the early bird

Erin-15 weeks

2010-03-24T14:53:00.003-05:00

The first post here in almost a year! I've still been drawing, but life got busy, and the addition of sweet Erin is one of the reasons why. I'm hoping to return to my artwork with more focus and intention now that things have settled down. Or settled down as much as they can with three small kids, a job, and a life.

Bittersweet

2009-07-17T06:14:00.009-05:00

Tomorrow, we are signing paperwork to officially purchase a first "real" home. A home with a basement, a backyard, and an appropriate amount of room for 2 adults and 2 children (actually, 3 children in about 5 more months.) We're excited, as we are in desperate need of more space and a yard for our kids to run around in. Our current home has two bedrooms and a back deck, but no yard to speak of, and with a 4-year old and a 2-year old under our roof, we generate a lot of noise and a lot of motion. The time to leave our little condo has come. We were fortunate enough to sell it last month, and are now in the process of boxing it up and moving out.

Along with leaving comes a little (a lot, actually) of sadness, as this was our first home together, the first place both of our children came home to, and is filled with many happy memories. Hopefully, the new owner will enjoy it as much as we have, and have many of his own happy memories here.

Some highlights:
Our living room, facing south. The most used room in the house, as it's also the largest and has the best view. Many days were spent reading and playing in this room, and many nights were spent watching tv/movies, drawing, and spending time with family and friends. When we first moved in, some of my former students came to visit. They must have only been about 20 at the time (we were in our 20's too!), and that night one of them beat Dan and I so badly in a rousing game of Scrabble we still talk about to this day. At that point, we had no furniture or decorations; just an empty new condo, a bunch of friends, and a lot of laughs. Lego corner, in the living room facing north. That's Sean on the floor, in his favorite spot. Every morning, he comes out of his room and gets down to business in Lego corner, which technically is much larger than just the corner. The windows in the living room are almost floor-length, which makes them perfect for setting up a variety of Lego creations while also observing the comings and goings of our neighbors and they enter and leave the courtyard. (The walls and shelves are empty because I drew this recently. It's all packed.)
Our couch, one of the first and most expensive items my husband and I purchased for our condo. It has withstood a fair amount of abuse over the past 7 years, and is no worse for the wear. We also own a matching oversized chair and ottoman, all very comfortable and very washable (important when there are small children using the furniture along with the adults.) In addition, while the paper is pink, the furniture in real life is not.
The view from our dining room window, which faces the back side of an apartment building next door. Interestingly, this view was one of the things the man who purchased this condo from us listed as a "negative" after seeing our house for the first time. When we moved in, we considered this view a negative as well, but over time, we got used to it. The wall, the wires, and the boarded-up window never got more attractive, it just grew on us. I'm sure he'll learn to love it as well. And a final exterior photo. Our living room window (for a few more weeks) is the large one on the first floor, right underneath the Tudor tiles.

Wafers

2009-07-02T14:17:00.002-05:00

The rarely-seen, not-especially-tasty satellite wafers, a candy that reminds me of my childhood. They taste similar to a thin piece of cardboard, but that didn't stop me from enjoying them when I was young.

After I drew these, I offered them to my 4-year-old son. He was perplexed, to say the least. I told him they were candy, but he was very suspicious.

Summer shoes-'09 version

2009-06-30T07:16:00.004-05:00

Meg got new purple gym shoes last week. They are so cute, I considered ordering myself a pair (they do make them in adult sizes.) However, she is 2, and I am 32. They're probably better suited for someone her age.

Two summers ago, I also drew her (and Sean's) little shoes. Last summer, I started drawing her 2008 kicks, and I never finished, which I now regret. I could have had a complete set. Maybe it's not too late to finish that.

Wired

2009-06-03T08:15:00.007-05:00

I don't know anything at all about the intricacies of telephone pole wiring, but this one sure has a lot going on. In all honesty, I did take some artistic license with a few of the wires, though. So I guess this drawing isn't 100% accurate.

The candy from Chinatown drawing, and an older drawing of a sucker that is similar in style were both chosen for a juried show at a local gallery. I was happy to be selected for the show, and even happier that both pieces made it in. This is also my 100th post. It's taken me a long time to get to 100 posts (too long, actually) but this was a pretty good way to get to that point. Here's to 100 more-and in a shorter period of time than it took me to get to the first 100!

The forgotten candy stash

2009-05-19T07:18:00.005-05:00

I haven't updated this space in well over a month. I haven't actually drawn anything of significance in well over a month either. I was experiencing a bit of a drought, I guess.

Yesterday, while my son was at preschool and my daughter was napping, I remembered a bag of candy I bought in Chinatown, months ago, that was sitting under my bed. I had a new gray sheet of Canford cardstock, and this drawing, which needed a companion. Somehow, after a good solid block of mental fog, I started to draw again.

I was almost late picking Sean up from school, I got so absorbed. I got back to work after dinner, when the kids were in bed. I woke up at 5:30 this morning and returned to my drawing. I think I might have even dreamed about it last night. I am now finished, and it feels great to have my pens and markers back out, right where they belong.

Mug stacks

2009-04-09T08:13:00.002-05:00

Mugs, mugs, and a few more mugs.

Hospital jumble

2009-04-07T06:41:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, my Granny and I were talking, and she was remembering how beautiful the tulips at the hospital were last spring. She was hospitalized for five months last year, winter through spring, and was able to see the tulips from the window in her room. I joked with her that if she wanted to see the tulips again this year, I would drive her over to the hospital, but she didn't need to go to the extreme of getting hospitalized to enjoy those flowers.

