Page Three, Part One

We're back!  After a long hiatus, I have dusted off our sketchbook and it is in the mail to Raena in Texas!  I am excited about the possibilities of this page.  I have a definite idea as to where I would want the page to go, but I am going to keep my mouth shut.  Because I need to see what Raena will do.  Because isn't that the idea - feeding off of each other's creativity?

This is a very special sketchbook. When I pick it up, I am always a bit uptight, because I want it to be good work for Raena, and I know I don't want to mess up the page. So every time I am pushed to try to achieve extra quality. This time I based the picture on a "Creative Commons" photograph at flickr.

The smart thing to do might have been to draw on a separate page and use carbon or something (like I hear folks sometimes do), but I frankly don't know how to do that and I get a bit tired redrawing the same thing. I like the freshness of a first drawing. I did pencil it in first though.

I started at the feet. Initially I was trying to measure visually to get everything just so. I concentrated so hard on the proportions that it was a mess. Finally, I just erased it and gave myself permission to sketch. And that is when the drawing worked. It doesn't look exactly like the girl in the photo here [It is a beautiful photo by Jonas Hansel of a Cambodian girl], but it works for the page, and that is what matters. This is what "adapted" and "derived" means. I toyed with changing the colors of the clothing, but I rather liked the feel of it, so I kept the colors the same. I was trying for a picture book-style feel.

Raena - So glad you're back! Hope you enjoy it, and can't wait to see what you do!

Page Two, Part Four

I was so completely blown away by the whimsical, magical life force of the music that Raena illustrated at the top of the page. I was left with a thin strip at the bottom, and wanted to further that concept. So I thought about it: Grass?..no, flowers?..no..I thought of a fish leaping from the water and the splash and bubbles, and bubbles turning into notes, much as Raena's notes sprouted branches. I tried to illustrate the fluidity of the music, and the way the music itself spawns life.

Once I thought of the idea, I looked all over the web for an adequate photo of a leaping fish. I couldn't find what I wanted. So in an idle moment I drew a fish leaping from the water, splash and all, on a piece of notework paper without looking to any reference. And that is what I used as my guide.

I was impatient on the day when I did the drawing/painting, so I didn't pre-ink, and trusted myself to do it right the first time. It became a bit busier than I expected, and I overworked some spots and that I think is a reflection of my mood at the time. I'm happy with it though. (Click on the picture to see it larger.)

Finally the page is done. All in all it is a very active page! Too busy perhaps, but it was a wonderful collaborative learning experience. I truly appreciate how Raena stretched me away from reality. When I sent the page to her the last time, I expected curtains or ceiling fans.

So here it is: In almost ten months, we've done seven posts. The book has crossed the Gulf six times. And we've completed two whole pages in our sketchbook!

Raena has asked me to start the next page which I hope to do fairly soon (by the standards of this blog). Any ideas on what I should do?

Page Two, Part Three

This was incredibly difficult for me; I really struggled with what to do. My imagination is a rusted out, 1967 model. The gears don't run smoothly. If Dan hadn't mentioned that he didn't think it looked finished (I agree), I probably would have just started a new page. My first inclination, and don't laugh because it is REALLY boring, was to add floor tiles and ceiling fixtures. But, I did at least realize that it was a boring solution!

I thought a lot about what Dan's wife had mentioned...that the dancer didn't really match the 'big band' type of music, so I thought I would make it about music itself. Music and it's ability to transport us, make us feel alive. I painted the music bars yellow to show that it can bring light into our world. I thought of writing a quote at the bottom, but couldn't find a single one that I thought would go well. If Dan wants to do something else with it he is certainly welcome. Otherwise, I'll keep looking around and add one later. (Any suggestions?) Maybe I should just add some grass or something??

One of the ideas behind our exchange is that we would challenge each other. This was certainly a challenge for me! Part of it was connecting the big band with the colorful girl. I thought long and hard on how to do that one! The other part was in the composition. Dan placed his band right smack in the middle of that space. I'm not sure how well I've handled that, composition being a weakness of mine, but I did enjoy, through gritted teeth, working through it.

