Sea Life August

 

August opened with a spiky ancient fish and a sea scene done with my most recently acquired set of markers. The blue colors are lovely but will fade quickly if exposed to "natural" light (sunlight, reflections in room light). But since these marker drawings are being scanned and thus rendered almost immortal, I don't have to worry about the original image, which will be preserved in my 2020 journal which has an uncertain future. Does anyone worry about the longevity of what they create? Some artists get lucky and create an "iconic" image such as the "Mona Lisa" or "Starry Night." But the seemingly vast amount of media content we have already produced will eventually go down a black hole, to return as unreadable subatomic shreds. Have a nice day fellow artists!

Markers and ink on sketchbook page, 8" x 5 1/2", August 2, 2020.

Chattanooga Downtown 1993

 

This sketch was done while I was in Chattanooga, Tennessee for "Libertycon," which was held there in July of 1993. I used to go to that convention a lot because I had many fan friends down South and also it was a good market for space art. This 1993 Libertycon was not a good one for me, though. It was when I realized that I would never be a big time fantasy and s.f. artist and I was miserable having nothing to show for myself. So I cried a lot at this con. My friends took me out of the convention and brought me downtown where I drew this and then we went to the Tennessee Aquarium on the riverfront, all of which was better fun for me than failing at a convention.

Black tech pen on sketchbook page, 7 1/2" x 5", July 9, 1993.

More Costumecon 2009

 

Noblemen, bravos at the tavern, ladies of repute and low repute, a milkmaid with her pitcher on her back and a kerchief covering her hair - all of these living fantasy characters appeared at CostumeCon 2009. And I was glad to draw them! Even if I don't invent them, I love to draw them.

Some of them are my clients and I painted them as portraits in their own costume. For instance, Robert, the tall figure to right, had me portray him as an Earth diplomat on an alien planet, and also a cosmic Celtic adventurer in planetary plaid.

Sepia brown ink on sketchbook page, 7 1/2" x 10, May 2, 2009.

Rubbish Fish

 

I'm not sure what the date is, either, having been mostly confined to my dwelling since March. I go out to fetch groceries and that's about it, though I do take short walks outdoors when the weather permits. I don't have a lot of things to draw, so when an interesting piece of trash comes by I immediately enlist it in artistic usages. The creature below looks like a prehistoric fish but it is really a tied-up knotted piece of plastic from a delivery bag. The sorghum plant made an appearance on

August 24.

Black ink on sketchbook page, 3 1/2" x 4", August 2020.

Fan Life: Dealers

 

These characters are dealers and customers in a convention dealers' room. The merchandise is modestly priced, often handmade, and pretty. You'll find trinkets, jewelry, clothes, handwoven fabrics and loom work, books, and games, among other pleasant fare. I'm not there because art was sold at the art show. Many of these folks are longtime friends of mine. This way of life has come to a halt in this age of plague, and it is too much of a risk of contamination to hold these crowded fairs. There are such things as "virtual dealers' rooms" but it just isn't the same.

Brown ink on sketchbook page, 6 1/2" x 10", July 8, 2000.

Convention Angel 2000

 

Sometimes they ask me for a portrait, other times I ask them. This one was both, found at a Pagan convention a long while ago. She had the perfect fluffy red-golden hair of an angel, though she was not wearing a pink nightie or a lavender bathrobe. I like doing portraits though I haven't done "formal" ones, all of mine are sketches. I don't get too many portrait opportunities these days but this was a good one I think.

Colored pencils on sketchbook page, 6 1/2" x 6 1/2", March 11, 2000.

DMV in 1993

 

Artists, remember to take your small sketchbook wherever you go. You will never be bored while waiting in dismal places like the Motor Vehicles license renewal, or mailing something at the post office. You can draw the other people waiting there but unlike street or urban sketching you never have to let on what you are doing. They'll just assume you're playing a video game on your smartphone, which is what artists had before...what? Can't remember? I drew this in 1993 and I had only had any type of computer since 1991. And I still use the tools I had in 1993.

Black tech pen on sketchbook page, 5" x 8 1/2", June 10, 1993.