The earlier schedule said I need to have 210 finished by November 1; the new schedule says 221 on November 1. Today is November 20 and I am on 222. That’s where the old schedule wanted me by December 1. So, according to the old schedule, I’m ahead, but by the new schedule, I’m really far behind.
It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay. Say a thing enough and it becomes the truth – works for politicians, sort of. . . advertisers too. Or, perhaps I’m like a cat purring to calm itself.
This gable end looked so cute with its white curtains that I redesigned a page to fit it into the book. And that’s just one of the reasons I’m trying to catch up – way too much cuteness in Wilsonia, irresistible cuteness.
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. . .)
Not this year, but maybe next year, depending on the response. I didn’t mean to tease you!
Hmmm, this would make a good calendar page. . .
This year I have a calendar with my photos of the most beautiful places in Tulare County. It is selling well – $15 includes tax and shipping. You can see and order one here.
Calendars are risky business for two main reasons:
1. Short window of selling time
2. There are zillions of freebies out there.
As I puzzled over whether or not to make and sell a calendar this year, one idea was to feature the Wilsonia cabins on each page. Photography won out, but I’m still mulling over the feasibility of a Wilsonia cabin drawing calendar.
What do you think about that idea?
P.S. I just found another cabin with a bay window – it is on President’s Lane!
I haven’t talked too much about the fact that I teach people to draw. These are semi-private lessons, 4 people at a time, one hour per week in Exeter. This has been happening for 20 years, and through the years I have learned how important it is to be honest. If we who draw can’t tell each other the truth about our work, who else will? And because we all want to improve (yeppers, even me, the Teacher), we need to hear from one another. Critiquing one’s own work is very very difficult – sort of like trying to proofread one’s own writing.
I showed this drawing to my students:
One of them said, “It looks like you just scribbled in the background”.
True, I did. I scribble in all the backgrounds. However, it usually looks like a forest, not scribbles.
I don’t let them get away with something that looks sloppy or scribbled, so they don’t let me either!
I redid it. Can you tell the difference? (The background, not the cabin.)
In my previous schedule to complete the 230 drawings by January 1, I was meant to have 208 finished by the end of October. Might make that, might not. Not even going to address the problem with the new schedule to complete 270 drawing this year. Ain’t gonna happen.
What, me discouraged? Nope! I’m still moving ahead. As my husband likes to point out, “It is a self-imposed deadline!” This is true. However, as a self-employed person, who else will impose a schedule if not me?
On the other hand, this means as I adjust the design of the book, I can also adjust the schedule of completion.
Now that my explanations (excuses?) have been made, have a look at a few recently completed drawings. (Hey Mr. Google, I’m talking about pencil drawings for the upcoming book The Cabins of Wilsonia.)
As the book grows, so does my other work. Another commission came for another cabin on another street that has already been completely designed and drawn. No problem! Drawing cabins in pencil is what I do and have done since 1985. Really! (No, I wasn’t 5 years old at the time, but thanks for thinking I’m just a youngster.)
Once again we began with photos, and from these, I made 3 sketches. There was a question of which might be the best angle of the cabin, and sketches seem to be more helpful in deciding than photos.
I had to remove many trees in order to be able to see the cabin, but don’t worry because it was a figurative removal, not a literal one. (Has anyone besides me noticed how many people misuse the word “literally” these days?? “He literally shot himself in the foot.” Really? Can he walk any more?)
B was the choice. Bet you are wondering which sketch is B, since there is no B on the page of sketches. (It is the one that isn’t A or C.)
I waited awhile to begin. There is a large painting on the easel, 2 other commission drawings, and then, of course there is The Book with its revised and loaded up schedule. Finally, I decided it wasn’t going to draw itself, so this is what I did:
Next, I wait to hear from the customers. If they are pleased, I will be pleased and I will spray fix it so it doesn’t smear. If they want changes, I won’t be as pleased, but I will do my best. It will be me that I am displeased with for not getting it right the first time, not the customers.
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.
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)
The goal of The Cabins of Wilsonia is to present a picture of cabin life in Wilsonia. It can apply to cabin life in a mountain community in general, and of course I am hoping it will appeal to a broader audience. But, that would be a side benefit.
I had a cabin life in Wilsonia for 4 days in August. Here is what my cabin life looked like:
1. Staying in the cutest cabin in the entire village! (Yes, I am a little biased.) If I stayed in any other of my “favorite” cabins, (the count is now probably up to 8 or 10), I would say that one was the cutest. “Cute” is a dumb word for a cabin, but I’m hoping you get my true meaning – charming, perhaps? Captivating? Enchanting, even?
2. Dinner outside with Gus, Barbara, Uschi, Charlie and Dutch, followed by great conversation around a campfire. A small group is such a good way to share ideas because there aren’t multiple conversations happening at the same time. We brainstormed about the upcoming Wilsonia centennial (Anyone know if it will be 2018 or 2019?? For sure?) and discussed the Park’s ownership of 12 cabins.
3. A tour of the newest cabin by the owner, Dutch, revealed some very very beautiful details by the master craftsman, Mark Vetter, whom I have not yet met.
4. Oops, a tree holding power lines crumbled, causing the closure of roads surrounding 14 cabins. This resulted in a fun visit with Penny and Gwen and Dolly and Jessie (the latter 2 are dogs), in which I got to see Gwen’s very authentic cabin interior and a fabulous quilt that was put together by the Wilsonia sewing ladies. (Not called that – maybe called the “Quilter’s Guild?”)
5. Learning about 3 logs that cross the meadow by Hazel, Laurel and Brewer streets. Every time I learn a new connection, I understand the layout of Wilsonia just a little bit more thoroughly.
6. Realizing there are some beautiful things that will not make it into the book, and deciding to share those photos via the blog.
7. Running into my friend Russ from Three Rivers! He regularly visits and maintains a friend’s cabin, and is definitely in the market for one of his own. (Have one for sale or know of one? Please email me so I can put you in touch with Russ!)
8. Sampling gooseberries – yes I’ve had them before and they are weird and too much trouble!
9. Realizing the book needs more pages, accepting the fact that there will be more than 230 drawings now, and redesigning. It is weird to sit at a Wilsonia cabin and work on the computer, but easier than at home when I know I could and should be drawing AND having the phone ring in the middle of deep thought. It is easier to work away from the studio. Who knew that cabin life would include computer work?
To be continued. . . my cabin life is apparently very very full!
Miscalculation of the drawing schedule means I have to draw faster. Truthfully, my pencils aren’t moving any faster. By “drawing faster” I mean that I need to work longer days, take fewer breaks and paint even less.
That’s okay. I love to draw. I love to draw cabins. But you knew that, right?
Look at this cute little cabin. I learned recently that it was built by someone from a Scandanavian country. There is a second cabin with a sauna on the side. The whole compound is sort of miniature looking – very very cute place.
