Squirrel!

Welcome -  

March, 2021 is upon us, and so - another monthly Personal Challenge. I do not remember how many years I've set these tasks to myself - but many. Some epic fails. Some pretty good successes.

 Fears and joys as days come and pass. 

This month: Blog Thirty-one Times

As you can see, I'm already a day "behind."

So it goes.

On to squirrels - 

Here, squirrels make the days better. We say that we are filling the bird feeders, but we are lying. Squirrels are in almost complete control of the sunflower seeds and suet. And that is OK. Local chickadees and juncos and bluejays come and go. But the grey/black squirrels know the backyard is theirs.

I have taken to buying shelled sunflower seeds to put by the back door. If the window glass is kept reasonably clean, shots of the fluffy chunks are quite easy to come by. I will never have the patience of the true wildlife photographer or videographer, but there are days that I think of them as I try to out wait a particular beastie. No panthers or pandas for me - and that's OK.

Well, that wasn't so hard. Sigh. The battles with the self are odd but real.

On to book keeping. And then on to, with mask on, drawing at a local assisted care facility. The residents who come to participate are masked, at a distance, but still willing to come up with ideas for me to attempt depicting on those big sheets of paper. We have missed having this fun for most of the months of the pandemic. We've found that so many things we took for granted are actually little gems of treasured time.

On to book keeping. And pondering the universe. A universe with squirrels.

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

Sheep

Sometimes sheep just need their own attention - 

This lady posed at the recent Shepard's Harvest fiber's festival at the WashingtonCounty Fairground.

I was at The Daily Grind yesterday - trying to stay sane. Drawing is a big help. Has always been. So out came the the Altoids container now containing bits and pieces of Prismacolor colored pencils. It's always amazing how much art can still be made with the smallest nubbin of pencil. Three or four blues. A too-pink pink. Some white to blend and mute. I tried taking care to note correct anatomy, but also wanted to catch this ewe's calm demeanor. Then there was the wool..... Anybody can draw this wool - haha! I could STILL be drawing this wool.

But I'd set a timer and the timer ruled. This does help force one to FOCUS and not care so much - both at the same time.

Now it's time to focus on getting our window air conditioner into the main studio.

And see if we can beat pending thunder storm.

Fare-thee-well. Draw a sheep.

- Sue

Sigh

Nothing one can type will bring back the lives lost in Las Vegas last night.

Everything is shallow in comparison to the pain felt by families and friends of the dead and suffering.

Here is a drawing of a bunny - for no good reason.

May we carry on as best we can - in honor of those who cannot.

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

September Challenge

It's a Weird Challenge, but it's a Real Challenge...

January 1st, twenty years ago, I made a plan - to take the month of September "off." Yes, life stuff and business obligations would still be done, but hours would be dedicated to doing, well, it's hard to explain..., whatever I felt like doing. Amazingly, I pulled this off, more or less. "Wasted" time starting some unreadable stories that were never finished. Doing a couple pencil drawings - subjects of which I do not remember. This was Before Bears.

My mind was different after thirty days of whatever this was.

And in late October a magazine from the 1920's was chosen to read while I was doing a work day at American Gothic Antiques. The little brown desk is still there. The drawer that day held, among other things, a pencil and an unmarked 3 x 5 index card. I copied a woodcut image of a calm grizzly bear head. That is all.

Eventually, that drawing led life down a path that changed almost everything I do to make a living.

Next month it will be twenty years since I drew that bear.

In semi-celebration I've decided to take chunks of this September off. No particular plans yet. Perhaps a visit to a relative or two. Perhaps some visits to coffee shops more distant than the usual haunts. I do not know. Twenty years ago I did not know. I only knew that I was worn out doing something I'd loved doing for twenty years. I knew I no longer loved doing that. I still have many pieces of unfinished model horse tack. I have glorious memories of amazing times in the model horse world. And, oddly, enough, I'm poking a few pinkies back into that world again. But not as a Job.

It's odd being a full-time professional artist. One must depend on one's brain and hands to keep creating stuff that other people want to buy. Year after year after year. I have been lucky. Twenty years of working full-time in  the model horse hobby. Twenty years of making "bears" and other images with enough energy to the images that people want to purchase them. It's really quite amazing, especially for a person who has never been on a job interview - because I am/was too shy and/or have no real job skills. 

With that typed, I look forward to Day 3 of September 2017. Today's doings included finding two potential Black Swallowtail butterflies, putting to death (sorry) a number of Japanese Beetles, and going with Todd to see part of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" put on in Stillwater's Pioneer Park by the Zephyr Theatre Company.

The backpack purse is packed for another early morning go at the Minnesota State Fair. Tomorrow's plans include no plans. I want to draw and sit and watch and listen. It's going to be relatively warm. I'm guessing that the fairgrounds will be hoppin'. I know a couple "quiet" spots. I hope to draw some bunnies. I hope to end the day at the Farmers Union building - nursing a good de-caf and drawing someone playing a guitar. Going to try for another Bubble of Odd Relaxation. It happened for a few hours on Thursday. It was more than Wonderful.

