"January - 31 Walks 31 Finds" - watercolor

 

I like walking.  I also like to talk myself out of walking.  I decided to commit to walking everyday during January and to look for a treasure on each walk.  The treasure would become the day's art.  

Seems a simple enough idea, but questions arose very quickly.  

1. Do I have to be able to carry the treasure away?
2. Can I buy the treasure, as in "walk to a cute shop and emerge with treasure?" 
3. If I find more than one treasure on a walk can I grab them both and save one for a "treasure-free" day?
4. Can I sprinkle treasures on a common route then gasp with surprise as I find them another day?
5. Do I need to put the treasures back where I found them, even if I really, really like them?
6. Can the treasure be on private property?

Lots of questions.  But, I DID find myself making time for a walk from 1-3 miles each day; sometimes early, sometimes in the dark, but did NOT miss a day.

I posted each painting as that day's "daily sketch", and revealed at the end that all the paintings were on one big sheet of Bristol.  You know I love math, so I pre-measured; then decided quickly that uniform rectangles would be a snooze-fest; so included some variety. 

Bottom line; I had a blast, and found fascinating things.  Day 2 was tough, fresh, slushy snow, a 3+ mile walk and... nothing.  I picked up the crushed McD's cup I found and decided that picking up litter certainly ranked as treasure.

Strangest find:  It's a tie!  One night, walking through the local downtown after dusk, I found an unopened jar of baby food sitting on a wall outside a closed gift shop.  Turkey sticks.  Yucky.  Tied with the baby food were two small rusted crosses sitting on a wall by the local harbor.  They had been there a while based on the rust.  I painted them and put them back where I found them.  

 Check out the Key: You can see what each painting is and from whence it came.                                            

                                                                  

    The baseball: One of my favorite paintings.  I found the baseball on the sidewalk one day while walking through the local downtown.  I had already found my treasure for that day; so I left the baseball where I found it (okay, I moved it a little under a shrub) and looked for it on another day when I was treasureless.  

The paper star: (Look below) Okay, this is the one treasure I did not find; but I asked for it (sort of).  I judge the annual fashion show at the South Shore Charter Public School where students make fashion from unconventional objects.  One student had folded these cool paper stars which adorned the bottom of her skirt.  I told her how much I loved them and during the runway show she pulled on off and threw it to me.  Score!!

Answers to the questions:

1. Yes, I had to be able to carry the treasure away.  One exception:  Mother Nature dropped two feet of snow on us so shoveling became my walking.  On that one day I counted the bird tracks on our porch as treasure. 

2. No buying treasure.  No exceptions. Almost and exception, to read about in a future blog.

3. No grabbing two treasures on one walk and saving.  No "treasure bank".  See baseball story for how to handle two treasures in one walk.

4. Tempting, but no.

5. Hmmm.  Not necessary to return treasures to their original spot; after all, none came from private property.  I HAVE returned some... but not all.  

6. No, the treasure can not be found on private property... isn't that stealing?  I mean, I DID find something in a parking lot; but no pilfering cute winter windowboxes or hood ornaments.  I DID collect things from two little free libraries.  

Okay, more than enough.  If you read to here, thanks so much.  I loved the project; love the outcome and look forward to your thoughts.  Please leave me a comment and follow my IG @jodypaints for more adventures.

Shadow First - Berkeley and Boylston exploration

 

When you paint outside, the shadows move very quickly.  I decided to lay in the shadow shapes first in this sketch, then add the color after.  This is opposite my usual approach where I draw with ink and add watercolor, including shadows, later. I used the oil painting below "Berkeley and Boylston" as my subject for practice, mixed a couple of neutrals from ultramarine and cadmium red light.  I used toned paper, which is great fun, providing a mid-range value.  I then added ink drawing over the shadows, then some color on top, including white gouache for the lightest lights.  Can't wait to use this approach on my next urban sketching outing.  Thanks for looking.  You know I love your comments.  

Revere to Allerton - 12 x 12 oil

 

"Revere to Allerton" oil 12 x 12 

Friday mornings are for plein air painting here along Boston's South Shore.  Our group usually paints in Hull, but moves around from week to week.  We painted up at Hull's Fort Revere on a recent Friday.  It was one of those joyous crystal clear days with sparkling air, distant views, and a lovely breeze.  Hull is a peninsula built of drumlins.  Atop the most remote is Fort Revere; with a stunning view down onto Allerton Hill.  What a lovely day.  Thanks for looking.  You know I love your comments.

Busy Spaces - People Come and People Go

 Since October 2017, I have been drawing/painting something every day.  This began as a one month challenge, but as October 2017 finished, I realized I was NOT finished, and have continued since.  The art takes many forms, but I carry a 5 x 8" Moleskine watercolor book with me everywhere, and draw what I see.  I love capturing the busyness of the street, a restaurant, theater, stadium, park.... and it  has become a daily meditation, whether 15 minutes or several hours.  Here are some examples of these sketches.  You can follow me on Instagram at @jodypaints to see my daily work.  

