February's sketchbook

Above are selected pages from my sketchbook work in February. Looking at them on a structural level, I see bright colors mixed with subtle or tempered hues, pattern explorations, imprints of light and shadow, and a contrast between controlled markings and those that seem to abandon control. Yet to me those physical descriptions also relay the concepts.

Some of the written entries in my sketchbook I included in my "thirteen" posts (2.5.13 & 2.22.13). Below are a few other excerpts, that may make sense only to me, but perhaps they reflect the confluence of tangible and abstract ideas.

"Time becomes defined by would have beens and..."

"Richter said something like, "he likes work he doesn't understand, or doesn't like work he understands. I agree."

"Pre-language."

"In the dark I wait. Light. Desert. Water."

January's sketchbook

To be honest, in recent years I haven't been devoted to keeping a sketchbook. Is that a confession? Perhaps it sounds that way because of the perception that artists are to carry a sketchbook the same way people these days are glued to their smartphones. At least, that's what we were taught in school. No, I have always worked out ideas on individual pieces of paper, as I talk about here. But this year I started the practice of either writing, drawing, or painting daily, or almost daily, in a sketchbook. It's something I have always wanted to do, but I haven't committed myself. So far, it's going pretty well. Here's a look at a few pages from January.

So what about you, do you keep a sketchbook, or journal?

Sketchbook

Pages from recent workings in my sketchbook. Late afternoon, the December sun sliding down into night.

Welcome!

Welcome to my new space! It's completely unfinished and under construction but I wanted to share this new journal location with you now. No longer will I be blogging at my blogspot blog so please update your readers. Sometimes I start a new sketchbook or project with each birthday and since I turned a year older over the weekend, here's my new journal space! For years I've wanted my portfolio site and blog to be in one place and I have finally done that. So thus begins the website rebuilding process!

Sketchbooks and letterpress

Hi!

Over the weekend I went downtown and got a few moleskines and thought I'd share part of the first page with you. There is something special about beginning a new sketchbook isn't there? I usually like to save starting a fresh one for a new year or birthday but didn't want to wait this time. I got a small, thin one because while I am good at starting a sketchbook, it can take me several years to fill one up. Surely I can complete it sooner than that! Maybe if I dedicate a little time daily to putting my ideas here rather than on bunches papers all scattered about then I can do it. You think?

What I really want to share with you today is my friend Christy's amazing new shop!  You have got to go see it, the site in itself is a work of art!  I'm not kidding.  Not only is her letterpress work unequaled in quality but her beautiful new store design just showcases it perfectly.   One of my favorite new products of hers are these Personalized Seed Packets.  She will letterpress a name of your choice onto these beauties, making them a smart and lovely gift for a gardener you know. Or if you're harvesting some heirloom seeds from your summer garden, these are just the thing you need!  I also love these Wine glass markers and everything on her Assortments and Sets page. Go see for yourself, she has so many lovely letterpress goods.  You may also visit her blog to leave her a little note.  I know she'd love to hear from you.  :)

Till soon,
H