koukla carolyn

My Features, black pitt pen and graphite in kraft paper sketchbook, 2008

November has definitely been my most productive month of the year so far, in terms of how many days I’ve drawn. I’ve done something in my sketchbook for most of the days this month and already I’ve done more sketching than some past months. I’m still working on portraits—here is another self portrait. I really do have beautiful eyes, although they often go crossed on me and they are always covered up by glasses (so no one ever notices them).  I would wear contacts but I am “not a candidate” as my eye doctor puts it. On another note, I have never attempted to do a self portrait with pointillism. It is incredibly slow going with all the constant glances back to the mirror!

I am also trying out some drawings from old family photos. Here is a drawing of my Papou when he graduated from college after WWII. I have left this one unfinished as I did not quite capture the expression correctly. This is already my second attempt and I am trying to decide if I want to try another iteration. I think I would like to get it framed if I ever do it again though, so doing it in my sketchbook is not a very good idea anyway. I do like the sepia ink on the tinted paper so maybe I will hunt around for some brown paper suitable for ink.

Papou upon Graduation, unfinished; sepia pitt pen in kraft paper sketchbook; 2008

She stood back to look at what she’d done. From this angle, at this remove, it pleased her, but Maxine knew all too well that the eye of the beholder was a fickle thing when the beholder was also the maker. Five minutes from now, from another angle, it would look like shit.

                             -From The Great Man by Kate Christensen, p 117

Silk Flower sketch, graphite in kraft paper sketchbook, Carolyn Pappas, 2008

These days, just doing a simple pencil sketch on Sunday afternoon is getting to be a struggle. My productivity hasn’t been so low since I decided to take art seriously again three years ago. I guess part of it is because there haven’t been this many demands on my time since I graduated from college. I guess I hadn’t realized how chores really eat up my time, or how easy it is to use housework as an excuse not to make art.

Macintosh Apples, colored pencil in 9×12 sketchbook, Carolyn Pappas 2008

I made this sketch of some apples this afternoon and I’m honestly surprised that I even did this as I’ve been sick all weekend. On Friday I had an awful sore throat and by the time I got out of work, I had talked so much during the day that my whole neck felt like it was on fire. On Saturday and this morning I moped around my parent’s house and didn’t do much of anything except sleep and play with the puppies. Today my nose is like a faucet and I feel generally achy all over.

I did do two things which made my weekend a tiny bit productive and not a total waste. One, I made this sketch. I tried to keep it simple by only using four pencils more like drawing pencils. I am pleased that at least I did something artistic and I wanted to do something to commemorate the first day of my favorite season starting tomorrow.  I also hemmed a new pair of pants that I’ve been waiting to wear for a few weeks but didn’t get around to hemming until now.  It was so hard to be bent over my sewing while having a drippy nose, but I have something new to wear tomorrow.

We are like actors in a play. The divine will has assigned us our roles in life without consulting us….Although we can’t control which roles are assigned to us, it must be our business to act our given role as best as we possibly can and to refrain from complaining about it. Wherever you find yourself and in whatever circumstances, give an impeccable performance. If your are supposed to be a reader, read; if you are supposed to be a writer, write. -Epictetus

Self Portrait, 9×12 sketchbook, Carolyn Pappas 2008

Flattering, no; honest, yes. This does look like an odd pose, mainly because I was crunched up on the floor drawing myself in front of a full length mirror. Even though I have a sort of weird look on my face, I have to say that this is one of my better self portraits in terms of likeness and the speed at which I got it done.

I haven’t been in the mood lately to use big, bold colors. Plain pencil is what I am drawn to using these days. I drew this sketch with a B pencil mainly for the skin and using softer pencils later on. I used to work in graphite by smudging the piece to death with paper stumps and tortillions. Nowadays I am finding that shading by hatching is much more my style. I think I have grown comfortable with using lines after working in pen and ink for so long.

Don’t demand or expect that events happen as you would wish them to. Accept events as they actually happen. That way peace is possible. -Epictetus

Swan Sketch, graphite in 9×12 sketchbook, Carolyn Pappas 2008

I once took a calligraphy class and the instuctor said, “You’ll never see your mistakes unless you work BIG.” Of course she was talking about working in calligraphy and she was explaining why she was having us work in the biggest possible nibs. (She also said she thought I was a monk in a past life!) But I have noticed that the same principle also applies to my art. Today I made this fairly large drawing of a metal swan and it was so difficult. I spent ages just erasing and going over it again and again. I had no idea that it was going to be so frustrating and I didn’t even spend as much time on the details as I could have. Years ago, I drew another version of the same object (see below) but it didn’t seem nearly as hard. I think because it was such a small drawing it was easier to fudge on the details.

Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. Proverbs 11:28

Fig Leaf Sketch, ballpoint and colored pencil, Carolyn Pappas 2008

Garden Sketch (8/30/08), black pitt pens in kraft paper sketchbook, Carolyn Pappas 2008

Drawing leaves outside has been sort of a theme for me lately. I guess the main reason is that I figure that soon it will be too cold to do a lot of sketching outside and by the time I get home from work, it will be dark. I am already preparing a list of ideas for still lifes and reference photos to use for the colder season.

Despite having an extra day off, I wasn’t very productive in the art department. I have been so tired out from everything that has been going on in my life that I just lounged around at my parent’s house. I had a lot of fun playing around with the puppies, watching tv and finishing a Really Good Book. Sometimes not doing anything important is the best thing to do and I feel really energized now because of it.

Orange Leaves, pencil in sketchbook, Carolyn Pappas 2008

I have been very busy for the past few days moving and getting settled in my new home. I have to say that even though this will be a huge adjustment for me, the place itself is really nice and I will be comfortable here. One thing I will love is the abundance of plant life, both indoors and outdoors. I took 20 minutes to sketch these orange leaves from a tree in the backyard. The tree does not have any fruit, either because it is an immature tree or because this is New England and oranges aren’t exactly a native species.

I hope to do a LOT more drawing and painting now that my situation is more settled and I have gotten a lot of things out of my way. Since I have been so preoccupied with other things going on I forgot to mention that I got a nice compliment from Vidhya, who keeps a very nice art blog. She awarded me with this blog award:

Even though I don’t think I’ll continue the chain, I do think it’s a great honor and thanks Vidhya!

Concert on the Green, staedler pigment liners in 5×7 sketchbook, Carolyn Pappas 2008

After work on Thursday I went to see the Valley Swing Shift Orchestra play on the town green in Windsor, Connecticut. It was a really nice show and I took the time to do a little sketching of the spectators. Unfortunately, I had to leave early because of the bugs. They came out in swarms—big green mosquitos—and bit me right through my socks! The tops and sides of my feet are covered in giant red welts and it is so uncomfortable. Next time I do sketching outside I am going to take bug spray.

I have been without a scanner for some time and I finally got it hooked up to my new computer today. I got a nice lime green Dell and I love it! So I will be posting more updates to my blog and my flickr pages now that I am set up again.