I had a plan

A year ago, I had a plan. It was to create twelve themed sketchbooks, one for each month of 2006, with one drawing for each day of the month. My goal was to increase my drawing fluency. I wanted to be able to respond immediately and strongly as an artist, whenever I could, wherever my pencil and paintbox led me.

I laid out my topics with an eye to the weather, light, the seasons, my travel plans.
The topic list was flexible. I knew I’d alter it as I discovered what worked and what didn’t, what interested me and what made me crazy.  Other factors came into play. I learned firsthand, for example, that the deep woods are not a safe place for the lone female sketcher, so I abandoned my plan of doing a month of drawings there. This, too, is life.
I learned that I loved drawing animals from life. Of all that I did this year, it was in sketching cows, goats, turkeys, swans, my dog and cat, that I felt most spiritually charged. I wasn’t looking for this and I can’t explain it. But it happened.

On the other hand, and equally surprisingly, I learned that I don’t much like drawing trees. And I’m a gardener and nature lover, too.  But I didn’t really connect to this topic and that’s that.

Interiors were the most challenging and that’s why I tackled them first.  I grew to quite like drawing interiors---at least my version of them, which is intimist rather than strongly architectural.

I took a Photoshop workshop and have lots more to learn on that score.  Someday, when needs must, I will.

All three of my local figure drawing groups disbanded, but I kept to my plan to continue with them as long as I could. Drawing people, nude or clothed, is something I’ve done for as long as I can remember, so the month of people sketching was fun and comforting.

And Paris! I rented an apartment in the 7th arrondissement and spent every day of October on the streets, in the parks, in cafes, in museums, sketching.  Spending a month in that city of beauty was a dream made true. I slide into sleep at night now, reliving those bright moments.  Laurelines in Paris is a To Be Continued story and you’ll see it and read it here!
Here on the second to last day of the year and of the project, I can tell you I’m so glad I did this. I made a plan. I stuck to it. It was worth it.  It wasn’t always easy, living up to the assignment I’d set for myself. Some days I dreaded the prospect of sketching… whatever… because I had to. Many days I was exhilarated.  And, you know, I did what I’d hoped to do---I became more fluent in drawing and in sketching with watercolors.  I compare my work from 2005 (you can click on Archives at right to see older posts) and I can see how much stronger the recent work is.

Tomorrow I’ll post the plan for 2007.  It’s different. I’m delighted with it.

I'll post the last sketches for the year tomorrow morning, too.

If you have questions about the project, please ask. I look forward to your comments, as always!

Comments

[Detlef]

Hi Laura, looking forward to seeing your progress continue throughout 2007. Especially, interested in the portrait series. While we share the trials and tribulations of your artistic endeavours, we also derive great pleasure from seeing your work (on a daily basis).

[Laura]

You all, I am so touched and grateful for your loving and positive comments. They mean more than you can know. I'm going to take time tomorrow to respond more fully, but I'd like to answer the questions about my sketchbooks themselves. I have a wonderfully talented bookbinding friend who makes them for me. I know he's started a website for his business but he is out of town now, so I'll have to post the link when he gets back. I'll add it to this comment.
I feel the need, at the end of this very busy time, to take a day or two off. See you in a couple of days. Happy New Year and thanks immensely to every single soul of you.

[Lori Witzel]

Laura, there's such a chorus of thanks above, all I can do is append my "ditto."

You've embodied the best of my internet art experiences this year -- through your work ethic, your joy in craft, your friendliness and friendship, and your consistent willingness to be responsive and curious to what life and the muse presents.

Not only are your sketches articulate and reflective, they contain something that keeps bringing Matisse to my mind. And so, my small gift here of a few quotes from M. Matisse.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Henri_Matisse

I'm excited to see what you have planned!

[Linda Colgan]

Laura, I want to say first that this year for me watching you grow helped me in deciding to futher my drawing ect. I am being self taught and this is frustrating for I dont have anyone to show me when I get stuck.Your web and all the wonderful Art you have given us has been the closest I've come to having a class that I can go to and I thank-you for this. As an experinced Artist I have a question it seems these days Im feeling like Im going backwrds in my drawings the days when I get in the zone seems to be hear and there. I dont understand it. Maybe someone heare can give me an answer.
Well Laura I admire you and what you have done these last years and keep up the good work. Just so Happy I can come along.
Have a Happy New Year,
Linda

[Casey]

Laura, thank you for such a wonderful post to close 2006 - it's so much fun to see a plan that was actually carried out - and with wonderful results. I'll be watching for the new plan tomorrow.

[Maggie]

Loved the year theme, don't know if I can commit and discipline myself to such a task with the hours I work but I am thinking of goals this year that are doable. Where do you get your books at? I need a new one however I like a really smooth bright white surface and have been unable to find what I am looking for. Happy New Year to You and Yours dear Laura!