Sometimes it's a challenge to not have a challenge.
On to the attempt!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Better - 23

There was no room inside Daily Grind coffeeshop - so here I am - outside on a sunny deck lounging on a comfy outdoor couch-y thing. De-caf coffee in a to-go cup. (I will be using parts of this cup to make into art later.) Good vibes - as in from vibraphone - and soft clarinet are chillin' in the ear-buds. Should have worn a cap, but I'd not known that outdoors is where the typing would be typed. Perfect soft breeze to accompany breezy jazz. Sigh. THIS is the Summer I've been missing out on all season. (Do NOT take a nap here, Susan. That would be so unprofessional of you.)

Just now I dared to take off right foot's well-used Nike sneaker as to get even more comfy. Do I dare practicing R-E-L-A-X-ing? Put head back on bank of lovely pillows... Close eyes... smile a little smile.... Come on. You can do it. Slow count to thirty. One...twoo.. threeeee... fourrrr..... Breathe in.... Breathe out...
Wow. Made it up to thirty-five! And could have gone longer. This will be a completion of a small "Superbetter" (Look it up if you care to know more.) Quest. Baby steps, you know.

On to the reason for posting:
Monday's Minnesota State Fair visit was partially to take part once again in the group fair sketchout held twice each fair. I missed Saturday's doings as we were at ArtStreet in Green Bay. But this doings is always so much fun that Monday was mandatory for me to head in to fairgrounds early. Not 6 A.M. early, but 8:30 A.M. early. Todd said he'd join us later in the day - hooray!

I roamed the fairgrounds, stetched a few pen and ink people, some scribbled square-dancers, and then met up with hubby. We went to a few buildings (I was of mixed emotions in the Fine Arts one), visited the vintage tractors, and then decided to part ways till the group get-together scheduled for between the Sky Ride and the Food Building. We are trained in - first one there to score a table STAYS PUT till whole group arrives.

Off to the sheeple barn I go. No good reason. I'd have been content drawing bunnies, porkers, or fowl, but the sheep were just there - waiting - haha. I chanced into a relatively clean spot on barn floor in an odd "l"-shaped coming together of pen rows. Two cooperative mostly-shorn sorts were dozing and awake by turns. Out came the tiny tin of gouache and watercolors, and that magical brush with water in its barrel. Sometimes sheep moved. So one single head study is actually of two sheep. You do what you must. I had Glenn Gould playing Bach in my head. One ear-bud. So if a watcher asked a question I could be polite and pay attention. I showed off tiny tin to several people Some got Excited. Oh, the possibilities!
Four or five pages of gouache studies filled the "flow" time. Magical how that happens. One REALLY SEES stuff. The soft "Georgia O'Keefe foothill" wrinkles on neck and flanks.

The "non-color" color of shorn coat. The wool left on head.
The muted colors in tine were up to the task of mirroring actual local color. Huzzah. Time passed all too quickly. A couple stopped by - they are Standard Poodle People. I might gain a portrait commission. Not going to count my poodles till they hatch.

Gathered up art supplies around 3:30 and headed slowly back to meeting up site. The day was perfect. Large crowd filled most of the grounds. Lots of people do not enjoy hoards of people at the fair. I walk around with a smile on my face. Of course, I am no longer pushing a baby stroller. I try to make way for wheelchairs and stollers. Oddly, I saw no one carrying around a huge prize from the Midway - what gives?

Back at our spot we chatted about the day as folks began to gather. The ones who'd not gotten "i draw"pin  and the event pin for 2017 got theirs. This year The State Fair Rodent Mascot graced our pin. One year it was a sketch of a sow and sucking baby piggers. One year it was a cocky Hen.

We gathered around and put our various sketchbooks and drawing papers onto two large flat stones. Some did true show and tells of the day. "Archie," a young East Indian woman living in Minnesota allowed us to see her wonderful watercolor sketchbook. She is a member of the Urban Sketchers group - a group that is worldwide. Her book held detailed drawings from Middle Eastern markets to others done in her native India. But, of course, she purchased her book and art supplies at St. Paul's Wet Paint - the GREAT indie art supply store we are so lucky to have nearby. Eek. I might need a new nibbed drawing pen - NOOO! But its line was so exquisite... We shall see what we shall see...

WEarily when Todd and I decided to go different ways I handed him a nice small sheet of good watercolor paper and a common yet treasured ultra-fine black Sharpie Marker. He went on his merry way, ate some chicken somethings, found a spot somewhat near the HUGE Ferris-wheel, and proceeded to create a lovely loosely-drawn "time-lapse" drawing. The sky on the left needed filling  - well, here came a small plane circling the grounds! It took me a while to see the man's form in the foreground - but there he is - next to the fire hydrant. I was proud of my man for participating. And his drawing fit right in with those of the rest of group. Yup, he got his pin!

