When you just want to draw and paint: the Self-Portrait

      The first painting I made in a class as a newly-wed in New Haven a half century ago was a self-portrait in pastel. I haven't worked in soft pastel since then. There was the allure of oil paintings on canvas that didn't need framing and were more permanent. But pastels are fast to put down on a textured board. Years ago I found boxes of Sennelier pastels labeled for figure, landscape, marine and flowers inexpensive at a rummage sale, but never dove into them. I decided it was now time.

        Also, few weeks ago, I just looked out my window and wanted to sketch the tops of trees and houses in the sun.  Since mirrors were all around, I signed the sketch, with a self portrait in pencil. After watching a free art class on the Internet, I indulged myself in ink pens and brushes for that medium. I am eager to do some ink drawings with new pens.

        Whereas some artists LOVE self-portraits and make many, others have no interest. I find it the easiest start because with the self is where the ideas begin."Rembrandt, Reynolds, Courbet and Munich have had full exhibitions dedicated to their self-portraits."* I have led small groups in self-portraiture and love to re-read all my handouts on books, work and play recommendations. I suggest a dive into the fun of a self-portrait in a new media if you just feel like drawing and painting. Of course you can always let loose and go wild!

Note: I don't usually, or ever, think of what I am trying to communicate in a drawing or a self-portrait. But, in the portrait,  the watch must say something about our age.

LindaHicksweb.com  (click on Narratives and Self-portraits at my website)
*See The Self-Portrait: A Cultural History by James Hall

Guests Coming/Changing Leaves: a journal quilt

(click to enlarge)

   The leaves are changing and we, ourselves, are turning over. For 41 years in this house we (I should say "I," since my husband is methodical and  does not accumulate) have paid more attention to creating and turning the house into a factory, rather than maintaining tidiness and order. Also, there are the grandchildren and their toys and disorder. So it was with both excitement and horror that I received the news FOUR beloved relatives were driving across the country to view the leaves and to stay with us for a WEEK, right away! Egads. Paths must be made and some upkeep attended to.
    Out came the paintbrushes and hammers. The big toss and reorganization began. Of course there is no way to create the comfort our guests are accustomed to, but I am thrilled to have the motivation to start to straighten every room in the house, reorganize and rediscover, however limited. I am an evening person, but I was up early this morn at 6:30 and made this journal quilt by 8, before breakfast.
    I had the background and was puzzled what to include besides books flying, magazines tossed. I pulled Joe in to look at my stash. At first he asked if I had Munch's Scream in fabric. Then he found the Cars fabric and the skeletons and suggested I add the hammer and paint brush. I wish I had time to sew some beads on the headlights and to the leaves in the trees.