Tall Tales from Kansas

'expanding my doodle vocabulary"

Today I did a deep dive into Pam's Creative Sketchbooking class on Creative Bug.  It was like having my own private art retreat with Pam and Mary Ann, except I could pause Pam whenever I wanted too and rewind her to watch again.   I sat in the living room drinking coffee and watched all 4 classes and then, sufficiently inspired, I gathered supplies.

Including these acrylics that have not seen the light of day in quite some time.  Please forgive the state of my acrylic palette.  I gave up long ago trying to clean it between uses. 

Next I started on the mesmerizing "task" of cutting some triangle shapes. 

After which, I mixed up a drink, cued up the class, got out the sketchbooks and a pen, and followed right along. 

This is my favorite kind of class.  It's all about the process and just having fun.  I am picking up new tips though... things like "color balance on the page" and "expanding my doodle vocabulary". 

None of this is finished, although I did decide the butterfly I started some weeks back during facetime sketchtime needed a creative sketchbooking triangle border.  I love going back to old pages and adding new elements. 

Tomorrow I am headed back for more hi-jinx.  I am not sure of anything I am doing except that I am enjoying the heck out of myself and that is what days off were made for. 

go guerillas go

Guerilla artists are alive, and well, and thriving in Lawrence.  And on display at the corner of 9th and Massachusetts street downtown. 

I got up early this morning to go investigate.   I smiled, and I clapped, and I might have said something like "Go Guerilla's Go!"  Then I got in my car and went home and made coffee and thought about how cool it must be for those kids to have their art on display for everyone to see. 

Way to go Lawrence Art Center. 

our purses were still in the trunk

I had a most enjoyable time today strolling through the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park at the Nelson Atkins Museum in Kansas City.   Modern sculpture under blue skies = a most lovely way to spend an hour or so. 

There are a quite a number of Henry Spencer Moore pieces here.  Sigh.  

My favorite part of the experience was watching this little girl run up and TOUCH a sculpture despite the fact that it reads "please do not touch the sculpture" on the bottom of every sign that explains each piece.   She couldn't help it. 

My second favorite part of the experience was that when we got back to my car both of our purses were still in the trunk despite the fact that I had somehow managed to leave the trunk open after we placed our purses in the trunk for security reasons. 

facetime sketchtime

After Art Retreat #2 my sister and I did Sketchwar's Wednesdays on a somewhat inconsistent AND regular basis (not a contradiction in terms though it may seem like it).  This was in an effort to keep me in the sketching mode all through the year.  Since Art Retreat #3 we have been doing FaceTime SketchTime on Sundays.  

Today I practiced drawing vegetables.  Vegetables inspired by my friend (in my own mind only) Gregory L. Blackstock.  I figure the only way I am going to get better at drawing my farmers market finds this spring and summer is to carefully observe and imitate the style of an expert until I find my own way. 

My sister was drawing pretty things.  Like birds.

I just kept on with the vegetables.

Until I switched to flowers.

And before you know it 2 hours was gone and I had to go and finish the laundry.  Coloring in to follow. 

art is the center of the real world

One of the best things about wandering around in a city is happening upon something like this.

The work of Isaiah Zagar.  This jewel is Philadelphia's Magic Gardens.  Smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood.  I had not been aware of this mosaic mural artist before and was completely delighted by this "discovery". 

We were between sessions at our conference and did not have time to do the formal tour of the gardens.  No matter.  Yet another reason to go back. 

Before we started our hike back to the convention center, we stopped in a warm coffee shop with a nice barista who happily made us a cortado.  Can you say icing on the cake?

Philadelphia you have endeared yourself to me. 

a whole family of those green potato head creatures

Bizarre Bazaar was this past weekend here in Lawrence.  A more organized Lawrence blogger would have told you it was coming ahead of time so you could plan accordingly and arrange your schedule to attend.  I'll do my best to remind you in advance next year. 

I go to check out the amazing assortment of arts and crafts, but I enjoy listening to the music and watching everyone get into the holiday spirit as much as I do getting some shopping done. 

Gift buying is more fun when you are supporting local artists.   

P.S.  if you are a member of my family, I am in consultation with Fed-Ex to determine the best way to ship hedge apples.  Every single one of you is getting a whole family of those green potato head creatures featured in photo collage #2.  I knew you would appreciate them. 

number 519

I got all excited when I read in the paper earlier this month that a Sol LeWitt piece was coming to the Spencer Museum of Art here in Lawrence. 

You may or may not recall that when Mary Ann and I went to Spoleto, back in 2013 we stayed in his home.  It was called "the artists tower" but we didn't know anything about the Sol LeWitt connection at the time.  My sister is the one that did all the detective work and figured it out. 

This piece that was hanging by the window with a lovely view to the hills on the other side of town was my favorite. 

This grouping at the Spencer was very much in the same style. 

But the "big" piece was this work (#519) that was stretched across 3 walls.  It's hard not to walk in here and smile.  It's so simple.  Had I read the article more closely I would have made sure we came to the exhibit while they were doing the installation.  The "piece" is actually a set of instructions.  The work is then executed by other people. 

