Thinking about bears and drawing

A fairy tale bear serves as means of transportation.

The thought of bears swimming, swimming, swimming, with no ice to get to, and drowning — arg.

I am noticing the BULK of these creatures — esp. their massive paws.  My drawings aren’t capturing that yet.  Above, a zoo bear from a photo found on google.

Last night I read Danny Gregory’s moving illustrated book, Everyday Matters, a Memoir.  He began drawing after his wife became disabled (fell onto the subway tracks in New York and was run over).  He began in order to notice what around him still gave him pleasure.  As a gratitude-practice.  He noticed that he hadn’t really noticed New York before, in spite of living there almost his entire life.

Anyway, among other things, he mentions that drawing from someone else’s photograph is not the same (i.e. derivative) as drawing from life.  I agree.  Perhaps I need to drive out to Worcester’s Ecotarium and watch some polar bears in motion.

By the way, if you want to look at some WONDERFUL polar bear photographs, check out this photographer’s flickr pix.   Fantastic!

and speaking of inspiration…

Clicking through my Google reader, found this dense compilation of sources of inspiration (artistic) put together by book artist Seth Apter on his blog,  The Altered Page — “Secret Sunday 5“.

(guilty pleasure — I bought one of his pieces on Etsy to give someone for Christmas — I’ll NEVER tell for whom!)

P.S.   For this wreath, I used a $4.99 fake-red-berry Christmas Tree Shop wreath as its base, because I hadn’t had time to cut the wisteria, soak it in five gallon bucket to shape, let dry and wire into circle.  A good short cut!

Morning after Longest Night

Moments ago, on the street.  Rustling sounds upstairs of boys waking and showering.  Good Morning America from the other room (but NOT Diane Sawyer — wah!).

Many thoughts about the turning of the year, hope to share later.

But for now, as testament to the notion that inspiration comes from many places (some unlikely), here is from George Lucas, by way of Facebook and then Google (see what I mean?):

Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.   ** Yoda

I could take issue with the rejection of form, particularly the body, but I’m not in the mood and so,
I’ll take this idea in my pocket for the first day back towards the light.

PS  I can’t get rid of the quote mark!  And, why DOESN ‘t the tab bar work in wordpress, AND why is there no easy (any?) way to indent text.  Oh, sorry, I’m moving right from celebration into a rant.  Perhaps I ought to quote BZ here (though I don’t think it was hers) –

Consciousness loves contrast.

Back to the floor

Back to work on the next Global Warming quilt.  With down vest, frequent ironing to warm my hands, and a portable heater, I managed just fine in the basement this weekend.

This chunk is problematic.

I spent the weekend with it removed in order to rethink.  Other Global Warming quilts use a pieced house/window as a focal point.  I really want a polar bear for this one.  Just not sure how to render.

The bear is now a felted sweater hand-stitched to a pieced/appliqued section.  It may pass muster once I draw some features and definition with black thread.  It may not.  What I AM having fun with is piecing the bottom section.

The ideas that are circulating as I work are — rampant natural growth (bamboo and other vegetal images), rampant human growth (windows, bulldozers, industrial-looking patterns), solar disks all over, water and heat going in odd directions, snow falling, hurricanes (the spiral batik)…  Also creeping in are some fabrics that look like writing (perhaps I should hold off?) — the idea being, once the quilt is hung, that the ‘writing is on the wall’.

Second Solstice

The storm, a day later — this morning.  Rosy sky.  Crisp air, but not freezing.

December light on Saturday.  In the studio I block it near the cutting table, or I am walking in and out of glare as I step from machines to the ironing board.  Not a sensation I like.

But upstairs, the light is welcome.

One year of blogging seems to ask for a kind of note.  So here it is –

For someone who struggles to stand in her own routines, I have to say this is more of an accomplishment than you (dear reader) may realize.   For 2010, I plan to double my posting rhythm — up to twice a week.  Dog-terror-of-camera-or no! Lack-of -decent-tripod-or-no! Sore wrists and boundary issues to be dealt with!

Declaring an intention to one’s pack, according to Cesar Millan, is more important that consistency — music to my ADD-addled ears!!!!