A Snowballing Project

Stone Bridge, Mull, Scotland, Pen drawing | Whims And Fancies

This is a prime example of a project that would never end.  It snowballed and continuously transformed into the next project.  I had taken a passing photo of a stone bridge in Mull while travelling in Scotland.  Although I quite often take photos with the intention of drawing them at a later date, this was not one of those photos.  I simply took it because I love old stone bridges.

 

Stone Bridge, Mull, Scotland, Watercolour Painting | Whims And Fancies

Couple of years later, I found a watercolour painting meet in Los Angeles.  I dug through my pictures and picked out the stone bridge photo to paint from.  This was going to be a rough watercolour sketch, nothing special!

 

Stone Bridge, Mull, Scotland, Pen drawing | Whims And Fancies

Before I worked on the watercolour sketch, I decided to make a black and white value drawing.  So one night I roughly sketched this small 3.5″ x 5″ piece.  As I was using it as a reference for my watercolour sketch, my husband saw this, a few people at the meet saw this, and everyone asked me repeatedly why I had made it so small.  I was told I should draw it much larger.  They really didn’t get the point that it was a sketch.  Couple of months ago, as I was rummaging through my little scraps for a drawing motif, my husband happened to see it again.  I was promptly reminded that I should draw a larger version of this.  So I finally did!!

 

North Sea Watercolour Painting | Whims And Fancies

All of this really started with this picture.  This was the first drawing project I worked on while attending the group.  I was playing with painting moving water on this watercolour sketch of the North Sea, from a photo I took in Scotland.  I wanted to paint another picture with water in it, that reminded me of the stone bridge picture that I had wanted to paint.  Thus the snowballing began!!

 

Stone Bridge, Mull, Scotland, Pen drawing | Whims And Fancies

My husband also insisted that I frame this one.  He even picked out the mat board and the frame with me.  I am ready to move on from the bridge.  It is a bit ironic, isn’t it, Getting stuck on a bridge?!

 

Swirly Black And White Pencil Case | Whims And Fancies

I recently roped him into drawing as well.  He has his own set of tools now, so I made a little pencil case for him.  He picked out the fabric himself, he said it reminds him of fantasy stories.  The bottom and the top pieces of the zipper were the same size when I started.  I was playing with the serger and I just could not sew a straight seam that day.  So the one side kept on shrinking.  As I was thinking about starting on a new one, I finally got a straight seam at the very last moment.  It is not the original size or the look I was going for, but he really likes it.

Projects sometimes tend to take a life of their own.  What do you do?  Continue on and see where it ends up or call it a day after a certain point?

-Soma

 

10 thoughts on “A Snowballing Project

  • Stephie July 1, 2015 at 14:01

    Sometimes I put things aside and come back to them later. Sometimes I cut things up to reuse them (including paintings and drawings). Sometimes the they go to their final destination: the bin! Love your drawing in the green mount, that one I wouldn’t bin :D

    Reply
  • Kaja July 1, 2015 at 09:33

    Follow – right to the bitter end. I have an apparently unshakable faith that it will always come right somehow. Your drawings are lovely: I can see why people encouraged you to revisit your initial sketch.

    Reply
  • Deana July 1, 2015 at 08:13

    Your water color artwork is so divine! I just love that bridge.

    Reply
  • Cheryl June 28, 2015 at 19:17

    I really like it when projects naturally progress from one stage to another, it is great to revisit a project and add or learn something new. I really like all of your versions of the bridge.

    Reply
  • Ruth June 26, 2015 at 03:10

    I’ve always loved bridges and the sketch really shows how solid those stones really are. i really like how the pencil case turned out, offset zip really looks good to me!

    Reply
  • Lara B. June 25, 2015 at 17:10

    The sketch, drawing and paintings are each beautiful Soma. You have so much talent! I am glad you husband got you to frame the bridge.
    It is really wonderful that he is taking up drawing too and that you will share that interest. The pencil case is a wonderful way to make him something special tied into that.

    Reply
  • Dixie June 25, 2015 at 12:47

    A beatutiful sketch of the stone bridge. I love the stormy North Sea painting, too, and both look wonderful framed. Well done, indeed!

    Reply
  • susie June 25, 2015 at 12:04

    Wow! Your Stone Bridge and the North Sea artwork is really beautiful ! They both evoke wonderful feelings.
    I think I keep going when a project doesn’t work out. I try to make it into something “else” and learn from the process.
    Susie

    Reply
  • Susan June 25, 2015 at 10:05

    For me, if I get even close to what I wanted and it is useable, I call it good :-)

    I love stone bridges, covered bridges, even many modern bridges. I also love bodies of water, be it the ocean a waterfall, even a small stream.

    Your paintings and sketches are beautiful. I wish I had that talent. Looking forward to seeing your husband’s first drawings.

    Reply
  • Beth Strand June 25, 2015 at 09:26

    I tend to follow them as far as they’ll go…unless I get pulled into something new…hence my, ahem, generous supply of UFO’s! Beth @ Words & Stitches

    Reply
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