Friday, December 29, 2006

Odds and ends





Above are three old line line drawings I found in a bag of illustration samples I had done years ago. The bottom one is a picture of Walter Kronkite. I did that to show that I can do a likeness, and I had to choose someone that everyone would know. As you can see from these drawings, I have a thing for outlines. I love them. It's the reason I never took to sculpture -- no outlines.

These were obviously drawn from photos, and I would like to credit the people who took the photos, but they were done over 20 years ago and I have no idea what magazine I copied them from.

This was all I could find quickly, except for some portraits. The people who sat for them might not appreciate their likenesses showing up on a blog 20 years later, so for now I think I'll leave those off.

I'm also a little reluctant to post any of my cover designs, since I'm putting some pretty personal stuff on this blog. I'd be a little uncomfortable if the publishers I do work for knew this was me.

15 comments:

Yankee, Transferred said...

This should be called "Know Thy Sister"...I would have known these were yours. They're gorgeous.

Jenevieve said...

I am so jealous. I wish I could draw! Vet school has made me better, actually. Until about 4 months ago, stick figures were the best I could manage, but all those lab sketches have made me a wee bit better. Now Matt and I have a little comic that we draw together.


This is all to say that I am infinitely far away from your skill, but I do appreciate it!

Phantom Scribbler said...

Er, good thought on not wanting publishers to know that it's you. Especially since the day you blow your pseudonymity here is the day that I also have to take down my blog. Just saying.

Lee said...

Oh Grandma Blue, they're gorgeous! I completely understand you wanting to maintain your anonymous status here. But thank you for sharing a little bit of your art! I am envious of your skill and talent!

lostinthemiddle said...

wow. these are wonderful.

I hope you have other art work you *can* share.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! It's been great getting to know you so far.

grandma blue said...

Phantom, I promise to be careful. The last thing I want is to jeopardize anyone else's privacy. But thanks for the reminder.

grandma blue said...

Jenevieve, if you really want to draw, there is a wonderful book called "Drawing with the Right Side of Your Brain" that can help. It's amazing how much of it can be taught.

I had a good friend who was an opera singer, who swore up and down that much of what she could do could be taught. She said you would really be surprised at what a difference good training could make. I still find that hard to believe, however.

grandma blue said...

Lee, I just went on your blog -- your sketches are great! I also love those snowflakes. I envy people who craft for pleasure. I have almost zero creativity. The only time I use my drawing ability any more is when I have to for work. But the second I stop working, I stop drawing or thinking creatively. I don't have the drive that so many other people, like yourself, do.
My sister, Yankee, Transferred, has much more

grandma blue said...

Lee, I forgot to add, your cartoon is a scream. I'm going back over there now to read more.

Ahnie said...

Wonderful pictures! So glad you have your own blog, after reading about you on your daughter's! Looking forward to reading more. ;-) (And, as a professor of comparative religions, let me just state for the record that I am not terribly surprised by your first post and did NOT spit any coffee at my screen.)

grandma blue said...

Psmith, it's probably very common for women who grew up when I did and who attended Catholic school to have entertained the idea of going into a convent at one point or another.

And maybe that's not a such a stretch of the imagination for the people I know, after all.

kathy a. said...

these are lovely drawings, GB!

i don't believe for a minute that your creativity would dry up without your job. but i believe your advice to jenevieve is true, that some good training can make all the difference -- i can see that with art and music training that my kids had, and to some extent in many other, less intimate arenas.

Lee said...

Grandma blue, you're very kind! I want to be better and I know the only way to do that is through practise, but I'm frustrated with the slow progress. Thanks for looking into the Toon. I really need to get back to that project!

I think my creative push is the fact that I hadn't been able to have a creative outlet for many, many years. My occupation had me "logic based" with no room for creativity. The damn has burst.

I can see how it would be a disincentive to be creative in your spare time, when you're "forced" to be creative all day. We do what feels right. I bet if you didn't have that day job, you'd surprise yourself!

parodie said...

You are a skilled artist - these are really good drawings!

Also - congrats on the new blog!