We put our pieces side by side to photograph. Fun to see together!

One of the guys in the Twin Cities Urban Sketchers group requested a volunteer at the Historical Center's Newspaper /Print Shop space create a lead type piece. This might not have been legal by Minnesota law, but it sure makes a pretty mark! And what a great idea! I won't tell if you won't tell. (And I might be a wee bit jealous...)

After all the sketch sharing was done we chatted quietly about a wide range of things. I now know that there is a group of jugglers of all range of skills that meets regularly in the metro area. We know that Monday's leader, and supplier of morningcoffee and mini-donuts, won a prize for his print in the Fine Arts Exhibition! We know that veggies are good subjects for drawing as they tend to stay put. We know that there are always new art methods to play with.

As a lovely end to our adventure, one woman began blowing soap bubbles into the light breeze. A little more magic in a day is almost always good!

This group usually meets the first Saturday and Monday of the State Fair. Drawers in ALL ranges of ability are WELCOMED! If you dare to draw, you are a Drawer. And even if you can't make these "official" dates, just bring along some pens or pencils and a few sheets of paper. Sit for a while and put some marks on your paper. Your record of the fair wil be unique, and might become a treasure.

I'm planning to return on Thursday and Labor Day. Thursday, "alone" with hundreds of thousands of people, and the last day in the Great Minnesota Get-Together, with a pal who "forced" me to bring her along last year. Look out, Butterfly House - Dee and I are coming - LOL! Last year's visit was great. Guessing this year's day might be Better!

The owners of this coffee shop have been to the fair three times already. Another pal goes nine times. Next year I'll have to up my State Fair game.


Darn - it's probably time to quit this fun.
On to the rest of this glorious Upper Midwest day.
And time to donate some $ to folks in Texas.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue 

www.suerowe.com
Facebook Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios

100 Days - 100 Dreams: 21

I complain because I have "no time" to draw.
Today I am finding time.
Because my heart needs to Draw.

Subject: Small cast resin polar bear

Art Supplies:
Prismacolor colored pencils
Strathmore Toned Gray sketchbook (5.5" x 8.5")
Black pen

The eye and arm are tentative. Yet one must begin.

The more you look the more you see. And,  yes, I decided from the start to make notes on the drawing. This way I don't feel pressed to create something that might be matted and framed. This practice is for PRACTICE. Learning. Relearning. Sort of like a musician practicing scales and fingering.

I was listening to an interview with Pema Chodron. Her "smile at fear" was worth the time. I am not good at smiling at fear.

This is as far as the drawing is getting tonight. It is not finished. I will keep at this bear until it has no more to teach me. Then I will draw another bear. Or a red leaf. Or a fork.

The subject is not as important as the drawing.

(To be continued.)

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

www.suerowe.com
Facebook Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios

A New "Normal"

Just PLAYING with the One Hour theme again this morning. And the text that appeared challenges one to be "Normal" for a time.

Friends have asked why? I do not know. I don't know what "normal" is. I don't how one would appear normal. But the word is interesting to consider.

Maybe I'd go with watching a TV show that "everybody" watches that I've never seen. I've never seen a whole episode of "NCIS," "The Walking Dead," or "Grey's Anatomy." And sip a brew while doing so? Uh..., probably not.

Normal is as normal does? I've most often fought against the main stream. Or ignored it. This didn't work out well in early days, but there was that weird inner voice saying"Don't be like everybody else" - WHILE begging Mom for a Greek Fisherman's Cap - because that WAS the headgear of the moment. Yin yang. Mixed emotions. Never did get a Nehru Jacket. Had to suffer wearing "cut off" Go-Go Boots because none were available in my giant Size Ten hoofies. Yup, I'm still warped by being the only girl at the junior-high mixer dances with those ugly duckling boots. But at about the same time I scored an excellent pair of cowboy boots that I wore so long that they where re-heeled at least three times. I miss those boots... 

It WAS fun to draw this drawing:

And maybe "normal" is just one of those things - you know it when you see/feel it.

Now it's back to filling out art fair applications, and marking off the "to pack" list for this weekend's art fair in Madison, Wisconsin.

Yes, I plan to sneak off into the wonderful Conservatory at Olbrich, too.

Cold air is Normal for Wisconsin and Minnesota this time of year, but to have the change to walk and sit in warm "green" air at two different Conservatories this week - well, color me Excited!

Just don't color me "Normal." NORMaLLY.

Fare-thee-well,

Sue 

www.suerowe.com

Facebook Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios

Never Too Late

That darned "30 Posts Personal Challenge."
I am tired and semi-cranky and usually am conked out by this time of night.
Not tonight.
Accidentally took a sort of nap around 6:30  P.M. and am now sort of awake.

