Free Lines

Sometimes I think it is fun to let my pen take control. No, I don't have a possessed marker. What I mean is, it is often fun to let shapes and lines flow without consideration for what they will become. This piece started with what are now the clouds. I was playing around with shapes and free lines and discovered when I rotated my page they looked like clouds. 

One of my biggest flaws is my desire to have control over my lines, I like to be precise. One of the ways I attempt to overcome that flaw is through what I call free lines. Free lines are lines with out control or precision, they are created when I allow my arm and my pen to move across the page without worrying about their intention or destination, you might call it scribbling. For someone like me this is actually liberating. While I haven't mastered the art of true scribbling, I do enjoy trying. 

Medium: Permanent Marker on White Paper with Digital Finishing

Texture

I have discovered one of my favorite things about birds is their texture. I love trying to figure out how to capture the right texture in a drawing. Texture helps define the character and personality of a piece. I initially started a series of owl drawings because I was inspired by their eyes and the many personalities owls seem to have. As I have worked through several owl sketches I have discovered what I like most about them is their texture and the influence texture has on their story.

Medium: Permanent Marker on White Paper with Digital Finishing

Butterfly

Yesterday my oldest daughter asked me to draw a butterfly. I have two daughters and they both love watching me draw. They love it so much that they just can't sit close enough to watch. It is practically impossible for me to draw with them around, I literally have no room and am being constantly bumped and nudged. It makes me laugh. I can remember when I was just as excited about watching someone draw or write. Even though I am constantly reminding them to hold still or to not hold onto my drawing arm, I still love when they want to sit and watch.

The subject of a butterfly makes me smile. A few weeks ago there was a wind storm that came through the valley. I had gone outside with my mother to move the car seats to her car; my girls were going to spend the weekend with my parents. My youngest daughter had insisted on following us outside, the wind was blowing so hard she got scarred and promptly went back inside. It was well past her nap time and she was a bit over taxed. When mom and I got back inside my poor little girl was in tears. From what we could get out of her, she was upset because all the butterflies were going to get blown away in the wind. She wanted me to go outside and bring them all in so they could stay in our house and not blow away. I have to say it was hard not to laugh. She was quite serious, and needed a nap badly. I love the way children think, the ideas they come up with, the stories they tell, and the precious curiosity that keeps us on our toes. 

Medium: Permanent Marker on White Paper with Digital Finishing

Water Drops

This is what happens when there is too much on my mind. Some times objective drawings flow easily and other times it's all about the non-objective. Today it's a combination. 

In creating this piece I have found some techniques and components I want to use in future work. This particular study was a way to practice line expression and the formation of shapes. The nature of a thought drawing is to commit fully to a stroke or an idea, the intent being, you cannot erase you can only incorporate. This study also shows various ways to play with space and location. To me this piece is closer to a sketch or doodle rather than a piece for show. It represents the power of thought drawings and the practical skills you can develop through them. 

Medium: Permanent Marker on White Paper with Digital Finishing

Flower

I think I am in the mood for some warm weather. The way I figure it, if it's not going to snow in my neighborhood, let's move on and embrace spring completely. The first image that comes to mind when I think of spring is always a flower. Thus the study of the day... a flower. Betcha didn't see that coming. =)

Medium: Permanent Marker on White Paper with Digital Finishing

Lady of the Wind

The weather hasn't been all that sunny and warm lately. Not that it should be around this time of year. However, we have had some interesting swings from nice clear days to gusting winds and down pour. I happen to love the weather rain or shine and often wish I had time to take a walk in the down pour and then move inside to a warm shower to top off the day. In contrast a gentle breeze on a clear day brings a freshness to the air I just love, and who could turn down the nice warm sun kissing your face. This study was inspired by the weather. I think in my mind the movement of the wind is like the movement of flowing curly locks surrounding a pretty face. I am not sure why it has to be curly locks, maybe it has something to do with my own personal hair texture, but however you see it the movement is what matters most. I think curly hair represents wind well. The texture it creates captures what I might consider the mood of the wind. Lose gentle curls like a gentle blowing breeze, tight bold curls like a gusting tornado... I think you get the picture.

Medium: Permanent Marker on White Paper with Digital Finishing

(This is a good example of how more intense digital editing can help capture the spirit of a piece.)

Tree

This study was influenced by the changing of seasons. My favorite times during the year are the beginning of each new season. I love the newness and freshness that comes with the changing of the seasons. One of the prominent images in my mind which reflect those changes are trees. Trees take on the unique characteristics of each season. In my mind they are like nature's clock.

Medium: Permanent Marker on White Paper with Digital Finishing.

Character Expression

 

This study was influenced by language characters around the world. One of my favorite things about language characters is the expression of line and movement as well as the hidden story. In every study, or thought drawing,  the simple idea is to capture my thoughts in a single image. This is difficult because there are often more than one thought running through my head at a time. I think I am drawn to language characters because of the ability to capture an event, thought, or meaning in one character image. I often think of the Mayan culture or the Japanese culture when I think about language characters, while each culture uses them differently it is interesting to learn the meaning behind the image.  

Medium: Permanent Marker on White Paper with Digital Finishing

Majestic Eye

The inspiration for this study was the Egyptian eye. While this depiction doesn't necessarily resemble the typical vision of an Egyptian eye, the idea behind it was to take the inspiration and create my own version, with a heavy influence of my own artistic style. 

Medium: Permanent Marker on White Paper with Digital Finishing.