Illustration Friday: Lost

I'll be honest: this was not made for this week's Illustration Friday theme, but I think it fits very well.  The word is "Lost" and the painting ("Lost and Found") matches.  This painting (6 in. x 9 in. with 1 inch border) was made a couple of weeks ago using watercolors.  As usual, it contains bits of my own self image, the idea of loss, and even the eventual celebration of what loss can illuminate.


[tags art, drawing, painting, illustration, nude, figure, desert, sun, loss, hope, fear, body]

Illustration Friday: Suspend

I like the word "suspend" and the many images that could be associated with it.

In November of last year I drew a similar picture while in a hospital waiting room. The idea of being suspended by a thread passing through the navel intrigued me. Sort of the second tie to life, with the umbilical cord being the first. However, once this tie is cut, it's over...or the end of this is followed by the beginning of a new life, depending on your beliefs.

This time 'round I drew a above the suspended body, with the thread wrapped around the little finger.

[tags life, art, drawing, colored pencil, birth, death, suspend, string, hanging]

Illustration Friday: Refresh

With one day left, I jumped on it.

If you would just stop touching it...

"You" being "me" and "it" being my blog (and me...depending).  I turned 32 the other day (July 2nd) and I still haven't learned that things will be less irritating if I leave them alone.  This goes along the lines of "things become complicated when you forget about their simple, individual parts" or "...the little scratch on the roof of your mouth that would heal if only you could stop tonguing it".

As I wrote in my last post from June-freaking-13th (nearly a month ago!), I created a self-hosted WP blog at a subdirectory at ItDoesArt.com and was trying to decide if I was going to keep this one and that one, or ditch this one, blah blah blah.  Overcomplicated.  Just...overcomplicated.  I like this blog.  I like you guys/gals that subscribe to it, and comment and what not.  That other one was far too much of a pain in the ass for what I wanted it to be.  Which was (get ready) a BLOG.  It was slow.  Posting to it was a nightmare.  Really, there wasn't any major benefit considering...  I get why people do the whole self-hosted thing and it makes total sense for them.  For me...not so much.

So, like most things I repeatedly attempt/redo/reorganize/overthink, I'm simply going to use this lovely one and nothing more.  The rest is unnecessary.  My site is still accessible from this blog, just as this blog is still accessible from my site.  It's just much faster and less complicated.

As I've been writing this, fireworks are being set off outside and it's really pulling my attention away.  I'm going to go hunt them down (I'm not sure which direction they're in and the trees block most views) and admire them.  Happy 4th.

Moving the blog...

Your thoughts? I finally have the <a href="http://www.itdoesart.com/blog">ItDoesArt.com/blog</a> set up, working, and all that tasty goodness. Even though that blog is active, I'm still trying to figure out if I keep updating this one along with that one, or do we all shift over? I appreciate (REALLY appreciate) everyone that follows my blog and I would like to maintain those people, but I'm not sure how to go about it, other than keeping this one active! Perhaps updating this blog with links to new posts on the self-hosted blog?

Or, maybe I'm just over-thinking this whole deal, which is entirely likely as I tend to do that all.the.time. :)

Offer your thoughts if you're up for it!

Fine Art America...

I spent most of my day searching through several hundred photos of the ocean for a few worthy of posting on my Fine Art America account.  I don't have much on there, except for a few drawings.  I've been meaning to do this since April and now it has begun!

If you're a fan of the ocean, stop by and check them out.  I was really impressed with Topsail Island and how gorgeous it was, especially the sunrises.

Here is a link to my account there: Fine Art America - J Dreag Karski

Sadness, experimenting, and stuff...

That title is too fantastic...reeks of brilliance. Of course, I'm not at all serious.

Lately, I have found myself in quite a deep rut, but this morning I have been trying to wiggle my way out of it. So far I've been successful. I strongly dislike the days when I break down and start sobbing out of nowhere, but I thoroughly enjoy and welcome the days when I wake up without a lump in my throat. Balance, yeah? It's a nice thing to have!

Two nights ago I had a dream that I was looking at myself and half of my face was smudged downward...as if I was a charcoal drawing and someone wiped their hand down part of my face. It was unsettling, so I decided to try and recreate it with watercolors (honestly, I'm not all that familiar with watercolors) - I failed. But, I'm going to post it anyway. Eventually, I will give it another go...this time, I'll lay off the thick black.

I have a desire to start a new body of work and I may start that today. My brain is not entirely set on what the theme will be, though.

Coffee-time!