Trying New Things

I think this is one of my most favorite pages. Shapes separated by altering the marks. I think on a larger scale this could be made much more complex. You could not go much smaller because the thickness of line determines how tight you can make marks…but bigger! Yes!

A place to work large and the added time to even begin are just not quite possible right now.

And the next page. A cityscape and an idea.

I prefer the organic shapes of the landscape over the architectural spaces.

I started with just the puzzle pieces with fine diagonal lines. Then colored them in with colored pencils. I did not like them. So drew in the three rectangular shapes coming from the right and filled in behind them with repetitive marks. Next I filled in the vast white spaces of the rectangles with vertical black marks. Still too much white so filled in the spaces between with other marks. By now I really did not like the puzzle pieces so thickened their outlines and diagonal lines.

Next I convinced myself that I should just return to marked spaces to start the next page with the intention of filling it all in. I was inspired to stay with the black and white when Robyn Gordon shared this image of Suzanne Sullivan’s cups.

Changed my mind because I wasn’t giving the coloring in much of a chance, so drew in Eucalyptus leaves to only color half in a color I am more comfortable with….greens.

This morning I turned the page and did more leaves with additional shading in the color section.

The color pencils dull the sharpness of the black lines so I have to go over them again. I have to stay with the pencils because not all the black pens are waterproof. Otherwise I would prefer watercolors.

The next leaf contact print from Lorraine is more pale and yellow than the others I have used. I am planning to fill it with the stippling technique to show nothing but sticks and stones…and then in the fold down hidden section stipple in bones. My only decision yet to make is are they all in black, or a brown pen or combination. Using the two together on a stone might look pretty good. Maybe keep my bones and sticks in black…still thinking.

Lee just opened the door to see if I was okay and seemed fine to just leave me here working. He has a new substitute caregiver today. Our regular one just suddenly quit after telling me on Friday that she was good for four days a week. Monday and today are new ones to Lee but he really doesn’t remember them anyway as soon as they are gone. That is a good thing but I get disappointed because I think I can depend on sameness. What I can depend on is that the company will do their best to get fill-ins until they get another more a permanent one. Tomorrow another new one and judging from the name could be a male. That might be fun for a change. We take what we can get during this time of Covid.

I have three and one half hours left today so will get back to another short story.

One more thing…my poetry books are arriving in Australia. Here is Mem with hers….It makes me feel so good to see her happiness with it. She wrote that the title poem was quite relatable for her.

And then this from out west that moved me to tears.

Hello Sandy, I would normally send a card but that would just take too long in the snail mail. We are honored to receive Trusting the Tether Line over the weekend. It is a profound peek into your lives and we thank you for that candidness. We who aren’t so gifted as to expressing our feelings in words can feel the emotions spilling out. You always amaze me. I love art but sadly I am not an artist. You however have set an extraordinary high bar for creativity and artistry just by being you. I have often wondered where do all those ideas come from but that is who you are. Amazing.

I miss my friends….

Til later…..