Monthly Archives: April 2013

Four Months is One Third

A three month block is often called a “Quarter”. Why don’t we refer to a four month block of time as a “Third”?

I have asked questions like this my entire life. Inquiring minds want to know many things, and we sometimes end up annoying the rest of the world. Other times, we find folks who have always wondered but didn’t ask. And then there are those who laugh at us for asking. . .

The end of April is the end of a Third of a year of drawing the cabins of Wilsonia in pencil. Lots and lots and even more pencil drawings are stacking up in my studio and on my computer.

In April, I finished Mason, Meadow, and am currently working on Palisades Street. (Bet you didn’t know there is a Palisades Street.) It isn’t really a street. It shows on the map and there is a sign, but in reality, it is the yard area of 3 cabins that were all in the same family at one time.

Nope, this isn’t on Palisades. I’m not identifying individual cabins. I have a strong thing about other people’s privacy.

Next, look out Park Street, here I come, armed with pencils and ready to draw. No, I didn’t say “Park Avenue”. I may be the only pencil artist doing this, but it isn’t Monopoly.

Weird Little Streets

Weird little streets in Wilsonia from the viewpoint of a book draw-er (no, I am not drawer in a cabinet, nor is my business cabinet, it is “cabinART”, in case you were confused. . .) are the ones that have one or two cabins, or aren’t really a street.

Here are a few I’ve encountered so far. This is not a complete list.

Is this cabin on Cedar? Or is it on Meadow? The map says Cedar, so that is the chapter where it will appear in the book.

Kaweah: One cabin

Leconte: One cabin, the street feels like a driveway.

Lupine: One cabin

Meadow: One cabin, looks as if there are 2, but the Tripp cabin is officially on Cedar, not Meadow.

Palisades: One cabin, no visible street but there is a street sign. I think it shows on the map. . .

Am I the only one who thinks about stuff like this?

Inching Ahead

A friend once asked me as I was drawing, “How in the world do you do that?”

“About one quarter inch at a time”, was my smarty-pants answer.

April is almost history, and I do believe I will meet my quota. This is in spite of a Big Birthday for my Little Mama, a 4-day camping trip to Montana de Oro, a visit by my Adobe InDesign coach from Seattle, an odd job, and a visit by 2 other friends. Bring on the fans – my pencils are smokin’!

(Hey Mr. Google, if you are spying on my blog, this is a pencil drawing of a Wilsonia cabin for the upcoming book The Cabins of Wilsonia.)

If you’d like to comment but it won’t behave, please email me via the contact page. I am beginning to wonder if the thing is broken. . .

Building a book, one cabin drawing at a time

This Wilsonia cabin was interesting to draw. The cabin caught my eye because of its bright blue shutters. Would it look like anything special in pencil?

I think it looks special because I love shingle siding and rockwork. Besides, sunshine makes everything look special. But, I can see that I need to rescan it, or mess around with some photo editing. My friend who taught me to use Adobe InDesign is visiting me this week, so I will ask her for help.

I need help building this book when it comes to the technical stuff. Thank you, Carol!!

Silence and Solitude in the Studio

My studio is a tiny building on the property where my house is. It used to belong to Mr. Clayton Sheesley (the father of Wilsonia cabin owners Gene and Bob), who built clocks. He planed his wood where I draw – in the large front door and out the large back door, which I had removed when the building was remodeled for my studio.

I have this idea that if I paint murals on the outbuildings, people won’t notice their shabby condition. Besides, I think it is fun to be hit with a surprise when the door is opened!

This is how the interior looks when it is all cleaned up the for the biennial Three Rivers Studio Tour.

But I digress. I work in solitude, but not usually in silence. For several weeks, I was unable to get the internet in the studio, so it has been silent.

But, I am not alone.

Perkins, my sweet kitty, has survived 14 years while witnessing the demise of 14 other cats. It’s rough on cats in my neighborhood. I’m no math whiz, but even I can see that we have averaged the loss of one cat per year. Last summer we lost Zeke and Kaweah. I’m starting to get a little weird about Perkins. (“Starting??”, I can hear my husband ask!)

That is drawing #133 in the foreground. I’m moving forward on The Cabins of Wilsonia. (I have to put the title of the book in the post so that Mr.Google can find it. Normally I wouldn’t be so repetitive. Blogging isn’t quite the same as regular writing because if one wants to be found by Mr. Google, one must follow his rules.)

New Month, New Drawing Quota

Because of life and some good things taking place in April, I only have 11 drawing days. With my self-imposed deadline of completing all the drawings for The Cabins of Wilsonia by the end of December, 2013, this is tricky.

Not to worry, Oh Gentle Blog Reader and Faithful Friend of Wilsonia! I knew this was coming so I drew like a crazy caffeinated drawing maniac in March. Not too caffeinated, because that would make my hand tremble. Just with a laser-like focus, an unceasing forward motion, a not-to-be-deterred determination.

Instead of completing 126 in March, I made it to #132. Still in the Ms – Manzanita Street is almost finished, Mason Street was begun in 2011 and will be completed in April, Lord willing, the creek, et cetera. . .

HEY, WILSONIA FOLKS, ANYONE WANT TO TELL ME WHAT THIS PENCIL DRAWING IS?? Don’t worry, I know, I’m just asking to see if you recognize it!

Reaching the (somewhat squishy) Goal

This is one of the earlier drawings. Before the book was designed, I knew this was a view that belonged in the book.

Now that I am into the 4th month of the ambitious goal to finish all the drawings in 2013, I am pleased to report that this definitely looks possible. 230+ drawings, begun in 2011, with 85 done at the beginning of 2012, needing 145 by the beginning of 2014. Probably even more than 145. . .

More? MORE?? Yes, because there are lots of little decorative touches that are not cabins. I haven’t figured out what they all will be or where they will go. Once the book is set up on Adobe InDesign, the gaps and hollow places will be visible. Then, in spite of thinking “Yippee Skippee, stick a fork in me, I am DONE!”, I will have to face the reality of more work ahead.

That’s okay. I love to draw.

You already knew that, right?