Paper and Threads

I went to Figure Drawing last night, in spite of the incredible cold in the City.  We had two models during the entire time, one of whom wore an elaborate head dress with devil horns and 3 large silk flowers.  I'm posting a few of the 19 sketches I made - all were done in graphite in a 9 X 12" sketchbook. 

This is one of 10 two minute sketches: 

These are 3 of the 4 Five Minute Sketches:

This is one of 2 ten minute sketches:

You can probably tell that I was sitting in a place where I couldn't see the models' feet.  But my skills sketching hands and feet are so weak, that is OK with me for the moment.  I'm still concentrating on drawing the basic position - head, shoulders, and hips. 

 There were 3 twenty minute poses - but I don't like my drawings as much as the shorter, less overworked poses.  I just purchased a new figure drawing sketchbook that will take water media and may try to draw with a watercolor pencil and then add water for shading during the 20 minute sketches in the future. 

Posted by Shirley at 7:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

I always sew ornaments and presents for Christmas - but actually made fewer things than last year.  How could I be busier in retirement than when working?  Not pictured here is Annabelle's cotton velveteen quilt, which is now a family tradition - one for each grandchild on their 2nd Christmas.  My blog name, Paper and Threads, reminds me that textiles are an important part of my life and I try to periodically post the other half of ME!

A Mixed-Media Ornament for my Children's Christmas trees:  Created with paper, fabric, and fabric paints.

Giraffes for my 4 grandsons:  I dye painted unbleached muslin to make the giraffe skin and then made the ornaments.

Peacocks for my two grand daughters (and of course me!):  I knew Sydney would love the Swarovski crystals on each tail feather! 

Zach's Stocking:  Each new grandchild needs a stocking for Grandma to fill for Christmas Eve.

Zach's Gift Bag - for all of the bigger gifts from Grandma and Grandpa.  We don't wrap presents at all any more.  Over the last 15 years I made gift bags for veryone in the entire family.  The antlers, ear, and tail are all 3-D, not patchwork. 

Posted by Shirley at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

My days were full the month before Christmas, with Holiday preparation and activities, and Kate's wonderful Artist's Journal Class.  I still love completing EDM Challenges, but had enough art to do each day without them.  So here are 4 that I wanted to post before the end of the year (#250, 251, 253, 254).  The only one I completed during the week it was assigned was "Draw a Pine,"     (#252)and that was possible because I brought home a pine bough from the Christmas Tree lot where we bought our Christmas tree. 

EDM #250:  Draw Something You Got for Free

I received a Christmas t-shirt last year when I made other purchases, and this is the embroidered design on the front.

EDM #251:  Draw a Perfume or Perfume Product

This is my absolute favorite body cream and I need to use it daily during the winter months.

EDM #253:  Draw a Sock

This is one from a pair of Christmas knee socks which I haven't worn in more than 15 years.  Why do I still have them??

#254:  Draw Something Joyful

We had almost 11 inches of snow last week and my husband and I walked into Central Park by 8AM to enjoy it.  I love to be out in the snow and couldn't wait to bundle up and explore our area of the Park.  This drawing is of my husband in his sheepskin coat and mittens.  I still draw and paint family members from the back ONLY!  And I love how recognizeable they are!

Yesterday I took care of two of my grandchildren in the morning and then went to W57th Street area to see the fabulous Bergdorf Goodman Holiday windows.  They are really not to be believed!  This composite page has the reindeer design from Zach's pjs that I put in his Christmas stocking and one of the very small paper cutouts from a Christmas window in the jewelry display.

Posted by Shirley at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Posted by Shirley at 9:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

The Nutcracker Ballet, two grandchildren's birthday parties, a marathon sewing week, and a snowstorm are all behind us.  I did do daily journal pages and want to upload them before 3 of our grandchildren move in with us this afternoon until Christmas Eve.  During this time, I'll probably be drawing and painting with Sydney, so there will still be "art time."

Sydney really enjoyed the Nutcracker Ballet and loved the MOUSE KING - who was scary and attacked successfully by the toy soldiers.  Here is my painting - for her. 

A Peacock Christmas Ornament:  Finally finished the peacocks for our tree, Sydney, and Annabelle right before leaving for Syd's Birthday Party.  This year I made 3 different types of ornaments: mixed media gold Christmas Trees, dye painted giraffes, and the peacocks. 

Cal's birthday party was Saturday morning and the cake was a fabulous combination of iced robot cookies and cake.

After a wonderful walk through the fresh snow in Central Park with my husband at 8AM yesterday, I returned to finish my Christmas sewing.  Our grandson Zachary is now almost 4 months old and I needed to make him the customary family stocking and gift bag.  Here is a journal page done after I finished his gift bag last evening.

Photos of my Christmas sewing will probably appear in a later post. 

