Hello again my pretties,
I don’t know what it is about spring that turns my mind to unpleasant things, but no matter how hard I try to draw themes of life and beauty, they always turn out a little macabre.
For example, here is a drawing I just completed that I’m calling Carnivorous Bulbs.
Oh, it started out as a nice enough drawing of sprouting bulbs, but then I decided to show the struggle that the roots were going through to bring water and nutrients up to the bulbs. See how twisted and torqued they are with tension and mission?
Well, after I’d drawn the thing and stepped back to contemplate it, it seemed to me that the bulbs looked really very plump and satisfied. Full, you could say. Almost as if they’d been munching on, oh I don’t know, bugs maybe. And all that twisting and torquing might actually be the digestion process.
Here’s last years’s lovely doing. I call it The First Fingers of Spring. These charmers have knuckles and the suggestion of fingernails. And here we see the same twisted intestine-like root structure as in Carnivorous Bulbs. Consistancy!
From another delightfully verdant spring, my mind expressed these strugglers. As a matter of fact, I’ve just named this one Strugglers, and aren’t they? Poor little things growing on top of a pile of rocks. Their skinny roots sqeezing through and clinging on wherever they can. Hardly any water or soil to be found.
Well, I hope your pencils are busy. It looks like it’s going to be an enchanting spring!
Hugs and kisses to all, Carol
I found it fascinating, I like the evolution. The Strugglers are awesome
Thank you Daisy … I like Strugglers the best too!
You know, you are like my favorite pencil artist. I think your artwork is so amazing and you have a wonderful talent. I have been receiving your blog for quite awhile and each time I am disappointed in the drawings. I mean once in awhile, I wouldn’t mind them, but they are always something tangled and twisted and although the shading is great etc. I long to see some of your wonderful drawing of nature and animals and stuff like that. Do you think you could start sharing those with us on occasion? I know I would enjoy that a lot and I think others would as well. Thanks
Hi Kini,
Yes, I haven’t drawn animals or flowers in quite a long time. I’m a gardener and roots and twisty things underground inspire my creepy crawly side. I especially need to draw abstract form right now too. Artists, their needs, and their work change.
I’ll be 62 this summer, and I’m happy to be moving in this exploratory direction. It’s more internally creative and I feel like an overflowing fountain. You might see your work change someday too, but not necessarily to the dark side. :)
However, I’ll always post drawing lessons, because I think sharing what I’ve learned is tremendously important work too.
I just love the way you teach us …
And u r simply awesome.
I’m really grateful to you..bcoz I was searching all the way to learn something about pencil shading..and I found ur blog..
Thanks a lot..😇
I think you’re awesome too! You make me want to keep drawing and teaching. Thanks for writing. Hugs, C.