Moly X-42: Jenn's "Favorite Animal" Moly

Finally finished Jenn's moly, and now it will be returning to her. I worked up the preliminary sketch back on January 3rd. A delicate inquiry on the MolyX-42 site was just the prodding I needed to finish up. I promised I'd get it done this weekend. Sometimes deadlines are good things.

A shot of the work in progress:



Link to the preliminary sketch where you can find all the proper photo credits: Vive le roi!

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Vive le roi!

After ruminating for a LONG time, and drawing a veritable menagerie of animals, I've finally centered my attention on the king of beasts for Jenn's "Favorite Animal" moleskine for MolyX-42. Focusing my attention on just one animal was tough, cuz I like them all! But the photo really inspired me on this one.

I'm working from a photo by Beverly Joubert that appeared on the conservation page in the January 2010 issue of National Geographic magazine. You can view the original photo here.

More information about the Big Cats Initiative.

Posting the rough might let the cat out of the bag (sorry... you know I just had to), but there are some compositional foibles here, and the final will have a bit more going on—I think... or maybe not... hmmmmm.

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Moly X-42: Lynne's "Superstitions" Moly

Ladybug, ladybug,
fly away home,
Your house is on fire
your children all roam.

Ladybug, ladybug,
fly away home,
and show me from whence
my husband shall come.

Just finished this tonight, and I'll be shipping it off to Massachusetts tomorrow. Still have Jenn's "Favorite Animal" Moly to complete. It'll will be the last entry in her book!

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MolyX-42...

....Kathleen's "Improbable Games" moly

Progress in MolyX-42

Sorry for the lapse in posts... busy as the proverbial beaver these days.

I did make some progress in the Moleskine Exchange 42 project. Anna Denise's theme is "What's in Your Bag".

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Christmas in April

It was Christmas in April when the mail came this morning—so many treasures!

My long anticipated copy of Sketch Infectus by Joe Bluhm arrived with his promised original sketch and extra goodies. I'll be lingering over the pages of this book. Until I do (this evening) it is going to sit on the corner of my desk whispering the promise of good times to come. Drool....

Padded envelope #2 showed Amy's now familiar handwriting, and inside was Chensio's Moly for the MolyX 42 exchange. I instantly opened the pages unveiling the amazing work so far captured therein, and just stood for a while staring. Seeing these moleskines up close and personal is an understated but definite benefit to being involved in an exchange. I will greedily be shooting snaps before I send the book onward. Drool again....

Finally, a chubby envelope demanded my attention, and inside I found the also long anticipated wedding invitation of a friend and colleague.

I wish my mail could be like this every day. But as with all special occasions, if they happened every day would they be as special?

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MolyX-42 Entry in Elvia's "Farm Animal" Moly

I'm happy to report, I've completed my entry in Elvia's Moly for MolyX-42. It took me a while to commit to my idea for this moly because the very first idea that popped into my head had nothing to do with animals...sort of. Finally I couldn't help but move forward because the original idea would not be dislodged from my brain.



As I was working along, a light bulb went off above my head (it's very startling when that happens). So I took a break and made an ATC for the back pocket. I felt better that I'd fulfilled (in a way) her request for farm animals.





The text reads:

"Where are the farm animals?" you ask. Don't you see them—as plain as the nose on your face?

I'm talking about the mugwhomps, of course. Actually, it's a small squad of military mugwhomps in a split and stagger formation.

My dad told me all about mugwhomps when I was only 6 or 7 years old, and frankly, I'm surprised your dad didn't tell you.

Mugwhomps are the police/military corps of the farm yard/field. They protect and organize the farm animals. You'll frequently
see cows reporting to the mugwhomps when they go out for exercise. And you'll often see animals taking shelter near the mugwhomp formation.

My dad didn't tell me this specifically, but I suspect they do a great deal of training with the Buckingham Palace Guards—they are similarly unflappable in their duty.

I had a very entertaining childhood...slightly confusing...but very entertaining. :-)

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Finished!

The final results for Yoda's Witch moleskine for Moleskine Exchange 42. I'm pretty happy with the way this turned out. Could be a little darker overall, but futz with a thing too long and it turns to mud.

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Moly-42: Yoda's Witch Moleskine

So I had a mild bummer of a day yesterday—feelin' a little rejected and dejected. Shook it off this morning by creating a monster banner for a show display this morning, and working on Lady Orlando's moleskine for the MolyX-42. I've had a heck of a time coming up with the art for this witch themed book. Many, many sketches were completed, and nothing was clicking. I'm not sure that this one clicks just yet either.

The elements are pretty decent. However, I'm playing with the colors—trying to get the right atmosphere. It's close but not quite there...hmmm. I'm at the point with my preliminary sketch where I'll probably start fidgeting the thing right into the toilet, but perhaps not.