Four days ago, I checked her in to the hospital again, for dehydration and a virus she was fighting. We were all scared that what happened last year would happen again this year, and she'd be in there for an indefinite amount of time. Last night, my mom called and said my Granny is getting out of the hospital-today!

The bad news is, it snowed pretty heavily the day after she arrived at the hospital. I'm not sure how the tulips fared. The good news is, she's going home!

Ode to a Jetta

2009-04-03T08:00:00.004-05:00

Last week, we sold our '02 VW Jetta at Carmax. We'd decided to become a one-car family for the time being, and of our two cars, the Jetta was chosen to be sold. This is the chair that was facing me as I waited for the cashier at Carmax to issue my check.

The Jetta was the first new car I purchased after college, and although it served us well, I never really fell in love with it like I thought I would. It was fine, but the two of us never connected. My very first car ever was a,'85 Audi 5000, which I purchased used when I learned to drive in '94. Now that was a car I loved. It broke down and had to be towed the first time I drove it, shuddered and started smoking on another trip, and even had a bees' nest in the doorjamb when I first brought it home, but for all the trouble it gave me, that car and I always had a solid relationship.

I thought I might take a few pictures of the Jetta, or even do a quick sketch of it before we sold it, but I never got around to it. That shows how uninterested I had become in that car, I guess. At one point, Dan was working odd hours, and we needed to be a two-car family. Now, he works 9-5, and takes public transportation. The Jetta spent most of its' time sitting on the street, while the kids and I drove in our other car, which is still a sedan, but has more legroom and is a lot more stylish. Seeing the Jetta sitting there on the street just stressed us out, and it was beginning to need expensive repairs that we couldn't justify since we didn't drive it, and didn't particularly like it.

Last Friday, we went to Carmax with a price in mind that we were willing to part with the car for. They offered us significantly more than that price. Dan and I jumped at the offer and didn't look back. Poor Jetta. Hopefully someone else will love it like I never did.

New runners

2009-03-31T06:50:00.004-05:00

Purchased yesterday, for a Memorial Day 5k I am preparing for.

"I'm slow, but I'll finish," is something Dan's grandmother, who was 100 years old when she passed away, used to say. I am not an especially speedy runner (10 minute miles) but I run regardless. It feels wonderful, and I get it done, even if I am far from the head of the pack.

Greens

2009-03-26T07:02:00.002-05:00

An avocado, with its' pit intact.

Well, turn it up!

2009-03-23T06:34:00.002-05:00

A little turnip, purchased for artistic purchases, as opposed to nutritional. Now that it's been drawn, I think I'll find out how to prepare it. My mother-in-law is from Ireland, and she makes these for holiday dinners. I'll call her and find out how to convert it from a drawing subject to part of a meal.

PS-the title line is from an '80's commercial for a set of cassette tapes (!) called "Freedom Rock." It was the first thing I thought about when I typed the word "turnip." Why can't my brain retain information on something like the history of the Civil War, or chemistry equations? Instead, I'm stuck with knowledge of infomercials from my childhood. Drat!

Little green bag

2009-03-19T07:49:00.002-05:00

As if I didn't love the Chicago Public Library enough for their online book ordering system, they now offer a reusable bag to carry your books in for the low price of $1. Since we usually walk to the library, this bag is an absolute necessity.

Scrappy

2009-03-11T07:00:00.001-05:00

An assortment of interesting organic shapes found while preparing meals.

This is on a scrap of gray mat board, hence the texture-y background.

Scraps, so far.

2009-03-05T06:15:00.004-06:00

This is just a bit of the food scraps I drew last night. Since this scan, I added another orange rind, part of an apple core, and the top of a pepper (it's on a long scrap of mat board.) I missed colored pencil, so I capped up the Pitt pens and broke out the Prismacolors. To be continued...

Pretzels at Target

2009-03-02T06:18:00.001-06:00

The colors aren't exactly accurate, but the red and purple combo makes the Target Cafe look a little more exotic than it actually is.

Liquor and Lottery

2009-02-27T06:38:00.003-06:00

I got hooked after the last one.

This particular sign happened to have some broken neon, which was interesting to draw. I am now on the lookout for my next sign, although the parking on the street and drawing it part is a little tricky with two kids in the back seat. For the bulk of this drawing, they had fallen asleep in the back. While they snoozed, I sat in the front, drawing and listening to the radio. It was a perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon.

Wait, skates!

2009-02-26T07:21:00.003-06:00

The underside of one of Sean's new 4th birthday skates. These skates have proven to be so much fun, they are currently hidden in our storage space. I made the mistake of letting him skate on the hardwood floors inside the house the day he received these, and he hasn't stopped asking to do it again ever since. My fault, I know, for letting him do it to begin with.

We've bundled up and skated outside a few times, but at the risk of ruining our walls, floors, and furniture, the indoor skating has come to an end.

Over the wing

2009-02-25T06:28:00.002-06:00

Seen on the return trip from Vancouver, back to Chicago. Every time I fly, I get a little choked up when we land and the pilot says "Welcome to Chicago." I'm a sap like that.

Right outside

2009-01-26T06:10:00.004-06:00

This drawing is a misrepresentation of the apartment building next door to our condo. It really isn't that bad, just a standard brick apartment. Nothing fancy, but the whole of the building is not as bad as this single window. Unfortunately, this is part of the view from our dining room table, and it's not especially beautiful. It's a jumble of wires, and the lower half of the window has a stained piece of plywood in it.

Next time, I'll draw the view from the north side of our building. It looks out onto a beautiful courtyard, and the architecture of our building is charming.

For today, here's the south side. Until I draw the north side, this is "to be continued...."

