An Artist’s Blog

Wrinkles and Walkers. My Dad's home from California for a visit. With him all checked in to a senior residence, I get to visit and observe the body language and wit of another generation. He's only been there a few days and I've already heard a story about a corn field and an unwelcomed manure spreader ride from a couple other residents, my kinda people. This kind of information will come in handy for a story I'm finalizing now. I'd feel awkward staring at them and sketching, but I try to … [Read more...] about Old People and Toddlers

Paper. The amazing thing about paper is all that you can do with it. It also comes in wonderful colors, thicknesses, and textures. Another wonderful thing about it is that it can be recycled to become something new and beautiful again. What a precious resource. The hard thing about that, is that it can become so precious that it paralyzes your willingness to make free and loose markings on it. Fear of wasting expensive paper can inhibit creativity. It's hard to find just the right … [Read more...] about Layered Paper Art

This phrase always makes me think of the song by Peter Paul and Mary of the same title. Home. A house is the physical building a person lives in. Home is a place where you feel comfortable, safe, and cared for. While I can find those things in the presence of people I love, whether it be at their homes or at public venues, I am fortunate to feel them in the place where I live as well. My house. My home. Perhaps it is because I have put so much into this dwelling and property, or it could … [Read more...] about Home Is Where The Heart Is

Looking at and Listening to Bugs. My Daughter doesn't like it when the bugs make it into our house. Particularly into her room. But we both find it fun to view them up close outside. And who doesn't like the sound of crickets on a cool summer evening? I like that Simon and Schuster has picture books about bugs that include a magnifying glass. One of my daughter's favorite things to do was to capture a critter and put it in her magnifying box to check out it's many legs. I think I was just … [Read more...] about Picture Books about Bugs and Insects

Baby or Old man? Look back on many classic paintings of Madonna and child. The babies often look like miniature adults. And some would say that babies in medieval paintings look like ugly old men. I often wondered why this was, and this linked article has an explanation with a little humor in it. Baby or Blob? Recently I've read where some artists say they find it very difficult to draw babies. They say their attempts end up looking like blobs. I'm sure some wonder why this is as well. … [Read more...] about Baby Faces