Category Archives: Drawings

Let Your Flag Fly (and ask lots of questions)

Most Wilsonia cabin folks fly their American flags while at their cabins. If these were commissioned drawings, I’d ask to put color in the flags. Alas, I don’t think any of us could afford the book if it was printed in color.

This is cropped. I love to crop stuff. You might have noticed.

When building a book like this, there are so many things to consider. Look at this list:

1. Color or not? Will it reproduce well? Will it cost more to reproduce? If I put color in the drawings, will they reproduce decently in a single color of ink?

2. Who will print this book? It is too soon to talk to printing companies. I tried this in 2011 and had several hungry (rabid?) sales people calling me. (Hey Printing Sales Guy – The book isn’t yet designed or drawn: I just asked the simple question of “Can you print this sort of book or not?” DON’T CALL to try and sell me something – it is Way Too Early.)

3. When can I sell the original drawings? If I let them go and find out I didn’t scan them properly, I will be in trouble, groveling to get them back, scrambling around trying to find who has what, taking them out of frames, trying not to wreck the framing. . . oh my.

4. If I crop cabins and draw them the way I like, the shapes and sizes to make the book the most interesting, will anyone want the originals?

See what I mean? questions, questions, questions.

Anyone out there have a crystal ball to lend me so I can get some definitive answers?

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.

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!!

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?

Redesigning

As I finish a page, I pull out my scrappy sketches to see what to do next. Since this book is being drawn and arranged alphabetically by street name, there aren’t any superfluous decisions about that.

But, I designed this awhile ago. As it progresses, I rethink the layout of the drawings. I rethink which views of which cabins belong in the book. Fortunately, I don’t rethink whether or not the book is going to happen – that is non-negotiable.

Now on Manzanita Street/Lane/Avenue/Road, (what are these things called??), I questioned my choices of cabins, views, details, and page layout. What was I thinking when I designed this? WAS I thinking??

Hmmm, perhaps it is time to show you an earlier pencil drawing from Mason Street/Drive/Road/Lane/Boulevard. (Just kidding about the Blvd. . . it is a cabin community, not a city!)

This is a most unusual chimney with a built in area for an outdoor fire too. I love shingle siding and stone work. The book will probably be heavily weighted in that direction. Just warning you all!

Pencil Drawing #117 is Finished!

Remember that I had to draw the dog before the fleas?

Here is the dog with all the fleas!

This is drawing #117. I don’t know what it is, but it is certainly interesting. It has history, lots of stories, but it isn’t talking. Sort of looks like a slave cabin. I know there were many Southern sympathizers in Tulare County during the War Between The States but I don’t believe there was slavery here.

To stay on schedule, #126 needs to be completed by March 31.

How Do You Draw?

As a right hander, I work from top to bottom, left to right. This prevents smearing.

First, I figure out what size the drawing needs to be to fit on the page, as I’ve designed it. (Or redesigned it, in many cases)

Second, I lightly draw in where the main parts belong. This is an outline form, and essentially, I am drawing the dog before the fleas.

Third, I begin shading, working top to bottom, left to right.

Want to see one in progress? (Thought I’d never ask, did you??)

What is this little building?

Beats me. It isn’t a Wilsonia cabin, but sits (or stands?) behind one.

Questions, always more questions

Asking questions is a great way to learn.

Where can you learn more about this project, The Cabins of Wilsonia? Right here!

What is this little building?

Beats me!

Why are you drawing this book?

I love to draw.
I love to draw cabins.
The Cabins of Mineral King was a very enjoyable and rewarding project, and people have asked me to do the same for Wilsonia.
Cabin communities are treasures to be cherished, preserved and celebrated.

Where are you in the project?

Right on schedule! (thanks for asking, great question, and all the other automatic responses that interviewees give. . .)