Blind Contour Drawings

I have seen a lot of this work on the web and what I noticed was that the artists were generally quite self satisfied with their work. The project (assignment) is usually described as looking at a subject and making the drawing of the same without looking at the subject. The number of assigned repetions vary. I decided to do the project myself and being somewhat masochistic I decided to do thirty hours as recommended by one teacher. I used a timer and tracker to keep myself honest and over 2 months have produced over 300 drawings . . .and racked up about 20 actual hours. The project is difficult for me but rewarding as I have learned to see and appreciate minute details that I have always missed before. I am much more patient in the looking aspects of drawing.

Further, I have realized that humans really only see in abstraction. They take all the little abstract afferemena and organize it in their brains to produce a useful meaning. Ya I know this is likely not a new finding.

I am posting a Blind Contour Drawing of a Geisha and a cat, taken from a historical drawing of the same, artist unknown. I dont think there is enough resemblance to violate any copywrite . . . but well anyway. As abstract as this is . . . it is beautiful to me.

Character Sketch Asima 1

Plan

Not really flat enough to scan well, but here it is anyway.

Infant Girl

Wings

I finally branched out from watercolor and tried a little bit of mixed media. It was so fun even though it was a guided activity.

Portrait Baby Boy at Two Months

Christmas Stocking Project

I knitted seven Christmas stockings many years ago and now it is time to knit some more. However, in the meantime I lost the original pattern book, so I made up a new pattern. It is better because it does not have a seam up the back and because the stockings are not as big. In addition I decided to make them from a wool/acrilyc blend yarn. My knitting style has also changed over the years.

I also have been frustrated by knitting patterns in general. Specifically because they are written in a knitting abbreviations. There is no place to check off rows as you go and it is easy to get mixed up. I designed a knitting worksheet that specifies exactly what is happening in each row and there is a place to check off each row. I might try this for other patterns as well. It makes sense, really.

In the end I have a book that has my new pattern, the alphabet patterns, the design patterns for these stockings and a few extra resources.