Patterns and Knives

These are the results of my attempt to combine the inorganic patterns with the desert plants. I'm actually starting to get excited about them. It feels strange to be working on something so less involved than my last series, but I think it will be a nice change. The cutting is almost therapeutic, which means that I might even be able to continue working once I start classes again. Today I need to go buy a new ruler (I warped my favorite one by leaving it in the back seat of the car for too long), and start working on more detailed, colored images of the succulents.

To do:
Visit XPEDEX and buy recycled stock for cards
Buy up a new ruler and possibly pastel paper
Work on succulents

Here are some of the sketches I've been working on. I'm having fun doing them, but still don't have any sense of direction. My plan today is to do some sketches that incorporate both the man-made patterns and the plants. Why do I feel like I'm repeating my very first high school art class? If nothing else, I always feel like participating in the artistic process makes me a better teacher of that process. Cheers to Friday!

To do:
Finalize printing options with Sunset Press
Call XPEDX about recycled paper options
Pay Etsy bill
Work on sketches

USA!

I've been on the edge of my seat all morning waiting for team USA to put the ball IN the goal. It only took 91 minutes...better late than never. USA!

So far I have several sketches up on my refrigerator. I'm still not quite sure where I'm headed, but I'll do some more today and see what happens. Honestly, this is my least favorite part of the process. There's no substitute for the brainstorming and crumpled up sketches, though. And no telling whether it will take me 3 days or 3 months to discover what I want to do next. I wish my art teachers had told me how much patience and discipline is involved in all of this. Or maybe I just wasn't listening ;)

To do:
More sketches from reference photos
Finalize greeting cards with printer
Email about possible commission piece

Day 1 of Summer Blogging

After one week of vacation from school, I am feeling refreshed and ready to take on my "list" for the next five weeks. Top priority: consistent blogging about my new series and the business side of things. So...I raise my glass of lemonade to what I hope will be a productive and rejuvenating break, and off I go.

Day 1:

A new series...where to begin? I think I'll take some reference photos of my two new obsessions: patterns and succulents. Hopefully I can use the photos to start sketching combinations of the two and see if anything resonates with me. My goal is to make the pieces for this next series smaller and more affordable. I'm also thinking about using recycled materials.

To do:
Email printer about a template for cards (decide on size)
Facebook friend about possible commission piece
Begin sketching from photos