Curses!
I am NOT a Night Person. I am a Five A.M. person.

So have been matting reproductions and making greeting cards.
"Monkey work" we call it.
The brain is mostly on the side-lines. Tonight it is listening to an episode of "The Mind of a Chef."
I love shows dealing with food and eating.
I am not one for shows about re-furbishing houses.
I have mixed emotions about shows about hoarding....

Now this piece is long enough for me to consider it a Post.
Disagree, if you choose.

Tomorrow is another day.
Another day. Another Chance. Another post.

Here's a scrap of ink and words from 2014:

Fare-thee-well!
Another day toward Grand Marais!!
Booth 5A - here we come!

Sue

www.suerowe.con
Facebook Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios

Appreciating the Old Stuff

I have to deliver art to our local ArtReach Members Show today. This Stillwater group has grown amazingly since getting its own space ( a large house across from The Stillwater Library) several years ago. Writers and poets meet there regularly. There are rooms upstairs for classes of many kinds. Two spacious areas downstairs make for excellent viewing of the every-changing (mostly month) art exhibits. The front porch is welcoming spot to sit during Openings. But I digress.

I have to deliver a piece of art there. Today. all of the new work is either packed for art fairs, in galleries, or unfinished. Worthy work we have at home has mostly already been shown there. Time to go deep and see what's to be found... dig dig dig.

Here are the "volunteers" that are heading downtown today - whether they want to or not -

This is a small 5 3/4" x 8 1/2" colored-pencil drawing, matted and framed funkily, but matted and framed. 1998? Evidence of how long bear shaped objects have been showing up by way of pencil, paint, or pen. I don't want to dig deeper. So  - good to go!

These guys show more emotion than lots of my current work. Something IS going on - though I have no idea what.. Well, alcohol MIGHT be involved... But I do not know the situation - before or after. That;s part of the "charm" of heading toward white paper with art supplies. Even with plans these often go awry. Some work will appear much more wonderful than one could have imagined. Other pieces get "Sorry"d to and then ripped into quarters. It happens.

And, if anybody needs an original of two tipsy bruins, these guys are for sale.

Temperature is brisk 54 degrees - heading for 71.  time for a 1 1/2 mile walk downhill, a bunch of stairs, 1 1/2 miles UPHILL, and  doing what must be done for the rest of this beautiful day.
Hoping to see some of you this weekend at Grand Marais Art Fair! Though the weekend of July 11 - 12 is coming up a bit too fast... ONWARD!

(And because I am "behind" in this Personal Challenge be warned that there will be multiple postings soon in catching up. Feel free to suggest a Topic!)

Fare-thee-well,
Be kind -
Sue

www.suerowe.com
Facebook  Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios

A rooster named "Doppler"

No, I do not know why "Doppler"  is named "Doppler," but it seems to suit him even though I know him only through an on-line photograph.

He is a Frilled Serama, the world's smallest breed of chicken. The photo sent is probably larger than life-sized and then I cropped THAT and blew him up to about TURKEY size! (This was before I knew he was a tiny chicken.) Some day we shall speak of Actual Scale versus Perceived Scale.

This guy was painted on a 12" x 9 1/2" sheet of 140 # water-color paper. I wanted to see what gouache would do. I have used this paint only once or twice before. Time to see what happens.

Not trusting my free-hand drawing skills I worked out a large grid system for initial pencil drawing.
The brain fights between wanting to practice seeing and having the hand put the pencil exactly where the pencil should go AND accomplishing more than spending all day SLOWLY drawing a chicken. If the Old Masters could use tools to make marks more quickly then so can we. NO GUILT. Although if you have TIME then certainly taking  TIME to really observe spacial relations on a flat plane is well with the effort. Any exercise in seeing is a good exercise. Except stuff like staring directly at the sun or the lovely light of a welding torch being used...

Once the initial form was drawn it was time to get out the gouache. This opaque water soluble paint is simply FUN to use! Unlike traditional watercolor you can PAINT OVER MISTAKES. At least enough to not be afraid of making mistakes! Doppler was created with about six colors of gouache and three cheap brushes. No, not Cheep Brushes.

These are not the best grade of paints - but that's O.K. One feels more free to goof off and not worry.                                                          NOT WORRY!!! 
Brushes were simply the first ones touched. Yes, I knew I'd need a Liner for eye detail. But I used finger tip to plop in paint on comb and a few places on body, too. Why? Because we never got to finger paint as young youngsters. I still like using fingers for painting and pastels. Use whatever works for you!

If I had him to do over again, which I could..., I would probably start at the top and work my way down. Naw - grab the largest brush, dip it in the black paint and see what happens! I was curious to see how easily the feathers could be addressed. A modified dry-brush method worked from the very beginning. Whew. Knowing this helped me relax a wee tad, not that the always-alert rooster noticed. Tap tap tap. Dob dob dob.

