day 6..... are you all tired of me yet???

ok i am typing this saturday as i am certain i won't be getting up early tomorrow (sunday), i intend on sleeping in. i also intend on eggs for breakfast so someone needs to speak to those chickens.

my toe is better thankfully, i got a bandaide on it- it's an antibiotic bandaide (who knew that there was such a thing! but i am glad we have them)

i have to get another fine point micro pen, two so far have bit the dust nib wise (the tips just fell apart)- i don't like to switch mediums mid project so i will just pick up a few of the fine nibs..... next one is being done in rapidograph. i have two sets of them, one from school and one i just picked up recently, --- i am thinking of getting a third set as the micro pens don't have the range of tips i like.

as you can see from this fast shoot of the illustration up to this point, i am beginning to develop the lights and darks in the ducks. (have i said how MUCH i love the digital camera) what i hope happens is that they sit firmly in their little world on that paper, but look three dimensional and alive compared to the background-i also hope that THEY are the first thing you see, only to draw in and see all the tiny little things going on in the shadows. so far it looks like it is working, while at the same time giving you enough atmosphere.
i may have to redo the other drawings that are already done, even the black and white ones i loved and still love...


***does this duck look familiar??? look again??- yup one of the models......she's sooooooo glamourous isn't she??? this is one of the photo's i worked off for this drawing, i don't know if i got the lines all perfectly acurate but i got the essence i think***

i am thinking of investing in THESE watercolors, they are a husband and wife team. he used to live the next town over from where i grew up........and well they are artist made for artists......

i want about 12 colors..... anyone interested in a vintage kidney? low mileage, original condition??? cause it's going to cost that much---------------!!!!!!!!
i want to get the most lightfast, which is novel for a commercial artist.....as normally we work for print and don't really care if it lasts for centuries. ( and who would we be kidding, who really would CARE about what we do after the job is sold and printed?)
however i started to think, as i am sort of straddling the fence between commercial and fine art..... maybe if i do get this printed, i should still sell off the originals eventually... and if i do that, i owe it to the eventual owner to use stuff that at least will last their lifetime, if not their kids. so the search for pigment is on.
i been researching while soaking my toe in peach scented epson salts....... and i am thinking that MGraham line is the way to go- although i most likely will sample daniel smith, and the marimeri blu lines as well

i am settling on two yellows, one warm, one cool.... two blues, one red blue, one green blue.....
a magenta red and an orange red
then i am going to fill in with some of the earth tones, burnt umber, raw or burnt sienna, paynes gray, lamp black..... and most likely two convenience greens ( that means i could mix them myself but in the interest of laziness won't)

now i have to tell you guys, i have a love/hate thing with art supplies, i love thinking about what i need and i love having interesting new supplies to play with, but i HATE shopping for them. really. hate. shopping. *** although it isn't as bad as it used to be***
and a LOT has changed since i went to art school and since i was working as a graphic designer/art director. both in the fine art end and the commercial end of supplies
so i have to research everything again.
a lot of the natural pigments aren't around anymore, either due to supply problems, or permanence issues

and there are new options that need to be considered.....some colors just grab me by the throat, they are hot magenta's and super saturated reds and yellowish reds and oranges, and deep violets. I WANT THEM.....but i know i can't have or even use them all......sniff.... i really want them. but they won't work with what i am doing RIGHT NOW...... (hahahaha maybe later with a project designed for them??? but they cost a fortune too about 15.00 a tube.....)

btw, while i am thinking of it, flicka, did you like that pantry book? i loved it and begged her to write one about summer kitchens..... i don't think her publishers got her the exposure she deserved for that book as it truly is unique and definitely needed a wider audience. (at one point i practically stalked her, i am sure it unsettled her, but i really really LIKE that book)

oh and daniel, if you notice, i can't draw a straight line....... not without a ruler.
so just start adding to your stick figures....it couldn't hurt

now in actuality i am typing this in bits and peices throughout the day saturday, even though it's going to post tomorrow AM, bernie is home and i don't get a lot done on the drawing board etc.
he cleaned the spark arrester for the woodstove chimeny, and i put the ducks out..... i did some dainties and he's threw a few loads in the wash for me. we are going to see about that cheap cat litter, as some issues also came up that made us have to put off a lot of our errands.
meanwhile i am catching a bit here while bernie brings in a couple loads of wood so i don't have to, just in case he's got to stay over monday in jersey with the fleet.

i have all sorts of paperwork type stuff to do this weekend, finanacial mostly, tax stuff, ira stuff... etc, i am also hoping in between to get some definative list together for the watercolors, and maybe even fabiano papers....... i will take a HUGE gulp before i push the 'pay' buttons
oye
i may even have to close my eyes........this book so better fly.....i swear