So I've done it. Successfully drawn something every day for two months. This doodle here is number 60! Yeah, I wish it was a little more than a doodle/practice page too but it's what I was feeling. The boy and I were watching Bill Maher and I was just spaced out listening to him most of the time.
However, every time I tried to concentrate on what I was drawing, there's an eyeball. So I learned something about myself here on the final day of February; whenever I snap into consciousness while doodling, I draw a freakin eyeball. So weird. And even weirder is that I know that I'm not alone. A friend of mine does the same exact thing. We discovered this recently when she noticed one of my doodle pages.
So, surely I've learned something else in the last two months. I mean, that is the whole point of this "exercise" isn't it? Well I have, the trick is putting it all into words.
February 2008 Archives
No words can describe just how relaxing it is to doodle at work. Of course, I have people looking over my shoulder every now and then which is kind of annoying...I'm secretive like that. I have no problem showing people what I've done once I've done it, but the process is very private to me. Well, I guess it's not really all that private since I do in fact do it at work, and on the subway, etc. You get my drift though.
I'm really enjoying creating outside of the home. I'm finding a new perspective. However, I do have the next 4 days off and I am thrilled. My poor internal sleep clock has been tortured for the last few days. Phew! I can stay up until 3am again, guilt free.
At first I wasn't sure how well I was going to adapt to the smaller, travel sketchbook, only because I'm used to my bigger one at home. However, I'm really enjoying it. I am also finding that I have more going on in my brain while I'm doodling at work.
I've been a little addicted to trees lately so here's another one. Drawing this was actually pretty zen and I might just have to do another one...or two.
Another fun fact, when I was young and still in dance class, I was chosen to do a solo for the recital and the solo was of Alice. I still remember how proud I felt when my teacher chose me to do it, even though now, in older age, I'm pretty sure it's just because I had gorgeous, blond hair down to my butt. Either way, I'm still proud. Even if I did somersault on stage. ha!
Joey relaxing in a ray of sun after killing his mousey. Sid is jealous and looks on (can you see his shadow?)
Tags: photograph, cats
I recently reopened a sketchpad that I used to write in. There are a ton of empty pages in it and I needed a more portable one now that I'm back at work for awhile. I looked back at some of the written pages. I had a deep thought back in March of 2004 that cracked me up:
"There should be one designated watcher over per subway to tell us if the train is coming or not so we don't all have to periodically stop what we're doing to lunge on the edge of the platform to see for ourselves. It's really silly. We all do it and it needs to be done in order to express our impatience and believe we are making the time pass. You know, the whole watched pot thing. On one of the polls there can be a bell, and if you stand near it, it's your job. You know, like when you sit next to the emergency exit on a plane. It's just your responsibility. When they see the train coming, ring-a-ding-ding."
February 23rd
Originally uploaded by RGP
Another version of the gal with big eyes. Now she's groooowing.
February 22nd
Originally uploaded by RGP
A quick doodle of a gal with gigantic eyes.
More face practice. I am having so much fun getting my hands dirty again! Yay smudging! (I've never been a fan of smudging tools other than my own fingers. I like what the excess oil does to the pencil).
tags: pencil, sketch, drawing
Drawing profiles as fast as I can! This was a fun practice session.
tags: sketch, pencil, drawing
More practice with the human form. It's actually very satisfying!
tags: pencil, sketch, paper
I decided I needed a little practice time so I did a little portrait of the boy. it definitely...resembles him but I certainly could use a lot more practice. I'm not exactly going for realism in any of my drawings, it's never really been my thing. But I absolutely want to get better at the human form and shape, so the closer I get, the better I feel!
tags: drawing, pencil, sketch
One of my favorite old films, I constantly get this song stuck in my head. Lately we have had a lot of rain here in NYC so it's been on the brain a lot more often than usual.
tags: drawing, sketch, psp, tablet, pen
I renewed my love for the Amelie soundtrack and naturally, this is the drawing that popped into my brain. I listened to the music over and over as I drew it. If you have an IMEEM account, you can listen to it here!
It's the chairless cafe because rather than continue my frustration with the chair I was attempting, I decided....it was better without.
tags: drawing, pen, psp, tablet
We finally got our first real snow the other day. It didn't last very long but while it did, I decided to go out and enjoy it. I went into town and wandered around Union Square for awhile. It was really relaxing. There was hardly anyone out due to weather (and those weirdos with day jobs had to, y'know, work n stuff) so I got to see a rare side of a normally hustling and bustling park in the city.