Posted by Shirley at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I took my daughter and my grand daughter Sydney to the Nutcracker Ballet at Lincoln Center on Wednesday night to celebrate her Dec 20th birthday.  The evening fulfilled all of my expectations - it was magical in every way.  She watched every single minute of the ballet, with rapt attention, but loved the Snowflakes dancing in a blizzard on stage and especially the Mouse King the best.  I now need to find a photo of the Mouse King to add to my journal for her.  If anyone reading this has a photo of the Mouse King from the NYC Balanchine production, I'd LOVE to have a copy!

Sydney - looking very grown up - for her first night at the ballet.  Loved the rhinestone headband!  And the silver bracelet from her great grandmother (on my last blog page) was a big hit!

Posted by Shirley at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Monday we bought our Christmas Tree and I picked up a pine bough for EDM Challenge #252.  I was able to really study the way that the needles grew from the branch, and on this one there were 5 long needles from each little knob along the it.  Fascinating!!  I used my rigger brush and both tube watercolors and paint removed from the tip of my watercolor pencil.

Two of my grandchildren have birthdays this week, making the holiday schedule even more complicated.  Long time readers of  this blog may remember our frantic dash to London when Callum arrived 6 weeks early - and one day before Sydney's 2nd birthday.

 Tonight I'm taking my daughter, and Sydney to their first NY City Ballet production of The Nutcracker for her birthday.  My mother, Sydney's great grandmother, gave me a a small silver bracelet to give to her to wear to Lincoln Center.  We are very excited!

Posted by Shirley at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Saturday we took our 6 year old grandson, Henry, to his second NY Philharmonic Young People's Concert.  At Kidzone, an hour before the concert, he was able to try playing a cello and a harp, compose a bar of music which was then played by a violinist, and watch Instrument Village play compositions by young composers.  While he listened to them for 10-15 minutes, I sketched a few of the musicians.

On Sunday morning, the Meet-Up Central Park Drawing Group met at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to sketch.  We started in the Greek and Roman Galleries with two 30 minute sketch sessions.  I drew 3 statues with watercolor pencil, and may still add water.

We then moved to the American painting exhibit - and I sketched a painting by Everett Shin, using watercolor pencils to add color.  Only pencils and pens are permitted in the Museum, so I surreptitiously added water with a Niji waterbrush, to paint it as we left the gallery.

Posted by Shirley at 8:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Last night was my 4th monthly figure drawing session at The Society for Illustrators in New York City.  It is a 3 hour, drop-in session - no instruction - but there's great live jazz and wine!   I'm posting one of 10 two minute sketches, one of 4 five minute sketches, 1 of 2 ten minute sketches, and 1 of 3 twenty minute sketches.  We had another bald model - and I would think I'd be used to it because I sketch figures from posemaniacs.com.  But I'm not.

I see some of the same people there every time I go.  Since my date is random each month, I have to think that they never miss - and sketch every Tues and every Thurs!  That is dedication!

Posted by Shirley at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

In Kate's "Artist's Journal class" we are exploring various media that we own or have never used and this week I sketched my whole repetoire of pens and the 3 watercolor triads that I use for mixing colors.  After documenting what I had, I decided to make a trip to NY Central Art Supply today to learn about nibs for dip pens and to bring some home to try.

Here are all of the sample pages done as over the last 3 days:

Posted by Shirley at 7:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I am now a volunteer for a local Program called My Own Book.  A foundation was developed 10 years ago in order to purchase $50 worth of books for each child in all 3rd grade classes in elementary schools in some of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods.   The program started with one school in Spanish Harlem and there now are 40+ schools in all 5 boroughs. 

We visited 6  third grade classrooms at PS58 last month to talk about reading and our love of books, and to tell them about the program.  We then met each class individually this week, with their teacher, at a nearby Barnes and Noble and worked with store staff to help the children pick out each of their books - adding up their totals ($50/child) in their personalized bags before they checked out.  We will return to their school next month so each class can present a program reflecting their experience - the first trip to a bookstore for 90-95% of the children.

While they were sitting together, listening to the plans for their shopping trip, I quickly sketched a few of the children.

Today I browsed the Holiday Market at Union Square in New York City with old friends who were visiting New York City and sketched as we walked around the market booths.  The majority of my purchases were stocking stuffers for our grandchildren, but I did find a 1927 block/building map for our neighborhood - which is great fun to examine.

Posted by Shirley at 10:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Here are two EDM Challenges from several weeks ago.  One of my art goals for 2009 was to draw the EDM Challenges weekly, but I'm not as diligent as I was in years past.  I never did several of them, and seem to be late posting them more frequently. 

Here is my husband's lock for his gym locker and I think the only "coffee pot" among many in our apartment that I haven't drawn and painted previously.  This is a one mug Melitta coffee filter - which makes an acceptable cup of filtered French Roast coffee.

Now on to #250 and 251....

Posted by Shirley at 3:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)