Red Hot

2009-01-23T06:23:00.006-06:00

In all honesty, we don't eat here. We have been here a handful of times since we moved to the south side almost seven years ago, but we probably haven't been there in at least four years. The shakes really are "famous," though, at least in this neighborhood.

That said, I really got sucked into this drawing. I did the initial drawing while sitting in the parking lot across the street, and added the color at home. And at Starbucks. And at work while my students were working on a still life last night. And then at home again. I really got sucked in. In the spirit of full disclosure though, I must add that this sign is supposed to say "red hots," not "red hot." There was a stoplight blocking the "s" while I was drawing, and I didn't realize it was there until I pulled away.

Now that this sign is done, I have a few new spots I've scouted to sit and draw signs from. I have a feeling this could turn into a slight addiction...

Just a bite....

2009-01-22T06:14:00.002-06:00

A chocolate glazed, slightly "sampled."

Interior view

2009-01-20T06:17:00.005-06:00

This drawing has been sitting in my sketchbook for a long time, unfinished. This weekend, I finally added some color and detail to it. It was one of those drawings (actually, most of them are) that becomes meditative-a calm, focused effort.

As it turns out, I needed the calm while drawing. Dan and I were watching The Dark Knight while I worked on this. Visually, it was wonderful, especially since there were so many shots of Chicago. Heath Ledger was great. However, I have a have had a hard time with violence since I had kids. I know, I'm a little lame. I had to stop watching the Sopranos (which I loved) when I was pregnant with the first guy, and I haven't been able to take anything remotely violent or disturbing ever since. Nature/parenting does that to you, I guess. I know I'm limited now in terms of subject matter, but the fewer frightening things my brain has to process at this point, the better.

This couch has been featured before.

Blue Moon

2009-01-16T06:52:00.002-06:00

A quick sketch from the coffeehouse.

Yikes.

2009-01-15T05:45:00.005-06:00

Two cold-weather related posts in a row. It is 20-below here, with the wind factored in. Tomorrow will be warmer-it's going to be 2 degrees.

Here I am in warmer times; last Friday night, to be exact. My "Saf-T-Pop" (and the photograph above it that is obscured by the camera flash) were in a show called "Evolving Artists."

Chillin'

2009-01-14T05:49:00.002-06:00

It is truly freezing here. In fact, it's beyond freezing.

Yesterday, in an act of absolute foolishness, I locked my children inside the car. It was running and warm, and they were all buckled in to their carseats, very comfortably. I was the one on the outside, shouting through the window at my three-year old to crawl to the front seat and unlock the door. It took about 20 minutes of intense discussion, but he figured it out. Totally saved the day-and saved me some stress.

The mitten in this drawing belongs to my daughter. She's two, and her accessories are all way cooler than my own.

A slice

2009-01-12T05:58:00.002-06:00

Just a little slice of the cake we celebrated my birthday with last week. I've been waiting for this EDM challenge for a while, and it was delicious!

Miscellaneous Michigan Ave. Facts

2009-01-09T06:54:00.003-06:00

Drawn on a cozy and snowy Monday morning in the Starbucks on Michigan Ave. at Pioneer Court, downtown Chicago. Some fun facts about this drawing-

1. The Hotel Intercontinental is across the street. This is the hotel where guests of the Oprah Winfrey show stay while in town.

2. The Tribune Tower also across the street, in Pioneer Court. This building is not only the headquarters of the Trib, it is also the home of WGN radio. For a radio fan like myself, this is big. Dan and I crossed the street after we left this Starbucks and took a peek in the Showcase Studio at WGN. This is a ground-level radio studio where the current on-air personality is often broadcasting. I like to see all my favorite radio "people" in person, so I can match the voices with the face.

3. The "ticker" you see in the bottom left corner of the drawing (the black and red sign) is part of the NBC Channel 5 news studio, which is located directly below the sign.

And that's all for my informal tour of this section of Michigan Ave. Thanks for joining us, and enjoy the rest of your stay!

A mighty good line

2009-01-08T06:00:00.002-06:00

Small scenes from the Rock Island Line. I did the drawings on the train, and added color later, when I was no longer in motion.

Drawing with Joanna

2009-01-07T06:03:00.004-06:00

My friend Joanna and I met about once a week to draw at a local coffeehouse. This drawing was made at the Starbucks in our neighborhood, a cozy little place with good window seats. While we drew, the two of us would chat about anything and everything. She's from Poland, and is full of interesting stories and life experiences. Every time we met, I learned something new, like how she taught herself English when she arrived in Chicago, or how she was hosting her own radio program on a Polish station here.

On this drawing date, she told me all about packing her Honda with her possessions and dropping it off to be shipped back to Poland. And that's where she is now-back home. Perhaps only temporarily, perhaps for good. Either way, I enjoyed our drawing dates together, and our conversations.

The final Sunday of 2008

2009-01-06T06:19:00.002-06:00

I was an hour off on the time for the Sunday evening Yin class I take. I guess they changed the schedule recently. In any case, I used about 20 minutes of that time to sketch a nearby building. And then I went inside and got all Yin-ed out. Wonderful!

I'm back, and I have a chair!

2009-01-05T06:13:00.003-06:00

Oh blog, I apologize. I haven't forgotten you, and I haven't stopped drawing. I just sort of...got busy. I hope you understand.

I am fully recommitting to our relationship, I swear.

The little lady

2008-12-02T13:44:00.005-06:00

Meg, completed.

I'm not sure how I feel about it. I love Canford cardstock, but perhaps this blue wasn't the best choice for a portrait. Regardless, the eyes and the hair are all Meg.

