Thin ice

Life's Journey
Merry Christmas to all!

Saving The Best for Last

"And then he walked home…"
collage, watercolor, color pencil, acrylic
4 janvier 2012

Snowflakes

perfect little snowflakes on my sketchbook paper

After a regime of endless blizzards, impassable roads, the advent of personal glaciers on every roof and an unseasonably warm thaw the revealed the dirt and debris at the heart of winter's bounty, I was treated today to perfect, lacy snowflakes gracefully drifting to the ground. It was a dusting of confectioner's sugar that sweetened boorish Winter and his self-important blusterings. Mind you, it's still Winter (but he's trying to be comely so I can't be too angry!).

I took my drawings supplies down to the dam and drew the scene from the opposite shore. The river is full and just roaring along. I drew this in litho crayon in my sketchbook. My drawing hand was cold and stiff by the time I finished it and went up for a coffee.

The South Natick Dam, 22 Feb, 2011

The dam on the left and the Pleasant Street Bridge to the right.

I guess the bottom line take-home-message is: don't wish the time away. Even the bad times. Unexpected beauty can surprise you when you're not expecting it.

Gla gla weather

ice covered branches of the cherry tree

Another snowy day. A gla gla kind of day that is bone-chilling. We've had a lot of storms this winter and it's beginning to take its toll. Today was a bit warmer; I was able to draw in my sketchbook outside without gloves. Of course I was standing in snow up to my knees and there was a mixture of snow and tiny ice pellets falling.

The sleet made drawing very interesting. It melted on the paper and my crayon slid over the wet spots and caught and gave a good black in the drier patches. Maybe I'll try to replicate this in the studio: wet the paper discontinuously and work over it with waxy and greasy media.

The South Natick dam | Feb. 2, 2011 | litho crayon on paper

A detail view showing the resist caused by the melting snow on the paper

I was heartened to see a flock of mallards feeding in the calm of the eddies at the base of the fish ladder. Maybe this means that food is not so plentiful elsewhere. A recent spell of very cold weather has limited the open water and they are congregating in smaller areas. Maybe. They looked "happy", cooperative  and very active dipping and dabbling in the swift current. I don't know how they survive.

All in all, it was a nice day to spend indoors working on special projects.

I'm working on a children's book. Here's a spread with a flap and die cut

The die cut hints at the surprise (a bright red balloon) underneath

Snorri and Cupcake

I'll write more about this project when it's farther along.  I'm early in the process of developing it and hope to have it ready for my agent next week. Stay tuned!

I think the cats had the best strategy for a gray, gla gla afternoon.
:-)