This is actually a drawing of my final project for my ceramics class. I wanted to create a series of organic forms that were based on the amphoric vessel, but that addressed the issue, inherent in ceramics, of forms that walk the line between art and utility. Thus, these vessels, while they technically are vessels, defy the necessary components of a utilitarian vessel, namely with their rounded bottoms (they stood up for the drawing by the use of O-rings underneath them), manipulated rims, and often bent-over shapes.

Anyways, it somehow seemed appropriate for this weeks’ Illustration Friday topic, “voices.”

Pictures from the end result of the peanut project for my ceramics class. More info can be found here and here.

I’ve been rather obsessed with ink bottles; they’re cute and funnily shaped, but at the same time anthropomorphic. This is a page with two different mediums, same subject. Top is sumi ink (applied with a chopstick, in fact) with watercolor. The bottom is straight uniball. I really like that spontaneous and messy way of applying the sumi ink in the top one, as well as the juxtaposition of the heavy blackness with the lightness of the watercolors. Definitely one of my favorite drawings that I’ve ever made, mostly because it is a way of drawing that I’d like to explore further. 

A drawing from a couple weeks ago that I kept meaning to post but never did. The text is an article about Obama from the New York Times Magazine that I really liked. The drawing is straight pen, one that I like a lot but it’s very unknown. Called “Le Pen,” I found it in an obscure stationary store. I like the way the ink flows out of it. You can tell that I started the drawing with his nose and cheekbone but then changed my mind with the placement and drew the new lines directly over the old ones, and I ended up liking the effect of the extra lines.

A naturally occurring still-life on my coffee table. Watercolor and uniball. I don’t know why I’m so into the uniball lately. I think I like the imperfect and heavier line. I’m used to using Micron 01 or 02.

So I finally cracked and bought real Birkenstocks, something I’ve been longing to do for years, but could never find the heart to spend that much money. But I took the plunge and fell in love.  And drew them. I have a feeling I’m going to be drawing them a lot; they have just the right balance of detail and empty planes. By the way, I do realize the crazy proportions on the front shoe — its funny, it didn’t even hit me until after I saw the image on my computer screen. It’s strange, the difference in the way our eyes see something on the page versus an electronic form. Anyways, the next drawing will be not so creepily cramped. Promise.

Snow, snow, snow. Lots of snow in Michigan. This was an early morning drawing/watercolor after a night of a heavy storm; everything was completely covered – the snow is blindingly white and everything sort of blends into everything else.

A very very tiny watercolor. It’s actually one of those Strathmore 2″x3″ watercolor papers that come in a pack. eensy weensy. I really like the shape of these ink bottles – in fact, I’m drawn to buy ink bottles in general because I really like the idea of ink. Unfortunately, I don’t use it very often because the paper in my notebooks is usually too lightweight. I suppose they make good drawing subjects instead.

An old sketch of my favorite table in the world (covered in art supplies). Micron 01. 

Bananas bought from Trader Joe’s last week. 19 cents each! Are all bananas that cheap? I don’t buy them very often…