koukla carolyn

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.

Shell Interior, Derwent watercolor pencils (water added), Carolyn Pappas 2008

Shell Interior, Derwent watercolor pencils (dry pencils), Carolyn Pappas 2008

I was looking through my sketchbooks this afternoon and saw that a lot of my drawings for the past few weeks/months have been very dull and colorless. Even though I am not really in the mood for doing really bright and colorful pieces, I thought that I should make the effort to do something in color. Years ago I bought a set of 12 Derwent watercolor colored pencils, but have only used them a handful of times. I didn’t really like that I wasn’t able to get a really sharp tip on the pencils when I sharpened them. Today I decided that I might as well give it another shot.

I made this sketch of a seashell that has been sawn in half so as to expose the inside. First I sketched the whole thing with the pencils and I had the foresight to scan it first in case I really screwed it up somehow by adding water. I was a little nervous about adding water because I was just working in my regular sketchbook and even though it says it is fine for light washes, I was worried about too much buckling and/or water soaking though the page. I put a paper towel underneath the page to absorb any excess water and I wasn’t too heavy handed with the water. It ended up turning out just fine and it also dried very fast as well. I am glad I had the courage to add the water because I think I like that version better.

The Lady of the House, graphite (9×12), Carolyn Pappas 2008

My Yiayia (grandmother) kept this little woman nestled among her houseplants. On Wednesday she had an unfortunate run in with my mother’s four month old German Shepherd puppy, but she was unscathed. Seeing her toppled over on the floor reminded me that I had been wanting to draw her for a long time now. I had once done a sketch of her when I was a young teenager but it didn’t come out very well. I made this sketch yesterday after work.

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.

LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:5-8

Glass #1, graphite in kraft paper sketchbook, Carolyn Pappas 2008

I drew a glass in pencil a few months ago and thought of trying it again, mainly because I wanted a challenge. This drawing certainly was challenging, especially with the stripes at the base. I could have spent more time on it than what I did (2 hours) but I thought instead of running the risk of overworking things, I should just put it down.