In His Own Words

I drew this several days ago and added lots of quotes from President Trump since the virus came to the USA. Or at least since we've known it's here. I try to always listen to him whenever he speaks, hard as it is with his rambling style, because I can decide what I think instead of relying on a recap by the news.  As much as he complains about the press, all of the press actually makes him sound more concise in their effort to distill the main points of his speech.

When I draw political or religious or social leaders, I like to put their words around them rather than my opinion, though on some pages when I'm trying to sort something out, I might journal in written form about what's going on in the news.

This is not a political blog, but journaling is about recording life, and politics is part of that, for better and for worse. So, even if you don't agree with my take on something, it's no matter....do pages with your take. That's what journaling is all about.

Pandemic Times

Okie dokie. Well, we are living quite a different life style these days, aren't we? No appointments, no eating out, no visiting in person, no shopping except groceries, no work for many of us. Obviously my souvenir shop is closed...I'm staying in place and hopefully helping to flatten that curve.

When the "shelter in place" was ordered by the governor my parents were visiting. I was already spending most of my time alone at home or with Jeff at his place before they came, so we were not exposed to many people. We really locked down when my parents got here. I'm not sure when my shop will open up this summer if at all, since we would not want to encourage people to travel until it's safe. So in the meantime, I started drawing in a new journal all about this odd time in our lives.

 Here is a quick sketch of Dad watching the news. Sorry dad...I was tense about drawing again. He's much more handsome in person. Dad has to go to dialysis each day, so he is the only one who regularly sees other people. Watching the news and press briefings is an important part of the day. Things change quickly. Weird things are said. More weird things are said that contradict the previous weirdness. Thank God for Dr. Fauci and the other scientists who stick to facts as we know them with this new virus that they are researching on the fly.

One group I'm in prompted us to do the view out the window. These are the sliders in the kitchen. Greta loves to lay there and watch the squirrels.

My favorite position to watch movies and the ever important news coming out.

Mom watching the news snuggled up in blankets.

While my parents were here this became a super important room. I was cooking more; Jeff came over and cooked for us a couple of times. We don't eat out...seems safer to eat food prepared here. I don't normally use Clorox often, but these days, it's not even put away. It reminds me to keep those counters clean.

Jeff making dinner for us. My friends and family all understand they should not expect any sketches to actually look like them. I'm not a portrait artist, that's for sure. He was deep frying fish caught by a friend last summer. I should also draw my freezer...I love that I have lots of meat in there and don't have to shop as much.

This is about the shortage of personal protective equipment. My heart is breaking for our medical professionals and that they are having to work with out the proper equipment to stay safe and with out the equipment to treat patients either! It's like soldiers going into battle with no guns or protective gear. Jeff's daughter is a nurse, and many friends are in the medical profession. This issue is a constant worry on a personal level.

One day I went to the store, then went to the parking lot at the museum complex where my shop is. I drew my favorite exhibit, which is this 1966 school bus conversion that was built and owned by artist Bob Waldmire.

I stayed in my Jeep while I drew. That's good social distancing...but there weren't many people out anyway. Most of the time it's rather eerie how few people are out, but that's a good thing. Flatten that curve. On nice days people are everywhere on foot and on bicycles, and even a few motorcycles. People are home, so they are taking the time to ride bikes with the kids, walk the dogs, meeting neighbors at talking ....each person well over six feet from the next. It seems we are apart, but somehow also together more.

 This is again, my favorite spot. Jeff calls it my nest, because I have knitting and books and something to drink nearby. I drew this after my parents left. I was a bit lonely and got teary when they left...these days, you never know when you might see someone again. So far they are still allowing travel, if necessary, but we don't want to spread this virus or have anyone bring it here either. If a loved one gets sick with COVID-19 and needs to be hospitalized, they will not allow you to visit your loved one in a hospital.

Also Greta, who gets impatient with all this drawing going on.

La Mex is one of my favorite restaurants in town. Most restaurants are still doing delivery and carryout. Not sure about La Mex though. I heard they boarded up for security because they are on the edge of town. Good thinking!

