Working on new pieces for SEEING RED an open call by Heavy Bubble. I love everything about the title and the color so I decided to participate.

I'm not sure why I just prepared two panels — time to add at least one more. Thiey have been sanded twice and gessoed once. When dry I'll add another coat of gesso. I'm torn about my surface finish dull or shiny. But I always like to apply and sand at least two coats of gesso. I like spending time with prepping the panels it helps me prepare to make something.

I'm working on a commission that is based on my soundings drawings. The new form factor of mounted paper on cradle boards required a different set up. For many drawings I may draw on the wall. For ink drawings I usually draw on a flat surface. I have to reach across a distance and an incline can usually help. Using dip pens or droppers means the positioning of the pen holds the ink in place. 

Friday was my first studio day in weeks.

These are two of the drawings I made in the measurements series the first of 2016. I'm planning a large series that can be hung together to create a larger piece.

I'm deciding on the hues now and plan to draw quite a number of small pieces.

This is the start.

I've got a special bag just for art supplies ready to go at all times. 

Here I am by the ocean with a selection of my tools. The bag has served me well since I set up my pencil cases, brush rollups and assortment of pads and sketchbooks. I can also carry it as a backpack and it is just the right size to be light and confortable while I carry a slew of optional drawing implements.

Time to take it out for another spin.

I'm working with smaller drawings now. It's all in response to the heat and how much energy it takes to make big drawings. I love small drawings and right now I am making drawings that can be paired or shown in multiples.

This is the start of a larger series of drawings made on 7 x7 inch paper. They follow the rules of the measuremnt series; dipping a pen and drawing a single stroke one after another until the ink is gone and repaeating this until it fills a defined field. The drawing reveals a rhythm and the marks measure the distance and mass one dip of a pen can make. 

A trip to Artist and Craftsman. Picking out paper for new drawings. Also picked up two new cradleboard panels for my ongoing long and short project.

Trying to get something started.

I cut some sheets of Yupo to size. Working on seeing what happens when I make a series of about 40 drawings and arrange them in a grid. These are the first two in the series.

I'm about to work on two new pieces within the same framework. I never know what this ink will do. I haven't done any of these monochrome measurement drawings with magenta before. So much is new in drawing and experience. Off to make some more.

One of my drawings in Measurements. Made with ink and a bamboo pen on three torn sheets of Rives BFK. Trying to think of a name. Right now it is unnamed. Each line was made with one dip of a pen.

A drawing just happened the other day. Yes just happened. I wasn't sure what I was going to make but my first decision to work with watercolor paper started a cascade.

For the first time in ages I cut a sheet of watercolor paper, dampened it, and taped it down. Laying down color happened immediately. I used markers filled with acrylic in and then let everything dry. I dampeded the paper again and added a wash. I waited for it to dry.