Help! I'm working on illustrations to go along with the essay on my garden that I wrote for Charleston Style & Design's upcoming fall issue. Deadline: NOW or a time very much like it.
I have made dozens and zillions of drafts for these, mainly because I can't settle on the technique I want to use. My collage approach doesn't fit with this subject and the format of these images. My studio floor, the repository for rejected drafts, is a mess,
What to do??!! Last night, I thought, "brush pen, why not?" I love working with my Pentel pocket brush pen. It feels almost like an extension of my drawing hand. I've used it for lots of sketch subjects and some illustrations over the years. I looked back at my Flickr account to remind myself of the ways I had done this and was waylaid by memories.
May I share some of these rediscovered images and memories with you?
Below: In Pasadena,a cactus garden, part of the larger Huntington Gardens, that I visited with my friend and brilliant artist Virginia Hein on a sketching jaunt fall before last. This brings back such wonderful memories of our time together.
I had hesitated to try brush pen with my current assignment because I wasn't sure I could get the nuances I want with it. But this sketch managed nuance!
Next a scene from Oakland Bay from 2015. I was visiting my daughter Cecelia. Looking at this, I am instantly back in that day, in that place. And I miss my daughter so much. Some nuance here, too!
In another vein, a portrait sketch of Sir Walter Raleigh for the cover of Walter Magazine in 2013. I submitted several images. They chose another one for the cover, but I have always loved this Sir Walter's sassy and flourishy attitude.
Jumping again to a quite different topic, here's a pretty atmospheric, nuancy sketch of a scene in Iceland. Drawing in the twilight, especially the Northern twilight.. aahhh. Heaven.
The sketch below is another one-way express ticket to the past. David and I were traveling in the Dordogne with our friends Moreton and Drake. Moreton drew me as I drew this scene on the river near Bouziès. I spy nuance! Fabulous memories here, too!:
Finally, speaking of being overtaken by memories, I saw this pen and ink and crayon drawing of our Miles three or so years ago and, though it's not a brush pen drawing, it IS a drawing of a beloved baby, so that counts for a lot, doesn't it? Memories.
Back to work now, keeping my fingers crossed that my brush pen and I will get this done!
Thank you so much, Robyn! I've seen some of your brush pen work and it is delightful!
Posted by: Laura | October 21, 2017 at 09:52 AM
My goodness--I just got my Pentel pocket brush pen today and started using it--I had totally forgotten about this entry--so apparently ESP occurred--and I got your message thru other means. So funny! And I love it--I can see that I shall easily go crazy with squiggles and flourishes--it glides along so beautifully--fortunately I ordered the 10 cartridge package so I've got ink to spare. Love these drawings of yours--little Miles, so precious.
Posted by: Robyn Mixon | October 07, 2017 at 07:55 PM
Thank you so much, Marly! Yes, the technique, much pared down in the end, worked well! The essay won't be published until October or November, but I will post it once it has been. xoxo
Posted by: Laura | August 31, 2017 at 10:29 AM
Lovely loose skirling and quickness! Hope it all came right the next day... <3
Posted by: marly youmans | August 30, 2017 at 10:01 PM
Thank you, dear Kate. I was surprised to see all the uses I'd put the brush pen to over the years. I was looking particularly at landscape images and there are many more of them, so these are just a sample. Funny how certain art materials fit us better than others!
Posted by: Laura | August 11, 2017 at 10:37 AM
I love the way our sketches offer up a time machine of life...sweet memories! These are so beautiful, and so YOU...
Posted by: Kate | August 11, 2017 at 09:34 AM