Old Sketchbooks

I've been going through old sketchbooks and filling the blank pages with new versions of my old drawings.

The flowers on the right were from a beautiful day I spent sketching textiles in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London a very long time ago.   The new doodle is on the left.

Here are some more bits and pieces...

I found this funny bird toy idea that I think is supposed to have articulated parts, where when you pull on the tail the head and feet move... What was I thinking? Note to past self, make notes about the back of the design.

Pen and ink practice

Old sketch on the right, new ornament on the left... 

I like the soft colors on this page. Rather dreamlike, don't you think?

I would love to go back to London just to fill sketchbooks with little lines.  If you could go on a drawing tour anywhere in the world where would tickle your fancy?

Marilyn.

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 “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” ~ Pablo Picasso

Ink test

Working on my inking. What do you think, black and white or in color?

 

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“To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, 
is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.” 

~ Kurt Vonnegut

The Young Author Faire

I had a superfun time yesterday at the Young Author Fair, sitting under an umbrella at the Tustin Library making toys and paper flowers with kids. The one thing I learned was that it is so important for parents to let their kids play with art.

 We made  flowers using two pieces of construction paper and tape, no scissors needed. So pretty, don't you think?

When the kids started to stress that "It wasn't right." I told them that flowers aren't made in a factory. They grow in a all sizes and kinds.

This brave young lady had written a book on bullying. There were lots of other young authors reading their work. It was a great day! 

Thanks to Barnes and Noble, I got to hang out with lots of wonderful folks and finally got meet awesome writer and artist, Salina Yoon. We've been online friends for years and finally got to meet for reals. :-)

I also got a peek at her new picture book, "Found". It is a winner!

I also got to meet the adorable Sheri Fink and read her books. Her positive energy and enthusiasm is contagious.

I'm inspired!

Marilyn.

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Reading is everything. Reading makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. Reading makes me smarter. Reading gives me something to talk about later on. Reading is the unbelievably healthy way my attention deficit disorder medicates itself. Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it’s a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it’s a way of making contact with someone else’s imagination after a day that’s all too real. Reading is grist. Reading is bliss.

~ Nora Ephron