You should see this in person. I have to say that Dan did an excellent job on that band. Each person has such a unique face. The details are impressive!

Page 2, Part 2

Yeah, yeah, I know, I know, I've taken an enormous amount of time to return this one. Raena has forgiven me though. This is my addition - a big band. I toyed with the idea of a flamenco guitarist, and then of having her stand in front of a mirror (but why would she do that - she'd be facing away!). Then I had the idea of the big band as being the most interesting possibility for the space. My Most Valuable Critic (MVP) felt it didn't match, given her costume, but I figure the big band can play a piece that would make a singer or dancer dress up that way, right? I enjoyed trying to make each musician unique - in different positions, with varied looks.

I did this a little differently. Generally I ink first, but I first had the idea that I wouldn't ink at all. So I drew in pencil, and then used watercolor in a way that it could stand on its own. It was okay, but my MVP felt it needed ink, and she was right (she usually is - don't tell her). It is much better that way.

Raena was worried about the arm (see the last post). I think the problem was, believe it or not, the armpit! So I moved it in. The original line is now the side of the conductor. Did you notice, by the way, the beautiful molding of the arm with the colors Raena used? It is beautiful to behold - so well done. I also made two other minor changes - I added hair to the back of the head, and whitened the teeth just a touch.

It was interesting to paint on the multi-colored background - thank you Raena for challenging me! I believe that it gives the whole page a festive feel.

I don't think the page is done yet, though - so Raena, it's up to you!

Page 2, Part 1

So, one of our goals in the moleskine exchange is to push each other out of our comfort zones. My idea here was to force us to work with preexisting conditions. The background was applied first, before I even knew what I would be drawing. I had used this technique on several drawings as of late and everything had turned out just fine. Then I drew in the picture with a bic ballpoint pen, with no pencil lines first. I think her raised arm looks like it doesn't attach to her body. I'll leave this for Dan to fix! The girl is based on this morguefile photo. Loosely based, since I was drawing in ink!

Recently, I ordered a L&C 7020 brush, size 14. So, I procrastinated getting on with the drawing because I knew I would have this larger brush coming soon and I had hoped it would force a looseness. Well, let me tell you! This is indeed a fine brush which holds lots of water. But, it also keeps a very fine point allowing me to get all fussy with this! (still, I recommend the brush!)

Page 1, Part 3 (Dan)

I've done a lot of work on this page, and here's the explanation: I could have just added a background, but it seemed to me that there would be something lacking.

Besides, it seemed to me like the woman with the two dogs was looking beyond the other woman, and not straight at her. Why, I wondered, was that? What was it that she was looking at? Once I settled on the third dog, I couldn't just place it on the page - floating out there - unless I created a setting for it. I wouldn't know where to put it.

There was also the thought that since I started the first page, I should probably finish it, otherwise it would be Raena that would do so. We both sort of felt that Raena should start the second page of the Moleskine by right. (It's only just and proper that she should feel the excitement and anxiety of the blank page, don't you think?)

So to tried to keep the bar high and to live up to the great drawing I received back from Raena. I worked very hard to do the picture well. It became far more involved than I ever intended, really. At every step there was a challenge. At every step, nervousness and hesitation. All in all, a great experience.

If you would like to know more - much more - about how I did this picture, you can visit my blog.

I realize that ultimately I pretty much dominated this page. But I figure that some pages will be more Raena, and some more mine, and some pretty evenly half & half, and that'll be the way that it goes. Raena and I exchanged a few e-mails, and I believe that she understands this and agrees.

So off to Texas, and on to page 2! I hereby declare this page done!

Page 1, Part 2 (Raena)

Well, I didn't add much for this first exchange as it came at a very bad time for me--at the beginning of a really long and distressing artist block! I think it should be easier next time; that's what I keep telling myself anyway! I like Dan's idea of less words and more art on this blog. I struggle so much to write when I'm in my art mode! And with all of the pressure (good pressure, pressure to improve) on the art, it is nice to not have to worry about writing! So, to read more about this piece, please visit my blog!