Leaves last gasp

2008-11-18T06:40:00.004-06:00

It's already snowing in Indiana, creeping closer and closer to Chicago. These leaves I collected and drew last week are most likely the last batch of really pretty ones to be found on the sidewalk, before they all turn brown and curl up. Sigh....the warm weather is really, really over.

Sweets

2008-11-11T05:56:00.003-06:00

Two of the cupcakes from Meg's second birthday. She's a sweet little lady who makes us very happy.

This is Pitt brush pen with Prismacolor layered on top-not really intentional, just trying to cover up the brush pen I didn't like so much after it was added.

Ginkgos, again

2008-11-07T06:43:00.004-06:00

I've drawn these before, but I couldn't resist when I saw them starting to fall off one of the trees on our walking route. They're so pretty and have an interesting shape. They also remind me of the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, a favorite of mine in architecture.

I drew these Tuesday night, as the election results came in. My husband was in Grant Park at the Obama rally, and I was sitting in my favorite chair working in my sketchbook. It was a good night.

My first (and only!) tomatoes

2008-10-28T06:12:00.003-05:00

I grew these tomatoes in containers, started from seed. It was my first time trying such an experiment. They took forever to reach maturity, and only one of them ever even turned an orange-ish red. Before I could pick them to eat, a crew came out and stained the back decks at our building. All my tomatoes were sprayed, and therefore, inedible. All was not lost, as they did make an interesting drawing subject, and I learned what to do differently to produce a better crop next summer.

Meg, in progress

2008-10-23T14:06:00.000-05:00

Today is Megan's second birthday. I started this drawing of her last night, and it is very much still in progress. She has a beautiful little face (as her mother, I am clearly biased) and I hope my depiction of her reflects that.

Blue boots...

2008-10-21T06:05:00.000-05:00

...actually, black boots. Black boots that I drew with soft lead and then smeared all over the page with my left hand. The curse of left-handedness is the fact that I smear everything that I write and draw. After seeing what a mess the boots were turning in to, I erased them, and this pair of "phantom" boots is what was left. It turns out, I like them better like this!

Still life, complete

2008-10-03T06:48:00.000-05:00

The completed still life, which I posted a glimpse of a while back. This is a collection of kitchen objects that I pulled together based on their reflective surfaces. Like the couch several posts back, these were purchased around the time Dan and I got married.

Canford cardstock is absolute perfection to draw on. Every time I go to Utrecht, I stock up on the single sheets. The color choices, the finish, weight-all perfect, all calling my name from inside the binder where they're stored.

The Way to Really Fly

2008-10-02T08:17:00.001-05:00

Two drawn while riding the Metra. The title of the post is a line from an old Metra radio commercial.

PS-You're not really supposed to put your feet on the seat. That shoe was just up there for a second, long enough to draw it. I swear!

On its' way out

2008-09-29T05:48:00.001-05:00

Pink wallet with a broken zipper.

The Bean

2008-09-26T06:44:00.000-05:00

Wednesday afternoon, I cracked open a sketchbook and took a second shot at "The Bean," also known by the more formal name of Cloud Gate, by Anish Kapoor. Chicagoans, or those familiar with Millennium Park in downtown Chicago will recognize this new landmark. It's been around since about 2004, and is a popular destination for tourists, photographers, and people who like to look at their distorted reflection.

I saw a man sitting with his easel and canvas in this spot earlier in the summer, and I thought-"Why not?" Turns out, drawing The Bean is quite a challenge. This is my second attempt this summer, and it still isn't entirely accurate. Anyone familiar with the Chicago skyline-don't look too close at the reflected buildings along the edges. With the exception of the Aon Center, you might not find what you're looking for!

For those unfamiliar with this sculpture-the top photo is me shooting a self-portrait in the reflection, and the bottom is what it looks like when you stand inside the concave center.

still, life

2008-09-18T07:12:00.000-05:00

This is actually a very cropped area of a larger still life I've been working on this week.

A few years ago, I read a music review in The Onion that described a particular band's music as being similar to "listening to the sound of a plastic spoon hitting a pile of mashed potatoes." That sound has been the sound I'm hearing inside my brain this week. Last week I was at the top of my game, ready to take on anything. This week, there's just a lot of dust rolling around up there.

However, in a few short hours, I will be embarking on a bit of an extended weekend break. Here's hoping I find my missing pieces!

Economy

2008-09-09T06:23:00.000-05:00

The artichoke (below) was overworked. I am now concentrating on not letting my hand (or my brain) get out of control. Keeping it simple.

This is a tomato from the garden of my mother-in-law. EDM #176, something summer. Although this is something summer, yesterday was the first day I put a long-sleeved shirt on in about three months. I also started teaching my fall session classes yesterday, and my son went to his first day of preschool. Summer's over, at least around here. It was a good one, but I can't say I'm entirely sad to see it pass. I'm an autumn person.

Artichoke....

2008-09-02T09:22:00.000-05:00

...foreshortened from the stem end. I'm having mixed feelings about it.

Manager's Special

2008-08-29T06:57:00.000-05:00

The "Manager's Special" from Dunkin' Donuts. I don't know how the manager decides what the special is going to be, but it's always a donut with frosting and sprinkles on the top. This one also happened to have chocolate goo in the middle. I bought it for my son, but when he forgot about it, I decided to turn it into a drawing instead. I took the bites out of it to reveal the center. It was good, but good in the way where you know it will make you sick if you eat the whole thing, so I didn't. I returned it to its' intended owner for that purpose.

EDM 96-draw something sweet.