As the minutes ticked by, and I had given myself a particular time in which to finish, I had to make decisions quickly. Some areas needed re-working. Bleah! But that's where opaque White is of great aid. Me being me had contaminated the pureness of color, and was too stubborn to squeeze more out of the tube. thus the shadowy areas created. We will call these areas Art.

It was great fun to know that this wasn't going to be an entry in a National Poultry Art Contest, yet I worked hard to get eye, beak, wattles, ear as correctly rendered as possible. I grew up around poultry but never thought to LOOK at them as a portrait painter would. Maybe this is as good a reason as any to Draw early, Draw Often.

Here is the final "Doppler."

The actual paper is much lighter, but Doppler's color is close to that in actual painting. Dob and peck. Check and recheck. My favorite part is, of course, his eye. Got that glint down quite well - luck or skill? Hard to say. If time permitted I'd still study and re-work beak. Beaks are hard in more ways than one!

No beaks today! Today will probably hold another cat. So. Many. Cats...

You will notice that this Challenge Blogging will not go in order. Such is life.

Time for actual studio work, ordering supplies, applying for shows, and lunch.
Goodbye, "Doppler" - May the real you be happily pecking away in Sunny Southern California even as we type.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

www.suerowe.com
Facebook Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios

Drawing Challenge - Day 13

Yup. I HAVE been drawing - and painting - just not posting.

Many cats, a few dogs, one horse, a tiny rooster, and lots more waiting their turns.

Have used graphite pencil, colored pencil, soft pastel, and gouache.

Same have turned out better than others.
None have been complete failures - whew.

I have learned:

* painting with gouache is FUN.
* it's O.K. to resort to graphing out an image (or two).
* to look more carefully - especially AFTER something can no longer be fixed.
* how to fix some things.
* to cut myself some slack.
* to use a timer if I want to use a timer.
* that it's O.K. to spend more time with one image than with another.
* to go with the flow. (That's probably a lie.)
* that painting chicken feathers need not be feared! Beaks? Beaks are a different matter.

Yes, I will post images.
Yes, I an thrill that the owners seem to enjoy their furry friends' portraits.
Yes, more challenges are being added almost daily.

I asked and folks' have shared.
Thanks for the kind words and the kitties. So. Many. Kitties....!

Challenge to Me

Happy New Year to One and All!

That darned, rarely impulsive, brain I live in impulsively posted to Facebook earlier today that my Personal Challenge to Me this month was to draw thirty one animals or people.

And I invited friends to share their pals. Thrilled and frightened and thrilled to have already received images of many dogs, one horse, a couple cats, and..... a rooster!

Now on to the choosing of first subject and deciding how to work.

 INSPIRATION from all over the country.

Now to stop typing and START DRAWING!

Apologies to all pet buddies if your Sue-scribbled image does not reflect your True Nature.

But thanks in advance for your existence in the Universe!

Pencils, pens and paint supplies ready? Yes. And GO!

Fare-thee-well, and Challenge yourself to a little something?

Sue

Another Attempt at Happy.

Some times you just have to start.
The bruins have often not been "happy" of late - and bitching grumpy looking bears can be as boring as we whining humans. Time to attempt Change! Think Happy. Think Hopeful. Happy. Hopeful.  Let the Scribbling begin!

Hmmm. Made an outline area. Sometimes creating a boundary helps an idea to come. This time - not so much. So get that Ultra Fine Point Sharpie Marker going.

 Trying to make a relaxed yet controlled series of lines isn't always easy. Not in this case anyway. But "Keep the pen moving" is good advice - whether on is writing or drawing. Scribble scribble. Hmm.... this is not going well. So much for those 10,000 hours. Not happy with results. But this is only a page in a small sketchbook. And there are "trys" to be tried. Art supplies are close at hand. Time to change plans in mid-bear? Yes, I do  -  early and often.

Concentrate on getting other than sad or angry  expression with those eyes. Don't worry about correctness of anatomy - that's for another days' practice. Scribble scribble. That poor Sharpie Marker is getting quite a workout.

Unfortunately,  much evidence left by poorly drawn Sharpie lines cannot easily be "erased," but these lines depict the trial and much error going on. Folks think that we artists most often whip things up surely and well. Umm.... This drawing proves otherwise. But now the eyes are starting to say SOMETHING if not much....

