Hi Everyone! I want to extend a warm welcome to both my new readers and many thanks to my returning readers for sticking around here for years. I love to dabble with different things and travel. This is where I share my recent attempts and photos. After coming back from such a big road trip, it took awhile to settle back into everyday. I always take a sketchbook with me when I travel. This particular one has recently been my companion. When I bind a book, I don’t often have a purpose in mind. Sometimes a book finds its own identity as we spend time together.
I made this little owl book a couple of years ago as an after hours project. This year I found the perfect use for it.
It was one of those days when I was mentally exhausted. After dinner, my eyes landed on the little book. I grabbed a Tombow watercolor marker and started doodling leaves. It was the perfect peaceful thing to do before bedtime. I had found a purpose for the book.
My husband and I were walking in Japan Center in San Francisco one evening, and the strings of lights caught my eye. It was a misty day with occasional drizzling rain. I wanted to remember and recreate that peaceful feeling in the sketchbook. I painted the dark indigo sky, and drew the power lines and the bulbs with a pen. Then I started painting the myriad yellow dots with a brush while listening to my favorite music, remembering the night at Japan Center.
This year, I am trying to set some time aside regularly to do simple mindless doodle painting while I let the mind wander and find a peaceful place. The little owl book is just perfect for those whimsical paintings.
I love to zone out while book binding. I had a few loose sketches that needed a home. I added a stack of drawing paper to these sketches and made a book. Just like the owl book, I made the book with no particular purpose in mind.
As the months went by, I found myself sketching moments I wanted to remember in that book. The pages started to reflect my feelings at those times. The book still didn’t have a cover, but I started to have an idea of what I wanted to draw.
I wish I had taken a few photos as I was making the cover. It’s not printed; I used markers to draw directly on the cover.
I ran into a bit of problem with washi tape while working on the white area. I used the tape as a guide for drawing the straight lines. Except, the tape tore the paper when I tried to remove it. So I had to take the book apart and rebind it.
Once I recreated the face, I decided to trust my own hand to draw the straight white and black areas without any guide. I took my time, stayed relaxed, and it was done.
FYI – I used Posca markers for the white. I tested the marker on a scrap first. One thick coat caused pilling on the paper. So I did multiple thin coats and let it dry completely between coats. That resulted in a really good white.
I love to play Japanese role playing video games. The girl on this cover and I share more than just the fluffy red hair. I identify with her the most. This drawing and this book are as good a self portrait as it gets for me. Hello!!
Just as this website is a journal of sorts, I also see very much of me through the books I create. I really love it when the books that I make start to tell a story. When I finish making a book and send it to its new home, I often wonder what journey awaits it.
See you next time with my new sewing pattern and a new book!
-Soma
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46 thoughts on “The Time Together”
Louise (Fundy Blue) May 22, 2024 at 15:04
It’s really interesting to read about you as an artist and how it helps you find peace and relaxation, Soma. I love your owl, and it’s great that you found a relaxing purpose for its book. I really like the San Francisco lights too. The fractured girl is compelling. Happy creating!
Janine @ rainbow Hare May 19, 2024 at 11:05
I like the idea of ‘peaceful time’ creating and your books and pictures and beautiful. I’ve also just enjoyed catching up on your aventures. It’s lovely to see you back :)
RachelSwirl May 18, 2024 at 11:26
Your work is incredible, you are so talented. Thanks for sharing and for linking up with #MySundaySnapshot.
Dixie May 18, 2024 at 10:15
Love the owl and the emotive girl on your new sketchbook.
Beautiful work, Soma.
Sarah MumofThree World May 17, 2024 at 22:30
I love the girl’s face and I love the way your creativity takes over and seems to have a mind of its own!
Divya May 17, 2024 at 21:56
Oh wow!
That cover has so much character. And it’d one so well, too.
And I love the idea of sketching out your daily feelings and being able to go back and see what the month/year’s been like.
Erika N May 17, 2024 at 17:17
That’s such a cool cover with the peeking face. And I am partial to owls so I love that cover too. I like those rows of lights. They say party to me. Have a great weekend.
Gillena Cox May 17, 2024 at 11:41
Happy weekend. Thanks for linking to Art For Fun Friday
much♡love
Jayne @ Sticky Mud and Belly Laughs May 17, 2024 at 11:21
I love the cover of your book, you are so talented! The Japan Center lights are also stunning. It’s nice that you’ve captured memories with your art.
Have a lovely weekend Soma! x
Paula May 17, 2024 at 07:25
Your creations are stunning. You do such lovely work.
Visiting today from MMBC
Yvonne May 17, 2024 at 07:19
I love how you have so much energy to do all these artful things in your life. Your book portrays you so well, curiosity peeking through the crack, on to another adventure in your life.
Margo May 16, 2024 at 23:37
Your books look great. Love all the doodlings/paintings, especially, the self portrait very much. Also thanks for visiting my blog and for your kind words.
Debra | Gma's Photo May 15, 2024 at 20:29
Soma, I found your sight from Esme’s Wordless Wednesday. Your work is absolutely beautiful. I like all of them!
Take care and best wishes.
Alison Hall May 15, 2024 at 13:38
Beautiful artwork Soma. I love the owl and your peeping girl.
I just dyed my hair and it’s red and fluffy again.
Alison xx
Sallie (FullTime-Life) May 15, 2024 at 11:56
The owl looks so much like our burrowing owls (here in Florida). I guess all owls can twist their necks like that but because the burrowing owls are diurnal, we can watch them do it while we too are awake. They are very small and adorable, just like your book cover. Thank you for sharing your artwork especially your “self-portrait” and the adventures and events that inspire your creativity.
Comedy Plus May 15, 2024 at 09:04
Beautiful drawings. Love them all.
Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday and rest of the week. ♥
Crystal May 15, 2024 at 05:04
Those are really neat drawings. You are definitely talented. I like your Japanese girl, too.
Lillian May 15, 2024 at 03:40
So many realy good drawings
Julie May 14, 2024 at 22:49
I love the string light art. There was a time where I sketched or did some form of art everyday on one notebook. I still have that notebook with more pages to fill. Hopefully I’ll return to find time to fit that in my life again.
Tony McGurk May 13, 2024 at 17:16
Nice work & I really like the face on the cover. Beautifully done.
A ShutterBug Explores May 13, 2024 at 15:43
The little owl is my favorite but all your artwork is divine in its gorgeous simplicity ~ thank you ~ hugs,
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Lavender Dreams May 13, 2024 at 13:55
The cover with the owl is one of my favorites but I also love those you do with trees. Enjoy your week my friend!
Kim Carberry May 13, 2024 at 06:52
I love your artwork. The strings of lights are really pretty and I love the anime looking cover. My youngest is a big fan of anything Japanese so I am always seeing those type of characters. x
Ruth May 13, 2024 at 02:48
I love the girl on your book cover! I think you have captured the expression in her eyes perfectly, you are so talented!
#mmbc
Rowena Newton May 12, 2024 at 06:20
Wow, Soma. You have so much talent, which manifests even in your relatively simple sketches of the trees. I have always wanted to be able to draw in my writing journals as well and draw something which actually looks like it’s supposed to. However, my thing seems to be abstract and using thick explosions of paint. I have recently returned from a four week houseminding stint on the Queensland Gold Coast where we went to so many galleries and bushwalks through rainforests, flowering city parks and fascinating shops. Such an inspiration. I’ve done a bit of painting since returning home but also some fabric works using crochet, which are coming together. So much fun.
Hope you have a great week.
Besy wishes,
Rowena
Susan May 11, 2024 at 12:09
Lovely as usual. I really like the owl.
Connie Griffin May 11, 2024 at 07:01
Isn’t it wonderful when everything just seems to come together, That cover is pretty awesome, my hubby loves to play those games too :)
I also have had troubles with washi tape and others tearing my paper when I am die cutting pieces and want them held in place.
Eileen May 11, 2024 at 03:16
Hello Soma,
You are very talented. I always enjoy your art work. It is a great idea to take along your sketch book on your trips.
I love the cute Little Owl, reminds me of the Burrowing Owls I saw in Florida.
The book cover is amazing, well done.
Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thanks so much for leaving me a comment.
Natalie May 10, 2024 at 19:23
Soma, You make beautiful books and drawings. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
Linda at Texas Quilt Gal May 10, 2024 at 16:38
Your posts are like reading a book, never boring but always entertaining!
Marsha May 10, 2024 at 15:19
You are so talented. What do you do with your books? You mentioned them finding a home. Where do they live? Do you sell them or reproduce them? I am so in awe of people with artistic talent. Mine is mostly in photographs and graphic programs like Canva. :) Have a wonderful week. Thanks for sharing all of this.
Lydia C. Lee May 10, 2024 at 14:03
I love the fairy lights but that cover is really fabulous!! How fantastic! #WeekendCoffeeShare
Writing Sparkle May 10, 2024 at 13:07
Amazing work.
Debbie May 10, 2024 at 08:38
i thought i knew all of your talents but i did not know you were a knitter, your work is beautiful. the owl book is lovely!!
fr********@bl******.com " class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">Andrea @ From the Sol May 10, 2024 at 05:46
I am impressed with your self drawn straight lines … I would have to use a ruler to accomplish that. Yes, I know, I got fixated on your straight lines, but the face on the book is intriguing too. She looks frightened by something … and if this is indeed a self portrait, maybe you can tell me what she is frightened by. Is it something in the video game? Whatever it is, it is a lovely book cover and I love the paper you used as a background. Nice that you have a means of escaping reality and relaxing. Lovely post, Soma …
Andrea @ From the Sol
Carol May 10, 2024 at 03:29
I love your self-portrait cover and can see you in my mind’s eye doodling in your book. My father’s hobby was drawing and I grew up seeing him sit and sketch. I’m sending you a virtual hug to thank you for giving me that memory.
veronica lee May 9, 2024 at 19:17
I adore your artwork, Soma.
The book cover is absolutely amazing!
Happy Friday!
John's Island May 9, 2024 at 16:48
Soma, Your wonderful art continues to amaze me. I never imagined you with red hair. Hello back to you! Every new post on your blog inspires me to get busy on mine. Thank you, as always, for sharing. John
Christine May 9, 2024 at 14:38
Lovely work!
Mary May 9, 2024 at 14:23
It always sounds like you enjoy the sketching you do. It also sounds very peaceful. Your “self portrait “ cover is lovely. You must have been devastated when the tape tore the paper the first attempt. Your precision was spot on for the second attempt.
Bill May 9, 2024 at 12:58
I do like the cover of your sketchbook. My son normally uses his camera and takes photos for reference. I do as well if I see any thing I think he can use.
Joanne May 9, 2024 at 11:17
Such lovely art work! That book cover is fabulous
tomthebackroadstraveller May 9, 2024 at 11:11
…I love the owl.
Debra She Who Seeks May 9, 2024 at 09:45
You do such beautiful work! I love the Owl cover and your Japanese-inspired drawings too. Speaking of Japan, my post today just happens to be about a famous piece of Japanese art:
Kathleen May 9, 2024 at 09:44
That little owl has been my favorite from the first time you posted it.
Karen May 9, 2024 at 06:38
I love that book cover!! I have not for some reason pictured you as a fluffy red head :) really you draw so well – I love that book