Marital furniture

2008-08-27T17:37:00.000-05:00

This couch (and its' companion oversized chair and ottoman) were the largest furniture investment Dan and I made for our condo when we were married six years ago. It came from Crate and Barrel, and I suspect there are many people who were married around the same time who own the same items.

EDM 148, something comforting, because I like to utilize its' horizontal space for the dual purposes of reading and resting. And watching Jeopardy! at 3:30.

For Matthew

2008-08-12T06:41:00.000-05:00

This is a series of three sports-themed drawings I did for the son of my friend Meredith. Considering I know very little (and I mean that) about sports, I'm happy with how they came out. I think I learned a little something with each drawing, one thing being how to draw the various logos, and also how to draw the complex and interesting (although questionably visually attractive) Assembly Hall at U of I. (PS-For those who don't know, the I-L-L-I-N-I is a cheer Illinois fans do while watching the Fighting Illini play. I went to a handful of sporting events in college, so I know that much.) Go Illini!

Matt is still to young to talk, so he'll have to indicate his feelings about these drawings to me in some other way.

My Flying Saucer

2008-08-05T06:26:00.000-05:00

I am, without fail, always able to find something else I need to be doing when I really want to be drawing. Mostly it involves cleaning something, taking care of someone 3 or under, or doing some lesson planning/paperwork/email that needs to be done. I always end up frustrated that I am not drawing or painting more often, which is what I really want to be doing. Yesterday, I had an hour between classes. I told myself I was going to draw during that time, no distractions. And that is what I did, darn it. I hope yesterday was the start of a more focused approach to my art. Correction..yesterday WAS the start of a more focused approach to my art.

By the way, I'm making this EDM 176, "Something Summer." We stopped at Whole Foods last Friday so Sean (age 3) could use the washroom. Along the way, I couldn't resist picking up some gorgeous produce, and almost a cool purse made of recycled fabrics. But then I said, "Whoa Becky, pull in the reins! Aren't an avocado, two peaches, and a few tomatoes enough?" For now, they are. But I know where you are, purse with the fish on it!

For all you do...

2008-07-23T06:35:00.000-05:00

This is not my bottle of Budweiser. Not that I don't enjoy a beer every now and again, but when I do, it's not this brand.

When I was little, we had a neighbor who used to drink a few Budweisers every evening. My parents didn't drink, so to my siblings and I, this was pretty unusual. Our neighbor would ask his son (our friend) to go "get me a cold one," which would crack the four of us up, every time. For some reason, the thought of getting someone a "cold one" was hilarious.

And if you're wondering, yes, we do ask each other to "get me a cold one" every so often, now that we're adults. It's a joke that never gets old.

(EDM 178-Something red)

Thanks, Granny!

2008-07-16T06:32:00.000-05:00

While my grandmother was recovering from her extended hospital stay, she encouraged me to sit at the table with her and draw. This is what I started, months ago, and finally finished yesterday. This jar was on her counter in the kitchen, and full of saltines. She let me empty it and bring it home to finish the drawing. I don't think she realized the jar would be gone for so long, but it is now officially on the way back to her house.

While I'm happy with how the whole thing turned out, I wish the portrait of myself weren't so cartoony. I used brush tip Pitt Pens, and they don't seem to lend themselves to fine details like a colored pencil would. I am giving the Pitt's a break and returning to Prismacolors for a drawing or two.

This one's dedicated to my granny, for her support and for the extended use of the subject matter!

Bedroom repaint-complete!

2008-07-08T06:20:00.000-05:00

In our slow, slow process toward putting our condo on the market, we checked off one of the items on our "to-do" list-repainting the bedroom. It looks great, and the used painter's tape was pretty interesting looking as well.

Saf-T-Pop

2008-07-01T06:38:00.000-05:00

Guess who had to visit the doctor yesterday? Technically, these Saf-T-Pops are reserved for children visiting the office, but an adult can have one too, if they ask nicely.

The doctor's office has given me several different drawing opportunities-like this and this. But that doesn't mean that I want to visit any more frequently than I already do. Once or twice a year is fine, thanks.

(This is also EDM 153, something in a plastic wrapper)

Rev. Michael Pfleger

2008-06-24T06:49:00.000-05:00

As a Chicagoan and a Catholic, I've found Father Pfleger's recent newsmaking pretty interesting. After being removed from the pulpit by Francis Cardinal George for 2 weeks due to his statements about Hillary Clinton at Trinity UCC, he returned to St Sabina this past Sunday.

I wouldn't say that I agree with all he says or does, but the most important thing he seems to be doing is creating a strong Catholic community, as his church is large and active. Based on news stories I've read quoting his parishioners, he is a strong and positive force in his community.

Photo credits to Scott Strazzante from the Chicago Tribune for the excellent photo I used for this drawing.

A little bud vase...

2008-06-09T22:52:00.000-05:00

...Waiting for its' companions to arrive.

I have three more of these bud vases, and I am hoping to draw them too. I started this at home Sunday morning, but did the bulk of the pen work in my "studio," a 2002 VW Jetta. I was at the 57th Street Art Fair, and it started to absolutely pour. So I adjourned to my car, realized I had the drawing and my pens in there with me, and voila! A studio was born.

Yesterday, I spent 47 minutes drawing in my studio while I waited to pick my granny up from some tests at the hospital. Any chance to get some drawing in (while sitting in a comfortable chair, too!) works fine with me.

EDM 166-A fish

2008-06-05T07:26:00.000-05:00

Swedish fish. Always sweet and barely any prep time before eating!

Back from that hole I fell into..

2008-06-04T05:57:00.001-05:00

I didn't literally fall into a hole, but I might as well have. That bold proclamation I made about Every Day in May? That didn't go so well. I was pretty disappointed in myself, since I enjoyed it so much last year. But things happen, and one of the big things was that my grandmother (whose hand was featured several posts ago) was released from the hospital-finally!

