Sunday, November 29, 2009

Delicacy and Destruction!


Inspired (again) by the wonderful artwork of Rima Staines , I went back to my graphite pencils and produced a little drawing of a strange and mysterious lady.  These drawings are so difficult to photograph, the camera doesn't seem to quite capture the softness or the detail of graphite.  Of course, it could always be the photographer!  This is returning to an old and familiar love for me, graphite and colour pencils were my medium of choice as a child, and if I look through my old high school folio (because of course, I still have it) almost all the work is in pencil.  There is something lovely and delicate about it, and of course, total control...pencil is very forgiving.  I love building up layer upon layer of light strokes, creating different textures and depths of tone.  And very good for teaching patience...something I think I have lost a little.  I'm not sure I could spend weeks and weeks on the same piece as I used to in my school art class.  Another thing about my high school folio...so many of the pieces never quite got finished, often a drawing contains a beautifully detailed bottom right-hand corner, and the rest of the page just a vague sketched outline.



So I have been working in tiny, delicate pencil strokes while all the while there were hammerings and bangings and sawings and all manner of loud kaffoofle coming from our bedroom which is having a major make-over in the (mostly) expert hands of my beloved.  An old steel-framed window that faced onto the garage is out and bricked up, and a lovely new jarrah casement window (made by the aforementioned almost-expert) facing the east and the morning sun is in.  Ceiling out and roof-line changed, a new loft bed will go in, and all to be finished by Christmas, he promises me!  We shall see.  But it will be wonderful when it's finished.

9 comments:

salty pebble said...

i love your mysterious lady! beautiful blog!
love your title too...;0)xx i love illustrations, drawing and pen and ink mermaids and fairies- we have a little something in common hehe ;0)

Jo Potter said...

A beautiful blog you have here and a very lovely pencil drawing you have created too. The detail is great!:)
I found your site through Ruthie's blog, so I'm now following you as well...
I have just bought one of your special cards, 'Angel Girl'.
Best wishes. Jo May.;)

Jo Potter said...

P.S.
Hi again,
I have just read your profile and I see you are living in Australia. I use to live in Brisbane for a few years and I loved it there...
See you soon.
Jo.:)

A mermaid in the attic said...

AMP...yes, I think we do! And Jo...WOW, you are my first Etsy customer, very exciting for me! The little Angel will be winging her way to you very soon! Goodness, that's 3 exclamation marks in a row. :)

Jo Potter said...

Thank you. I think I will frame your card when it arrives, as it is so beautiful... I have just hearts your Etsy shop and I wondered if I could put you on my creative blog list on my site?
Jo.:)

A mermaid in the attic said...

Jo, thanks so much, and I'd be honoured. :)

Jo Potter said...

Oh great... Thank you!:)
Having your blog on my creative list can encourage more people to visit your wonderful site!:)
I hope you don't mind me asking but can your blue mermaid be in my followers box?
I love the image!:)

Ruthie Redden said...

Yum, love all the detail in this pencil drawing, there is something special about working in that medium. I am bad for starting a sketch & then not finishing it cause i dont want to spoil it, so have rather too many unfinished pieces lying about! Isn't Rima's work stunning, heres was one of the very first blogs i came across & i fell head over heels. Interesting about the red hair, so many (like my middle daughter) wishes she didn't have red hair! i keep saying that folks would give their right hand to be the colour she is!! Even me as my red is fading with the years lol! I do hope you get your bedroom for christmas, it looks as though it will be stunning! clever hubby. ps loved the green hat x

A mermaid in the attic said...

Jo...Done! Ruthie, my brother was the same, he hated it! I discovered Rima's website a couple years ago, and then rediscovered her through Terri Windling's blog. Her work is incredible and I just love the way she writes about her travels as well.

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