Menagerie.

BIRDS!
and a stag. and a wait.er.

Nat. <3

and dead dogs only want to live again.

I'm still trying to hone some kind of skill at drawing animals the way they look, but still keep everything in my style.
It's fun.
These are some random 11x14 sketches with pen and ink over them.
I forgot how much I love using a nib pen with actual ink.

Nat.

music: Iron and Wine - Serpent Charmer [Around the Well disc 2]

recommended reading:

Art books and books about art and books about artists and their art are some of my favorites.
I also love to collect museum exhibit books.
I have compiled a short list of volumes I would recommend for artists/people interested in art to look at. They are in a random order and are from many aspects of art.

1. Sarah Simblet's Anatomy for the Artist
I already recommended this earlier, but I believe it is a good look at basic anatomy and a quick reference when you are away from a model or a computer.

2. Rembrandt and the Golden Age of Dutch Art
From a traveling Rembrandt show I saw in Portland OR a couple of years ago. I find myself looking through it every couple of months. It is a fascinating collection of breathtaking works by both infamous artists and those who have fallen into the background. Also contains a quick and interesting history of the art of the times and the pieces themselves.

3. Tolkien's World by David Day
A beastiary of the creatures, characters, and different origin stories found in Tolkien's books. Not only for fantasy readers, but a beautiful rendition of mythic beasts and peoples. Also an inspiring example of how one might convert literature into visual renderings.

4. Julie Taymor Playing With Fire
A collection of photographs, designs, and screenshots from the numerous stage and cinematic projects Julie Taymor has worked on; from Titus Andronicus movie to The Lion King stage play and most things in between.

5. Two Worlds of Andrew Wyeth A Conversation With Andrew Wyeth by Thomas Hoving
Though it was printed by in 1978, this book has been with me for several years and I love it a great deal. Andrew Wyeth's work is an awesome sight and in a league I can only hope to dream to aspire to. The writing of Hoving and the interview are both enlightening and interesting. The image quality is lovely and it is a great reference for artists who aspire to do serious "from life" rendering.

Only five today. And you can take it or leave it, but these books have been both an inspiration and a help to me through out the last three years especially.

Nat.
<3

go to the library. go to the "N" or "700" section. enjoy.

P.S. Victoria Finlay's Color is also good.

/his cigarette is burning, but he never seems to ash/

I haven't posted in a couple of weeks because I have been busy-ish. I mean, I've had time to watch movies and go out to the bar, just haven't put my free time toward scanning and posting... so, maybe I'm a bad person, deal with it.
But I have felt guilty about it. I have been drawing less these past two weeks than usual, so I am posting a little more than usual now.
From the top:
1. my father wearing my sister's flowery headband.
2. drawing myself naked is very liberating and I like the result.
3+4. owls and hummingbirds
5. a coupla random girls and a bear quoting Kevin.
6. Sally Bowles from the movie version of "Cabaret" c. 1972
7. llamas
8. Inspired by "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" c. 2004, a film by Wes Anderson.

On the topic of Wes Anderson, I saw his film adaptation of Roald Dahl's wonderful book, The Fantastic Mr. Fox. I loved the book as a child, but I also love the movie version. A wonderful stop-motion depiction of a good story. The models and sets are amazing and the dialogue is, of course, witty and hilarious. Doff of my cap to you, Mr. Anderson.

Nat.
<3

music: Comfort Eagle by Cake [Comfort Eagle]

hear the sirens call me home.

New sketchbook by Hand-Book. New watercolor tube set by Winsor&Newton (faves!) and some travel brushes of the Black Gold variety from Daniel Smith in Seattle, WA.
I've been trying to challenge myself more with me drawing because that is how I get better. I enjoy drawing animals, but I am not technical about it enough. They look kind of messy, most of the time, so I've been trying to clean them up and really look at the animal or bird I want to draw. While also making it my own in my own style.
Critique (helpful) and comment are greatly appreciated!

<3
Nat.

It's ribs our ceiling beams, it's guts our carpeting... I guess we have some time to kill.

http://www.nationalgeographicstock.com/
I used to use National Geographic magazines for references all of the time, but I haven't really thought about good ol' NatGeo in awhile. Today I went a bit crazy and decided to draw a bunch of birds and other creatures. I'm still working on them, so I will post them soon, but I thought I'd put up the link for the National Geographic stock photos archive.
Also, http://www.characterdesigns.com/ is great for working on anatomy for humans.
I have also been hitting up my book collection a lot more, lately, for reference material including The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Birds: The Definitive Reference a Barnes and Noble Book. Also Sarah Simblet's Anatomy for the Artist is a must have.

Be updating with artwork soon.

What are your favorite references?

Love,
Nat.

my father moved through the theys of we.

Saw my parents just this morning and the day before.
They took me to Daniel Smith (http://www.danielsmith.com/) in Seattle Washington.
I love that store.
Anyway, my father, who went to art school back in the 70s and used to draw all the time was one of my biggest inspirations to draw when I was wee. He hasn't had a proper sketchbook since before I can remember. Long story short, he finally got one again! So I drew him while he was drawing because I think it's awesome and I haven't seen him draw since I was in grade school.