By the time I get around to committing this to Yoda's Moly, I should have worked out the worst of the kinks.

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Surprise Map!!

Complain all you want about snail mail being filled with bills, but every now and then a treasure appears. Yesterday was one of those days for me. A friend and fellow fan of traditional correspondence (FFTC) sent a note and a MAP! Sweet!

When my map-themed Moly returns from it's world tour, "Everyday New York City" will be added into it. Thanks Beebimbop! Love it!

Click the pic for a larger version.

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MolyX-42 Entry in Amy's "Red" Moly

This is a cross post from MolyX-42. To read more, go to http://moleskinex42.blogspot.com/2008/10/amys-moly-is-moving-on.html

Ahoy!

Saturday was a lovely day so I set aside my house cleaning for a few hours and rode my bike over to the river to do a little sketching. I've spared you the warm up sketches of miscellaneous fishermen/women and gone right to the heart of the matter. The fish were jumping and I mean that quite literally. I didn't see any being hauled in, but there must have been some terrific spawning going on judging by the way they were leaping into the air. I half expected to see some wearing togas and neckties tied around their heads with that kind of partying happening—no such luck though.

The lighthouse was the object of some news over the summer. The Coast Guard is no longer interested in maintaining the lighthouse because they have other equipment that is more up-to-date and convenient to navigation. However, they would still be interested in keeping the lighthouse going as a back up to their main systems. Huh!?! Yep, it's the old we-still-want-to-use-it-we-just-don't-want-to-pay-for-it routine. Haven't read anything about it in the Kenosha News since that cutting edge story broke, so I'm thinking they're still paying for it.



The main attraction on the water this weekend was a visit from the gaff rigged schooner, The Red Witch. The Red Witch normally berths along Navy Pier in Chicago, but she sailed up to Kenosha Thursday and stayed through Sunday. For a not-so-small fee, the average Joe could have a two hour sail. Contemplated it, but opted to sketch her from afar instead.

There is one key feature these two subjects share that is cogent to another project I'm working on—they are both red. I am currently in possession of Amy Mebberson's Moly (http://moleskinex42.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-theme-red.html). One of these sketches will end up being my entry in her Moleskine.

My Moly for Exchange 42 Is Ready to Send

This is the one I'll be sending to Jenn.


And this is the one I'll be putting together at home.

My theme is maps. I can stare at a map for hours. They spark my imagination like nothing else can. The details written on the page take form in my head. It doesn't matter what type of map it is—schematic diagrams do the same thing, so my theme is pretty flexible. Real or imaginary, I'm sure I'll enjoy it.

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Fun Day in Art

What a treat I had awaiting me in the snail box this evening. There was only one envelope, but it was fat with goodness. I fed the cat, fed me, changed into afterwork chillin' clothes, and cracked open an envelope full of ATCs! The ATCs from the Everyday Matters group arrived today, and they are so beautiful!!!! I will take some snaps and post them eventually, but I think you, gentle reader, need to experience a little of the anticipation I felt. Then I will let you off the hook.

In the meantime, here's Gimli preparing to pounce on my toes.



No wait, that wasn't what I wanted to show you. Now what was it again? Hmmm...let me see...oh yes. I've begun a new project. Hitched myself to a group of very talented artists in a Moleskine Exchange (the 42nd such group conceived).

Now, here's the concept. We each purchase a Japanese Album fold Moleskin. In that Moleskine we create a piece of art covering several of the accordion-folded pages, and then we mail it off to the next person in our rotation. That person creates a piece of art on the next few pages, and ties it into the original art. Then they ship it to the next person in the rotation. Step. Repeat. Step. Repeat. Until, voila, your Moleskine returns to you filled with the creative brilliance of everyone in the group.

The Moleskine can be assigned a theme, or it can be a free-for-all of art. Whatever you choose. Great idea, no?

So this past weekend, I managed to create the sign-in spreads in a couple of Moleskines. Why are there two, you ask? Because I'm going to send one off on its round-the-world voyage (which really will be around the world), and the other will remain here with me. The one that stays will get copies of all the art I do in everyone else's Moleskine—at least I hope so. I guarantee I'll do theirs, and hopefully I'll do mine too.

Each person gets a month with a Moleskine before they need to send it on its merry way.



In the back I've written out my address, so it will eventually return to me, and I've asked each of the participants to include a little something from their countries. There are 10 participants in our group. Four are from the U.S., two from the U.K., one from the Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Mexico, and I'm not sure who I'm missing. Anyway, this sucker's gonna travel—I wish I could go with it!

You can follow along on the progress at our group blog: http://moleskinex42.blogspot.com/



By the time it returns, I'll no longer be contemplating a blank page, I'll be savoring the turn of each folio.



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