What I would really like to do is sit here for the entire time the exhibit is up and record the reactions of people as they walk in.  I don't want to have to listen to anyone talk about what they think of it, I just want to record their responses.   Then go back in time to 1977 to "Fine Arts" class at Marymount College and get Harley Elliott's take on it. 

All in all it was a most excellent way to spend a rainy afternoon. 

the drawing of Greta's Cubed Egg Igloo

I just finished listening to Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) and illustrated by the wonderfully imaginative Maira Kalman.  I am so glad that I read the back cover thoroughly and learned that all of the illustrations were included in the audio version in a PDF on the last disc of the book.

This is important because while I could picture the egg-cuber in my mind, it was not until I saw the drawing of Greta's Cubed Egg Igloo that I could fully understand where the cucumbers fit into the whole equation.  And no, I do not plan to make one anytime soon, but in the event that I should need such a recipe, I would certainly want to make it look just like the one in the book.  

After the story ends there is a GREAT conversation on the CD between the author and illustrator about how the whole collaboration came together.  I would have thought Maira did the illustrations after hearing the story but actually she wanted to draw small objects that would fit in a box and Daniel wrote the story around that.  How crazy genius is that? 

Highly recommended.  Great little read.  It will make you wish you had handled your last break up just the way Min did.  Even if it was 35 (or more) years ago.  Dear Annie:  please tell your 15 year old daughter I am awaiting her next recommendation.

beginning of fall art booster shot

Today Jeanette and I met to draw each other, eat toast and drink coffee, talk about art, and in general have a meeting of the minds. 

It is my firm belief that meetings of all kinds are most productive when accompanied by a nice refreshment.  The toast at the Black Dog Coffee House filled the bill in that department. 

I had the cranberry walnut toast with almond butter, honey, and a light sprinkle of sea salt.  Crunchy on the outside, chewy warm on the inside, with just the right amount of almond butter and honey to complement the flavor without overpowering and then, just when it can't get any better, a touch of salt.  This girls knows how to make some toast.

Did I mention that I had a cappucinno with flower art on top?

I did not get any sketching done during our appointment time because there was too much talking going on.  PLUS I got to look at Jeanette's amazing (and I do mean amazing) book of watercolor flowers that she finds on her daily walks.  Her command of color and texture is inspiring. 

I did get some pictures so I can do blind contour drawings of her.   She promised to still be my friend after she's seen them. 

If you haven't scheduled your "beginning of fall art booster shot" you better get a move on.  I left after mine ready to dive into my sketchbook with renewed vigor.  I will be arranging another one for the winter.  In the meantime if you want to see Jeanette's fabulous drawings...you can go to her flickr site. 

 

the beauty of a harebrained scheme

Ready or not you are about to hear about "the vogue papers".  I alluded to it last week when I showed you the the chair portrait project.   I've got enough projects going that I need a whole filing system to keep up with them.   Luckily my mind is like a steel trap from which nothing escapes.  Ever.  

The vogue papers emerged from the creative mind of  Lisa Hoffman.   We each went out and bought one of these behemoths...

... and I marked all the pages I thought would be interesting to try and sketch

... and started with this.  Kind of a warm up session if you will. 

I thought it best to start with one part of the human body.   Feet are hard to draw.  The human foot has 26 bones and 33 joints.  I like to tackle hard things first.  Get them out of the way and move on to easier things. 

Things like the hand.  The human hand has 27 bones.  Oops.  It's harder than the foot. 

Then of course there is the face which is quite complex in and of itself.  I do not recall from anatomy class with Dr. Sam Zeakes in 1979 at Marymount College of Kansas how many bones are in the human face, but no matter the number, it is quite complex to draw. 

I am starting from the extremities and working my way in.  I don't know what I will attempt next, but I have some ideas.

You gotta love the shadows on that face, not to mention the outfit.  Stay tuned for future episodes of the vogue papers and go visit Lisa to see what she's been up to.  We have 2 very different approaches to this project.   That's the beauty of a harebrained scheme - it's not supposed to be serious, orderly, OR well thought out. 

the chair portrait project

When Lisa and I met for coffee last week, she came with a brilliant idea for us to do chair sketches of each other.   The thought took hold in her mind as she was flipping through a magazine.  So I told her of course I was up for the project... knowing that the human form is quite a challenging subject for me.   

Lisa Hoffman you are full of GREAT ideas.  The chair portrait project was something I would never have thought of on my own.  I had the best time doing it.   Yes, your shoes need some work, but the practice I am going to get on the "Vogue Project" should take care of that.   Right? 

