Week 12 Reflection

I finished a large print today, and I also did two small ones earlier this week, but I don't have images of those because they are buried on the wall in my studio right now. I still want to finish another large print and two medium ones by Tuesday. My only concern is that my oil pastel supply is dwindling faster than I had hoped. I ordered some the other day and will get them tomorrow, but that still might not be enough. I'm going to try Michigan Book and Supply tomorrow, but they are always out of stock - so frustrating. So, I just hope I have enough to get me through the next three prints. It will be a busy weekend.

Week 11 Reflection

working on book: 16 hours
printing: 15 hours
drawing on print: 2.5 hours
photographing pastel drawings: 1 hour
preassembly of prints: 1 hour

I finished coloring this print at the beginning of the week. I'm really happy with the color, but as Erica and I were talking about today, I'm not sure how I feel about the drawing style/texture. I've drawn the last few prints tighter and heavier than previous ones. Although I like it, I kind of miss seeing more print show through. So, I'm not sure how I am going to approach the rest of the prints.

I've been working on my poetry book all week, as well, and I'm almost ready to order it. I can't wait to see it printed.

I also did a lot of printing this week, and I cut myself off now so that I can spend the rest of my time assembling, drawing, and figuring out what will be in the show.

Week 10 Reflection

Working on book: 5.5 hours
Pastel drawings: 6 hours
Drawing on print: 13.5 hours

This week I did a couple more pastel drawings. I'm going to have these drawings printed alongside the poetry in a book, so I'd like to do a few more drawings in the next week. I'd like to get the book ordered by the end of next week to make sure it gets here on time. So, I need to take better photos of the drawings, edit the poems, and get the book completely formatted by then. I'm going to need a lot of input next week about the poems, the order of the poems, font, titles, alignment, format, etc. It will be a busy week.

I'm still not finished with this print, but it's close. I need to finish it up so I can start coloring the next one and keep printing. Once I have the book set to go, I'll just be printing and coloring nonstop.

Week 9 Reflection

Photographing house: 1 hour
Assembling prints: 4 hours
Drawing on prints: 13 hours
Working on thesis: 4 hours

This week I finished assembling the prints that I did before break, and I colored the smaller two. I really enjoyed working with the smaller size, and I think I'd like to continue working with various sizes. For the book, I've decided that I want to have the poems printed along with the grayscale pastel drawings. I want to keep it simple and clean. I think I'll get it printed through an online site, but as Janie pointed out, I need to get going on it to make sure it's printed in time.

I'd like to stay
in today,
rather not open
the door
to step outside.
Inside it's warm
and quiet,
blinds turned
to let sunshine
bleach walls.
And the spot on the
couch, waiting
to hold me,
feet tucked
beneath.

I used to sit
on the tan floral couch
while mom did aerobics
in the morning.
The living room
full of light, soft,
like the feathers we
picked up by the river
to make pillows.
The woman on the screen,
long blond hair with bangs,
demonstrating stretches,
a soothing voice
over soothing music,
timed breathing
to measure heart rate,
walk in place.