While I was over spending time with her, I actually started a pretty large self-portrait. It's still in progress. I finished this drawing above, which I started May 1. It's my sister's condo in the Hyde Park neighborhood. She bought it last summer, which makes her an official homeowner. This drawing is a birthday gift for her. I also finished the second in a series of three drawings I am doing for a girlfriend of mine. And I drew a few other little things here and there.

So I guess all was not lost in May. However, I hope June is a little slower, and has more pockets of time for getting lost in a drawing.

(And this is EDM 29-Draw something architectural.)

Curly Fries

2008-05-12T06:16:00.000-05:00

Shortly after I wrote the post below, I realized I had misplaced (or lost?) the Canford paper I had mentioned. I spent the weekend looking under furniture, inside books, in the trunk of the car...anywhere it may have slipped away to. No luck. I know I have other types of paper I could draw on, but I really want that Canford paper. I am willing it to return to me safely.

In the mean time, a quick one with Pitt pens and Micron.

EDM 117-Something Round

2008-05-09T06:36:00.000-05:00

I am in love with these Pitt Pens. Do I need more art supplies in my life? Absolutely not. Did that stop me from buying three more colors this week? Absolutely not. I am DONE (for now). I swear!

You know what else I really like? This Canford paper, which is cardstock, I guess. The colors, the texture, the way it takes pencil and pen, everything. I also bought three (four?) more sheets of this.

Here is a photo of my collection, which I swear is not going to grow any more for a while.

And I am still working on my Every Day in May challenge, but things are moving slooooooowly. The progress is not worth sharing at this point. It seems to be an exceptionally busy time right now, but I am hoping everything will slow down soon, and I will get some quality time in with this project.

Meg

2008-05-05T22:34:00.000-05:00

A quick drawing of my little lady, although there are some slight differences that are throwing me off a bit.

As for my Every Day in May architectural drawings, I'm moving slowly. This weekend was sort of a bust, art-wise. And just in general, actually. But I'm back in the saddle and looking forward to some quality time with my Pitt Pens and Moleskine today.

Every Day in May

2008-05-01T21:22:00.001-05:00

Last year, Every Day in May is what got me back on track in terms of creating artwork again after a super-extended break while I was teaching full time. Even though I was full of ideas and would have loved to execute them, I could never find the time to actually commit to anything large (or small, for that matter) art-wise. I missed drawing and painting so much, but somehow it seemed that teaching and all the work that surrounded it always came first. And then, three years ago, I had my first baby, and suddenly I had all sorts of time on my hands.

Okay, that part is a joke. I still don't have a lot of "extra" time. However, teaching part-time and having two kids who nap has made it a little easier to fit in my own artwork. I love it, and while I still don't feel as though I've found my "niche," so to speak, I am enjoying myself, and proud of what I have done so far.

I have been looking forward to Every Day in May again this year, as a chance to do some concentrated work, as I have felt a little foggy lately, and in need of some direction. Last year I just drew or painted every day, with no specific subject requirements. This year, I am committing myself to doing architectural drawings in my new watercolor Moleskine. I love architecture, and it seems as though I come across so many beautiful buildings and details right here in my own neighborhood. Therefore, my area of concentration is going to be the south side of Chicago. I'd like to work from observation whenever possible, but I'm sure I'll have to use photo references (my own photos only) on occasion.

Here's the beginnings of my first drawing, which is actually a whole page in the Moleskine. This is an excerpt. It's going to be a gift for someone...provided it does not take a tragic turn at some point before completion.

EDM 118-Hair...and Harold!

2008-04-22T22:07:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading the book Harold!, which is a collection of the photographs of the late Mayor of Chicago, Harold Washington, along with a narrative describing his political career. I was in grade school when Mayor Washington was in office, so prior to reading this, I didn't know too much about his tenure. The story of his career is incredibly interesting, and unfortunately, too short. He died of a heart attack in office at the beginning of his second term. The photographs in the book are amazing, and really capture the essence of his career. I was lucky enough to also see them on display downtown.

The drawing above is from one of the photos in the book. Mayor Washington is not as easily recognizable with his eyes closed like this, but I loved how happy he appeared in this photo. I haven't drawn a portrait in a while, but I recently started teaching an adult portrait drawing class, so I figured I better have some recent examples to back up my lessons with. I really enjoyed this drawing-the subject matter and the time spent working on it.

EDM 162-Breakfast!

2008-04-17T06:55:00.000-05:00

(Click to enlarge)

This is a bit of a departure for me, but it was fun.

I might reserve this particular sketchbook only for this type of drawing. An illustrated journal, if you will. Although I'd like to add a little more detail in terms of the drawings. And I don't even eat bagels that often. I'm still at a bit of a loss for breakfast.

EDM 10-a hand

2008-04-17T06:41:00.001-05:00

My grandmother's hand, with her multitude of bracelets and tubes. She's been hospitalized longer than I even knew it was possible to be hospitalized. Since the first of the year, approximately. She's missed winter, and is now missing spring. Hopefully, she'll be home soon.

Drawn in a Moleskine, and notes on the reverse of page are visible.

EDM 146

2008-04-15T06:33:00.000-05:00

The owner of the bakery in my neighborhood is pretty generous. She's let me display student work there, let me photograph her merchandise, and even gives away her day-old donuts instead of throwing them in the garbage. Above is one of those donuts, of the plain cake variety, with two little dabs of chocolate. By the time I got around to drawing it, the donut was stale, so I didn't eat it. Time doesn't change the smell of a donut though, and smelled just as tasty as the day in came out of the oven.

