An Awesome New App: LEAV

Over the course of a few decades, I’ve developed the habit of saying, “It just goes to show that nothing gets better,” even though I know that’s not true. When our children were small, I tried to get them started with music, art, and athletics prior to the onset of self-consciousness in the hope that they could develop their interests as naturally as possible.

Last week I wrote about drawing in the studio of the make believe art school at The Walker in Minneapolis. It was such a joy to see my son’s well crafted and expressive drawing, a much lovelier drawing than the stiff and oddly dressed mannekin we were given as a model. What I hadn’t realized, since Russell has been developing his skills in the electronic realm, is that those skills transferred from the computer to paper and pencil so naturally.

Check out the great commercial Russell did for the awesome new app: LEAV.

 

 

Going Back to Edward Hopper

 

 

 

 

 

These youtube videos demonstrate the intricate and painstaking process Edward Hopper exercised in order to create his paintings.

I love to draw. In my early twenties I spent a lot of money on private drawing lessons. I spent most of my free time practicing, until it became glarinly apparent to me that my own drawing was as powerful and full of life as wilted carrot tops. When our sons were children, I found a terrific book, Drawing with Children. We all drew together, and it was fun.

At The Walker exhibit, Russell and I sketched the mannekin set up in the make-believe art school that had been set up as part of the Hopper exhibit. We happily scratched away at our papers, and left our work pinned to the wall along with the sketches of many of those artists who had been there before us. I was more than happy to leave mine behind after I saw Russell’s. But, I wish we had kept his.

Even considering all my drawing lessons, practice hours, and Drawing with Children, Russell has spent far more time honing the craft than I have. Perhaps that fact contributes to the superiority of his drawing. Look at the work involved in Edward Hopper’s preparations for his paintings. But, I have long suspected that I am a greater appreciator of art than a practitioner. Should I quit drawing and painting?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incense and Nonsense

A friend recently Googled my name and came up with the blog site of Sharon Rotz, the fiber artist who created a lovely quilt piece inspired by my poem, Incense and Nonsense, which was displayed at the Poet Artist Collaboration in April, 2012 at Crossings at Carnegie in Zumbrota, Minnesota. At the time of the Poet Artist event I drove over to Zumbrota ahead of time to see the art piece that would be displayed with my poem. That poem means a lot to me, and I wanted the art piece to reflect the spirit I invested in the writing. I started to weep when I saw Sharon’s quilt piece. It was perfect for the poem, and beautiful to behold. When Anne told me how much she enjoyed seeing the quilt piece and reading my poem online, I remembered what a lovely moment and honor that occasion had been. I am including the link to Sharon’s blog from that date.

http://theartquiltblog.blogspot.com/2012_04_01_archive.html

 

 

The Luminous Yellow Problem

Title
Two Peace Rose Blossoms
Artist
Sharon Freeman
Medium
Painting – Watercolor On Paper

  For the past few years it seems like I enjoy knitting in the cold weather and watercolor painting in the warm months. As I wrote last week, this year I’ve been trying to improve my results, specifically learning to mix paints according to color theory and learning better technique to manage water on the paper.

This past week, I’ve been trying to paint a spray of yellow perennials blossoming out my back door, and to have the result be luminous somewhat in the manner of Sharon Freeman’s Peace Roses that I’ve included above.

So far, what I have is globs of garish yellow dying inside a field of toxic green. My watercolor painting book is missing in action inside the house somewhere. Since we recently moved, I’m not blaming myself too much on this account, but I couldn’t include a photo of said problem because my camera is dead as a doornail, and my charger is also missing along with lots of other stuff. 

The yellow flower project continues. If you have any suggestions for me, I welcome them.