Paper and Threads

I finally finished the book inspired by Gwen Diehn's book on Darwin.  Hers was really small.  The ones that our Journal Study Group made are 3" X 5". 

Here is the cover of mine.

This book has two concertinas, one that makes up the spine and end papers of the book and a second one that makes the pages.  The concertinas are stitched together with a 3 hole pamphlet stitch.  The spine of the book is then held closed with one stick which goes through 3 tabs - two on the front cover and one on the back.

These are the pages that I created using stamps I made from figures I sketched at the Society of Illustrators figure drawing sessions this spring. 

End paper on the left and page 1:

Pages 2 and 3:

Pages 4 and 5:

Pages 6 and 7:

Page 8 and End Paper:

When the stick is removed, the spine can be opened to reveal a hidden image.  This is a stamp that I made from my painting of mother and child - inspired by a Henry Moore sculpture.

Posted by Shirley at 8:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Another Stamp of the Pregnant Model: 

I made yet another stamp from one of my drawings of the pregnant model at the Society of Illustrators Figure Drawing Sessions.  I was wondering whether I could paint the page with watercolor and then have the stamp ink completely cover the paint.

Posted by Shirley at 10:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Yesterday I went shopping with a very nice Mother's Day gift card.  I replenished some supplies, extended colors in some watercolor paints, and bought one new toy.  Since I have a lovely set of Albrecht Durer watercolor pencils that I bought from open stock over several years, I'm not sure how I will use these - but it is fun to play.  And I'm sure my grand daughter Sydney will help me.  I'd love to hear how others, who use both watercolor paint and pencils, use the crayons....

Posted by Shirley at 7:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

I had a leisurely Mother's Day yesterday and then joined my NYC children and their spouses for dinner!  It was wonderful relaxing in my PJs all day.  When we returned from dinner, I decided to draw my art mannequin in pencil (look closely) and then dress her in my PJs to remember this lovely day.  

Posted by Shirley at 7:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Yesterday was our monthly Saturday Meet-up Central Park Drawing and Art Group - and we met at Columbus Circle.  It was a beautiful day but very windy.  My eye immediately went to these purple flowers.  I'll add several photos so I can get help identifying them.  The entire circle was surrounded by these long stem beauties.

We then moved into Central Park to the area around the childrens' playground and the big climbing rock.  It was much less windy and more pleasant for 30 minutes of sketching.  I chose to do a painting of the top of the GM building over the park trees. 

Finally we moved further into Central Park and climbed to the Chess and Checker House.  There were only a few people playing, I was sitting too close to this couple, so I have a semi-caricature because I couldn't really stare at them long enough to sketch anything accurately.

Posted by Shirley at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)