February 19, 2012
Anthony Trollope, a nineteenth century English author with great insight into human character wrote;
His mind was not capacious, but such as ‘it was it was his own, and he knew how to use it.
What I like about the quotation is that it reminds me that it isn’t the tool, but how it’s used that’s important.
pen and ink, 6"x6"
I found this early 20th century iron at a French flea market. It’s no longer well suited to it’s original purpose; better versions have come along since it was made; but it does make a perfect doorstop. Each door at La Cascade has its own vintage iron doorstop to prevent the violent slamming that happens when the Vent d’Autan rages down the valley. Southern Franc e is often windy because the pressure systems over the Mediterranean and the Atlantic blow back and forth in an attempt to strike a balance. So the iron isn’t particularly impressive as a tool, but I was delighted to find it because I knew exactly how I wanted to use it.
January 23, 2012
When I looked at how these shoes arranged themselves on my drawing table, I could see that they wanted to say something about how they felt about being tied together. What if one shoe doesn’t really like the other shoe? There’s certainly a bit of tension going on between these two. Projecting onto inanimate objects inspires me to draw. I’ve faithfully rendered the shoes as they stood before me and here they are. I’m wondering if you see shoes with attitude, or just another pair of beat-up baby shoes.
Pen and ink on paper. 6″x 8″
COME ALONG DEAR
January 2, 2012
the drawing
I’m bringing color into play with the altered prints. I sand, really punish the surface, and then add layers of glazes before I mount them on cradled hardboard.
sonja's shoes #1
sonja's shoes #2, 5"x5"
Here’s the same print in a different palette. The over-painting creates an entirely different effect.
Yesterday I visited a local antique market with my camera, hoping to photograph more children’s shoes. I not only found some excellent children’s shoes, I discovered a whole world of workman’s boots showing signs of hard wear. I’ll be posting my drawings and altered prints of the boots next.