More art from our Africa field journal: Dry Season Only! I jumped around all over the place, maybe simply because it was so hard to grasp at and hold a single thread of inspiration when so many ran in tandem. A good problem to have!
And again, if you missed out on the book and want to have all these sketches and a bajillion other wonderful pieces of art AND photos AND stories from myself and the 10 other awesome people that went, we do still have books for sale! It’s a very small run and it’s doubtful they will ever be printed again so grab one while we still have them. Here’s a list of all the people that went and are selling them online, grab from me or one of the others listed. No matter who you get it from, you directly support someone awesome with your purchase!
You can buy one of my copies from:http://spiramirabilis.storenvy.com/collections/1255428-books
Or Laura Garabedian’s shop at:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/LauraGarabedian
Or Foxfeather’s shop at:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/294961275/dry-season-only-book-a-creative-sojourn?ref=shop_home_active_9
(If y'all are reading this artists that contributed and I missed your store link, shout out and I’ll list it here as well C:.)
And thanks, as always, for looking guys! YOU are what makes art possible!
Here’s a few more silly doodles I did for our Dry Season Only book. I was kicking myself for EARNESTLY agreeing to anthropomorphize our vehicle companion Mhondoro (Lion in Shona) in pseudo Ghibli Catbus fashion. But now, every now and then, I get an itch to draw our poor Mhondoro. He was not the bravest lion, or even the most graceful, but he was loyal and ‘stuck’ with us when times were rough, in so far as he could be. Thank you Mhondoro. We will remember you always.
And again, if you missed out on the book and want to have all these sketches and a bajillion other wonderful pieces of art AND photos AND stories from myself and the 10 other awesome people that went, we do still have books for sale! It’s a very small run and it’s doubtful they will ever be printed again so grab one while we still have them. Here’s a list of all the people that went and are selling them online, grab from me or one of the others listed. No matter who you get it from, you directly support someone awesome with your purchase!
You can buy one of my copies from: http://spiramirabilis.storenvy.com/collections/1255428-books
Or Laura Garabedian’s shop at:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/LauraGarabedian
Or Foxfeather’s shop at:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/294961275/dry-season-only-book-a-creative-sojourn?ref=shop_home_active_9
(If y'all are reading this artists that contributed and I missed your store link, shout out and I’ll list it here as well C:.)
And thanks, as always, for looking guys! YOU are what makes art possible!
I can’t believe it has been over a year since our trip to Botswana. When I reach back into my memory, it feels just like yesterday. Some moments just continue to live larger than life and change you in indelible ways. This is certainly one of those experiences for me.
I was feeling especially reminiscent when I ran into my neighbors the other day. They had apparently borrowed the book (Dry Season Only) that I had gifted another neighbor, and close friend, and said they couldn’t put the book down and read it from cover to cover. What an incredibly humbling and uplifting comment to receive from someone who is not only a stranger (we have met once while I was walking our dog!) but also doesn’t move in the same circles of art and art appreciation as we do.
When first we talked about doing a travel journal book as a sort of keepsake of our trip together, we wondered if anyone would even be interested in such a thing. Much to our surprise you all were and we blasted through our goal in just a few days and every stretch goal after!
Well to those that couldn’t afford the book at the time, or at all, I’d like to share some of the art I did as a contributor to the book. I’ll share them in batches until I’m all caught up, with my contributions anyway. This book has so much art and photos and stories by everyone that came along for the adventure.
If you missed the chance and are wondering “what the heck book are you even talking about??” I and some of the other contributing artists still have some copies available for sale! This was a very small run of books so unfortunately it is unlikely it will be available on such retailers as Amazon. But the nice thing is, if you do buy the book from one of us, please know you are directly supporting each of these artists that made the book possible and such an inspiring journey! I feel blessed to share pages with such incredible people and creatives! Listing all the people I know whom are selling copies so ya can choose who to grab one from (and/or discover some cool new art ;} ). No matter where you grab it, you support someone awesome in doing so!
You can buy one of my copies from: http://spiramirabilis.storenvy.com/collections/1255428-books
Or Laura Garabedian’s shop at:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/LauraGarabedian?section_id=14826162
Or Foxfeather’s shop at:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/294961275/dry-season-only-book-a-creative-sojourn?ref=shop_home_active_8
(If y'all are reading this artists that contributed and I missed your store link, shout out and I’ll list it here as well C:.)
