wagonized

I never draw like this.

But last night, i did. I had this intriguing photo of James Stephens by Imogen Cunningham and wanted to make a pencil portrait out of it. But it ended up in my sketchbook instead. In pen.

Modofly.net

The word is out. You can now purchase a Moleskine with a nifty cover! There are dozens of amazing designs on the Modofly website. Check out Modofly.net and tell me if you're not blown away by the quality of the engravings.

Another school day

More and more, i have had a tendency to throw the work day on a piece of paper, randomly, until the page looks filled or doesn't allow anything else on it. I started this one this morning at around 7:30 with Basia reading, and finished it around 2:00 PM with Nicole's agenda. And whatever else in between.
Pen and colored pencils in my "crappy" (but beloved) sketchbook.

Tom's tool bag

Tom's tool bag is a permanent resident on the kitchen counter(s) these days.
In the past couple of weeks, Tom has replaced switches, hooked up the ice machine of our refrigerator, built a bed from scratch, connected a pool pump, reupholstered a chair and fixed the ground wire of a 1982 BMW alternator.

Orange quizzes

I spent an hour in the chorus room today covering a class for a colleague. I like the look of the old-fashioned fans -- it's the second time i've drawn one of those at school.

Play other side

Far be it from me to want to replicate the incredible cassette designs of Andrea Joseph, but i couldn't ignore this little companion today.  It has been sitting in my classroom for months and it is now time to put it away until next school year, as my Seniors have taken their Advanced Placement test in French.  Ciao, petite cassette.  See you in September.  Pen and colored pencil.

Duct tape bracelet

Some more doodles from school today.

Learning every day

Drawing the jubilee medal of Saint Benedict was a rather unusual commission and i learned about it as i drew it -- for instance, that the four letters (CSPB) in the middle stand for Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti, the cross of the Holy Father Benedict. You can find out more information here. This goes out to B.B. with my best wishes for the future.
2B, HB and H pencil on Canson paper.

Slices of school

Scanning at school is a bit of a drag, using PCs and all.  It seems as though rushed doodles are all i can post lately. Pen and colored pencils in my "crappy" sketchbook.

Multipla

The old Fiat Multipla -- instant cuteness -- with the engine in the rear. I usually draw my ladies straight with a pen, but i did this one with a pencil and some colored pencils -- but it turned out to be an overload of blue in the end.
And if you have a minute, here's another use of the Multipla.

Scary tics

Attending an (alarming) Lyme disease workshop last week at our school, doodling some math teachers from the back of the auditorium.

My stuff has stuff.

I always pride myself on "owning little" and on not being "tied down to material belongings". Until i had to pack it all up again and found out i had kept my tape deck, my CD player (so 20th century!) and my VCR (which was a gift from my students years ago -- can't throw this away now, can i?). Crap. My colleague Ted says "Even your stuff has stuff". Spot on.
Last night, i drew what is still sitting in the middle of the living room. And tomorrow, i am chucking the CD player. And three pairs of shoes.

After the move

I've spent the past few days packing boxes, moving, and unpacking them.  Yesterday, i realized there were 6 doors and 8 windows in my new kitchen.  (Faded) Pigma Micron in Moleskine.

Computer lab doodles

There i was again yesterday, doodling in the computer lab. I am starting a new sketchbook for my doodles, and the first pages are always tough to lay flat on the scanner -- hence the grey area on top :-(
Pen and colored pencils.

Richard, unfinished

Science teacher, colleague and friend Richard. I was working on a double portrait of him and his wife tonight for their wedding anniversary, but it didn't go at all in the direction i was hoping -- which furthers my idea that i have very little control over my own drawings. They "happen" more than they are executed. This is what survived. 2B pencil on Canson sketch paper.

Man, dark background

I don't reap much satisfaction out of a drawing based on a picture taken through someone else's lens. At first, these portraits were mere practice, to get a feel for what i could do with a pen or a pencil. The truth is, i love filling my Moleskine with strangers' faces. View extra-large size here.
Pilot V5 pen. Original photo by Bruno Lévy.

Softy

I had not drawn anything with a pencil in days, so i grabbed what i could find in the bedroom last night and drew it in bed: a soft elephant. #2 pencil on sketch paper.

Emerging

I am emerging from a long week spent with chop saws, cans of paint, brushes and rollers, painting the (gargantuan!) set for our high school musical (see some results on Flickr). I yet have a couple of commission drawings to do, my taxes to work on, and a house to paint and furnish!

State of the art

I work with some dangerously high tech tools at my school. Behold the Califone tape recorder. Pigma Micron and colored pencils in my Moleskine.

Rebel Rebel

Tom's Canon EOS Rebel. I have taken many a Marvin portrait with it. Pigma Micron in my little Moleskine.

Old friend

I bought these boots in December '96 and still wear them regularly -- when i want to give the red ones a day off.  They have a way of not falling apart.  #2 pencil on Bienfang paper. 

This is a pretty appropriate topic to bring up the fact i will be posting less frequently for a while. 

Thank you all for visiting and leaving such nice comments!

moly_X_12

I have just added a new link on my blog to our new Miguel Herranz-instigated international Moleskine exchange: moly_X_12. I am a bit intimidated (how do you like that for a euphemism?) at the prospect of starting a drawing in my new Japanese Moleskine, so i decided to draw it. In my big Moleskine.

Commissioned George

This is a George Harrison i am working on as a commissioned drawing for a friend. I am not crazy about it, partly because i am working from a photo with little contrast (whose author i wish i could credit). 2B "fat" Cretacolor lead on Canson.

You can see the finished version (as finished as it will ever be, that is) here.

Frye heels

Yet another late-night-boots-on-the-coffee-table Pigma Micron-in-Moleskine drawing. One of my favorite movies of all time, MAGNOLIA, was on TV and i was listening as i was drawing. I must have seen it 5 times already, but i did look up for scenes with Philip Seymour Hoffman and John C. Reilly -- two of my favorite actors.

And while i'm at it, here's Hold On Magnolia by Songs:Ohia, one of my favorite bands -- off of their "Magnolia Electric Co." album.

India ink, pen and Moleskine

This one is a bit gloomy. It's one of the many faces i glean from the pages of the New York Times and just draw for practice or for fun.