Photography

Hi Everyone! During the last few days, I took some photos and happened to come across a few paintings that are far from perfect. They are, however, perfect examples of how letting go of perfection often provides a playground for learning and honing skills without pressure. I would love to share a few of these with you today, along with my approach.

Please click on the image thumbnails to see the photos –

I always keep a stack of small pieces of inexpensive watercolor paper on my desk. I paint simple things on them whenever I need to warm up before working on something larger. I also use them to try out new art supplies. There is never any pressure with these practice pieces. These were just floating about, so one day I decided to put them all in a book.

I keep cuttings from drawings that have not worked out. I pulled a tiny piece of pen drawing from that stack.

For the cover, I used washi tape and boards that were leftover from books that I had previously bound. I inset the little pen sketch in the middle and finished the book by making a grey frame from another piece of scrap paper. Improvising while creating this book let me hone some of my skills further. I need a place where I can play, and this book is the perfect playground.

I continued in the spirit of the experimental paintings that were already part of this book and painted these two next.

I love the idea of a cottage overgrown with shrubbery set by the edge of the woods. The green paint I was using for the forest dried much darker than I had anticipated. I put it aside and went to bed. I sometimes have trouble falling asleep, and that night happened to be one of those nights. Finally, I gave up on sleep, and started fiddling with it at 3:00AM.

I put a coat of titanium white on the area to cover up the dark green mess. As I started to paint the green back again, the white kept on diluting the green. So I changed my approach and daubed on the green in places instead of painting with brush strokes. It worked. I like the mix of light and dark in the green now.

I wanted to learn a little more about this particular green paint that I mostly use for shadows. So I set out to paint a tree on a misty, rainy day.

The green paint is in every part of this painting. I added yellow and red to the green to create the other colors. This particular green paint is very textured and opaque. If I used even a smidge extra, the area looked very dirty and mucky.

I wet the paper first. As I added paint, I let the water on the paper pull or push the pigment around. That avoided the dirty look and kept the edges soft for a misty day look.

Last Saturday it was raining off and on. I love to be outside on days like this. While My husband and I were driving to Japantown in San Francisco, I took this photo from the car. Not a clean photo, but few raindrops on the windshield only added to the drama.

After browsing, getting a few books from my favorite book shop, and having dinner at the most wonderful udon noodle restaurant, we went to a Japanese convenience store to pick up our favourite snacks and drinks. I always find something there for my journals and this time I got this A5 size case. A wonderful fit for my sketchbooks, plus a couple of pencils and erasers for traveling. Sometimes things just work out!

Back at Bowers Museum, I was completely smitten by Ted Croner’s Taxi, New York at night photo. If you are interested, you can read more about him on this Howard Greenberg Gallery page.

Inspired by Ted Croner’s Taxi, New York at night photo

On the way back, as we were driving on the Golden Gate Bridge, rain started to fall. I asked my husband if he could hold off running the wipers, and quickly snapped this photo of the bridge through a rain-spattered windshield. Not quite as brilliant as Ted Croner’s photo, but it will do for now.

Work in progress teaser: The girl is watering while her little cat patiently…

I have been doing a lot of book binding lately, experimenting with new techniques and materials. I had just started sketching a cover for an experimental book when I noticed two tiny 1.5”/2.0” scraps on the desk.

I couldn’t resist painting these little flowers on them. I painted them completely outside the lines quite intentionally. Hubby already claimed one of them, so we will each have one for our journals.

I really hope this gives you some ideas and encourages you to play and make. There is sweetness and joy in imperfection.

Until next time,
-Soma

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page. Please consider paying a visit to some of them.

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Hi Everyone!! A very fond welcome to all my new and old visitors. I have had quite an eventful winter break. On two occasions, my husband and I first drove down to Southern California and then also to the north. Apart from being outside and travelling, I have also been busy in my little atelier with sorting out projects, planning, painting, book binding, etc. I LOVE to bake, so I have been playing with recipes too. I have one to share with you today along with my other holiday happenings!

This year I swapped out my snowshoes and outdoor boots with my city boots. I was all set to go to the Eastern Sierra to play in the snow. Then I found out at the last minute that Bowers Museum in Anaheim is hosting an exhibit of an extensive collection of Katsushika Hokusai’s woodblock prints from the British Museum. As a block printer myself, I could not pass up the chance to see these original prints up close. Needless to say, it was an incredible visit and it happened to be on my birthday weekend.

Afterwards we visited a few book shops and stationary stores there. I got several incredibly beautiful Japanese inks for my birthday from my husband. I love the simple joy of playing with these inks and writing Japanese with a brush. I am excited about using these inks for both writing with fountain pens and for drawing.

I recently got a new sewing machine. To familiarize myself with the new machine, I started making something that is nothing fancy but very special – blankets for my kitties who love to sleep on them. I “quilt” them with wavy lines.

I made this bobcat pattern for a school mascot as a custom order

I used to design paper piecing quilt patterns. For non quilters, it is a type of pattern that enables me to create almost any picture with fabric, like this bobcat. The challenge in writing these patterns is that every sewing line (seam) has to be a straight line. The curves are all made of straight lines. I start with drawing the picture and then start drawing lines where the seams will go. Figuring out the way each piece connects to another is like creating a puzzle.

You can see my currently available patterns in my shop. I took a break from designing patterns, but I am excited to say that during this break I started working on a new one. I will share as soon as it is ready.

During the holidays, Rebecca Magee shared photos with me of this beautiful quilt she made.

She used my Compass Needle pattern for the stars in the middle. Isn’t the quilt gorgeous?!!

Due to severe food allergies, I can’t have store-bought fruit cakes and I am not really very fond of alcohol-steeped desert. I recently happened on a recipe from the President Truman household that was posted by the National Park Service. I made a few modifications to fit our taste and we really love it.

I am sharing both the original and my modified version with my notes. I posted the recipe on this page all on its own so you can bookmark it directly. I hope you like it.

I usually make a “official” end to my winter break with a visit to the majestic Redwood forests along the California coast. It is a very contemplative time for me. I took this photo from the car one morning. Not the best photo technically, but I love the atmosphere.

Purchase handmade journals

At home, I finished a long-awaited drawing of the redwood cones collected from my own backyard in my nature journal which I made.

These are just a few things from my winter break. I have so much more to share with you, from both my atelier and my travels. Thank you so much for continuing to visit me. It is great to see familiar as well as new “faces” here.

Until next time,
-Soma

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page. Please consider paying a visit to some of them.

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