January 12 marks the anniversary of John Singer Sargent’s birth. I have always admired his excellent drawing skills coupled with his mastery of paint (left: Madame X).

I was reminded of him in a roundabout way after listening to a story about Steve Mumford, an artist who documented the Iraq War with drawings and paintings. Mumford’s Baghdad Journals are a moving account of the time he spent there. He was inspired by Winslow Homer’s documentation of the American Civil War.

Hearing about Homer reminded me of John Singer Sargent’s work done after spending time at the Western Front in 1918. His large painting, Gassed, was completed during this time. Definitely a master.

Friends, family, and fishing.

I'm often asked to donate work for various causes, and one that I always agree to is the CAPS (Child Advocacy & Parenting Services) Annual Auction. This year the mixed media collage I'm contributing was originally done for a friend of mine who had a grand passion for his grandsons. He fondly related tales of fishing trips and spending time with them at the family farm.

A Dickensian Valentine.

Here’s a self-mailing card (no envelope necessary, it comes with a round white sticker for closing) featuring original design and illustration to send to someone special.

The front of the card shows Cupid aiming his arrow, and the fold-over closing panel says ‘Happy Valentine’s Day.’ Inside Cupid appears again, and the panel on the right lists some qualities of love: patience, kindness, trust, hope, perseverance. Click on the image to see it enlarged.

The message is a lovely poem by Charles Dickens:

Let nothing pass, for every hand

Must find some work to do,

Lose not a chance to waken love —

Be firm and just and true.

So shall a light that cannot fade

Beam on thee from on high,

And angel voices say to thee —

These things shall never die.

A limited number are available. Let me know in the comments below if you're interested.  

Early ice storm

We had an early spring ice storm. The tree limbs are weighted down -- I can't even see my new bird feeders. I didn't leave the house yesterday. Better than not drawing at all, but I was not really paying attention.

Old bronze in gouache

This drawing was done this morning, in less than 30 minutes. The color on this drawing was done with a small travel set of gouache. I need watercolor, and especially a water brush. I've not used one, but I keep hearing artists talk about them. So -- all in all, at least I can tell what this is. The metal (bronze?) is corroded and I tried to capture the green-brown-blue hues of the dirt and patina. 

Complex spices

This drawing was done in three sittings. It was still fun and gratifying to draw. I observed many things about my selection of spices that I didn't know before. 

Freddie and my rototray

    

Love this drawing!

Hand signals

According to Google, this mudra means teaching or instruction. I have another one -- which I might draw tomorrow -- means protection.

Fuzzy details

I can't see details too well when I don't have my glasses on, but I don't want the glasses in the drawing -- is a puzzlement (as the King of Siam would say)! This drawing is a little scary, but I see that it has life and spontaneity that my detailed pencil drawings don't have.

Inspiration from the past

I am moved by the drawings and paintings of Steve Mumford, after listening to a story about him on Studio 360, marking the tenth anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war. The energy and life in his work made documenting the way of life there is inspiring. Winslow Homer's documentation of WWI motivated Mumford to do the same. Hearing the story reminded me of John Singer Sargent's watercolors done after spending time at the Western Front in 1918. This was probably finished in a studio from sketches done on site. 

Keeping on

I've been drawing items, rather than scenes. And until now, I have avoided anything complex. Tackling drawings that require keener observation and more time to develop is one way I will improve my skill. Using a pen, rather than a pencil, requires me to draw with more confidence, and to make use of even ill-placed marks. This drawing took an hour, and I didn't get very far. Within the first five minutes I saw that my proportions were out of whack, but what the heck. I continued.

Letter opening guy

This little guy is a charming hand-carved letter opener from many moons ago. I remember it from when I was a kid. I don't know what its history is, but years ago I stuck the business end into a potted plant, so that I could just see his head and torso. Now that part has mostly disintegrated. Too bad.

Assumptions

This is an example of drawing what I think I see, rather than really looking. For a while I was confused as to why I couldn't get certain proportions correct, then discovered that I had drawn 8 points on the thing, when there were really only 7. My brain had assumed the design was symmetrical.

Oil can

There's a big difference between drawing like I did yesterday -- the cardinal done carefully in pencil -- and the kind of drawing that's more about seeing.  My drawings still suffer from a hurried mind. I remind myself to be patient, and just continue. I want to fall in love with process.