This year it is two hearts laced together... sort of zentangle-like. It's not the best photo...but, here it is.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
Friday, February 14, 2020
Happy Valentine's Day!
Several years ago I stopped shopping for Valentine cards. They seemed too sappy or too ridiculous or...too whatever. They didn't fit what I was looking for. So, I now sketch some sort of a heart and usually hang it on a string and surprise my husband when he gets up on February 14th.
This year it is two hearts laced together... sort of zentangle-like. It's not the best photo...but, here it is.
This year it is two hearts laced together... sort of zentangle-like. It's not the best photo...but, here it is.
Sunday, February 2, 2020
It's Banner time again!
Each February, St Michaels Art League (SMAL) artists submit artwork that will be scanned and printed on banner material. The banners hang along our main street from mid April until mid November. They add cheerful color and images to our town and everyone looks forward to what will be hanging each year. I heard that there are over 30 banners to be hung this year!
I began thinking about my banner months ago. The banner theme is "Celebrate St Michaels." Each year I have painted a crab doing something that represents our town. Last year the crab went shopping and showcased all the weekend festivals that happen throughout the tourist season.
Other years "Mikey" (crab named by a friend...it's St Michaels, after all), has captained a boat, eaten an ice cream cone, hidden lanterns in trees ( that's another story), waved flags... you get the idea.
What to do this year? I occurred to me that I had never highlighted our Farmers' Market. Maybe Mickey should be a farmer this year...
My son was an organic farmer in Vermont for many years so I had lots of pictures of veggies in baskets. I looked through my picture file. Then I thought about the local markets here in Talbot County. The thing that lots of people go for first is the fresh corn. Maybe Mickey could be eating corn...
I began with a sketch on drawing paper...
I wanted to see what it might look like with color so I got out my paints. The paper wrinkles with watercolor, but it still gave me an idea of what it might look like.
An OK beginning, but he looks a little awkward. I needed to connect the crab and the basket of corn. He's grabbing another ear...
Then I needed figure out how a cartoon crab might hold an ear of corn. Two claws was not going to work if he needed to be grabbing another ear. How would it work with one claw? I actually got out some clay and tried to mold it so that could see how it might look!
After obsessing over that for awhile, I had him just holding it on the end. Then I worked on how to add his other legs.
Beginning to paint it...
Adding final details...
I began thinking about my banner months ago. The banner theme is "Celebrate St Michaels." Each year I have painted a crab doing something that represents our town. Last year the crab went shopping and showcased all the weekend festivals that happen throughout the tourist season.
Other years "Mikey" (crab named by a friend...it's St Michaels, after all), has captained a boat, eaten an ice cream cone, hidden lanterns in trees ( that's another story), waved flags... you get the idea.
What to do this year? I occurred to me that I had never highlighted our Farmers' Market. Maybe Mickey should be a farmer this year...
My son was an organic farmer in Vermont for many years so I had lots of pictures of veggies in baskets. I looked through my picture file. Then I thought about the local markets here in Talbot County. The thing that lots of people go for first is the fresh corn. Maybe Mickey could be eating corn...
I began with a sketch on drawing paper...
I wanted to see what it might look like with color so I got out my paints. The paper wrinkles with watercolor, but it still gave me an idea of what it might look like.
An OK beginning, but he looks a little awkward. I needed to connect the crab and the basket of corn. He's grabbing another ear...
Then I needed figure out how a cartoon crab might hold an ear of corn. Two claws was not going to work if he needed to be grabbing another ear. How would it work with one claw? I actually got out some clay and tried to mold it so that could see how it might look!
After obsessing over that for awhile, I had him just holding it on the end. Then I worked on how to add his other legs.
I was finally ready to get out my watercolor paper and get it done! Final sketch...
Painting completed... almost finished...
Adding final details...
Ready to go. Discussions about title... maybe "Ears to you!"
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