Tag Archives: winter landscape

Can’t Complain

February 27, 2020 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

Wouldn’t help anything if I did…

So, as I pointed out, I’ve come to a milestone 10 years….I’m not running out of ideas for the blog, but no so much artwork.

Here’s a recap of the blog so far:
I’ve complained about how dreary winter is:

I’ve complained about Autumn being the entry to the cold, bleak winter:

I’ve complained about summer foliage being repetitive and boring to draw:

I’ve complained about missing the country while living in the city:

I’ve complained about missing the city while I live in the country

I’ve even had the nerve to complain about flowers and rainbows:

So, as you can tell, I’ve run out of things to complain about. Therefore, I can’t complain.

I’m going to concentrate of my artwork, until the desire to complain comes back….which could be next week, for all I know.

Until then, meow for now.

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 3 Comments

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.

Do it again, again

January 21, 2020 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

Okay, I really should give it some time before I post a drawing I’ve finished. There’s something about posting it, for all, the world to see, to show off my mistakes. Ooops.

So, as I looked at “Winter Horse Farm”, I realized, once again, it was too stark and uninteresting. So, this is what it looks like now:

And on to other news,

I’m trying to figure out how to put my display in the darn car! I didn’t expect it to be so involved a display, nor did I expect the cargo space in the car to be so small. That’s really not a good combination. It’s going to take a lot of organizing, and as you know, my organizational skill are almost non-existent.

But I’m looking at a nearby craft show that I might do. Fortunately, I will only be selling holiday cards and accent pieces. Not nearly as complex…and I already have a decent picture of the display:

So, here are a few items I’m planning on putting up for sale:

EPSON MFP image

EPSON MFP image

Well, see you next time I put up a drawing too early. Until then, au revoir.

No,No,No!!

January 10, 2020 roxannebaldwin 1 Comment

First off, a redo of “Full Moon in the Afternoon.

The original was meant to be minimalist. However, it turned out to be boring. It’s a lesson I learned long ago, sometimes what works in a small piece looks like hell when you enlarge it. So,I added a few patterns and designs that I could sink my teeth into! I think it turned out more interesting, although far from my original idea. So moving on…

I promised a look again at the boring titles of the category of not a chance. These are among the drawings for the show that I have entered to the jury. Not sure when I hear back.

This is “Number 35”,which I feel is a lackluster summertime drawing. With a lackluster title. I think I should rename it “Hidden Stairway “,which is the real subject of the drawing.

Some of these drawings I really like, but they don’t fit into the style or subject matter of my usual work. Such is the case with “Rocking Chair “. I think I will rename it “Rock, Rock, Rock!”. For no particular reason, except..it’s more interesting.

This is “Constellation “. Not a bad title, but a drawing that falls short of my usual quality. And so it goes.

“Cloudy Day ” Can you imagine anything more boring than that? Yes,the drawing itself. It was one of those drawings trying to find beauty in a sunless day. Failed miserably. But “Sunless ” is a better title.

This is “The Greening “. I like the name and the drawing. However, again it doesn’t fit with my usual style. All the advice I have gotten from career instruction is that I should be branding myself. I should ignore advice, I really, really should.

Anyway, the ayes have it. Let’s look into better titles for the ones I have chosen…next time

Making Peace with Winter

November 8, 2019 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

Hello folks! I’ve mentioned before about my seasonal depression, and guess what! It’s nearly winter again. I did a series of drawings one year, making peace with each month.

For instance, this was “Making Peace with November”.

And this was “Making Peace with December”

I believe this one was “Making Peace with January”, but as I look back on my artwork, well, it sometimes is a puzzle to me, what I made when and in what context:

I also see I have a picture entitled “January 3rd”……

I think I intended it to be another year’s sequel to January 2,

These drawings did work (or maybe it was the Prozac) and I was able to see happiness and beauty in winter. Or I should say, most of winter.

What still gets to me are the grey dismal days, of dark skies and dirty slush. A couple of years ago, I tried to make peace with the grey gloom, and came up with this;

People in Danbury like this, because it’s a well known statue, here. But to me, however, it still looks like a depressingly dull winter day.

But, I still have hope….that I will find some kind of beauty in the winter days. I have an idea, we shall see if it works out. After all, some winter days are dramatic, and gorgeous.

This is not my Photograph

February 9, 2019 roxannebaldwin Leave a comment

Fabulous Photo

I found this on Google Earth, and it’s credited to Jan Prosek. I’ve been trying to seek out a website or a link to his work, to give him proper credit. It’s fantastic. I have artist envy.

I also wish I could find a way to paste the image in, rather just link it.

In other news, my wrist has gotten to the point where I can very gently do some artwork. I’m still too fragile to do large projects, so I’m working on Christmas cards. Yes, I know it’s February, but I want to have an inventory by October. I plan on doing a show then, and yes, they’re something that actually sells,.

20161122_162212

Like this one.

While I’ve had this right-handless problem, I’ve been going over the past, drawings I did of NYC.

Sentinel

Going back to the glamorous days of working in the gift shop of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Lots of great perks, but I really, I mean really hated the job.

Scan_20151207 (2)

Speaking of both the Met and Christmas cards, this is the card I did of the Angel Tree.

grandcentralsunday

For day jobs, I worked twice in Grand Central Terminal. One of them was in the Market, at a little shop called Adriana’s Caravan. It was the most interesting jobs I ever held. Totally loved it, part of a great team. The store had a good following, too.

Visiting gorgeous lofts. This one was in Tribeca.

skylinesketch

And having a skyline view to sketch from my studio window.

Yes, sometimes I miss New York. Our first night when we moved into Manhattan, we said “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore”. It was an exciting time, but all the excitement wasn’t good. I was there for 9/11,for instance. Also trying to navigate the crowds on 5th Avenue on Black Friday put an anxious lump in my throat. Not to mention the subways……………..

So, I guess I’m back in Kansas, or Connecticut as it is. There’s no place like home,

Roxanne Baldwin's Artsy Blog