Tag Archives: drawing

Get Out the Tanning Butter!

January 11, 2019 roxannebaldwin 1 Comment

The title happens to be from the song “Rock Lobster”, by the B-52s. Strangely enough, that happens to be Our Song. Yes, that’s the romantic tune to which my partner and I bonded, on our first date. Most importantly, it was the Labor Day weekend, the last of the lazy, hazy days of summer.

Ah, summer. We could use a little summer, right this very minute. Seriously. The high today is to be 27F. January is here, and I’m already sick of winter. So, let’s take a moment and remember those summer days.

I have done retrospectives of all seasons, it seems, except my favorite.

I never mind the heat much. I know some people prefer the cold, but I like it hot. Hot enough that a dip in a pool is a treat.

People associate flowers with spring. However, there are just as many flowers in the fall, as well as, SUMMER

I can go on and on about summer. So, why not?

Even cats love summer.

And dogs

Motorcyclists

I hope this has warmed you a little. Or at least, has given you some perspective on winter.

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Happy End of the Holidays!

January 2, 2019 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

Okay, finally….life is back to normal.

I have a little ritual in winter, as the days grow longer. First off is Yule, then Christmas, New Years, and then January 2nd. Here’s the drawing that I made in celebration of t hat celebration.

The ritual includes such things as The Superbowl, and Mardi Gras. And of course, Imbolc which is a pagan holiday that falls on Groundhog day.

It’s amazing how much more subject matter for the winter there is in Connecticut than NYC. Snow is particularly unsightly in the city, and the only birds around are pigeons and crows. Of course, there are crows around here, but they’re pleasant, graceful visitors of the season.

So, I’ve learned to find beauty this time of year…so Happy Rest of the Winter!

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The Devil is in the Details

December 23, 2018 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

My father was a detail man. He was a commercial artist, and his specialty was filling in the designs on the fabric of shirts, pants, diamonds, and just about anything else that was advertised. I can’t imagine how he had the patience to do such a thing, but, perhaps it’s just that it was income, and you do what you can do.

So, I think I’ve started channeling my father, the detail man.

I really, really used to think detail was boring. I would do drawing with large flat spaces, and details, as a touch. After all, that’s what I was taught was good composition.

I’ve switched to loving detail.

And letting the details lead the story…..

Can you find the kitten?

So, at that point, I took a loose idea…..and just let the detail flow.

As my drawing progressed, I realized I enjoyed detail. No longer boring, just put on some music and dance. Or, in this case, detail, detail, detail.

More recently, I’ve kept spaces for detail.

Yes, I filled around each clover blossom on this. I didn’t mind it. A few years ago, it would have driven me out of my already somewhat insane mind.

A few years ago, this is when I really details really took off…or dragged me down to earth as the case may be. I wanted to make my artwork more painterly, but I was fighting, tooth and nail, against the medium,

However, the details started sneaking in. Thanks, Dad.

So, I’ve taken a new direction, in my work. Let the details rule! Or rock and roll, if you prefer.

My motto in life has become, “Let It Flow”, both in my dealings with life, and in my artwork.

Looking at the Bigger Picture

December 22, 2018 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

The picture above started with a small sketch.

As you can see, the lines are messier, and the detail unclear. That’s what the problem with working small is.

So partially, it’s my lack of physical stability that’s making me work so small. Also, having the long, tired out, idea that small pictures would sell better, and damn…..presto, I would be making a living as an artist. I have sold a couple, but mostly greeting cards below a reasonable wage to make them.

So, the quandary is: Do I try once again to tie myself in pretzels to find something that sells? Or do I stay the path and do my the work I enjoy doing and people seem to like, even when they’re not buyers?

I can’t put the love and details into something as small as a 5×7. Here are some examples.

This:

Became this:

This:

Became this:

True, there have been a couple of small ones that sold on EBay:

So, the question is, do I sell out or do I keep authentic? Since no one seems to be buying when I try to sell out….

I do have the ability to sit and brace my hand at larger than 5×7, and and get into those tasty details I love so much.

So, one last try at getting small:

Soon to come to a larger picture near you.

And this from last week.

Start with what you know….

December 11, 2018 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

It’s winter yet again. Okay, it’s really still fall by the calendar, but who am I to split hairs? It’s barren, cold, with short days. Somehow, I feel my artist block melting.

I’ve been prolific in the winter time. Summer and spring are almost too pretty to come up with something interesting and moody.

One of my favorites in the past winter:

And some from previous years,

I seem to like crows.

So, here I am, raring to go, but not a clue. How did I come up with so may ideas in the past? What do I do now?

So, I remembered my old rule of thumb. Start with what you know. So, then, I will.

Just a memory for all of you who like cats: this is the third anniversary of capturing Pumpkin, bringing him to a prettier environment. A chance to be a domestic cat again, and all the perks that come with it. Pumpkin, it’s been good.

Bricks

October 10, 2018 roxannebaldwin 2 Comments

A little background info….

I’ve been away for a while, in case you haven’t noticed. I needed some time to reflect, think about where I’ve been, where I’m going and most importantly, where I am.

And it all comes down to bricks…well, sort of.

When I first really got going working in colored pencil, I lived in Greenwich, CT. Somehow, and for what reason I can’t figure out, I became drawn to drawing (Ha) buildings with bricks. I sweated tears over each individual rectangle, making sure it was perfect.

Then I landed quite happily but totally unexpectedly in Manhattan. Again, loads and loads of bricks to be drawn! I still was sweating over each and every single detail.

So, then due to circumstances which are beyond explaining. I landed in Queens, a little community called Sunnyside. And much to my delight, I found bricks! By now, I was taking those little rectangles in stride.

Then after 20 years of ups and downs and all arounds in NYC, I ended up back in Connecticut in a small city called Danbury. It’s as a large of a city as I want to deal with for a while.

And whaddya think I found there? My first picture there, bricks.

And bricks and cats.

After this much needed break, guess what I start with?

And a familiar door. Yes, I know it’s October, I started this pic in May.

All in a Day’s Work

May 22, 2018 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

I’m kind of struggling here. I’m trying to catch the excitement that I had for the artwork I did in New York, but have yet to capture in Connecticut. Most of my work here, has come out boringly representational. I kind of realize the elements I’m missing…

I did put human objects as subject matter, and work heavily on a design with them. Abstract them, to a certain point. Here are some NYC that show my focus.

The closest thing I’ve done like that in Connecticut is this. It leans too far the the pure representational side.

Anyway, I think I know what I have to do to get back on the road!

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