Sketch

A sketch of the bedroom based on the scale layout. Colors selected: celadon, cream, rose, lots of gold.

Bow Hunting Skills

Use it or lose it.

It seems that doesn't apply to everything. In what feels like a former life, I had skills. (Okay, not bow hunting, computer hacking, or nunchuck skills).

In the busy-ness of everyday life, I lost them somewhere. Week 2 of the quarter and the residual stress suddenly fell out of my body. Underneath it were buried skills. Mine are words and type.

And I am remembering deep loves for poetry and calligraphy.
Ah, my kingdom for a bit of parchment and a gold-tipped nib . . .

Wootten/Sanctuary

I hope everyone within reach can go to Lincolnton and view the Wootten photos. They are lush and moving. I went with my daughter and learned so much from her. We studied the same images and saw such different things.

The contemporary work from Mexico was very personal. Many works exposed souls! There are about 20 emerging artists and maybe 6-8 established artists represented. I studied the work first- then went to the lecture and learned the stories. The Turchin Center at Appalachian State is great. It is housed in the church I attended while in college. It felt appropriate that this work was in the former sanctuary.

Sanctuary: a place of refuge.

Nice.

filling my soul

I was a bit worried that I might have a tough time getting motivated with my children at home in the summertime. NOT so- they are jumping in and wanting to do things I am doing. One has a new interest in Baroque and Rococo design- very cool. The other is now captivated by Monet and has casually asked if we can go to France next summer. She reminded me that she has never been.

Today, I am headed to the photographic exhibition of Bayard Wootten. Sarah has asked to come along. In the next couple of days, I am also attending a lecture and exhibition of contemporary Mexican art. Filling my soul!!

I am still researching and drawing, but the time is allowing me to do things I can't find the time for while teaching. Books, films, photography. (In a little over a week, I have inhaled 5 books and a film!)

The idea about interpreting the photographs from that long-ago trip to Provence is still tapping on my shoulder and has been joined by a desire to do the same thing with some of the photos I took in Nassau a couple of weeks ago. I'm taking the camera today- something interesting seems to be evolving there, too.

Week 2 at school. I miss my coworkers and students. I might have to break down and start friending current students on Facebook so I can keep up with them . . .

The Boudoir

The story is about a little girl who doesn't want to go to bed and continually stalls, much to the frustration of her mum. It has evolved from a bedtime story I made up for my daughter Sarah when she was younger.

I have spent hours designing the furniture for the bedroom in the story. It is Rococo inspired and while reviewing photographs from a long-ago trip to Versailles, I kept getting "lost". The architecture from a small village in Provence still captures my imagination (same trip). Perhaps I'll translate some of these old photographs into paintings . . . (Ah, lost again).

Today's assignment: creating the floor plan for the bedroom. This is essential for keeping the perspective consistent regardless of the point of view. I keep thinking of this as the boudoir- which makes me laugh because boudoir is from another word meaning to pout. Perfect for this little girl in the book!

I'm struggling with her nightdress. What my daughter has envisioned is vastly inaccurate for the period (about 75 years more contemporary). Perhaps a compromise?

I'll try to post a couple of sketches soon.

Beginning

Mirriam-Webster defines Sabbatical as: "of or relating to a sabbatical year". Mine is 11 weeks- no wonder I feel pressed to complete a lot in a little time!

1) I cleaned out all my files and bought a new laptop so I am less restricted where I work.

2) I read a book (no surprise) The Rescue Artist by Edward Dolnick. Its about theft in the art world- more specifically Munch's The Scream. WONDERFUL.

3) I took a grand vacation to celebrate my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. It has been 20 years since I was last in the Bahamas. Absolute paradise- I could feel the stress falling out of my body.

4) I set up my drafting table and supplies. And tunes. They are vital :)

It still feels very strange to miss a quarter start. I miss it!

Background

Like many graphic designers, my first job was designing a logo. (Mine was through a contest). From there I worked at a couple of newspapers, an in-house design department, a publishing company, a radio station, a company that sold wholesale holiday wares- like Christmas ornaments, and did a LOT of freelancing as a designer, illustrator, and calligrapher.

After graduate school, I began teaching college in 1987 and have most recently taught at the Art Institute of Charlotte since 2000.

I have wanted to complete a children's picture book for many years. This sabbatical is the chance to complete some of these illustrations!