On to some color. A bag of Prismacolor colored-pencils is almost always with arm's reach - though not always filled with the colors one would would wish. Today is no different. There are also a variety of soft pastels on the table - still not put away from commissioned project. Hmm. I like goofing off with sketchbook pieces. Note to public: "No real bears were harmed in the making of this only-O.K. drawing." Scribble. Light and dark; define more shapes; try to remove some lines. Hmm. Failure on several fronts. Think and do. Grab a piece of white pastel. Please note that I NEVER use soft pastels in sketchbooks.But this a day for not giving up. Try Anything! Hmm.. It sort of works in somewhat hiding lines around nose and mouth. And the paper is rough enough for the particles to hold. Huzzah! Now to remember not to plow Sharpie through pastel. One trip through pastel powder can kill the line of almost any type of pen. But... colored pencil moves over pastel area peachy keen. Glimmer of Hope? Maybe. Print REMEMBER to WONDER because the words showed up in the brain. If this is not a Happy Bear, it is, at least, a Wondering Bear.

More daring is coming up. Time to bring out the Big Gun. Ignore the above sentence concerning markers. This Fine Point (ha ha) Sharpie Marker fears not! I wanted to define areas around eyes and head. If using this sort of tool you cannot afford to be tentative. Even your mistakes will look as though you intended to make them.

Draw draw; back to more pastels and colored pencils. Have "fun" coloring in The Words. And REMEMBER them. Scribble scribble. This drawing is far from being one of my best. But it taught me to try Something New. And it reminds us all to Wonder. Thanks, Bear, for the thoughts you forced me to think, and the marks you allowed me to make. I hope that you're  a wee bit Happy.

Fare-thee-well, and may this be the start of Reasonably Happy Holidays!
 - Sue

Exhibition info:
This Saturday (Dec. 6) finds us vending at Color Crossing in Roberts, Wisconsin.
 Sunday (Dec. 7) we'll be  attending exhibition reception at Stillwater, MN's Artreach St. Croix. We put the Bears (most of them) in the current "Horses, Bees, and Bears" show that runs through early January.
Next Friday and Saturday we will be vending at "The Very Merry Holiday Fair" in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

www.suerowe.com
Facebook Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios
www.artfairartists.com

Drawing in Coffeeshops

Oh, dear.
I love drawing in coffee shops.
Or small cafes.
Or the bakery - if table space allows.

Needs are simple: chair, sketchbook or papers, pen, pencil, marker, beverage, and maybe something to nibble on.

Good company can add or be a distraction.
It's great is sound system is playing good quiet jazz music and the surrounding chatter is not too loud.

The drawing to be discussed was played with while visiting Stillwater, MN's Tin Bin. This eatery is housed in the former Commander Mill grain elevator, and the folks who re-designed the place did not mess around. There are large windows for watching St. Croix River action - or non-action. Nooks and crannies in which to sit. Full bar. A counter-level fireplace for winter warming. A SCRABBLE game. Great selection of bakery. Other goodies for chomping through the day. Beverages from coffee and herbal teas  to beer and wine. Friendly staff. Live music on many weekends. Like I said - they didn't mess around. It has become the go-to place. Sorry, other local places.

As shown by date - this sketch was done March 8th of this year. A pleasant Winter Saturday morning. I went with Tara and one of her friends. We had to sit across from "our" table because people were sitting at "our" table. Tara and friend chatted about stuff. I pulled out sketchbook.

Simply started from upper left corner and worked away down the page. Pentel Pocket Brush Pen for black lines.  Worked on changing up kinds of lines.  Aimed for "loose" but relatively accurate. Didn't THINK too much. Tried to allow the brush tip "dance" across the paper. Just let the brush do what brushes do. Then added Prismacolor colored pencils (small short selection from Altoid box) for bit of color. Hmm.... room at bottom for drawing the drawing I'm drawing? That was Fun.

The black tote at right top has a "Coraline" theme. Quote drawn on table's edge is taken from bag's advice: "Be careful what you wish for." Thanks for the reminder, Neil Gaiman.  So very true - but that topic is for a different day!

No, it is not the perfect sketch. Yes, it has some perspective problems. (Don't we all?) But it holds memories of a lovely Winter morning in a warm establishment, with hot beverages and warm friendships. And a Life Lesson. Pretty good for a short time scribbling in a small sketchbook.

Daughter is now living in Southern California. California has coffee shops. But it doesn't have Tin Bin. Wish I could beam a large warm muffin your way, Tara. With two butters!

On to the day. An Art-Making Day. (Because I JUST FOUND OUT YESTERDAY that the bears were accepted for a one-month show at the art center here in Stillwater. That's a topic for a Serious Serendipity post some day!)

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

FB Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios
www.suerowe.com
www.artfairartists.com

Greetings-

First - Thank You, Veterans!!

Now, on to "lighter" stuff.

Polar On!

Taking up a page in a Strathmore Toned Gray 5.5 in. x 8.5" sketchbook and stealing a pose from a real bear's image I start with a quick scribble with White Prismacolor pencil.

Just to see how the pencil plays with the paper. Sort of "slippery" and sliding on the "medium" tooth of this surface. Not as catchy as I'd hoped, but, what the heck, let's move forward.

