We watched the ABC-TV special on the British royals this evening with Barbara Walters narrating. I was scanning the room for something to draw and noticed poor Parisse, resting her head on an arm chair and watching the program with us. She isn't feeling her best these days, she has another nasty ear infection. I've been applying antibiotic goop twice a day, something she hates but tolerates. I love Micron pens and simple lines but I wish I'd gotten the perspective better.
Today Beulie and I went to a full day workshop on art therapy. I earned six continuing education units and she got six hours of sleep under the table.
I was so proud of Beulie! I have to give her back to Canine Companions for Independence in 74 days, and by then I'm hoping she will have mastered the first 30 commands and is well socialized. Well, she's already well socialized - today was one proof of that. There is no way she could have improved her behavior today. She did everything I asked her to do and she slept at my feet when I was focused on learning new skills I can bring to the kids at Juvenile Hall. It was a great day.
Unwinding at home this evening, I began a new sketchbook. Yesterday Beulie and I walked over to our local art supplies store where I found a wonderful watercolor sketchbook with 28 pages. The wheels began to whirl. If I begin the book today, work daily with three allowable misses, I could fill the entire book in the month of March. So them's my marching orders, self-assigned, and a goal I hope to meet. And I'm so invested in this task that I'm hoping it develops into a habit, something I do every month. My new sketchbook is 8.5 x 11 inches, fits my scanner perfectly (a problem with larger sizes) and the watercolor paper is substantial. Today I worked in watercolor pencil, Micron pen and Sharpie. This cow, by the way, lives in Modesto, one home of great California cheese. You wanted to know that, right?
It's been raining all day, a fairly steady cold rain with deep dark clouds. It feels like winter, like we're so far into winter spring will never come. Which is okay with me since I love this weather with all it's drama, rain that just doesn't end.
Some people draw on subways, some in airports. I draw in church. There were lots more people than I show here, but these were the ones I could manage and still participate in the service. I use a pencil and then retrace the best lines with a black Micron pen. Usually I draw Beulie in church but she's in the kennel and we're missing her and her unstoppable puppy energy.
I tried again to draw the very same cat I sketched last night. This time I used Micron .005 pens in black, brown and orange. I think I've gone as far as I can with this until I learn more about how to depict fur and feline features. I can put that on my things to learn in 2008.
Brix is one of my most favorite drawing subjects. He's four years old, a labrador/golden retriever cross. I raised him from eight weeks as a Canine Companion for Independence puppy but he was clear from the get-go that he didn't want to be a service dog, he wanted to be the boss and he wanted to cuddle all day, not work. The professional trainers got the message so he was released from the program at 23 months and has been our beloved family pet ever since. He sleeps a lot giving me a real chance to draw some basic contours before he shifts position again. Here I used watercolor pencils, a Micron .5 pen and my faithful Moleskine sketchbook.
It's been so cold the past few mornings here in northern California that when I noticed my daughter drawing symbolic pictures of penguins I was inspired to follow her lead. I found a photo of Adelie penguins on Flickr as reference and roughed in a sketch with Micron ink on watercolor paper. I think that means I intend to add some color to the ice in the background and complete the shadows and additional values on and around the birds themselves. 
I was winding down this evening and suddenly realized I hadn't done any drawing ALL day. That would be okay except that I've admitted that what I really want is to learn how to draw and that takes practice, practice, practice. And more practice. On a daily basis. So I sat down with a grid and drew several shoes from nearby photos and a catalog. And then I just couldn't bear to draw one more shoe -- so I ended up with an orange. These were made with a black Micron pen and Caran d'Ache watercolor pencils (which I really, really like) in my new Moleskin sketchbook. It's after midnight - already tomorrow - so can I go to sleep now?
