Time sure goes by quickly these days! The end of the school year is closing in so we’re trying to keep on track, although spring fever is hitting us all pretty hard.

I have a confession to make…I have been cheating on this blog. That’s right. It all started so innocently. I was browsing the want ads in our local paper, and that’s when I saw it. It was an ad for an opportunity to write at home and - just maybe - earn a few dollars. Well, since I am currently unemployed and I enjoy writing, I guess I caved to the temptation.

So, I’ve been writing a few articles at HubPages to try to supplement the income…of course, it really takes time to build up any change. I’ll probably only make a dime in the end and won‘t see a cent for years…but it’s been fun.

In the course of my recent writing, I started browsing the works of a few still life artists that I like. One of them is 20^th Century artist Giorgio Morandi. I first encountered his work in college, but I don’t think I was as impressed then - it was my vibrant German Expressionism phase. Morandi’s work was completely opposite of my interests at the time, but I really appreciate it now.

Perhaps in my hectic and noisy life, his still lifes are a quiet and uncluttered refuge. I like the neutral tones of his paintings and the minimal details which are so contrary to my own style. The linework on his drawings adds life - a very nice balance to what would otherwise be considered bland compositions.

Another artist whose still life work I enjoy is Wayne Thiebault. Again, I am drawn to him for his difference from my own style. I always liked the thick application of paint and his colors (or maybe I'm just hungry). I’ve always wondered how painters who work so thick financed all of that paint (at least as a student)! In college, I always worked small and thin since I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to buy more paint when I needed it.

Well, I don't post other people's work that often. My plate is pretty full at the moment (and not with cake and ice cream). Summer's coming - things will change to some degree...although my toddler is getting clingy and busy busy busy!

"Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?"

OK - I'm ready to dig out the old scanner. I've spent all morning trying to photograph this drawing, battling the breeze and inconsistant sun. Trying to get an image that shows the colors accurately has been a challenge.


The original goal of this drawing was to carry out my own complete illustration inspired by the book "Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?" (which includes the work of many popular illustrators).

Besides just coming up with the concept, composition, and media, I met another unexpected challenge when I realized that this was going to be an evening/night scene. Now, I had to figure out how to show various lights - not sure I was completely successful, but I learned something new (and that's really the point here).

I think the drawing is done (mostly). I always go in and tinker with little details for several days, but it probably won't change much from this. I'm happy with a lot of things about it, although there's always something that stands out as "YUCK." I don't know if that's the result of being to close to the drawing for too long, or if certain things are really as bad as I think they are.

One thing I can't stand is how the "Pecking" sign came out - very muddy. If I can change that, I think I'll sure try, but it's not easy to change colored pencil! But, I really learned a lot about working with colored pencils and the result of layering different colors.

I really like the diagonals that zig-zag throughout the composition. I'd like to say that I planned ALL of them, but some I noticed after laying it all out. I like how the diagonal of the roof takes the eye down to the (ugly) "Pecking" sign that turns the diagonal back the other direction. This takes you to the blue tables and bush that turn the diagonal back to the chicken in the foreground. That's what I see, anyway.

I consider this still an unfinished work and would love any feedback or suggestions that any of you might have.

A Sneak Peek - Developing the Character

Do you recall the doodle that started me thinking about the chicken picture? Well, I realized that it really looked more like a parrot or cockatoo.

So, I did some chicken studies out of a book at work to identify more of their real characteristics.

The character now has more of a real chicken quality. This is a close-up of one of the studies I've been working on to determine some of the colors and compositional elements.


I've still got a little more to iron out, but I think I'll be diving into the final project pretty soon.

Just checking in...

This is turning out to be an unbelieveably busy week...

-Our 2nd to last science co-op class is tomorrow
-The last homeschool support group meeting tomorrow night (party + used curriculum sale)
- It's the last week of indoor soccer practices Tuesday and Thursday (in between science and support group)
- Our multi-subject co-op picnic/party is on Wednesday afternoon
- The kids' last youth group meeting and bbq is Wednesday night
- The Presidential Physical Fitness co-op picnic/party Thursday afternoon
- My usual work schedule (5 evenings per week)
- AND I promised the kids we'd see Prince Caspian on opening day (Friday).

It's a lot of fun stuff, but it's a lot of running around and a scheduling nightmare. I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

I'm not sure how much illustration or blogging time I'll have this week (I'm thinking NONE), so I wanted to at least check in with a quick update. I don't have any pictures to post (and I don't like posting on an art blog without some sort of visual) However, I haven't been working on very much except trying to iron out the composition and some details of my chicken drawing.

The composition is proving to be a little more problematic than I originally thought. As I sketched out some roughs, something wasn't working right. I needed to change some size relationships. I'm still tweaking that a bit.

Well, there's a light at the end of the tunnel - if I survive this week, I'll have a little more time to work on my illustration projects. So, check back soon - I won't be gone long.