Ooops, forgot to post these!
Dailies Feb 10 – 23, 2020
Chincoteague Map
Here’s a map I did for my portfolio…..Chincoteague is one of my favorite places to go. It has a small town charm and the added bonus of wild ponies. It was featured many years ago, in the story “Misty of Chincoteague” by Marguerite Henry. She wrote several books featuring Misty and this charming island. Misty is a big part of the island’s mystique.
I grew up reading the stories and back before the internet, the only way you could see these sort of places were to go there or view them through the eyes of a photographer or illustrator. I viewed Chincoteague through the illustrations of Wesley Dennis. The first time I saw Chincoteague and Assateague in person (the undeveloped barrier island to Chincoteague), I felt like I’ve always known the place.
Chincoteague will always have a spot in my heart and although I have only visited and painted there, I feel that it is a part of me and who I am.
So I took a class…..
I took a class to learn how to build up my portfolio for editorial work. It was a good class. I stepped out of my comfort zone and did the class projects on Procreate. I prefer to use the good old fashioned way to create art but wanted to see what I could do with digital media. Sometimes it is just easier to use digital because I only need to take my iPad with me as it allows me to travel light.
The subject matter presented to the class were articles about how bad cows (beef) are for the planet and how going vegan and planting trees could reverse some effects of climate change. Seems logical to me that growing more plants, planting more trees, especially food producing trees just make more sense, right? And in light of the current virus running rampant in China, it just seems to make more sense to avoid animal protein, wash your produce carefully and eat better.
Eating sustainably isn’t easy. It’s a tough choice. Especially since so many foods and recipes have something from an animal in them. When coming up with my idea I thought about the different species on the planet that would benefit from choices that I make. You see things in the news about animals like polar bears and koalas and you think to yourself “do I really want to be responsible for killing the planet and these beautiful creatures?”
Changing diet is just one change of many that need to be done. Buying green vehicles, living in a smaller footprint like tiny homes and even a home vegetable garden are just small ways of making a big change.
I don’t know but all I can do is my small part.
Cat morphing into cow
Yesterday’s photos are raw cat. Today’s photos show the gradual progression to cow.
I still have to add udders, a collar and cow bell and eyelashes. Then I have to tweak and sand it. I am trying to keep the sanding to a minimum. The Magic Sculpt dries like concrete. It’s amazing stuff.
I tweaked my original design by sculpting the entire cat instead of adding props like a leather collar, because I need to make the cow vandal proof. I also want the finished piece to still reflect the cat underneath so I am adding to the cat without taking the personality away.
And my current project is….
A Catskill Cat. Every year Catskill, NY had about 50 cats on display that are fiberglass molds that artists convert to all sorts of amazing cat art.
My Cow Kitty design was selected and I am in the process of converting this cat into a cow. As you can see, I am still working out of the garage for now. I can’t wait for my permanent studio.
Last but not least….
Here are the last three doggies of the book. It was a wonderful project and I truly enjoyed it so much that I am looking for another tiny project. Though I am looking to get or make books where the pages don’t chop my image in half. The PAGE size was 2.33 x 1.66 and that’s small.
A reminder that the book is at the Brooklyn Art Library in Brooklyn. You will be able to check this one and last year’s out similar to a library. I also have regular sized ones there as well but I think the two tiny ones were my best. You can go to http://www.sketchbookproject.com for more information.
Chloe is the finale image. We got Chloe several months after Troy, our beloved Min Pin passed away at 16. Troy was a good and loyal dog. Chloe picked us. I wasn’t looking for Chihuahua. We were looking for a Papillon. I picked up Chloe and she snuggled up under my chin and let this sigh of “please don’t leave me” and she came home with us. She is 9 and still snuggles into my chin when she needs comforting.
Mack is Chloe’s long haired half brother. He came to us knocking over things like doggie gates and earned his name because he was a tiny, tough, furry truck. Hence Mack. Mack is a badass until we start cooking things in a frying pan. He’ll disappear and bark from the back yard. We laugh and say he’s yelling “Fire! Fire! Fire!” Idiot would be out there in a snow storm and we’d have to go get him. Not the brightest bulb in the box but his loyalty is without question.
We love both and they are our dog children. I am glad many of you enjoyed this sketchbook.
Getting close to the end of the book
