flora margaret

photos:
1. rocking chair at crystal lake
2. parking meters at train station
3. batman
4. 7th birthday party invitation
5. flowers and note on a cozy evening

I’ve been thinking a lot about how to add more artistic endeavors in my life. Last night I had an hour where I could have folded laundry, cleaned a bathroom, read a book, prepped for tomorrow night’s dinner…or made art. I have an unused box of colored pencils given to me for Christmas, sitting forlornly on my dresser for the past 3 months, so I went looking for drawing paper.

In the back of my closet I discovered some old sketchbooks from 8, and more, years ago. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long since I really drew anything other than doodles when I take notes at work. It was a trip down memory lane.

I was taking a drawing class at the Ann Arbor Art Center when I did the pencil drawing of the rocking chair. I don’t really enjoy making realistic drawings of things—I am way too impatient for that, and I like wonky. Besides, if I want a realistic image, I have a camera. But I do think drawing a photo-like image is a good exercise. It helps develop a sense of line, proportion and shadow for other, more wonky, artistic endeavors. And for me, I hope it helps develop some much-lacking patience.

I remember exactly where I was when I made nearly all of the drawings in my sketchbooks.

The rocking chair: done one summer when we were spending a week at my husband’s family cottage on Crystal Lake in northern Michigan.

The parking meters: I was in my car at the train station on a cold winter morning waiting for my friend Cathy to arrive for a visit.

The batman: I drew years ago when I was trying to come up with a cool idea for my son’s Valentine’s day card.

The birthday party invitation: for my daughter’s 7th birthday.

The writing by the flowers says:

8/28/06
Coloring with Z & T
They’re working on
Penny Pioneer coloring
contest…choc chip cookies
just out of the oven..raining out
mmm…nice cozy evening

(Penny Pioneers was a club at our credit union for kids.)

I never did end up drawing with my colored pencils last night! I was too distracted by my sketchbooks, and then by a phone call…Making time for art is a tricky business!