A Little Piece of Mississippi

Last year my mom encouraged me to participate in The Sketchbook Project. While I had heard of it in the past, I had never considered submitting a sketchbook (if you've never heard of it check it out here). Basically you buy a small sketchbook through them, do whatever you want to it, then mail it back and it becomes part of the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Art Library. Anyone can come in and check out your book (and if you get it digitized people can even view it all online). So I thought it would be cool that New York would get a little piece of Mississippi.  And me.

It turned out to be more of a reflection on myself than I planned. There's paintings and drawings of myself and of every member of my little family (yes even our dog Moxie got a page). There's poems I've written, places where I live that I sketched, things that represent my past but a lot of things that show the direction of my art in the future. Its interesting to me that so much of myself fell out onto these pages. I think I was happy to share it so it made parting with the sketchbook a lot easier.

Front cover

A little about me.

There you have it! If you are ever in New York I hope you check it out. And I'd say maybe even attempt your own sketch book for next year. You may surprise yourself.

Jude Gestures! (Art Mama Series Part 1)

Here lately life has turned into a steady routine. It's nice, actually, and it works well for us. Part of that routine is the park. Jude and I go pretty frequently. Mainly because I have no backyard and sometimes, we just need to get out of the house. A change of scenery and some sunshine work wonders for the both of us. We go to break up the routine and now it has become my favorite part of the routine (go figure).
Usually I just walk with him in the stroller,  but other times I bring a blanket and spread out on the grass and he plays with toys (and explores the grass) and I do some sketching.
You have never done speed drawing unless you're trying to draw a very active nine month old boy! I do enjoy the challenge though and I am surprised how much of an impression I got from gesture drawing for the few seconds he sat still before moving. Also this was all while stopping him from trying to eat leaves and acorns (everything still goes into his mouth).

I also want to start a series here on the blog on how I incorporate Jude into my art. Aptly called the Art Mama Series. Whether its sketching/drawing him, or dragging him to various art functions I want to really involve Jude into my process and into the arts in every way. I also want to begin allowing him to grow up in a highly creative environment which allows him to experiment, imagine and create. I know it will be messy and hectic but it is something I truly want in my life and his.

The "Jude Gestures"

So hopefully you guys will get to see how this all progresses and plays out. I can't wait to see where this takes me as an artist and as a parent.

Catie

April Showers....

These last few days have been nothing but a torrential downpour here on the Gulf Coast and it looks like it will continue allllllllll week long.
Sadly, the weather makes me VERY unmotivated. I've got tons to work on, things to type up, website stuff research but all I want to is drink hot tea, binge watch Netflix and mindlessly surf the internet (or if I'm lucky take a nap, this is perfect napping weather).
So I figured I'd show off some sketchbooks I've been meaning to document. Here's one of my favorite altered sketchbooks, aptly named The Observer, seeing as how this book is filled with sketches of random people/places I've observed in various places (laundry mat, bars, a beach house, and lots and lots of coffeeshops). This book could possibly also be called my Time Waster book since usually that is what I'm doing when I drag it out to work in. (Oh yeah it happens to be a book about a fictional viking boy before I altered it, love some of the illustrations in it!)

Also here is a new watercolor sketchbook I received for Christmas that I'm really enjoying working in. It's panoramic layout poses a challenge when looking for a scene/subject matter. I kinda like how it forces me to change things up though.

Now to get on all that stuff I was procrastinating....

Catie

Altered Books

So I've found a new obsession! When a friend of mine showed me some of her sketchbooks made from old discarded library books, I was instantly hooked! She had paintings and drawings and color. In a book!

I went straight to Goodwill and bought some books to try on my own.

It's super easy and I love that there are no rules, so its hard to feel like you messed up a page (although if you truly disliked it, taking an exacto knife to cut it out is super easy). Plus I bought 5 books for $1 (sale at Goodwill oh yes!) so I definitely consider them cheap sketchbooks. I'm also finding that these books are a great small exercise in getting some creative juices flowing. No pressure. No fear of the ole blank canvas. 

This particular sketchbook I've begun using for sermon notes. Yep I lug the book, the pencils,  the pens, watercolor pencils and pastels to church (yeah I'm that person who takes up two chairs with my junk). I listen, I write, and I sketch. As a highly visual person this helps me remember what was taught Sunday to Sunday while also letting me be as creative as I want. Yes, in church. Long ago I realized that God and art definitely go hand-in-hand. Letting one inspire the other has always been good for me. 

Right now we are in the books of Acts

Vintage sewing pattern tissue paper, scrapbook paper, a receipt for some earrings Justin bought me, even letting the book page show through

 

When I start a new page I usually focus on color. I glue at least three pages together to make them sturdy enough to hold paint and whatever else I stick on the pages.

I prepare the background ahead of time at home in the studio, so that all I have to do is take the notes come Sunday. My backgrounds consist of paper I like, gessoed pages, paint, and sometimes I even modge podge regular drawing paper to just cover the words and give me a blank page to write and draw on. My favorite backgrounds are monoprints of abstract color.

(an example of a mono printed background, great for texture!)

This one has sandpaper, mono printed paper, and drawing paper.

I begin during the service and then finish when I get home in my studio (mostly acrylic paint because that would get messy to take with me).

Pictures, newspaper, scrapbooking paper, even tea tags!

Altered books are more about putting together what you like and find inspiring. There's no wrong way to do them just put whatever you want in them and have fun!

To see some more art journals/altered books go to: 

http://anahataart.com/#/gallery/1/20 and check her work out! It's amazing!