Staying with white pencil I blocked in shape of bear. No real thought of real finished drawing. Trying to channel polar bear. Trying to channel polar bear. These bears are large, lanky, fast, and heavily-furred. Drawing to convey bulk and weight. And design. Polar bears are very well designed for their environment. Dense, yet Streamlined. Ears lie very close to head; not the large furry loops seen on black bears. Scribble scribble.

 Now, playing with adding bulk, shape, and a bit of shading. Because I seldom want to convey my bears as realistic beings I am more concerned with getting a spirit in the piece rather than making an exactly anatomically correct drawing. These bears aren't really loose collections of bones twirling in  white fur bags - but I sort of like to think they could be. On to some color!

A little bit of this. A little bit of that. Playing with graphite pencil; Violet, Cool Grey 30%, Lemon Yellow, Olive Green, Poppy Red, Crimson Red, Coral (Prismacolor). Playing playing. Working to get sense of Warm Sun playing across right side of head and most of body. Changing shape of mouth from source image. This is one Calm but Happy Basking Bear. Scribble scribble. Starting to see where the yellow will go. Starting toward making bear's form more solid. Slippery layer upon layer upon layer.

Adding Black to the mix, and fun with Derwent Metallic pencils - Yellow and Purple. And. gasp!, Crayola Sky Blue. Why Crayola? Because it was the first medium blue my fingers touched while searching through pencil bag. (In addition to the pencils stored in the beautiful cloth pencil holder our daughter stitched up I have a few stashes of pencils kept in gallon-sized plastic bags. And two small stashes of really short pencils in old Altoid boxes. (Focus, Susan - back to main topic!)

More layering and pondering. A touch here a wonder there. Knowing that head isn't drawn EXACTLY correctly, but practicing not caring too much. Layer Layer Layer. Longer strokes. Shorter strokes. Experimenting with subtle areas. A few darker marks to lips, eyes, and ears. Lots more Yellow. Lots more White. More shorter strokes. Think "Thicker Fur. Thicker Fur." Trying to decide what my mission is which this bear. Words and sentences come to mind, but I do not add them to the drawing. Hmm. And didn't write them on a scrap of paper or in a notebook. This was probably a mistake. Always try to have a blank piece of paper nearby incase THE Idea strikes. I know that three or four useable sentences floated in and out of the brain. Bye bye, Ideas. But if you care to come back, well, this time I've got paper.

Here is what I decided was the finished bruin:

And, as with so many of my sentences, the above is a lie. Now this "final" photograph shows clear areas that can be improved. And they will be. but not right now. The day holds many other tasks. But this was Fun And Educational to me. And I hope that you learned something, too!

Here be Pencils (sorry, you few that got left out):

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

FB Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios
www.suerowe.com
www.artfairartists.com

Weeks Zip By

Another week has zipped by. Not without noting. Noting mainly in small notebooks, long skinny lists of things to do, lots of posts on Facebook.

The Mr. Jades appear to be Happy indoors. The two geraniums whisper that they would prefer a tad more sunlight. Sorry, geraniums - where you are is the best we can do. (This house was not built with thriving houseplants in mind.) Out in the garden chard and kale nap under sheets for a few more days. I harvest smaller and smaller leaves, but take joy in knowing that these plants are still producing delicious green goodness in early November. Sort of makes our late wet cold Spring more O.K. (Just a little.) Hoping to plant some bulbs, but this is not top priority today. Will wait for even colder weekend - that's my style!

Here's an early morning scribble - taken from an essay on the "On Being" web site. (Sharpie Marker & Prismacolor colored pencils)

I really like these sentences. They give us will to do what can't be done. I have a friend or two in Artist Land that do impossible things because they don't know certain things can't be done!  Kassie did her work among the poor and homeless. We can do impossible things in so many ways! We must remember this.  And of course we must keep on doing the possible things, too. And find time for rest and reflection. And fun. And exercize. And Hope.

If you figure out how - please let me know!!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

P.S.: Peggy's Holiday Boutique (Roseville, MN) ends this Sunday. Chickadee Boutique (Shoreview, MN) ends in a few weeks. We are re-stocking goodies for Brickyard Pottery (Shell Lake, WI), Art Dock Gallery (Duluth, MN), and Old Time Mall (Tomahawk, WI).

Go do some impossible thing today. How's that for a Challenge?!

www.suerowe.com
FB Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios
www.artfairartists.com

Pork: Pre-Bacon.

Hogs, pigs, swine, porkers. they always leave me with mixed emotions.

THEY ARE SMART.
THEY ARE DELICIOUS.

In art school days at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls, I was known for my pig drawings. The reason I DREW pigs is a long short story for another time. Faculty members purchased my pigs. Classmates and teachers would leave pig-inspired gifts in my studio space. It got a little weird.