Link above to Lisa's blog provided so you can see Lisa's rendering of me in the chair... and see what I mean about our next project.  Those of you in Sketchbookery already know Lisa from seeing her sketches that Mary Ann showed in class.   I love her style, and the way I always find something, or someone, new and interesting each time I visit her blog. 

wild and colorful artistic adventures

On Friday we drove up into the mountains above Santa Barbara. We went on curvy roads with lots of switchbacks surrounded by beautiful trees. I will tell you more about this day later but for now suffice it to say it was amazing. I learned to be a hooker, ate my first marionberry lemon ice cream, took a short hike to a giant flat rock from which I could see the Channel Islands, came down the mountain, went on an evening beach walk, and got home in time to tumble into our beds and dream about wild and colorful artistic adventures.

I am now sitting at gate 53B in terminal 5 at LAX. About to head home to Tall Tales Headquarters where Chris is preparing brisket for dinner. There might be a luckier person than me in the world. But right now I can't see how. Thank you Sister, Joyce, Sharron, Mary, and Syd for making this an amazing trip.

P.S.  that finished bird up there was done by Mary Stanley!  It is my inspiration. 

original artwork with every meal

I love cloth napkins.   I love the work of Jennifer Judd -McGee.  So when I saw on instagram she had some cloth napkins in her etsy shop I went flying over there.   She had several lovely designs but these were my favorite.

Original artwork with every meal!  That's something I can get behind. 

flower power bath tub planters and driftwood crabs with headlight eyes

Wednesday on my way home from the library I went home a different way and discovered a gold mine.

It isn't on every stroll through town you see license plate gates or toasters and tricycles hanging from trees. 



Not to mention flower power bath tub planters and driftwood crabs with headlight eyes.

And don't get me started on the typewriter pendants and the singer sewing machine.

Yard art heaven.  Right here in Lawrence.  I am adding it to the list of "things to show people who come to visit from out of town".   If you want to see it and I'm not around, it's on Maine street between 6th and 9th street.   The subtle placement of the re-purposed statue of the golfer who had lost his club was my personal favorite... but believe me, there IS something for everyone here. 

my new career in raccoon portraiture

Saturday, I began my new career in raccoon portraiture.   I am not sure I will be able to make a living at it, but I am certainly going to give it my all. 

Since my sister left I have been working fast and furious in my smallish pattern book.    Filling up pages and trying NOT to think too much.    Dabble.  Sketch.  Cut.  Paste.  Color.

Have you heard of Nate Williams?  If not get yourself on over and check out his stuff.   My sister told me about him yesterday and last night I carefully observed his work, trying to get inside a mind that could come up with the things he puts down on paper. 

I went to sleep dreaming of colors and papers and letters and paint... and that my friends is a very good thing. 

P.S.  we'll let you know when the raccoon t-shirts are ready for sale.

at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers

On today's exploration of Kansas City we made it to Clark's Point.  An area where the Corps of Discovery, led by Lewis and Clark, camped for 3 days in 1804 on their journey back home.  Lovely views from up here, plus nice benches so you can sit and enjoy the sites from a shady spot.  

A little treasure right in the middle of the city. 

As we explored the area further, I spotted a man unloading supplies from his truck with a practiced hand.   While he drove off to park I ran over to confirm my suspicions that he was a painter getting ready to set up.

When I saw him walking back towards his supplies, I couldn't help myself.  I had to go and talk to him for a few minutes.  He said he was about to get set up.  I asked if I could take his picture and he said "sure let me just walk over there".  I assured him that this spot was perfect.

When I asked, he told me his name was Wilbur Niewald.  How was I to know he was the former chair of painting and printmaking at the Kansas City Art Institute?  Actually, I could tell by the confident and unassuming way he went about his business he knew just what he was doing. 

I love crossing paths with people like this.   Just the kind of greatness I want to run into.   At the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers no less.  

Paint on Mr. Niewald.  Paint on. 

unique and unusual art = bizarre bazaar

Behold the perfect place for all your holiday shopping.

I want one of these crochet cover-ups to wear over all my long sleeved tee shirts this winter.  

Bath salts for everyone.  The perfect way to re-purpose those gently used wine and spirits bottles.

This "skateboard artist" was attracting a lot of attention with his bold style.

Another example of old sweaters reinvented.   Totally amazing.

This woman won first place for best response when I asked it it was ok if I took her picture. 

Below is Cecia Smith.  She graduated from the University of Madrid.  I loved her paintings, and her accent, and the fact that she taught Spanish at the Torrejon Air Force Base elementary school where I went from 1964-1968.  She had left by the time I started, but still... 

Mark your calendar so you don't miss this event next year.  The weekend after Thanksgiving right here in Lawrence Kansas. 

the perfect backdrop for a pumpkin

I don't think you can have too many kitchen linens.  Tea towels, napkins, pretty tablecloths and table runners are all a weakness of mine. 

This orange is the perfect shade for fall.  A combination of rust and burnt sienna with just enough brick thrown in to pull it out of the brown family. 

It's the perfect backdrop for this little pumpkin.

The talented weaver that made it happens to be one of my knitting buddies.  She's a master with the needles and the loom.   

You can see more of Dianne Throop's work on display at The Etc. Shop in downtown Lawrence.  I am pretty sure she would do custom colors if you asked.