I used a combination of Prismacolors and a Derwent Aquatone pencil on the donut. I have no experience with the Aquatones, but I think I might be a convert after this.

EDM 34-A fall leaf

2008-04-15T06:27:00.000-05:00

These are both from the fall, I just never scanned them.

Gingko leaves and some tree fungus that is common in this area.

EDM 108-Revisited

2008-04-12T07:47:00.000-05:00

Just something quick. Two bulbs, one in mechanical pencil, and the same one with color added later in Micron pen. Drawn during a meeting. The colorful one is wrinkly because it was rained on.

EDM 32-Something metallic

2008-04-09T08:18:00.000-05:00

This is a shoe bell I purchased for Sean (now 3) when he first began to walk. You're supposed to jam the laces of the shoe inside this contraption, and then close it up. By doing this, you'll not only keep the baby from untying their shoelaces, you'll also be able to keep track of them since the bell will jingle as they walk.

This little gadget never really got a fair chance to do its' job, since the intended wearer would never hold still in order for me to fit it on to the shoe. After a lot of struggling and maybe a few words that were not suitable for young ears, I gave up.

It was interesting to draw, though.

EDM 4-Drinks, drinks, drinks

2008-04-04T14:38:00.000-05:00

A coffee mug, a little beer mug, and a glass of pop (or soda, to those not from the midwest.) Hydration of all types!

PS-That's spicy cheese sauce at the bottom. Delicious and bad for you-a winning combination!

EDM 36, in two parts

2008-03-26T21:44:00.000-05:00

I am trying to loosen up.

I took a trip downtown to take care of a few errands, one of them being a visit to Dick Blick, because I was in dire need of new art supplies. (..heh heh...) Really, I needed a drafting brush, but a few other items fell in the basket, including a set of Pitt brush-tip pens.

Here they are, brightening up a little sketch of the interior of my train car into the Loop. EDM 36 is drawing in public, and although I was sitting alone in my seat, I'm considering this public.

EDM 36-Spring is (sort of) here!

2008-03-24T15:39:00.000-05:00

The arrival of spring cannot be based on the weather in Chicago. It is cold, gray, and snow is predicted for later this week. It's hard to feel "springy" when you're wearing a scarf and gloves and sucking on cough drops all day. However, it is possible to create your own indoor version of spring, and here is ours.

My son Sean and I planted two trays of seeds, thanks to an idea from kind Scarlett from the EDM forum, and they are thriving. In fact, I am going to transplant them into a larger container and start two more batches of new seeds later today. At some point, it will have to warm up and they can go out and enjoy the fresh air.

(This scan is fuzzy.)

EDM 125-Draw a bird

2008-03-13T22:44:00.000-05:00

I only bought this delicious Cadbury Egg for drawing purposes. It turned out to be a lot harder to draw than I expected, although I enjoyed the process. One person who wished it wouldn't have taken me so long was Sean, who really wanted to eat the egg, but wasn't allowed to until I was finished drawing it. He even came over and licked it a few times over the course of my drawing. When he woke up from his nap this afternoon, I was done, and it was all his.

Except for the part I ate. (This is him eating it.)

EDM 107

2008-03-12T07:36:00.000-05:00

I love the Chicago Tribune. This is how I get my news, although it might be more convenient to go to the Tribune website. I prefer the "paper" version of the paper.

At one point, one of my neighbors was taking my paper while I was at work. My crafty solution to this issue was to make a "decoy" paper out of the sections I don't read. I then enclosed a well-worded note instructing them how to order their own paper if they were interested in a subscription, and to please leave mine alone. Problem solved. But next time I might not be so civilized!

A return to watercolor, which I use every so often.

EDM 44-These are animals

2008-03-11T05:30:00.000-05:00

Aaargh! This didn't turn out how I had expected. I drew it on textured cardstock, which was a mistake. That turned out to be the least of my problems though, as my subject was eaten before the drawing was finished. No, not by me. By a young man I thought was taking his afternoon nap, but who woke up and helped himself to a snack while I was refilling my water glass. Much of it is drawn from memory.

Has anyone ever had these before? They're Stauffer's Iced Animal Cookies. Don't bother clicking on the nutrition info-they're bad for you. But they taste deeeee-licious!

EDM 11-The Purple Glasses

2008-03-05T17:20:00.000-06:00

There are my new glasses, hiding in the background behind chapstick, a piece of gum, and my car key. They're so cute, and they fit my face well, but my eyes aren't that bad. Since I don't really need them, and I forget that I have them, they get little use. Here they are, being used as a drawing subject instead of assisting the draw-er.

EDM 159

2008-03-04T06:39:00.000-06:00

A red spatula, drawn with Prismacolors. I was trying to get away from using Mircon pens and doing so much "outline-y" drawing. I like using Prismacolors, but I seem to be sort of addicted to the Microns right now.

EDM 120-(Sort of) A Flashlight

2008-02-27T08:16:00.001-06:00

How did I find the time to do this drawing of the light the doctor uses to check your ears, you might wonder? Although the pen was added once I got home, I had plenty of time to do the pencil drawing because the nurses actually FORGOT I was sitting in the office, waiting for my paperwork. I didn't even think that really happened in real life-it seems like something you might see on TV. But as I waited (and waited) and heard everyone on the other side of the door discussing lunch, I started to get the feeling that me and my paperwork had been forgotten. And sure enough, I was right.

Not totally a bad thing, I got a drawing out of it, right?

