2012!
January 3, 2012Happy new year! Did you all have a good Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Druidic solstice ritual? Anyone burn a Wicker Man? It's okay. I won't judge your insane pagan rituals.
We sure as hell had a good time. We hosted a Christmas brunch for my immediate family, somehow managing to cram the whole clan into our space-challenged living room. (Note to myself: become a millionaire, purchase luxurious townhouse. Maybe a resolution for 2012?) Both my nephews couldn't join us, and they sent me regretful emails and I was all THAT'S FINE OKAY BYE NOW because listen they take up a lot of space.
It wasn't my idea for them both to grow up so tall and musclebound.
Henry had an amazing day despite his cold, but the good news is he managed to transmit the virus to both myself and Scott. I was feeling pretty smug about how healthy I've been since adopting the Paleo lifestyle, so obviously the Lord (working through my Only Son) smote me. He does stuff like that when it's his birthday.
Last week we did nothing and it was pretty much the best thing ever even though my throat hurt and I whined a bunch. I have no problem sleeping until noon and not ever getting out of my pajamas--I mean LOUNGEWEAR. Note to self: become reclusive millionaire.
One of my gifts this year was An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration from the Private Sketchbooks of Artists, Illustrators and Designers. I like to draw and sketch and whatnot, but I haven't made it a priority because it seems to take over my brain. Once I start I have a very hard time wanting to do anything else, like acknowledging my family, or showering. So yes, I avoid it because I love it too much. That makes sense.
But this book, you guys. This book inspired me like no one's business. I got out a sketchbook and my watercolor set and brushes, and I went to town. "Town" being my living room, where I sketched everything around me.
This is pretty much all I did all week. I've missed it SO DAMN MUCH.
I did go outside once, where I sketched my dog peeing. It was a moment crying out to be captured!
I'm now so in love with this daily sketch habit that I decided I was going to start a WHOLE NEW BLOG and POST MY DAILY SKETCHES ON IT and etc etc ALL CAPS BIG IDEAS. But then the coffee wore off and it occurred to me maybe not to make this a big-deal project but instead just enjoy myself. And occasionally share my sketches with you! I like you.
Reader Comments (64)
Holy crap A... you are a woman of many talents. I mean, I knew that already but didn't, uh, realize the full scope. These are beautiful!
Those are absolutely beautiful. I know they're for you and they're feeding your soul and all, but is it wrong that I pictured each and every one in a lovely frame, hanging on my living room wall? (Okay, except for the dog lifting it's leg. But the others! Yes! The others!)
Wow. I love this.
I like this "being inspired" thing 2012 seems to have going on. A lot.
Your sketches are beautiful.
Alice - you're an amazing artist! Is there anything you can't do??
The one talent I wish I had is to be able to sketch/draw/paint, so color me green with envy. These are beautiful. I would so frame the bookcase sketch and hang it on my wall. You have some serious sketching chops! I love them all.
You are amazing. I can't even get a stick-figure right!
So you can write and illustrate your own book? DAMN, Woman! You ROCK! Happy New Year!
The wonderful watercolour of the bookcase kinda makes me hate you a little bit. But in a good way, you understand.
Happy New Year! You sound really happy and upbeat. I like the sketches very much and I hope you will continue to share!
LOVE the townhouse picture and the bookcase with chair... Love the color and the composition...
I was all poised to start my comment with "HOLY CRAP" but then I saw that's already been done and I felt inadequate. Well, MORE inadequate than when I first saw that you can really draw. My dad is an architect and a painter and I cannot even draw a straight line. This was about me, right? ;)
If I could sketch and paint like that I would do it all the time too. So, so lovely. Even your peeing dog. Seriously.
okay, now?!? you are just showing off, you triple threat, you.
Also? I LOVE YOUR SKETCHES!!!!
amazing...you are...amazing.
I love the last watercolor, of the brownstones. Gorgeous.
By the way, we're working on the Jupiter thing (re: your tweet). Give us time. And more coffee.
I love it! Enjoy yourself, oh, artistic one. (But please share with us on occasion?)
Finally! Someone recognizes the Druidic solstice ritual. And with those portentous sketching skills I anticipate you'll be invited to participate in the body-prep ceremony for upcoming celebrations.
Wow. Your sketches . . . if I could do that, I wouldn't want to stop long enough to shower, either. Please, share more of them!
Beautiful sketches! I shall also make a resolution to make art this year and not let my job take over my life. I'm excited to see more Alice!
I love your watercolors. They remind me a little of the work my aunt used to do - she was a very prolific part time painter. We have her canvases all over our house. I only have one watercolor, though, and there's some room on my walls, so if you run out of storage space...
You are so talented. Those are lovely.
Well, no wonder you don't want to stop. We don't want you to stop, either.
But, well, it's a little unexpected for us, isn't it? Did we know that you were an accomplished artist? That you could knock off things like this on a daily basis? No, we didn't. Hence, the crap of holiness and also the readjusting of world view to this new information so as to prevent the tendrils of hatred. Just wee ones, mind you. Little tiny white grub like tendrils that will surely be killed by the snow coming down and by looking at those lovely, lovely sketches again.
Those aren't sketches, they're full out paintings. Or watercolors. Or whatever they are called. I am so far from that kind of talent that I don't even know which medium those are. I do know they are lovely. My favorite is the bookcase. Gorgeous.
Wow, those are great! Wish I could draw = so jealous.