"Local Restaurant" ink & marker

"Local Yarn Store Joy" ink & watercolor at Boston Fiber Company

"Company" ink & marker at the Boston Opera House

"Treasure Hunting" at Clift Rodgers Consignment Shop

"Treasure Hunting" in progress

"MLK Concert" in progress at Symphony Hall, Boston

"MLK Concert" at Boston Symphony Hall with Boston Children's Chorus

"Lunch at the Bar" at Ocho Cafe in Weymouth, MA

"Lunch at the Bar" at Ocho Cafe in Weymouth

"Coffee with a Friend" at Red Eye Roasters 

"Iowa Hawkeyes" at Rutgers with Caitlin Clark 

"Pause for a Pint" at Sam Adams Brewery

"Pre-Theater" at Sip Wine Bar, Boston

"Pause While Shopping" at Uva Wine Bar in Plymouth

Boston in 100 Words - Illustrating East Boston

Boston in 100 Words is an annual flash fiction event inviting local authors of all ages to submit essays of 100 words or less depicting life in their communities. I follow them on Instagram, so "raised my hand" when I saw a call for illustrators for the year's winning essays.  I love Boston, paint frequently in the city, and was interested in the challenge.  I was assigned an essay, and given a 7-day deadline.  Exciting! Turns out my essay was about East Boston... about which I knew very little.  So, a research trip, some design sketches, and off we went. 

 I loved the puzzle of putting together an illustration that did this lovely essay justice. What a fascinating place is East Boston (and how remiss have I been to just begin discovering it).  We found the Madonna, Queen of the Universe Shrine, pictured in the distance in my illustration.  Fascinating!  There are four floors built into the hillside including an underground chapel, and grotto. 

Here is the text of the winning essay, and some photos..as always, thanks for looking.  You know I love your comments.

Across the River

3RD PLACE YOUTH CATEGORY

I was born across the river, but I’m an Eastie kid through and through. Walking down the streets, you can hear folks from all over speaking languages ranging from Spanish to Vietnamese, and the older crowd chatting from their balconies in Italian. The aroma of arroz con pollo as you walk through town is enough to die, or rather, to live for. The rich sense of community everywhere—whether it’s a smile from someone you’ve never met, waving at someone from church, or spotting a primo de un primo who you haven’t seen in years—makes you feel warm and safe inside. 

 

Banner at Grove Hall Library

Turns out my essay was written by a 12 year old young woman!  I was so surprised.  The language is beautiful and its rhythm sophisticated. 

 Boston in 100 Words held an award ceremony at the Boston Public Library.  I was invited as one of the thirteen illustrators and anyone who wrote an essay was invited.  The thirteen banners were hung backwards, and the winning essays revealed one at a time.  It was a thrill for all those writers attending. There was even a class of 4th graders present!   Boston in 100 words is asking for submissions for this year's contest.  Maybe you will participate.  

 

Madonna, Queen of the Universe Shrine - 35' tall!

At the BPL Award Ceremony

Some process Photos, in random order. 

 

 

"After Breakfast" 9 x 12 gouache - on the summer porch

 

We have breakfast on our porch in the summer.  After breakfast, I looked up and saw the tray sparkling in the sun, and had to paint it.  I see it as a plein air still life, and I was especially drawn to the juice cans shining in the shadow.  

Gouache is such an interesting medium; flat, and can be used as a wash or thicker and opaque.  It layers beautifully and I love applying it with impasto, like oil.  It feels fresh and juicy. 

A little back story.  A few years ago, during my middle-school math teaching career, my husband decided to sign on as a substitute teacher in our K-12 charter school.  He subbed on eleven separate days.  He finally understood what my teaching day was like, and has made me breakfast every day since.  Happily, this has continued in to my retirement!  Lucky me.

As usual, thanks for looking.  You know I love your comments and questions. 

 

"Drawn Out" - showing at the Hingham Public Library Dec 3 - Jan 5

Please consider visiting the Dolphin Gallery of the Hingham Public Library to see my solo exhibit "Drawn Out", hosted by North River Arts Society.  Dec 3 - Jan 5 with an opening reception on December 8 at 5:30. This show of seventy-two images chronicles my 5+ year commitment to drawing/painting every day.  I started with a vow to paint/draw each day for one month back in 2017; the month turned into a daily practice that I plan to continue.  

You can follow my Instagram @jodypaints where you will see a drawing/painting created on that day.  Every Day.

Turns out I LOVE drawing in public, capturing the beauty, grace, and poetry of the world around me. I find inspiration everywhere.

I hope you'll find some time to check it out. Take a look at some pictures below... thank goodness for my hard-working hanging crew and the Frame Center in Hanover.

"People" themed board at the show

Whole library wall, almost finished

Measuring and leveling

Scale drawing of each board

Scale drawing of the entire wall

You can draw from anywhere, including the car

Drawing at a local restaurant