O where O where did the summer go?

I began the summer with a list of things I wanted to do. Practicing letterforms was on the list, playing with backgrounds and materials and getting some broadsides together from the things I learned in the Leterme workshop. Not to be, I just couldn't get inspired.

I did seal the concrete floor on my studio which was NOT on my list. Here you see everything piled up on one side of the room and half the floor painted. I had to do it in three moves. The room is bright and doesn't "shed" dust anymore. However the beige is not that practical.


I did start to fill in a small "journal" that was lying around still empty. I couldn't get myself energized to do anything that took thinking so I filled this little book with collages, usually in the morning when I was in the studio. This is the first inside sheet.


Here is a small watercolor.

I ripped shapes from magazine ads and my lettering practice sheets for some of these.

I love the way gesso covers up flaws.

and more lettering scraps.


These are actually no stress and playful. I think this is good way to hone your design skills and because they are small (6.5 x5.25) you have to keep things simple.

The CCC had a traveling show of 20 artists books that went to the Palatine, Skokie and Oak Lawn Libraries this summer. Each time we took the exhibits down people commented on how interesting, unique, stunning and unusual the books were.

Right now I am working on monoprints for a CCC tiny workshop in September. I am working out techniques that will work for calligraphic backgrounds. I will post these and maybe some work from the class later.

AND LASTLY,
I am hooked, besotted and just plain obsessed with the Urban Sketchers blog site. I had just finished a figure drawing class in May when I came across this site. I think my fingers were still itching drawing class.

Brush,

and fine line markers,


I am starting a printmaking class this week and we are starting with serigraphs. I just finished stretching my screen and am getting excited about adding words and letters. Keep you posted.

Photoshop for Calligraphers

I have just begun the online classes for Photoshop for Calligraphers given by Harvest Crittenden. I wanted to learn Photoshop and even having been proficient in Microsoft software and architectural and structural engineering software systems, I just could not get myself started on Photoshop.

I even loaded the Photoshop Essentials on my laptop but would only play for a day and leave it. I saw Harvest's class description online and decided to jump in. There are three classes per week for a month and so far I really like them. The instruction is by video and Harvest explains each step, the why and wherefore of what she is doing.

There is much I am familiar with from other programs so it is going well and I really like that I don't have to think up projects to learn the software. Harvest provides files to work on. But I am happy that finally I am on my way. I can't wait to try my own stuff.

Here is one of my files where I learned about moving the graphics into different layers so they can be worked on individually. Each phrase is on its own layer and separated from its master file. So cool......