Church Folk: Listening

People seemed so attentive in church this week.

Cultivate

I've been attempting to cultivate a little more personal style. I've been trying out the top braided bun. I really love it. It keeps the hair out of my eyes and out of my work wonderfully but I'm not sure if it looks as good as I hope it does. What do you think? Do I look like a creepy amish lady?

I've also taken to carrying a toad on my shoulder. Like a fairy pirate. I've heard it's very big in Madrid these days. Okay, not really.

Alas, there is no time to color. Paying work is making its demands.

Color Stir

Look Color! I am terribly addicted to black and white but I made a special effort, in honor of spring, to stir up some color for self portrait number 2. Only 28 more to go before July.

I really like how it looks better the smaller it is.



And I'm not sad. I know I kind of look sad when I get focused and draw. I was listening to Wait Wait Don't Tell me so I'm seriously laughing inside. I attribute my inadvertent doleful expressions to my Northern European heritage.

Now I have to go paint cheerful cupcakes. Help me think happy thoughts.

Hester Scribbled

I reread The Scarlet Letter last week and I remembered how many incredible scenes are in that book. I want to illustrate the whole thing. The book begins when Hester is brought out of jail to be shamed and exhibited in front of the whole town as a warning against evil. But she doesn't break down, doesn't give in to pressure to convict her accomplice. She holds her newborn baby and stands everyone down. She's seriously powerful. I wanted to draw that but I don't think this scribble does her much justice. Poor Hester. She never gets much justice.

27 Going On 30

I read that Van Gogh decided, after several alternative vocational attempts, he wanted to become an artist at the age of 27. He went on to paint his self portrait over 30 times. What I love most about Van Gogh is his ruthless determination. He painted over and over and over again and was never satisfied. I love people like that.
I'm 27. And I've decided to do a series of self-portraits. I'm going to try to 30 before I turn 28.

Happy Sheep

Sorry for the disappearance. I got sick then everyone around me got sick. We are mostly better, but now we are all trying to dig out of the mounds of work that didn't get done during our plague. So all I have to offer is another meeting sketch. It's a happy sheep and a happy Miriam. If you haven't noticed when I don't know what to draw I usually draw a sheep.