For the record, I'm a Dabbler. Merriam-Webster defines a Dabbler as one not deeply engaged in or concerned with something. Not sure if that truly describes me but I think I can be that way sometimes. I am great at a lot of things but have struggled to find that one thing that I truly excel at. This use to bother me, however, I recently have come to accept this and started to enjoy all the things that I love doing. Variety and challenge are something that I thrive on. Now don't get me wrong, I am pretty damn good at many things like ceramics, cooking, and making snarky, sarcastic remarks; but I personally feel like I haven't found that one skill that I am a master at. Now many people would disagree with me, and loudly tell me so. Perhaps it is just the perfectionist in me shouting loudly, but I'll let you decide.
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| Sketchbook drawings |
The last few months have been a complete whirlwind. We bought a house in early June, moved across the beautiful state of Michigan (Detroit to Grand Rapids), I taught two week long summer art courses that sandwiched our move, and then spent two weeks teaching at a fine arts camp all while job hunting. To say that I was busy is an understatement.
The excitement has finally started to die down and I have finally been able to start completing necessary tasks to the house, my body of work, my new teaching job, and income. My most recent project would be the art I promised my secretary, Portia, at the school district I just left.
Now I tried my best to get the art done before moving, but there was just so much to do and with the pressure of packing everything up, my creative juices were running dry. So now that I am 'settled' or as settled as one person could be in two months, I spent six hours of my Saturday creating a charcoal drawing for Portia to hang in the office. I would always give Portia flowers for Secretary's Day and other random days I felt she needed a gift to put a sparkle in her eye*. What could be more fitting than a charcoal drawing of a flower? Now she has a flower that will be in constant bloom no matter how long I will be gone!
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| Portia's Piece Composite |
This project spurred my new interest in drawing flowers. I find the folds and overlaps in their petals to be super engaging. I love value and I have found that drawing flowers really makes me focus on how I apply value to capture form and texture. There is just something so interesting about looking at a flower and thinking about all the things nature has to do to create that one flower. I'm not sure how long I will be drawing flowers, probably until I get wrapped up in a new interest but in the mean time it's all I really want to draw, that and plants. I included several of the flowers I drew in my sketchbook as I warmed up for working on Portia's piece. So check out the pictures below and enjoy!
Happy dabbling!
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| Portia's Piece Completed |
*Now if you're a new teacher, I think this is one of the best things you can do for your secretary. Once you get your secretary to like and appreciate you they will bend over backwards to help you with everything from paperwork to student referrals. Trust me, you will never regret it.
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