I took a ton of photos and some of them are up on my flickr page, but this one is my favorite. The original is really bleh. There wasn't enough light for my camera to really grab the feel. I've been practicing with photoshop for awhile so I decided to fix it up. This is the end result and I really, really love it.
tags: photography
Because getting a piggy back ride is always fun.
tags: drawing, sketch, pen, psp, tablet
I really had a bout of doodle block. (ha! I said doodle block). So mom suggested I make my own tarot cards. My favorite card, of course, is the fool. He represents pretty much how I'm trying to feel these days. Y'know, carefree and all that. (he's not just an idiot after all!) So here's my version!
tags: pen, psp, tablet, drawing
All I want is coffee and a rocking chair. I have an abundance of coffee. Now to work on the chair part. It reminds me of the rocking chair at my parents house that I love so much. It used to make a big thump sound when you rocked no it because the legs weren't attached so well after years of rocking.
tags: drawing, sketch, psp, tablet, pen
It's tough being a robot. Especially when you're green.
Inspiration is at a low. Time for a fresh, new outlook on things.
tags: drawing, pen, paper
Currently one of my favorites. I love to watch things grow, specifically little drawings like this. I may animate it to start walking.
tags: doodle, pencil, drawing, paper
I took this shot in Chinatown, NYC during an amazing performance in front of a fantastic store called Pearl River Mart (Another flickr user referred to it as the "asian kmart". I couldn't agree more). We missed the actual parade but this was well worth the trip!
Click on the photo to see the rest of the set.
tags: chinesenewyear, photograph, inspiration
A piece of one of my practice pages. A mess of love and practice.
tags: doodle, sketch, pencil, paper
Just a note I left for the boy to find one morning before work. We do that sometimes. Isn't it gross?
He likes the "parachute guy."
tags: crayon, pen, doodle, paper,
My mom, ever the supporter of my madness, sent me this link to a fantastic blog entry that really made me feel...not quite so hopeless.
5 - “But wait! I’m not perfect yet!”The gift of getting over this voice is that you might begin to relish how imperfectly you can do something. Giving yourself permission to do things badly is a great gift. Perfectionism is healed by taking action imperfectly, and surviving.
View the entry here!
This could be me and the boy, although that wasn't the intention. I can't help looking at them and thinking "that's us". Whoever they are, they have places to be.
tags: pen, drawing, sketch
I'm really excited about how my lips turned out here. I think it shows progress!
tags: drawing, pen, tablet, psp
I was looking for some extra inspiration and really loved this shot my cousin took of himself, so I decided to do a quick sketch of it and then place it on the actual photo itself. I had a lot of fun with this one and may try to do it again. I just hope he likes it!
tags: drawing, pen, psp, tablet
My brain was making a new pot of coffee about an hour ago. My feet haven't caught up yet.
Back in hightschool, I used to love to draw hands. I think I was actually pretty good at it. I haven't really drawn a hand since then (10+ years) and thought I would...uum...try my hand at it again. This is my first hand sketch in a long time. Then, of course, I played with it in PSP.
tags: drawing, pen, psp, tablet
I sketched out this gal and decided that even though i really enjoyed the sketch as is, crazy bic pen and all, I wanted to play with my tablet. So here I decided to show you a side by side of the original and the after. I played with it for so long that even though I don't feel like she's really finished, I am.
tags: drawing, pen, psp, tablet
For some reason I started to stray from actually doodling. I couldn't figure it out, why was I trying too hard and coming up with "doodles" less than what I hoped for. Then it hit me. Somewhere along the line I stopped doodling and started to try to hard. I think maybe it's because this is hte first time I've ever drawn and shared it with people other than myself and people sitting close enough to look over my shoulder. So I went straight back to basics. I got out my bic pen (my favorite pen!) and just went for it. Tried to knock out the conscious part of my brain and just draw. I'm much happier with my results so far.
tags: pen, drawing
A doodle on top of many other doodles. She's got the look. See?
tags: pencil, drawing,
I did it. I finally filled an entire page. My hand suffered the consequences but in the end, I'm (somewhat) happy with the results. It's a new idea I have that I intend on playing with some more. This is the introduction to the beginning stages of my character, Saramelia. I have a feeling she has a lot of growing to do.
tags: colored pencils, pencil, pen, drawing
