the sketchbooks are coming!

Remember that sketchbook project I participated in last year? Well, the National Tour of Art House Co-op's 2011 Sketchbook Project is underway and it is making its way toward Seattle this weekend. I am beyond excited!


My sketchbook will be among the thousands of sketchbooks on display June 10th-12th at the Form/Space Atelier Gallery. I will have the golden opportunity to hold and view countless art journals from fellow participants. Maybe I'll even be lucky enough to stumble upon the journal submitted by the lovely and talented artist Rikkianne Van Kirk. I do promise to snap a few photos and blog about the experience next week.

Oh, and before I go, you should know that I loved participating in this project so much so that I've already signed up for the 2012 World Tour and chosen the "Forks and Spoons" theme. Won't you join me?

EVENT DETAILS:

Form/Space Atelier Gallery

2407 1st Ave.

Seattle, WA

June 10, 11 and 12
Open to the public 12:00 - 4:00 pm daily
Admission is FREE

my sketchbook - final entry

My final sketch is now complete...and just in time as the deadline is fast approaching. The next time I see it in person will be June 2011 at the Form/Space Atelier gallery here in Seattle. There it can be viewed alongside 28,832 other Art House sketchbooks on tour.

This sketch pretty much sums up why I chose to participate. It's forced me to practice my craft, and in doing so, has reminded me just how much happier and hopeful I am when I'm creating art. Yes, most images are simple black and white doodles, but a gal has to start somewhere, right? Thank you dear Rikkianne for inspiring me to join you in this journey. xo!

In the coming days I look forward to continuing work on my first-in-a-very-long-time series of oil paintings. Cheers!

my sketchbook - no. 7

A sketch of one of my all-time favorite photos of my daughters. They were definitely cookin' up some cheer (and a little trouble) in our kitchen on the prairies back in 2005.

Way too many computers occupy our home office....some of them don't even work!

I absolutely love participating in this sketchbook project.

my sketchbook - no. 6

I picked up this wonderful pie tin this summer and just had to sketch it. Those tiny circles are holes in the pan.

I had fun doodling this. They're not necessarily flowers or stars or butterflies. I kinda like the way I colored some in and thickened the outlines on others.

I drew this at karate the other night. I'm glad I filled in a few of those "seeds".

I'm thinking of using some of my doodle patterns in some future oil paintings. Just thinking. Cheers, Mandy

my sketchbook - no. 5

Many hours have been spent waiting at karate. I'm extremely grateful to the dojo for teaching my daughters exceptional martial arts and leadership skills. And for giving me time to sketch.

Just a another doodle.

Discovering that repetition is relaxing sometimes....and that a spelling error in my sketchbook is stressful.

my sketchbook - no. 4

I'm lucky to live in this home. I have a loving family, a cool cat named Paul, and a magnificent 100-year-old newel post in our entry. According to the 1910 Sears Roebuck Home Builders Catalog sitting on my coffee table, it is a Plain Sawed Red Oak Newel - Part No. 63B8308 that cost $2.96 at the time).

And speaking of coffee tables, I sanded, stained, and distressed a farmhouse-style table that I scored at the local Goodwill this summer for only $12! Thinking of using it in some future photos.

my sketchbook - no. 3

Last year I carved a wreath block print for use with textiles and non-toxic, water-based inks. I wanted to create something that reminded me of the winters of Colorado. I decided to stamp it in my sketchbook. Then I decided to include a swatch of my organic linen fabric bearing a garnet wreath print (sewn into the book). The last image is of my kitchen yesterday when I was scouring some hemp/organic cotton fabric in preparation for natural woad dye. I'm grateful for this project.

my sketchbook - no. 2

Here are a few more images from my "If you lived here" sketchbook project. The duncan phyfe sofa above is one of my all-time favorite possessions (we scored it at a garage sale in 2003 and restored it to it's early 1900s glory). The jade seen in all my photos is a treasure from our 2002 trip to Chengdu, China where we adopted our first daughter, Laria.

my sketchbook - no. 1

I was born to create. I've dabbled in drawing, painting, sewing, decorating, even writing. What matters most is that I keep my "creative" on to be the best person I can be. My sketchbook goes everywhere with me....to schools, karate practice, on walks and everywhere in between.

Here's the first installment of sketches from my sketchbook. Over the course of this project (ends mid January) you'll see that I sometimes like preciseness, but mostly not. I relish the abstract, the weathered, the imperfect. I hope you find some meaning in what you see.