Fun at the Portland Art Museum

I've had a new journal for some time now and as is often typical of blank pages in new books I was finding it difficult, next to impossible, to begin working in it.  Not that there was any urgency to begin in the new as my old journal still had several unused pages left in it but I could feel the resistance building.  At first I thought I'll just set up something in the front indicating it's my 2017 journal.  Nope, at least I had the where-with-all to draw whatever in pencil because I've erased it about six times now not being pleased with whatever it was I drafted to start with.  

Then there was an invitation to try the Meetup in Portland for "Drink and Draw" at the Portland Art Museum.  I hadn't tried it before but decided to give it a try.  And since there was an implied suggestion to share your work I took my new journal so no one would feel tempted to peek at last years doodles.  It's not that I don't want to share but my deal with myself is anything in my journals isn't serious.  It's my time to explore, play, and I have zero expectations for what comes of it.  That's not so say others would feel the same so I kept it simple with going with the new journal so there wasn't an option to browse other sketches.

When we got there the organizers had decided that this meeting would focus on positive and negative spaces of the Rodin sculptures on display.  After spending the last 10 days snow bound which renders the landscape in to a giant monotone negative and positive space that was the last thing I wanted to do.  So instead I found a charming 1850-ish Tlingit ladle carved out of a sheep horn to draw.  I was particularly impressed with the artists ability to carve the mirror image of the carving on each side of the horn.  It was delicately beautiful.  

When you know it's going to take a while....

If I'm going out to breakfast I usually go early so I'm there before the rush.  Unfortunately today I waited until I finished all my chores first so that put me in the rush.  No worries, that makes for the perfect time to get a quick sketch in.  

The plant between my table and the door.  

The coloring book is finished!

I had a few adjustments to make on the proof I received and now it's done.  It is now available on Amazon.

Timberline
An Expression of Hope and Purpose
ISBN-10: 1541238230

Still dabbling

The folks in my plein air/urban sketching group have chosen to continue meeting over the winter.  We've moved indoors and have shifted to drawing/painting our food.  It's actually quite challenging and fun.  This is my shrimp omelet, hash browns with onions on top and whole wheat toast in watercolor.  Making mental note to self to choose something more colorful next time.  

Currently on display at the Brown Butter Bakery in Scappoose, OR through the month of January.  

Thoughts on the Timberline project and the future

With mixed emotions I can say they are all done now.  For months I've wanted to see them finished but this also marks the end of the experience.  I know I've been commenting how much fun it was to work on these drawings.  It really was.  I hope folks enjoy these as much as I enjoyed making them.  They have been scanned and prepared for print.  I'm now waiting for the proof to come back to make sure I didn't overlook anything before it goes to print.  

When I was doing market research for this project I joined a coloring book group in Portland to see who colors, why they color, what do they choose to work on and what they work with (pencils, markers, crayons, etc.).  It was really interesting.  I asked them to look at my rough drafts to see if there would be interest in such a topic.  They loved it!  While I really enjoyed drawing the newels in the lodge I was expecting they would prefer scenes around the lodge and I would probably have to replace the newel drawings.  To my surprise they suggested I do a dedicated coloring book to just the newels.  I've been thinking about it as I've worked on this set of drawings.  There are twelve of these unique newels in the lodge. The only problem with the idea is there is one I have yet to figure out what animal it is because over the years it's been worn down by use to the point of unrecognizable.  So far none of the rangers up there know what it was and neither does the staff at the lodge. I have some homework to do. 

An extra for the Timberline project

For the folks who supported my Kickstarter project I've designed some extras just for them to thank them for their support. 

Coasters:

I really like them.  Wishing I had these done before Christmas but I was trying to finish the coloring book in time for the holidays.

PS - there are more undisclosed surprises for the Kickstarter folks.  

Saved for last

I saved this one for last.  Over the course of this project I made four trips up to the mountain to take reference pictures and to check the accuracy of my drawings.  This is one of my favorites because of the reflection of the mountain in the windows.