Another pencil sketch: coffee table

A sketched view of our living room coffee table on a typical Sunday afternoon. Trying to keep my hand in drawing but being pulled in work/business directions that are taking my creative energy elsewhere. Looking forward to getting back into it soon. (I still dream of colors.)

These last two drawing show me the importance of using both hard and soft leaded pencils. I attribute the lack of depth and contrast to the fact that they were drawn with a 6H pencil only: my pencil of choice on the job-site and the implement closest at hand-in my pocket always. (Yes, I see that I am as guilty as the next person in blaming my tools.)

Everyday Matters Challenge #69: Draw a Beverage

This is a drawing based on a photo that I took as we were waiting at this famous place in Venice, in a well worn leather upholstered booth, for this bartender to mix and the waiter to serve our anticipated famous beverage. It is one of those places whose history and legend far out-class its current state of overpriced drinks and tourist overrun-(all of whom are apparently seeking the same brush with the ghosts of bygone greatness as we are).
The whole bar area is paneled in a beautiful, deep orange-toned wood, including the art-deco clock. The single room is not very large and the low white-washed beamed ceiling adds to the period ambiance. Hemingway and others passed the time here in expatriate glory back in its heyday.
If you have had the good fortune of visiting the incredibly beautiful city in which this place resides, you might have stumbled across it like we did. The name of this bar is in the drawing itself.

EDM #197: Draw a Remote

There has been some discussion about growing artistically through participation in the Everyday Matters Group. I can wholeheartedly attest to this phenomenon.
One of the latest challenge is to draw a remote. Just to illustrate the artistic progress that I personally see that I have made since joining in on the EDM challenges, I am posting this drawing of a TV remote that I did back in May 2007-the month and year I started this blog. (I didn't post it earlier because-in my naivete-I didn't think it was much of anything.)
It is one of the first drawings I did after reading Danny Gregory book: Creative License. Even though I had always thought of myself as a creative person, I hadn't really deliberately drawn much of anything prior to this. So, I guess I'm saying that-to me-there has been a rewarding progression in my own work-looking at this drawing and what I have drawn since, spurred on by my participation in EDM...so, thanks to all.

Now a year and a half later, however, I am in the equivalent of "writer's block". I look at the recent drawings I have completed (which I am very happy with) and I think to myself: "who did these?..."I don't have any recollection of doing any of these strokes or choosing those colors". It is an odd paradox to be experiencing, to be looking at my own drawings and feeling like they are the vestiges of some kind of 'creative wave' I caught at particular times but that-now-the 'wind' has subsided and the shoreline has receded...and how can one conjure or pursue something that seems to originate outside of oneself to begin with?
Don't get me wrong. I realize the potency of conundrums like this...and so be it if my drawing production level is on a slow burn. I know the key is to put oneself on the path through practice and to be willing to relearn everything with a beginner's mind...and to just outright claim one's talent; but...damn.
...just waxing about the artistic process, fellow artist.

(Originally posted Nov. 08, 2008)

Nonetheless, it hasn't been a total desert. I did do this 2 minute blind contour drawing of EDM #14: Draw the First Thing You See When You Wake Up in the Morning!
...yeah, right.

EDM Challenge #36: Draw Out In Public

I had to speak into this thing tonight; but, the meeting went on forever. I had my notes ready. To pass the time, I began this drawing. By the time it was my turn, the drawing had obscured part of what I had intended to say! Since there was a very small audience (most of whom I know!), it was more privately comical than publicly tragic. (I can't wait 'til Jan. when I will be free of this commitment!)
I really enjoyed working the pencil's eraser for blending. I was happy with this one...and it opens another medium for exploration.

EDM #56: Self-Portrait and #216: Inner Critic

"This doesn't look like you...at all", he said.

"Yeah...well, whatever."

"How do you feel putting a drawing of yourself on the internet?", he chided.

"When I actually do that, I'll let you know."

(Originally posted on Sept. 14, 2008)