Reading Wishlist

Artistic Anatomy by Dr. Paul Richer
An Atlas of Anatomy for Artists by Schider, Fritz

Happy Birthday to me...Happy Birthday to me....

My birthday plans went a bit awry. DH has the flu, and chances are he'll have to work tomorrow and won't be able to work on my car. :(

I made myself a schedule for drawing everyday. Yesterday was the first day, and it went just fine. This morning I started on the next step, but was having a bad-angle day...nothing went very well. :( Later this afternoon I'll work on it some more.

Posemaniacs.com

Here's a great resource for artists everywhere. Pose Maniacs is a flash-driven site with at least a couple thousand individual poses of flayed humans. Although the private bits have been removed, there's no ugly air-brushing (like those expensive Pose books), so it's the next best thing to a life drawing class.

One of my favorite features is the timed pose function. Just choose a time, and it will give you three seconds to pick up your pencil, then display a random pose for the amount of time you chose.

More time with Lucky Journal

I made a couple more drawings in my "lucky journal" and used it for a whole bunch of notes from a book I have to return to the library.

I've discovered a Micron pen #3 is excellent for writing in it. There is a little ghosting on back of the page, but very little. The size #4 bled through quite a bit, though.

I'll post some pictures, if I ever get my scanner to work. :(

I've been drawing and writing in the little "Lucky Journal" with the Lotka paper from Nepal.



Overall, it's a beautiful little thing. I love the texture of the binding and the little elephant button. It has a pencil loop too -always a good thing for absent-minded me. :) The oatmeal-colored paper is very thin, and apparently doesn't have any sizing in it.

I started with a simple sketch, but then decided I didn't like it. Erasing was bad news -even my softest gray kneaded eraser scuffed the paper's surface. I made a tiny hole when I made the second drawing.

My first attempt to paint in it -even using an almost completely dry brush was a mistake. The paint feathered and made a real mess.

Next, I tried the Coloursoft pencils, and that worked just great. I got nice, rich tones and am happy as clams with the results.

Overall, the journal is intended for writing. I haven't tried any ink yet, but I'm guessing that a plain ball point pen will work fine. I intend to try a Micron pen later this evening, and see how that turns out.

The journal was easily worth the $12.00 or so, and I intend to buy more of them when I use this one up. The tactile experience alone spoils me and makes me want to hurry up and write in it some more...it's just a lovely, sensual texture that draws me and holds my attention.

Handmade Lotka Paper

I've been drawing and writing in the little Lotka journal with

WTF???

hhhhhh

"Thursday and Friday take too long...

and before I know it, Saturday's gone".

So Thursday I let the DS drive the car a bit. This tickled him clear through, and he wasted no time calling his best friends to let them know. 15 minutes later the whole neighborhood showed up at my house, asking questions about the car and wanting to know all about it. Turns out, DS had told them it was his car!
I set everyone straight right away, but since have told him it's okay to tell people that -just to give him a bit more 'street cred'. As long as he absolutely realizes that he is not, in fact, actually getting the car.

Friday...my art supplies arrived!!! Yippeee! I unpacked the boxes, and had just carted everything into my room when I was suddenly compelled to take DS into town. Seems one of his girlfriends was having a major life crises. So, we drove in and I dropped him off...then had to find ways to keep myself occupied for over three hours. I was buzzing 'round -went to the library, went to apply for a job...was on my way to pick him up when DH noticed a cloud of white smoke from my tailpipe. ;(

I don't get it. The car is driving just fine. It's not heating up, it's not making any funny noises. The oil looks fine. But I was followed by a cloud at least halfway home.

I can't stand the thought of a blown head gasket or worse. :( I've been needing this car so badly for so long, and now I have it I just cringe at the thought of spending all that money to have it repaired -money I just don't have. But I can't have another yard ornament either, and I absolutely must be able to get around. I've been trapped in this house for years, and just can't take it anymore. :(

I guess I'll know more about it later today when DH gives it a more thorough inspection. I can't say how much I hope it's just a modulator or something similiar.

But for now...I'm back to my lovely new stuff. So far, I'm loving the Coloursoft pencils! I did a slap-happy coloring job on a simple sketch last night, and just loved the way they layer and blend. I intend to spend a whole bunch of time playing with them. :)

I have a car!!!

Yes; I'm excited about it. I put it on the insurance, and will get new plates either later today or tomorrow. :)

DS jokingly asked if he could drive it sometimes, and just about went nuts when I said "Yes." Apparently he really hadn't considered the fact that in just a few months he'll be old enough to get his permit.

It's nice knowing my car is teenager approved. :) I can't deny the fact I don't really feel very grown up sometimes, and it's validating to be made to feel I'm still "with it." It's nice on some level to know that being married and raising four kids and being swamped for years under endless piles of laundry, dishes, and medical bills hasn't killed me. Or even made me into some kind of crone that couldn't score a date without a major credit card and a paper bag to hide under.

So yeah, I feel good today. :)

And...it gets even better! My art supplies are on the UPS truck and are on time. Last I checked they were in Texas, and scheduled to arrive here on Friday. :) :) :)

Introducing Brug

Yesterday, I became the happy new owner of a '91 Camaro. I'm naming it "Brug" for a turquoise Tibetan thunder dragon.

He's a joy to drive, and I'm so happy to finally have a car I could just cry. I couldn't stop wandering out on the porch to look at him parked there, just waiting to carry me wherever I should want to go. :) He doesn't have plates yet, but as soon as he does he and I have a date on the open road. :)