibility. I don't think anyone who is awake will be bored any time soon : )

Have a great week everyone, stay grounded, think before you speak, and be patient.

We are all connected.






Sketchbook #050Monday, January 23, 2012
Bonsai

Here's another sketch influenced by the Philadelphia flower show. I still really love the dark watery blue green background, there's something there that appeals to me.

It's going to be a busy week filled with new creations.

Hope all your weeks are creative and filled with joy.





Sketchbook #049Monday, January 09, 2012
Primula

I've always loved this sketch and thought I'd do a full out painting based on it sometime. Several years ago I went to visit my friend Judith in Philadelphia and we went to the flower show they have there every year.

It is a wonderful thing that show, filled with beautiful sights and smells for the cold March days when it usually runs. I took as many photos as I could in the mostly low lighting conditions and this oil sketch is based on one of my favorites.

I originally thought I'd paint a scarab there off to the left that's what the green smudge is. I also thought about raising it first with gesso and maybe gold leaving parts of the tiny bug as they sometimes appear that way. We'll see, for now it's a great reminder of future possibilities and past memories.





Sketchbook #048Monday, January 02, 2012
Finials

Happy New Year!

Here's the first sketchbook entry of the year. A tiny oil sketch of a finial on a collaged looking background.

I have several finials I've collected over the years, nice reminders of the classical look things had in the past. This small talisman of sorts was picked up in a flea market in the middle of Kansas years ago. I still remember how cloudy and cold it was that day, the beautiful grey late morning light coming in the large window into the dark wooden interior. Snowflakes were falling. The grey haired woman who sold it to me had a nurturing sense about her and smiled kindly as she rung up the bill. That entire scene is rolled up in that small piece of wood, beautiful how our mind works.

Here's to wonderful memories for all of us in the coming year.





Sketchbook #047Monday, December 19, 2011
Candy Canes (and a great gift idea)

Happy Holidays everyone. Here's a tiny sketch from the small things calendar that I thought was appropriate for what might be the last post of the year.

And as a great crafting gift idea my friend, Joanne Fink, has a written a lovely book on pattern and lettering infused with her love for the Zentangle craze called "Zenspirations". She and her publisher are offering a 20% discount off the 16.99 price if you purchase it before January 2. Click on the link above and type in the promo code "zensp" at checkout to receive your discount. You can also find Joanne on Sakura's website demonstrating their great pens to create her zenspirations. Just go to their video gallery. Yeah Joanne!

I'll be off for the next week or so to spend time with family and friends. This blog has been a wonderful thread running through this year. When you start one of these things you never know how it will turn out. But I've really enjoyed it. There'll be some changes coming soon in the new year, so stay tuned. In the meantime thanks for checking in and seeing what's new. I so appreciate your interest.

Have a wonderful, safe, and joy filled holiday.

Much love and blessings to everyone,

Elizabeth