Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Bitten by the Dog Days of Summer






Whew! It's been ages since I updated, longer if I go back to the last art I posted. This summer hasn't been great for me. I am not prone to sulking or depression, but I'm an outdoorsy type and Houston just had the hottest August on record. I do not like heat, especially with high humidity. It had me thinking about Boise, and wishing I still lived there. I lived right on the Boise greenbelt, which runs straight through the middle of town next to the Boise river. From the greenbelt I walked to Boise State University (not as a student), the library, the post office, the grocery store (when I only needed a few items!), 8th St marketplace, the zoo, numerous parks. You get the idea. I was outside all the time; lots to draw too. So, in my sulky state, I complained about not having anything to walk to...everything is spread out. Not that it matters because who would want to walk here?! And what the heck is one supposed to draw around here, a barbed wire fence? To compound my problem, after doing numerous remodel jobs in the house, which was exhausting but satisfying, I got out of the habit of sketching. I made a sketchbook, then another. But when I picked up my pencil to add the first sketch, I couldn't get into my groove and it turned out terribly and now I have to look at it every time I pick up my sketchbook. I have struggled with trying to get it back for several weeks now. (Upper left: morguefile photo: ref id# 208873 by LU311 done in pencil and watercolor; Upper Right: A very small gesture sketch of a fleeting moment, done in ballpoint. )

For Labor Day weekend, we had my brother-in-law's family come for a visit. My 7 year old niece, whose work I've posted here before, loves to draw. I gave her a sketchbook last year and in it we are writing a story and illustrating it. We drew tons this weekend, all of it from imagination (very unusual for me). I was really getting into the groove by the third day, feeling like that dreamy child again. In the story, my husband and niece and I are always getting captured and we have to use our super powers to get free and conquer the bad guys. After watching "The Spy Next Door" (Jackie Chan movie), we suddenly remembered we were Master Ninjas. I do wish I had remembered to scan in some of our artwork to show you! I know that you would have been impressed with her talent!

Here is a very quick sketch of my niece. She looks very serious here, but believe me, she is nothing but energy and giggles! I asked her to be my model and hold still. I laughed when she instantly went rigid with her arms straight down at her side, her eyes unblinking. After I got her a little more relaxed, with her arms folded, she asked me how long this would take, to which I replied that sometimes it could take hours. Her eyes went huge! This sketch might have taken five minutes; that is all she could take.


I have since filled six pages of my larger sketchbook, hoping to break this spell. I think it is working, I do feel lighter/less burdened. Left: Wishing at was at the Urban Sketchers Symposium. Pencil sketches from photos posted on their site. Orange background added in Photoshop. (It made the sketches stand out more.) Right: Sketches with my Lamy Safari using morguefile photos as reference.

And the heat has finally broken. We are only in the seventies today, as we are getting pummeled by Tropical Storm Hermine. It has been dark and rainy all day, but to me it is much preferred over August's weather. This is the view out of my studio window at the moment. Let's hope that I've gotten over my moping and that I remember next year, when it is summer and miserable again, to at least keep drawing as that is what normally keeps me happy!

26 comments:

  1. WONDERFUL stuff, Raena! You have been sorely missed, and I am glad you are doing well!

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  2. I loved clicking on al the photos---the 2 women at the top--well, the one in heels made me smile at how well you captured them--the orange look I will try--love the look..all the sketches are top notch and your window says you've got the touch for table scapes, too..

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  3. Great to see your sketches again! I love that drawing of your niece. I've had the doldrums too lately. But our weather isn't to blame, or maybe it is :-)

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  4. I like your sketches and stories v. much. Love the one top left!

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  5. I'm delighted you've rediscovered that sketching HELPS. I love what you've done, as usual. But you know what, we all go through those dry spells...

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  6. Welcome back from Houston Heat Hibernation! I was kinda feeling sorry for you until I hit your Urban Sketchers and meerkat pages, then I was just feeling jealous! These are great, great pages! I was painting with my nephew Jake this Labor Day weekend too. I gave him tomatoes to paint, and I gave myself this multi-bottled still life (to try painting transparent and white). He was done and gone in 10 minutes. I was there an hour and a half later. But I got some oohs and ahs. So that's cool. I'm still not done though. Seems everything I've been doing is unfinished. No time. No posts. Love the idea of a joint project with my nephew - might have been able to keep him around longer.

    btw, I have a large moleskine - and I hate the first page too. It was done in a car with pen and waterbrush - terrible. I keep looking at it wondering if I can use it as a background so I can get rid of it (as the first thing in the book)!