EDM 21-Something Old

2008-02-22T09:09:00.001-06:00

The only time in my life when I didn't go to this particular group of doctors was when I was away at college. Aside from that, this has been where I've gone for everything from childhood chicken pox to the obstetrician for my two babies. Yesterday I was there to see the endocrinologist for my thyroid. All is well, considering.

These handles are totally retro, and not exactly in a cool or ironic way. More like in a "time to overhaul the office" way.

158-A kernel x 2

2008-02-14T19:30:00.000-06:00

(This is a photo of the popcorn)

My mom gave us this container of colorful popcorn. It is tasty. However, you must limit yourself to approximately 15 pieces, or else you will suffer the fate of overly-sweet popcorn sickness.

I have started using Prismascolor Verithins. I like them more than I thought I would, and they seem to be a little less smudgy for those of us who draw (and drag) with our left hands.

EDM 7-A bottle from the kitchen

2008-02-11T17:55:00.001-06:00

My daughter Megan got cut off this weekend. She's 15 months, and it was about time.

EDM 12- Draw some dinner (again)

2008-02-11T17:53:00.001-06:00

I need to stop drawing food. It's becoming a pretty common theme around here. This was done in early January, during a very cold and snowy Michigan vacation with my family. My sister's boyfriend, an excellent chef, made us eggplant parm.

EDM 156-"The Becky"

2008-02-08T16:46:00.001-06:00

This right here, is "my" sandwich. A slice of turkey and a slice of either munster or pepper jack. Jalepenos, banana peppers, avocado, tomato, mayo, and mustard. Delicious. We were having a hell of a morning over here, and drawing (and then eating) this sandwich was the thing that turned this day around. It never lets me down.

EDM 94-A spoon, some journaling, and a ton of $$

2008-02-08T16:43:00.000-06:00

The journaling is not about the spoon. The spoon belongs to Megan. Unfortunately, the bill for the brakes on our car belongs to us. However, I really can't complain. The car is five years old and has served us well with no problems to this point. Brakes are important, and not something to skimp on, I suppose. This did not take the sting out of that price tag though.

EDM 45-Your medicine cabinet

2008-02-08T16:39:00.000-06:00

An assortment of objects from both my medicine cabinet, and my sister Angala's. The toothbrush belongs to my daughter Megan, age 1, and glows for the duration you are supposed to brush. Unfortunately, it usually hits the floor or is brushing the teeth of a doll before the light stops blinking.

(Micron pen on kraft paper)

EDM 12-What you ate for dinner....

2008-02-08T16:34:00.000-06:00

Sushi is something we eat weekly around here. It's (relatively) healthy, it's easy, it's light, and above all, tasty. The babies like it, and we even served it at my son's second birthday party. At another point in my life, I don't think I would have ever imagined myself eating such an "exotic" food, but I sure am glad I do. Sometimes I might even "forget" to make dinner in the hopes Dan will suggest we order this instead. Don't mention that little piece of information to him.

(The scan of the edamame is no good. Micron pen and Prismacolor on brown kraft paper.)

The lamps that will never see the light....

2007-11-01T21:59:00.000-05:00

That's okay, panel of judges. I understand. Maybe next year!

(swear words deleted.)

EDM 30-Something related to Halloween

2007-11-01T07:41:00.001-05:00

A handful of candy!

EDM 12-Draw your dinner

2007-11-01T07:37:00.000-05:00

Mushrooms, slated for pizza.

(Prismacolor on Canson paper)

EDM-Something from an unusual angle

2007-10-05T22:07:00.000-05:00

This is the interior view of a celery bunch. I really liked drawing this one, and think I might give it another crack with a new bunch at a later date. As a side note, my mom did a craft project with my son Sean where she used a bunch of celery cut like this as a stamper (dipped in paint.) It made a flower-like "stamp."

EDM 98-Draw something you like

2007-10-05T22:06:00.001-05:00

A hard boiled egg. This was actually meant for Sean, but since he only eats sporadically, I used it as my subject instead.

EDM 63-Draw something from a nature walk

2007-10-05T21:57:00.000-05:00

This is a pepper (the ONLY pepper) from my little back porch pepper plant. So it's not exactly from a "nature walk," and I don't know if it's nature if you planted it yourself.

EDM 76-Flowers

2007-09-06T14:33:00.000-05:00

Gladiolas from the farmer's market. Incomplete.

(Prismacolor)

EDM 112-Something fresh

2007-09-06T14:26:00.000-05:00

A bowl of blueberries from the farmer's market.

(Prismacolor and Micron pen)

EDM 116-Draw something green

2007-09-05T15:02:00.000-05:00

Cut off the original paper and glued onto a new one.

The cheater's way of backing out when the shadow wasn't working.

(Prismacolor)

EDM 133-Draw a peach

2007-09-05T15:00:00.000-05:00

Again from the farmer's market.

(Prismacolor on Canson paper)

EDM 130-A school supply

2007-09-05T14:42:00.000-05:00

Draw a school supply. This is a large orange clip

(Micron pen)

EDM 108-A lightbulb

2007-08-30T08:16:00.000-05:00

A comact flourescent, free from the City of Chicago!

(Prismacolor on pastel paper)

EDM 24-A piece of fruit

2007-08-28T15:42:00.001-05:00

Some bananas that I eventually lost interest in. I love this colored Canson paper, though!

There's a phantom of a fifth banana on the left side, and the sticker is unfinished.

(Prismacolor pencils on Canson paper)

EDM 61-Draw a grouping of two or more similar objects

2007-08-27T14:00:00.001-05:00

Some red peppers from the farmer's market, completed in blue Prismacolor. Actually, not completed in blue Prismacolor. I got sidetracked....

(EDM, Prismacolor)