Cabins and doors are 2 of my favorite subjects to draw. The cabin doors in Wilsonia perfectly combine that interest. Here are a few more for you to enjoy:
Do you recognize any of these?
Tag Archives: cabin door
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Why are doors such an interesting subject for art?
Because they are inviting, and they suggest something mysterious or welcoming beyond. . . any other theories?
Wilsonia is a collection a great doors, in addition to being a collection of great cabins.
Do you recognize any of these doors? More coming in 2 weeks. . .
My Students Continue to Keep My Work Up To Snuff
“Snuff”? Really?
Funny how many cliches we throw around without a clear understanding of their meanings. I could Google it, but I’d rather continue with this post.
It is almost impossible to proofread one’s own writing; likewise, it is hard to honestly critique one’s own artwork.
When I showed this next picture to my students, 2 of them said, “Does that bear have a black eye?”
I dunno. It’s in shadow, and I was on auto-pilot or cruise-control or something equally brainless.
I tried to fix it. Not sure I succeeded. It’s lighter now, and if I hadn’t mentioned it to you, you probably wouldn’t have noticed. I’m not taking it back to show those picky people again, so there! (I bet that’s how they feel when I hold their feet to the fire, figuratively speaking. . .)
The Truth From My Students, Part Two
I showed this drawing to my students. Several of them said, “What’s on that door?”
Ummm, a reflection? What I saw in the photo? (Have you noticed how many people speak with question marks these days?)
(Incidentally, I was listening to the audio book Wild, by Cheryl Strayed at the time of this drawing. Funny how a listening to a book can be remembered this way. . .)
I redrew it, using another photo and just taking some artistic license (that means I made up a few things.)
Phew – this time it passed!
A Commissioned Cabin Drawing in Wilsonia
Park Street (or is it Road?) is completed. There are a number of cabins all in a row, and I had to work very deliberately to not make the chapter full of things that looked alike.
On one cabin I chose their unique entry way door.
Here is an aside: while I was drawing this, I listened to an audio book by Dan Erickson called “A Train Called Forgiveness”. It was a very moving story, and I remember how it made me feel every time I look at this drawing.
The owners of the cabin asked me to draw the entire cabin for them. (That’s called a “commission” – in short, it is custom work for hire.)
In spite of having the pages already finished and no room for additional drawings, I said yes to their request. (Got these habits of needing to eat, put gas in my car, keep Perkins fed and buy yarn.)
We discussed the possibility of putting the flag in color, something I’ve wished I could do throughout the book but it will be cost prohibitive, both for me and for you.
They needed to see sketches in order to decide.
In addition to putting color in the flag, I added a tree to the left foreground. They chose B, and I began drawing.
Painting Wilsonia Cabin Life
My friend and regular commenter on this blog said that she thought one of my photos would make a nice painting.
Isn’t that something?? I already painted it 2 years ago!!
It was a gift for my wonderful hosts at one of the cabins in Wilsonia.
This scene epitomizes cabin life to me: welcoming, relaxing, patriotic, simple, traditional, comfortable.
As I progress in my painting skills, this now makes me cringe ever so slightly. Rather than beg them to return it so that I can fix what bothers me, I will simply be thankful for growth.
Cabin Life in Wilsonia, Part Three
The saga continues of my cabin life in Wilsonia. This is from only 4 days!! How do people stand the excitement of being there all summer long??
20. Meeting a family from all over California who gathered at their cabin and learning of their very rich history (as in full, not wealthy, although it could have been, but we didn’t get into that!). Almost every time I make new friends in Wilsonia, we discover connections in common.
21. Meeting Katie, whom I talked to on the phone last spring when she scheduled a star thistle eradication spraying appointment for my home in Three Rivers. Really! I recognized her voice when she told me where she works! What a cutie! (Isn’t everyone in their 20s cute??)
22. Re-meeting the superintendent, reassuring him that I don’t have cabins both in Mineral King and Wilsonia and that I am NOT stalking him, and learning that “Woody” is short for Woodrow – would you believe he is named after Woodrow Wilson?? Isn’t that really interesting??
23. Meeting Jill’s brother, Dave’s brother, and Dave’s brother’s wife, who remembers meeting me at my Exeter studio or some show I did way back when. Wow! Thanks, Marguerite!
24. Meeting Ty, who is a fantastic (and perhaps a little crazy) hiker, and hearing his adventuresome tales. This man KNOWS the area!
25. Further cementing my friendship with the wonderful Sheri, who gave me a tour of her beautiful cabin, which is a perfect blend of old and new. (More kudos to the master craftsman Mark Vetter.)
26. Discussing the oddities of running a one-person-business with the very talented and good-natured Paul. We share the inability to properly bill people who have become friends. (DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR WEAKNESSES, I beg you!!)
Original pencil drawing, Redwood & Dogwood, 14×11″, matted and framed, $400, available for sale here (Please forgive the shameless self-promotion. In spite of all the fun, I am earning a living here too.)
27. Meeting David, who is on a quest to visit every one of the largest Sequoias – twenty? forty? We had such a good time looking through his books and maps – Good luck on this, Dave! I will be in touch as I learn a few facts to share with you.
28. Learning with Dick and Mel how to handle the reproduction of my drawings for this project. No conclusions reached yet, but thank you for letting me practice with you two!
29. Enjoying more of the Best Grapes I Have Ever Eaten In My Entire Life – thank you Jill and Dave!
If you made it to the end of this post, you deserve a reward. How about a little eye candy?
There. Isn’t that restful? I hope you feel refreshed after our WWW (Whirlwind Weekend in Wilsonia)
Why Blog About A Book In Progress?
Pencil drawing of Wilsonia cabin door. (Thank you, Captain Obvious!)
For you:
- You can track my progress,
- You can hold me accountable, because working on my own can get a little squishy.
- You can correct any misinformation I have about your cabin community,
- You can ask any questions about my process or progress
- You can share this project with your cabin friends and family
- You can stay current. When someone wonders how it is going or if it is going, you can have the answers or send them to my blog!
For me:
- To have a record of my progress
- To be held accountable
- To get more accurate information if I mess up
- To answer any questions you have
- To share the project
- To keep you current
Hmmm. That sounded a bit redundant. Captain Obvious is alive and well on the writing end of this blog.
Book Report, Month #1
January is behind me, and I have completed 103 drawings.
Charming rustic door looks even better since I omitted the spider webs.
Not all in January! I can’t remember how many I had finished when the year began, but I think it was around 85. I’m just guessing, because I didn’t write it down. On the January 11 blog post, #86 is on the table.
With 11 months remaining to complete the drawings for the book (a self-imposed deadline), I need to do 11 or 12 per month. This is possible.
I won’t be showing you all the completed drawings, because I want to ignite your fascination trigger of mystique.
What sort of weirdo psychobabble is this? I’m reading a book called Fascinate by Sally Hogshead. Interesting information, great writer! Wish I was on the Amazon affiliate program and got $ for telling you to buy the book, but alas, I am just rambling because I’ve spent too many hours alone in the studio, many days without internet access (gasp of horror).
The Cabins of Wilsonia moves forward!