    Oh, and I'm glad you've surfaced because I am (finally) almost done with my part of the page & will be sending it to you to finish. So you'll have no time to rest!

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  7. Welcome back Raena... your extended internet fan club has missed you... and we'll love even your bad stuff... it probably isn't half as bad as you think it is anyway. Your sketch of your niece is delightful... neither of my brothers have children, and they've reached an age where they probably never will so no nieces or nephews for me... makes me a little sad, but at least I have grand children now to play with and keep me young at heart. Which is what it sounds like your niece did for you.

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  8. Your dry spell from sketching is like a grand show of sketching from my point of view! Glad you've been able to get back into it lately.
    It's been exceptionally hot here too and no fun.
    From what you and Dan both say, sounds like the first sketch in a new book needs to go somewhere in the middle. Actually- if you don't like the first one, all those that come after will only look better!
    But don't take my advise because I'm no good at doing those sorts of things (sketchbooks) at all.
    Welcome back! I missed you.

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  9. Great sketches. I especially liked the upper-right one and your niece.

    I have several sketchbooks; each has a drawing someplace in the middle. I hope there's no rule about starting on the first page (I'll probably do that last).

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  10. The sketch of your niece is great, especially considering the time you had. I find August too hot too, but I always stock up on ideas and photos and then sit by the fan and draw! Glad to see you back.

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  11. I think we all seem to go through these dry spells. You are definitely not alone! It is raining relentlessly here and the days are dark - Hardly inspiring to get out the sketchbook! My favorite sketch of yours is top right - I love it, it's quirky! And the sketch of your niece - 5 minutes? Really??? Wow!
    Btw, if I had such a beautiful window in my studio, I think I would have to sketch it!

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  12. Sometimes I have a hard job remembering that sketching will help bring me out of a funk,it's like a vital connection in my brain gets switched off :-(. SO glad to see you back and swinging, I love that orangey page - some lovely drawings there, really well observed and I love how you captured the gesture of the woman in heels and her man.

    And what a gorgeous window! I hope your wethr will sort itself out soon - we aren't doing so well here either - high winds and lots of rain.

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  13. Love your little meerkats! My favorite African animal - not the big five, but Oh so cute! If you ever write and illustrate a book, I want it!

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  14. I'm soooo glad that you are back. The sketches show that this is what you need to do. By the way, your studio windows are stunning.

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  15. I meant that your sketches are so good, that is why you need to continue doing them. Geez, maybe I need to just read and not talk this a.m.

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  16. Your sketches are very lovely and expressive--I am glad that you are back at it. I went through a dry spell this summer too so know what it feels like. I think I came out the other side with a better idea of what I want to do though.

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  17. Fantastic sketches, Raaena! We were waiting for them but it's worth it! :)
    Beautiful your niece's sketch and the others.
    By the way: love your studio window... I'm sure that place will make you feel good and you'll draw even more! ;-)

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  18. I believe that it's been raining quite a lot in Houston, as it has been here in Lafayette. I am not a happy person when it's hot and sunny too, that's why I could imagine how it's like when it gets so hot down here. The rain though, I like it, but I can't cut the grass...so perhaps I should move to a place that I won't need to cut the grass ^^
    Anyway Raena, thanks for your comments, and I really like your sketches, and I am super glad that you're actively posting again. Remember you told me that if you don't know what to draw, just draw what you see? =) Every now and then I'd be stuck, and I'll just remember your line and draw what I see... but of course, I always fabricate what I want to see ;)

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  19. Don't underestimate the quality and usefulness of these sketches Raena. Even the tiniest of sketches is good for our artistic souls and keeps our minds focussed. The top right in ballpen, though simple, has great style to it and maybe you should build on it in some way. The orange set are so interesting to study and I'm glad you uploaded a large version.

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  20. Welcome back Raena. I have missed your posts.

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  21. Your sketches have such wonderful energy!

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  22. Nice sketchbook page, Raena. I really like the lose quality. Thanks for the comment that you left on my recent post.

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  23. Hi Raena, Hmmm, it would be kind of fun to see what you draw from imagination. It's different, isn't it? Your drawings are wonderful; it's hard to imagine you having a dry spell...but Houston in the heat and humidity of August does not sound pleasant. Happy fall!

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  24. Am I far behind or what? All sketches are terrific, but your niece's pose is priceless.

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  25. Loved spending time looking through your post! Your art work is tops and I loved your figure sketches. You have captured their energy so well. Thanks for my morning.

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