Taking a second look

February 22, 2020 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

So,it’s kind of like this…and I am sure that all of you go through this, no matter what you do….

Finding something that you discarded as totally, totally awful, then deciding it’s not so bad.

As is the case with this.

See,I hated the damn thing so much that I didn’t delicately trim it.

Looking back on it,I realize I like it. It accomplishes what I intended it to do…looking at the dawn, blurry eyed, with a half drunk cup of very strong coffee in my hand.

Okay now, back to the present.

Since, as you recall, I had no patience, jumped the shark, or both, in terms of ideas for full size winter drawings.

So,the natural thing is to do little winter drawings for holiday cards. I did so many that I photographed them in groups.

Then,I jumped the shark on that project. As you may have noticed, I love the term “jump the shark “.

So,the cards are the ones on hold for now.

I have a fresh batch of paper, an idea, and I am ready to hit the road.

Speaking of second looks, here’s one that I declared was my “worst of the year “,I forgot how long ago.

Of course it goes the other way, too. Some pieces that I was sure were masterpieces, on second look, stink like moldy salami.

What’s your sign, Babe?

February 12, 2020 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

For those of you who weren’t around in the 1960’s, or weren’t paying attention, astrology was a big thing. At parties, in classrooms, on jobs, “What’s your sign?”, was the big question…yeah, pretty lame, but it was a good icebreaker.

For those of you who are interested, I’m a Pisces.

For those of you who are really, really interested, I’m a Pisces Sun, Gemini Rising, Moon in Capricorn.

Conversationally speaking, of course….

But signs are sometimes signatures…….you knew I was going somewhere with this, didn’t you?

There’s a website I used to follow which had a business section. People seriously had questions about signing art.

Like, where do I sign the painting? (My answer: Anyplace your little heart desires, sweetie)

Can I just use my first name? (Not unless you’re Van Gogh)

What color should I make it? (Any color you want. Please, no chartreuse on lavender)

Yeah, I decided it was a better use of my time to make artwork, than perusing artist chat boards.

My signatures have evolved over time. This is what my father would say was my “Artsy Craftsy” signature. I realize that my signature really dates the artwork. Speaking of dating artwork, you can legally copyright your work by signing it, putting in the date with a @. Yes, but no one will want to buy anything because they perceive it as old.

Yeah, I went through a time when I just wanted to sign my work “Roxy”.

Then I came to a place where I boldly declared that yes, this is my name.

Then I went through a period of time when I didn’t sign my work. Like calling a picture “Untitled”, it was just plain laziness on my part.

Then I got around to hiding my signature. Just happened somehow.

So, back to the soap opera…..

When we last saw Roxanne, she was flipped out about the greeting card she had designed. It reminded her of this;

So, she decided to redo this less than perfect one, above.

To this:

Clearly and proudly signed!

Next Episode……….Same time, same place

February 11, 2020 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

When we last left Roxanne, she was in turmoil as to what to do next………..then she took a nap, had some coffee, and watched an old episode of “WKRP in Cincinnati” on YouTube. Her mind was cleared with an ethereal sense of purpose. “I’ve got it!” She cried.

In the meantime, getting back to here and now….I realized I only had one sheet of paper left. I certainly didn’t have any idea, either winter or spring that I could commit that seriously to.

So, I figured out I’d do holiday cards, until some inspiration came along. So, I did this:

If it looks familiar, it should….it’s a revision of last episode’s drawing.

Then I did this:

And then all Hell broke loose in my brain. Not that it doesn’t occasionally anyway.

This picture reminded me of this:

And then this:

(Let’s lose the crappy houses though)

And this!

All sorts of music concerning the Moon came to mind.

So, I have an idea.

Buzzing

February 10, 2020 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

Ever have one of those damn bugs, buzzing around your head in a threatening manner? You don’t know whether to swat and kill the damn thing, or steadfastly ignore it. Ideas in art can be the same way.

The drawing I’m referring to is based on this photo:

Trust me. It was a lot more exciting when looked at by real human eyes.

So, I started playing around with the idea, and came up with this:

Er, not quite. In all honesty, I was trying to create something when I still was dealing with a major case of artist’s block.

But the idea would just not die. Sort of like Rasputin.

So, a couple of years late (Like just last year), I decided to try again. I was working on little stuff, in hopes that I would create something saleable. Didn’t succeed, as you will see…

And this….

As you can probably tell, the photo I was working with was taken in late May. There is no fast rule that you can’t change the season in the drawing.

So, back to winter, my latest drawing of a robin, aside:

This is the small sketch:

It’s a greeting card. I like the was it turned out, although a little Kinkaidish. Not sure if I will do a full size yet.

But I may, and also try another spring picture…who knows? Maybe a group of four season ones!

But then, maybe not.

The Bronx is up……….

February 6, 2020 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

Yes, I promised birds…………BUT.

I changed my mind again.

I found the files of old work, which was this woman’s treasure. There’s a lot of stuff that I don’t think I put on this blog…was on my old Blogger Blog that still exists somewhere in the vast Universe of the internet, probably. Maybe not, and I don’t give a……… something to do with a rat’s backside.

For instance this:

Turns out I like it..wasn’t sure it was any good when I painted it. I did this when I was living in NYC, and missed nature.

I’ve got a lot of nature here. Somehow, when I do a drawing of it, I feel a need to put in a hint of humanity …..

or else I get mighty bored. Remember me ranting about foliage?

So, sometimes I still think about New York City and wonder if I was happier there. Mixed feelings, six of one, and half a dozen about the other. I still wonder though.

It seems my artwork though, has gotten weaker, since I moved here. The NYC work seems bolder.

and cleaner.

Anyway…..I’m changing my mind again…..here’s my latest bird. Which is also taken from a NYC theme. Not to mention, it’s also a spring picture. How’s that for three in one?

Meow for Now

Come Bobbing Along, Already!

January 28, 2020 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

I have a friend who visits from Thailand every couple of years. He’ll be here in March, and I was starting to make plans……………and he said, “Well that’s two months away”. I really thought it was right around the corner. Thanks for nothing, James!

As I said last post, I was going to work on a spring picture, and that’s it, in the featured picture. Or at least the preliminary sketch of it. I may work on a large one, but I may change my mind about that.

There’s an old, dated, sexist saying “It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind”. Alright, sexist though it is, I’ll take it.

This was my old logo, Embracing My Inner Cat.

This is my current logo, Connecticut Fantasy.

But I’m thinking of changing back.

So, it turns out I have been accepted into the art show I applied for. You remember, I was going over the no’s and the maybe’s. So, on to the yes ones. You may see that I’ve changed my mind about some of the no’s.

Of course, I may add a few small ones to it. I’ll have to see the space, I will go after the meeting on February 20…or 21st, depending on the weather.

So, I’ve been changing my mind a lot lately, and will continue to do so…………

Nothing’s off the table!

Ah,Spring!

January 26, 2020 roxannebaldwin

Maybe I’m rushing the season

After “Winter Horse Farm “, I ran out of ideas. At least, I mean winter ideas. So, I have been doing some winter greeting cards in hopes of selling them later in the year. Not very remarkable pieces of art…only one I really liked.