messy bessy

It is that time of year - I can smell the freshly sharpened pencils and crisp notebook paper pages - but while all my fellow educators were getting back into the groove today I was stuck at home waiting for the official call denoting the beginning of my year.  While I was going stir-crazy, I decided to decorate the cheap-o aprons I bought to keep those kids from slinging paint all over my clothes.  They look much prettier now.  I can't wait to get them messy - haha  : )

room for living

No carpet or table legs - highly unfinished - I'm lazy!  When I've had enough, I've had enough.  haha

c'est fini?

SO CLOSE to being complete.  Although I'm not yet sure if I would call this "successful", there is not much more I am willing to do with it.  It might be time to put this one away and embark on a new adventure!

MoM(m)A

marker and colored pencil on canvas - just playing around

salt-n-pepa

by the way

And while I am at it, looking back over what I have done so far in terms of drawing I actually feel pretty good!  I know I have yet to complete my larger-scale painting and have been working much slower than I would ideally like to be, but the purpose of this project was to keep making in general.  When I take a peek at what I have done, even counting only my favorite images, I am pretty happy.  Mission accomplished.  For now.  Okay, enough babbling and trying to justify my over-a-month-break from some serious art making.  Time for sleep.  Some work tomorrow - and hopefully a little time for play too!  : )

camping

Yes, I only made these little measly sketches over the entire week long trip to Lake Superior.  Lame.  I was still distracted - lots going on.  The lake was calling to me.  We did lots of swimming.  Oh, and I read The Help which was a nice, relaxing book.  It wasn't my favorite, but still good.  Anyway, expect more drawings (and better ones) very soon.

inspiration

Phew!  What a whirlwind of a summer it has been.  A massive writing job, job searching, wedding planning, interviews, getting married to my Love, honeymooning in Montreal, a week in the upper peninsula, five days spent consolidating two overstuffed apartments into a new place in Midland (the "City of Modern Explorers"), a few trips to Kewadin, one very sprained ankle, revamping my portfolio, and I think I can FINALLY breathe again.  It has been an absolutely amazing summer - so much has happened to make me feel truly blessed - but I am so grateful for finally being planted and letting my roots stretch a little.

I know it is strange - most people morn the loss of summer days - but I can smell autumn in the air already and am itching for the anticipated change in seasons.  Fall is my favorite.  Maybe because I am an avid nerd and the beginning of the school year was always enough to put me over the moon.  While I still don't know what this year holds (a little last minute, yeah, I know), I am excited for new beginnings.  Additionally, I am ready to start drawing again.  I feel invigorated from my break and all of the wonderful happenings that have jump-started big changes in my life.

Just for fun, here is some work by a few artists who inspire me:

Andrew Wyeth

Antonio Lopez Garcia

Ben Duke (MSU professor)

Euan Uglow

Frida Kahlo

Gustav Klimt

Nancy Ekholm Burkert

Norval Morrisseau

Zak Smith