A small rant
eskiworks:
Destroy the idea that digital art isn’t art, or is somehow lesser than traditional mediums.
You are a painter of light.
You delicately move data and photons into images of hope, horror, love, pain.
Your hard earned skills are not lesser because your work cannot be touched by physical hands.
Your ideas, which you painstakingly execute with those skills and all that experience, touch the minds and hearts of the thousands who may come across it.
Their impact is not lesser for having been absent a physical body during their creation.
Get your hands dirty with traditional media or delve into the possibilities of digital media. Do both! But don’t let anyone convince you that your work is lesser because of the medium. I think we as an art community should be long past that archaic idea.
I seldom reblog things on this particular blog but this so poetically sums up my views on art I just had to. Go forth and create, with each creation more light, wonder, hope and inspiration are born into this world.
Another birthday gift for my dear friend @thornwolfart (so many May babies!!) of her departed beloved dog Jesse. I never met Jesse but it always brought me warm feelings when she talked of her and made her more alive and real in my eyes. I suppose that is the best way to keep a memory of someone you love alive, by gifting that memory of them to someone else. Thank you for sharing Jesse with me dearest Nicole!
Watercolors on Arches hot press watercolor paper. about 5x5″.
My dear friend @artofmaquenda’s birthday was on May 4th and I had really wanted to do something more special and unique to celebrate her special day and how thankful I am personally that she came into this world. But No ideas sparked until some days after her birthday.
Thank you for sharing your mean bird with me and the beauty of the world you see in it’s many forms, colors and states of decay ;D.
I should add that the font used for Magdelena’s name was hand created by @artofmaquenda using letters her grandfather had written. What beautiful penmanship and such a beautiful and unique font!
Watercolors,gold leaf, and a touch of acrylic ink on arches hot press paper about 8"x9"
Some wolves out enjoying the sunshine at the Woodland Park zoo this past week. I must have been to this zoo a dozen times and never saw them out.
Artists free to use for reference. If you do, would love to see what you come up with but no credit necessary.
shot with Nikon d5300 + 70-300mm nikkor.
Had a fantastic visit with a dear friend and we explored a new place together, Snoqualmie Falls. Photos from the hike down to the river front.
More watercolor practice from the last weekend. And a sneaky Loirin gift art for a dear friend who inspires me to strive to be a better person. Thank you Kymba <3.
Discovered the watercolor pencils I had thought I had bought but then never could find again (oops!) along with a set of unopened watercolors in my closet while I was tidying it =D. A huge thank you also goes to my good friend Lynn who gave me a pad of watercolor paper. That gift instigated all these shenanigans and many more yet to come I’m sure!
Shibas are a gift to my dear friend Sairah who owns both of them beasts. Sheltie is our girl Kaylee. Nautilus covered in moss because moss is awesome and nautilus are awesome, let’s combine the two why not? Seagull character is an oc named Morag inspired by the incredible Maquenda.
.: From Stardust to Stardust :.
A photo concept I am exploring (possibly with a good friend :>)
WIP process for Bloom. The original sketch was a tiny scribble done on the plane to Taiwan. Started with the intent to paint the piece in value first and then add color but found the process tedious and unsatisfying so switched to full color and it went much smoother!
A piece inspired by my dear
friend Maqeunda’s character as
well as our friendship over the past few years.
This piece was started a few years ago now while I was visiting Taiwan
but just never seemed to be finished. On tidying my computer I came across it
again and decided to see if perspectives had changed enough to bring it to
completion. Turns out they had. Sometimes it pays to step away from a piece
when you feel you are grinding it, though most of the time I advise myself to
work the piece while the idea’s roots have first taken hold. A great many
pieces I start and lose steam for along the way don’t get finished, but I often
keep them and return to them in an idle moment. With the turning of the old
year into the new I have a tradition of tidying house and computer before I
turn to the new page. This is also a time of reflection and I found myself
feeling extraordinarily grateful for the influence and color this vivacious
person has brought into my life. Thank you Maquenda.
These are photos I took sometime ago now in our back yard when we still lived in California. A bush blooming with pink flowers set the perfect stage for some hummingbird photos. This one made me think of a little pixie as it perched and then readied itself to take flight.
Nikon d5300 + 70-300mm lens.
Artists free to use these for reference.
