It's still January, it's still 2009, and in spite of a straggling start (see post below for reasons why), here's my art and travel plan for the year:
It's a back and forth dance between drawing and painting.
Painting projects: I'll continue as a main painting focus my pursuit of watery subjects, blogging here about my efforts and on Watermarks, too, a group blog I'm a member of. I'm sure the other Watermarkers have entertained the thought of tossing me overboard, as I've participated very little of late. Life has its ebbs and flows and I've been ebbing, but for understandable reasons, I believe, so I hope they'll bear with me. I'm priming the pump, though. Flow will happen.
I can and will, of course, paint other stuff. We'll see what life brings.
September in Brittany: In pursuit of the above, I'm hoping to spend the month of September painting in Brittany. I'll find a house to rent and take my sketching stuff and my paints and go. Details to follow as they evolve. Much depends on the economy. But that's the plan for now.
Newfoundland and Labrador! Jeanette Jobson, a fellow Watermarker, lives in Newfoundland. Her stories and paintings of the area have made me so keen to go and see for myself! I'm hoping to take a few days' trip there in July. Last year, I fell in love with Iceland, and here I am again, inching closer, from where I start, to the Arctic Circle.
Drawing bootcamp! My new drawing hero is Veronica Lawlor, whom I met online via Urban Sketchers, another inspiring group blog we both contribute to. Click on her name to see her gorgeous, exciting, dynamic drawings! I want to learn the techniques she's developed for reportage illustration. She and her colleague Margaret Hurst run Dalvero Academy, offering courses in New York City and beyond. Last year, they conducted a two-week drawing workshop in Paris. Every year in August, they do a ten-day workshop at Disney World and, seeing as how there's no 2009 Paris course, that's where I'll be going.
I'm ecstatic about this. Veronica says we'll draw at least eight hours a day! In Orlando, in August! Won't that be kind of like the Arctic Circle?
They also do three-day workshops in Mystic Seaport, Connecticut. I hope to take one of those this spring. I can't wait 'til August to try my hand at reportage illustration!
Illustrating a food lover's guide to my area: My town was named one of the top food destinations in the US by Someone recently. Someone Official and Fancy, but I can't remember now who. Will edit this post when I find out. Anyway, my friend Moreton Neal is writing it, I'm illustrating it, and we have a contract. Should be lots of fun.
Urban sketching: I am having such a great time thinking of things to sketch for the aforementioned Urban Sketchers, the terrific blog started by Gabi Campanario! It's a thrill to be part of a worldwide network of people as crazy about drawing as I am!
That's the rough guide to Laurelines in 2009. Hope you'll bring your windbreaker and your dancing shoes and come along!
The whole year sounds just fabulous! Like a dream! Wonderful! I will be following every step of the way.
Posted by: TeriC | January 31, 2009 at 08:50 PM
Sounds like a great plan for '09. Sorry to read about your MIL but glad at the way of her passing. My mum is 85 and has had really serious health problems in the past - we nurse her at home now - my hope is one days she simply goes to sleep.
Hope you're well and truly on the mend. Isn't being a patient *the* most boring thing ever LOL.
Posted by: Cath S | January 31, 2009 at 09:45 PM
Wonderful. I'm always so glad to see your plan, so I can follow along and live vicariously through you!
Posted by: Diahn | January 31, 2009 at 11:44 PM
This sounds so exciting, and your enthusiasm is infectious. I don't have a plan yet!...:o but Urban Sketchers is one great motivator. The Veronica Lawlor workshop sounds fabulous - wish I could get over to Orlando. And the food guide will be a treat for the eyes I know for sure!
Posted by: Cathy G | February 01, 2009 at 06:46 AM
As ever your enthusiasm for travel as well as drawing and painting emerges. I'm going to be enjoying seeing what you produce - and of course looking forward to seeing your contributions to Watermarks once you're out the other side of recent life events. Hope you're feeling much better after the surgery - and are being good! ;)
I've also been very impressed with Veronica Lawlor's work - I'm less certain about Orlando in August!!!
I really like the idea of the food lover's guide. That's one of my long term projects although I insist on doing the reportage on the food too so I get to try it out!
Posted by: Katherine | February 01, 2009 at 09:01 AM
What a wonderful year you have mapped out! I'm positively viridian (as Vivien would say) with envy.
Travel, drawing, water, drawing, food, drawing...what more could you want? Orlando in August...well, find a shady tree... :)
Posted by: Jeanette | February 01, 2009 at 09:34 AM