Well, that is it for now. I still have a few more pages that need to be photographed, but I will share them soon. Stay safe everyone. Stay home...save lives. Seems odd but it's so true.

Hacked Moleskine

Ok. So, I really liked my the vibe I had going with the cover until I started collaging the pieces together. At one point I used a spray ink (usually a step I love) and I don't like how it dulled everything down. I went back in and brightened up the yellow and orange and white and I like it a bit better now. I think I'll just live with it a while and see if I can embrace a kind of grunge look. :D  After all, it's a planner; I have a whole year to mess around with this!

The spiral stamp and the Route 66 stamp are my first attempts to carve stamps a year or so ago. I like doing it and using my very own stamps, so I'll be doing more of that in the future!

MOVE: This is my word for the year. It means many things to me, including reminding me to get out and move my body, and to travel and grab little adventures whenever I can.

Hacked Moleskine

Today I started on my cover. I thought I might wait, but inspiration hit, so I'm off. This is the cover coated with white gesso.

 Next I used a little watered down yellow and red acrylic paint, painted on and then ragged a bit with a paper towel.

 Maps...gotta have some map on everything ;)  I knocked back the color a bit with some gesso with a little yellow paint accidentally mixed in...it's all good though.

 Doodled a little bicycle. This will get glued somewhere on the cover.

Hacked Moleskine Planner

I used some scraps of the painted watercolor paper to make monthly tabs. I laminated them with a bit of packing tape, and cut and glued them on. They are short little tabs so that the elastic band slips over them easily.

I went to moleskine.com and printed out some monthly calenders to paste into the front. I need to be able to visualize my whole month this way.

Hacked Moleskine Planner

 I made some progress on my planner today. I taped in one page for each week. Those pages fold over the lined page to the right of the week's calendar. I'll use them for notes, drawing, or whatever trips my trigger at the time.

 Taping those pages in is a bit of a trick to get it straight, but I finally got them all in. I used Washi tape that I already had (and had never used) to tape them in.

 Some of the paper is 90 pound watercolor paper.

 Some is sheet music, some are shipping tags. I use shipping tags in other artwork, so I thought it would be fun to use them here too. I almost always do a checkered border on them...it's something I use on my journal pages a lot.

Some pages are from old ledgers and maps. I gessoed some ahead and some will have to be done as I go along. It didn't occur to me to gesso them first until I was half way through the book.

Hacking a Moleskine Planner

 I'm hacking a Moleskine Planner with the help of The Documented Life Project. I think many of the folks are using these more as a journal, like I did my old calendars in my journals. I want mine to actually work as my planner, so I picked a small pocket size Moleskine planner. I chose a weekly calendar, but I'll be taping in monthly pages too. There will be pages taped in to draw or make lists on, and that's what these watercolor pages will be cut into. I'm a little worried that the pocket size won't work out as well as the larger one that most folks are using, but it's the size that will fit into a handbag, so that's the one for me.

Here's a bit of Washi tape I'll use to tip the pages in. I didn't have any red (and you always need a bit of red for energy!), so I cut up some gift wrap to use too.

I'll be using the weekly pages, and I'll be incorporating lists like those in the Bullet Journal. I've never been able to find a planner that really works for me, so I'm hoping that cobbling one together will work for me.

Route 66 Travel Journals

Playing around with some little Moleskines and ink. Just have to add a drawing of a vintage sign or stamps or something. I've had a  long break from drawing...bit of a block I suppose, but I'm back.

Back to the Drawing Board...

It might seem like I've given up drawing, but I haven't! I went through a long dry spell, followed by a bunch of work that is just too personal to show to anyone, and now I'm back at it. I sold most of my Route 66 pieces (Yay!)  and need to create some more. I'm also working on a Route 66 T-shirt design to carry at the shop. Hopefully, there will be frequent posts as I create some new, fun stuff!

Pohoiki Warm Pond

I almost scrapped this one, but saved it because I started drawing it on site. It's a record of my day, and a pretty nice day at that......any day by the water in the sun has a darn good start. The ocean is just feet away, but this little pond (heated from underground) is tucked up under the ivy and trees.  I get self-conscious when people watch me (they were) and was trying to draw all those rocks without really taking the time to truly see them as they are. Anyway, I wish you could see how beautiful this little spot truly is.