After graduation I did not draw anything for many many years. Really. Then the bears happened. At an art fair several years ago a customer asked if I ever did any other animals. "What do you have in mind?," I asked. "I really like pigs," she said.

Done and done. But only a few and only as card designs. (Time passed.)

Today it felt like time to draw a  porker.
Yay for State Fair photographs!

Here is a blurry model from this year's Minnesota State Fair:

Yes, I wish I'd spent more time focusing. (That's an issue in way more of life's areas than photographing livestock...) Yes, that is it's tongue.


One of my many 5" x 7" spiral-bound sketchbooks was hunted down. A plain old graphite pencil got sharpened. Let the drawing begin!! Yes, I was listening to a football game. Football? Pigskin? Just the way it goes.

Here is the somewhat finished drawing.

Yes, those are eraser marks. No, the sketch isn't perfect. But it sure was fun. I might go back and re-work some things. Or, I'll probably simply do another drawing.

Tomorrow holds the start of putting up our booth at Roseville, MN's "Peggy's Holiday Boutique. This show does take a crew over five days to create, but once it's open - What a place to shop!

Now it's time to publish post,  have a sip of tea, and be glad this pig had such a lovely glint in its eye.

Try not to lose yours - Glint on!

And Fare-thee-well,
Sue

www.suerowe.com
Facebook Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios

P.S.: No, we probably won't have bacon for dinner. But for breakfast tomorrow - most likely.

Breaking in New Sketchbook At Tin Bins

New sketchbook. Pentel Pocket Brush Pen and Prismacolor colored pencils. Started with the paper cup. Worked counter-clockwise around subjects till top portion of page was filled. Sipped more tea. Sticking with ink, started on lower portion - surprised to find that the space allowed/forced the drawing of the sketchbook drawing! Sipped more tea. Added some color. Carrying an Altoid mints box filled with tiny almost used-up colored pencils is a good thing.

Tara's friend had the black tote pictured. I asked her what the quote on bag read. They were words from Neil Gaiman's book, "Coraline." Words? "Be careful what you wish for."

I wish for more sketchbooks, a fresh cup of tea, and more time to draw.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

P.S. - If you need one of our bears, and are visiting the Duluth, Minnesota area, please check out their new digs at Art Dock Gallery. Yup, after Blue Lake Gallery closed we were lucky enough to have the bruins invited just across the street in Canal Park. YAY!!!!

Mr. Bossypants

Just a quick something that happened because:

* Daughter has friend with house bunny.
* Daughter photographs rabbit and gave me all of the pix.
* One day I "need" to drawing something that isn't a bear.
* This toned charcoal/pastel paper is just sitting there waiting to be used.
* The backside image of bunny is most intriguing.
* Grid ratio on ruler works great with paper size.

* The bag of Prismacolor colored pencils is near at hand.
* I allow myself large chunks of a couple days to "play" with this bunny.
* Comments on posts of progress on Facebook help cheer me along.
* The more I look at photograph the more detail becomes apparent.
* I decid to play with a large variety of warm and cool colors, while staying true to fur color.
* The mirror image helps in changing outline just a tad.
* Bunny becomes more and more "alive" as pencil stroke layers grow and grow.
* At last I had to decide "just fifteen more minutes" - or the piece would still be thought unfinished.
* Even after he is done..... I have to tweak the drawing just a little more.....
* And I do regret slightly that bit of Indigo Blue near the top - a color I'd thought fitting when first layed down... Oh well. Lesson learned.

So, now..... introducing "Mr. Bossypants"!!!

Backside.

Tomorrow, it's back to the bears.

Every once in a while, or much oftener if possible, dare to try something different - Yes, hop to it! Time to rabbit up tonight. (sorry....)

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

Inspiration?

Inspiration? Ya gotta get it where ya find it. Just here in the kitchen one could draw or paint:

* Candle with calm flame
* Young tomato plants eager to become adults
* Dirty sneakers (remember Van Gogh's boot paintings/)
* Creamer full of white apple blossoms
* Various "still-lifes" of Stuff on Counters

Last week we vended at Llama Magic - an event held annually at the Washington County Fairgrounds just outside Lake Elmo, MN. The barns held many booths of wondrous wooly things - roving, fleeces, yarns, finished products, and ANIMALS. The building we were in held Alpacas and Llamas. So I "shot" llamas and alpacas. for Future Inspiration.

We can play with Attitude. We can play with Shapes. We can play with Contrasts. We can play with Textures.

Not this morning. But as Grandma Bessie would say - "Soon. Soon."

Take your camera with you  - even on mundane travels. Something close by or far away might just be the thing to capture  and get the pens or paints busy. I will probably never sketch this week's filling-station sign stating gas is $4.39.9 a gallon, but the image is there if I need to draw in despair.

Time to go learn of the healing power of art at the Hudson Hospital - their facility is filled art - on purpose. Hoorah!


Fare-thee-well,
Sue