rabbit hole continued....

In Lynda Barry's book "Syllabus," she requires her students to have a book by Ivan Brunetti as a resource.  It is called "Cartooning: Philosophy and Practice," and that is what arrived in my mailbox next.  It is a course in cartooning in 15 weeks.  The last time I tried drawing anything that wasn't observational and realistic, was when I was about 6 and decided I wanted to be a cartoonist.  I didn't know there was such a thing as an artist, but I saw cartoons in the paper and knew someone made those.  I had a how to book; I can still remember it, and just found a reprint on amazon.com: "Ed Emberely's Drawing Book: Make a World."  It was first published in 1972 and was oriented horizontally instead of vertically.  I loved this book.  I took it everywhere with me, and sat and drew while we watched TV as a family.  

I didn't even remember that until now.  So one night while we were all watching the "Avengers" again, I pulled out the desk lamp and the book.  It doesn't take long to get through it, and after a couple of evenings, I pulled out my sketchbook to start on Week 1 drawings.  The first exercise was to draw a car in different time intervals with each interval getting shorter. 

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it is so very hard to make these drawings without any judgement....because I am terrible at them.  So you just have to be terrible and move on.  The second page intervals got even shorter.

And then the second exercise was to draw a page of cartoon characters from your memory, but I couldn't even remember a page's worth.  The third exercise was to make a grid of 100 squares and make a five second stream of consciousness drawing for each square.  I didn't make the grid and I didn't get that far.  It was weird and uncomfortable and almost fun.  Of course there hasn't been any time since to practice.  I know it would do me some good.  I think I will start with one exercise a day.  And maybe practice Ed Emberley's style as well.  

"Syllabus"....

So a blog I love to look at is by Lisa Soloman.  She in an artist, teacher, mother...person I would love to know.  I was procrastinating grading 2D work earlier this semester when I read about the book Syllabus by Lynda Barry.  I immediately ordered a copy.  And then I fell a bit down a rabbit hole.  

This is the written document of a class she teaches on cartooning, but really encompasses any kind of creative practice.  There is such originality and compassion in her teaching.  The work is the act of making.  There is a schedule and a process and the development of a relationship to the present moment that is so lovely.  And then the student work is such a delight.  Every class meeting students have to make a short timed self portrait on an index card that she collects and hands back at the end of the semester.  I am thinking I need to make a self portrait a day for an extended period of time and see what happens.  I could let my drawing loosen up and school me a little.  

I think I am so tight and guarded that I can't imagine making a playful page of drawings, but that is what she can show me.  So much of her teaching style in "Syllabus" reminds me of my friend and former teacher Lee Dejasu.  They  both know how to get at the heart of what is true.  It is on my list to read again this summer, while I have time to do the work.  More on the rabbit hole in the next post.

RISDWORKS!

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I am so pleased to say that I have four dolls at RISDWORKS, the RISD Museum store for the summer.  The Fox, Elephant, Pig and a single sewing lady are there.  My girlfriend (and former boss) was kind enough to take pictures for me a couple of weeks ago.  I just noticed that the sewing lady's limbs are a little askew, so I will have to email the manager to get her rearranged.  It is such an honor!

sawing and glueing

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Is happening in my three-dimensional design class right now.  Students are making helmets/headdresses/head pieces with half inch wooden dowels and bristol board.  And I am catching some major sh*t. And it is taking way longer than I had planned.  I am hopeful another week will be enough time to finish.  Images to come when they are done.

making....

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not much actually.  Unfortunately.  I think my crit with the Jerome jurors has left me a little uncertain.  And I think I was beginning to be in a place of transition with my work, so it has been easy to not get anything done.  I am thinking about cutting up the twelve foot wall panel into two pieces and adding more pattern paper so that each is six by six feet....and then adding more would like areas where I open up my color palette a little bit.  I did pull a new panel out to paint, but it is not easy with a pain in the ass little kitten.  He may be invited to enjoy the basement.  But I am also really wanting to start sewing for myself.  It could be a distraction.  I have made garments for myself over the years and not worn them much when I haven't been able to figure out fit.  But I found a blouse pattern I am in love with, so I may give it a try again.  And it is a french pattern....with no english instructions.  I think I can figure it out though.  It is the Laelia blouse from Blousetterose.com.

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I think it would also make a darling dress if you added some length.  And you could easily wear a long sleeved t-shirt underneath it so it worked for colder weather.  Now to figure out how many euros it is....