Puna Road

I think I'm going to have to try this one again, and try to simplify. Sometimes I get so caught up in trying to draw every little thing, and then I get lost, and things go a bit haywire. Anyway, it's a start, and at least the overall effect is jungley.  I haven't drawn much of anything since I moved in September. I've just been settling in and trying to get my little house squared away.

Prosperity...

This is what I did with those bank enevelopes from yesterday.

Playing..

I'm at the shop today, and using the backs of some bank envelopes for a couple of pages about money, thus all the green. I was inspired by Bows, Baubles and Beliefs when I saw her bacon box...just go ahead and use what you have Joyce!

It looks like is a mess, but when I reach a point like that, I like to keep going for a bit. It's amazing, but adding more to that mess can actually get me where I want to go. And if not, there's always gesso ;o)

Loco Moco

I tried this dish in Hawaii since it's a local favorite.
 
  It's rice topped with 2 big hamburger patties and 2 fried eggs, smothered in gravy. To me, it sounds icky, and looks questionable, but it's really quite delicious! But it's huge...I think it would feed two people!

Yellow Tang

I've been busy moving, and not had time to put a pen to paper. I decided today to do a page while I was at work. I worked with the the few tools I had there: 2 ink pens and my little set of watercolors, and a stamp pad. Snorkeling in Hawaii was fantastic....I'm one of those landlubbers who says things like, "Wow! It's just like an aquarium!" That's what happens when you don't live near the ocean!

On Focus and Organization

Here is a little more of the journal that AnicaAnscott and I are making together. The journal is about what keeps us from being as creative as we'd like, and learning what will help us achieve our creative goals. 

I have always fought disorganization and distraction. But lately, while I'm trying to pare down on clutter and get organized, I'm learning to embrace my distractibility....to a certain extent. I have several projects going at once and move from one to the other as the mood strikes me.Working this way seems to keep things interesting and fresh, and improves my concentration. I also learned that I'm not the girl to be painting with oil paints or other media that take a long time to dry. I'm just a bit too impatient for that, and lose interest.

This page started with an illustration of a closet from a children's book that AnicaAnscott put in place when she created the journal. I took it from there. I should start taking pics of how it looked when I started, and then when I finish. When the journal is full, I'll post an album with all our pages together.

Plate Lunch...yum.

I'm not much into drawing my food, but Hawaii has some interesting local favorites. The plate lunch comes with lots of rice and usually macaroni salad, though it the second side could be any number of things. Various meats are used also. My favorites are huli huli chicken, pork, or chicken katsu. I never would have thought of having mac salad and rice together, but it's a pretty darn delicious lunch!

Glossary of Hawaiian Words...

...and some beautiful tile depicting Hawiian life long ago. These tiles are on the side of the visitor center at the "Place of Refuge."

 Here are the actual tiles. I wish I knew the name of the artist, but haven't been able to find it.

Circus

This is part of a beautiful little journal, handmade by AnicaAnscott (the link leads to her flickr photostream). We are working together to fill it with pages about our art, and some of the things that sometimes keep us from spending the time on it that we think we should. When she sent the journal to me it had the background of blue and red and the circus viewmaster reel, and I embellished from there.

I believe through some years of my life I've been so busy with other things (like childrearing, for instance) that I focused on that and not my artwork. And that is OK by me. Spending time with the kids was important to me and I throughly enjoyed it. During those times I was creative, but in a different way...decorating, painting sets for church plays, projects with the kids, sewing their clothes, etc. At a conference once, I heard a speaker say you can have it all, but sometimes it's better to not try to have it all at once...to enjoy the different seasons. Maybe if you have lots more energy than I, you can have it all at once, but I think I'll take mine in stages. Even the circus has 3 rings!

Pu'uhonua'o o Honaunau

This one was sketched from a photo I took. I stamped the page while I was at the park, and bought the little stamp there too.This is such a beautiful place. Black rocks, white sands, blue, blue sea.....