We are a world of artists. We need to make the beauty we see in our minds. I have quit one of my part time jobs because I want to focus more on art-making. I am scared because I will barely/maybe not quite make rent next month if I don't find some other job soon. But it is in my nature. I need to have a job I like, at least, if not love. I can't do retail forever, because it is not my calling. It will be hard, but I hope to get involved in art as a career somehow.
I will keep you posted. *nervous*

Love, Nat.
I love you dad. Keep drawing.
And to Coriña at Daniel Smith: keep writing! and sketching will be easy sooner than you think!

tears like diamonds.

Jim Fuckin' Rockford a la Rockford Files. Winged giraffe roughly-based on album artwork I saw at a coffee shop (Aliviar) for a band called Gray Alice[?] I think. I will go back and find out for suresies. I forgot to write it down.
Almost Kevin (not quite.) and a ded tuth.
Drawings of girls in a Radio Cab note book... or "being bored at work".

<3
Nat.

this blog is not yet rated.

Meanderings in my sketchbook.
Pictured are Matt (bartender at one of most favorite bars ever.), Maker's Mark whiskey, and a coupla cute girls in dresses I want. Along with Charlotte, the spider, who lives above my parent's back door.
<3

P.S. Forgot to mention that Eddie is from Doug Tennapel's graphic novel Black Cherry. And Appa, is from Avatar:The Last Airbender.

well, well, well, what have we here?

graphite sketches.
graphite maelstrom.
dug up some 8 1/2 x 11 computer paper and had a sketch party by myself while listening to Cicada Omega, The Nextdoor Neighbors, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Catwoman,
Tim Minchin?,
almost my friend Catalyst,
pin up,
girl of Autumn,
George (let his face grow long),
sultry,
Bogart,
girl in plaid

OXO
Nat.

Happy Birthday Mr. President

Watercolor experiments.
Head cold.
Angry at work. Need something new. Maybe art related work?

Curses to this mirage! A bottle of ancient Shiraz.

busy last couple of weeks.
lost sketchbook.
found sketchbook.
training for new job.
sick boyfriend.
sick house people.
new pants.
new coat.
sleep, sleep, sleep.
feel gross and daydreamy.
hair dye.
hot showers.
hopefully more posting soon.

Inspiration (these days)

In a post-art school world, there is definitely a gap in my life. I still feel like I'm playing hookie or I forgot to register for classes, thus not allowing me to return to school this semester. Feels like, once I redeem myself and sign my MP notice, I'll be back in classes in January. Rushing from class to class in the dark and cold, cursing under my breath about being given one week for a project that requires three, or staying late in the main building typing a bullshit paper about "why I do art". This may seem like a negative mind set about school, but it's the truth. While one is in school there is an amount of hating it, even a little bit. I complained about it a lot, but I still really loved it. I love to learn and be surrounded by friends; most of whom I haven't really seen in almost two months. Why? Because work and school separate us now. The days I have off I want to sleep in and visit my boyfriend. The days I work I feel exhausted by the end of the day. The days they have off I am working. Sad.
But school is an entire entity I miss having in my life. When I was younger it was my "church", in a sense. I went every day (or as close to as possible) and I usually enjoyed it. I felt a sense of accomplishment when I would do assignments and the like. I ached with pain through maths, but even in those horrible algebra and IMP classes, I built camaraderie with fellow math-sufferers and usually ended up with some really nice pictures on college rule by the end of class.
College, especially, I loved. Even when things were annoying and people were mean and my body didn't allow me to enjoy myself, I loved my classmates and friends. Most of my professors were amazing and talented and funny. I made friends with the staff and I did some really good artwork.
Now, I have two part-time jobs in the retail industry (wince). I have a very distracting boyfriend and I really love sleeping. All of this makes it more difficult to push myself into long-term art projects or get down to visit the ol' alma mater.
To say that I don't like post-graduation life is inaccurate. I enjoy it, but I feel that my art college and my art college friends and my professors, the people that make up the whole school infact, bound me to my art and I always felt passionate about it. I still do art. I still hope to one day pursue a career in it. But, unfortunately, this world requires money, and I have to face my student loans.
I will always make art. I will always draw. That is my promise to myself. No matter how busy I get in my life, or how removed from the art world I may become, I will carry a sketchbook and implement.
I want to return to school in a few years to get my Masters in Fine Arts or Art History. And every five years, or so, I have a goal to redo my thesis project.

College is a fantastic experience. One I wholly miss. Maybe I will teach art some day. An amalgamation of my two loves. Art + learning.

I saw the bound version of my thesis in the school library a couple of weeks ago. There were a couple of unforgivable typos, and some random ramblings, but I still loved it all the same.

kids flash guitars just like switchblades

more sketchbook randomness.
because it's a bunch of fan art, I will tell you about each image.

1. Nite Owl from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons "Watchmen" graphic novel.
2. a random guy I drew in graphite then water colored. he looks quite ill.
3. Flapjack from the cartoon "The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack". Fantastic.
4. Batman. You should know him. Character by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. DC Comics.
5. hands. still not great at drawing those.
6. girls, girls, girl. my favorite subject.
7. Bibulous - a fondness for alcohol.
8. Hellboy. You should know him too. Mike Mignola's character. <3 Dark Horse Comics.

Love.
Nate.