I just got my printer and scanner properly set up. I am intrigued by the idea of scanning and shrinking some of my own work to cut out and collage!! Your portraits are so lovely and graphic they retain their punch even in miniature!
Should be fun to shrink some of your own work to use in collage. I will often copy my art to use for other purposes but can’t shrink things on my printer. I know there are work arounds and once in awhile I will do that to make them smaller. Have fun!
I received a very random grocery delivery this week! A box (from a service I’ve used for a couple years) full of ingredients that I’m not too familiar with & that have me googling for new recipes. Perhaps I should make a zine of those. Hmmm
lol. Ironic, right? And if they are ingredients you don’t know about, it must have really been a surprise. I hope you find some good things to try. Great zine or journal fodder — along with the football season ;) Missed seeing you today. Hope you all enjoyed your Sunday.
A random grocery delivery sounds very curious. I have never had a delivery. Instead I watch as delivery guys get confused by the elaborate address numbering system in our buildings and in disgust or just being in a hurry leave these boxes anywhere near our numerous entrances. Residents then photograph the misplaced boxes and share their location on the private Facebook group. We hope they find their rightful owner before to long. The contents could make a very good zine along with recipe ideas. Just a thought!
Having never taken part in Door Dash or any other delivery service here, I've never had the pleasure of a random mis-delivery of groceries. But we have, twice, received food from Dunkin Donuts that we did not order. The first time it happened, it was Father's Day and we thought for a minute it might've been a gift from our kids. But they wouldn't, and it wasn't. I think I'd have a lot of fun figuring out how to use random groceries, but it would depend entirely on what they were. What can we call the zine? Miss Tery? Drop It Like It's Hot? Fast Food? 😅
Last month I had thousands of ants in my living room and it was exhausting and humbling and just a lot (also gross?).
I was just thinking of the 100 day project yesterday and wondering how many days are left in the year and today you mentioned it.
I was wanting to do a nature sketchbook but I’m not good at actually drawing things. For whatever reason what I see in my head does not translate on paper despite years on uncommitted attempts. Anywho, I see other people’s nature journals and want to do it but am always disappointed. I was considering grabbing a notebook and making a page everyday, I’ve been considering it all week but have yet to DO IT. This morning while thinking of it I decided I would run out of things to draw from my yard pretty quickly. Maybe a zine is just the thing!
I was catching up on a much neglected pile of penpal letters and remembering your words about how we always write for other people to read. And also how you recently mentioned we ask other people instead of just googling for connection - I have a friend who I do this with, she seems to know everything and I have been contemplating why I am drawn to ask her and you nailed it. So your words continue to tumble around in my head long after you post them.
Looks like it’s 115 days until the end of the year (could be one less). There are so many nice, thematic things to consider documenting or drawing in the coming months. I definitely encourage you to just DO IT (as you said) if you are interested in nature journaling. It can be such a beautiful way to record the world around you. I’m curious about the “what I see in my head” comment…. You are drawing from the object right in front of you (or a photo), right? I am guessing yes, but that comment made me wonder. When drawing from a photo (or similar), just draw what you see — not what you think you know. So much of nature journaling is really about looking closely and really observing what’s there…rather than what we think we know. The other thing I would say is that…like with so many things, the more you do it, the more comfortable it becomes. We really do have to “start somewhere” when we build a skill….and keep doing it over and over. If a zine makes it seem more doable, do it! That would be a fun project. And thank you for letting me know words stick around.
No matter how small the yard I think there is lots of inspiration. Especially if the seasons are changing. One weed or flower can offer closeup examination and also different perspective. Color or ink…different art supplies or paper. This time of year I pick up leaves or flowers or rose hips when I walk and bring them home to draw. You might be surprised how quickly you can fill a sketchbook or zine! Photos work too and I know one artist who does photo copies of her photos and then draws or paints on top of the print! Everything is possible.
Amy, you are allowed to cry and grieve and not do things “just because”. Avoiding the basement sounds great to me. I hated them as a child and as an adult I know they are just a place to dump things that can weigh you down even more, like storage lockers in condo buildings.
Random grocery deliveries sounds odd but very annoying if you pay for something and get the wrong things. Cabbage can be amazing…google “weight watchers cabbage soup”. I love it shredded with carrots and onions sautéed in a pan with butter and salt. I also used to make vegetarian cabbage rolls! Yummy but very time consuming and not appreciated enough for the work involved. Like so many household things.
Cream cheese of any kind reminds me of cheesecake. My sister made the most amazing no bake blueberry cheesecake when we recently visited. You can also add it into muffins for extra bit of cream goodness when baking.
Peppers are a favorite in salads or raw with dip or a Mexican pepper egg and ricotta bake or stuffed with rice or quinoa and various left over veg and served with tomato sauce and Parmesan. I used to do that and heat it in my microwave for a nice “single lady” meal.
Dylan Sara, the artist, does zines with portraits he did of Sktchy muses. I took a class with him on this. Check out his stuff on youtube Dylan Sara Zines. He sells them! You could too! Your portraits are one of a kind and amazing as are all your illustrated journal pages.
Your writing each week “blows me away” . I always hesitate to comment. Feeling not good enough as always.
Take time and take care of yourself. Get out and walk….dog or no dog it helps. Dogs do help one meet people. Even if you just borrow one. Believe me.
I am watching a bright pink sunset through the black tree shadows in Vancouver, Canada and sending a big hug.
Thank you, Gail. I appreciate your comment — and the comments you left in response to others here, too. So thoughtful! Your words here mean a lot. I love that you’ve shared ideas for the assorted grocery items, too! I know of Dylan Sara from Sktchy, but I am curious now to see his zines and will look them up. Thank you for the tip. I saw you mention your printer doesn’t do reductions, and I’ve discovered this weekend that I can’t do them on my current printer the way I did on my previous one either. What a bummer! But, like you, I know there are other ways to approach that. Your sunset tonight sounds lovely, and I hope the weekend was good. (Although I know from your comment in our coffee thread that it may also have been exhausting!) I hope you have a peaceful week ahead — I know you will be making beautiful art.
I just finished a two week lesson on zines in my middle school art electives class. My students had lots of fun with it. Their topics were varied: fast food, superheroes, trees, best friends, etc. So fun!
That’s awesome, Laura. I bet they really enjoyed it, and those are great topics. What format did they use in terms of page-count? (Or which turned out to be a favorite?) Thank you for commenting!
Your curiosity is compelling, Amy, and I appreciate the ways you look at everything from so many different angles. I wonder what happens if you let them all just be as they are, without worrying whether they're as they should be? Or maybe that's just part of the process.
This stood out most: "I laughed as they talked about the whole point being the imperfection and the lack of polish, and I wondered if part of my problem is my inability to let go and embrace that." I feel this. I am this. Perfection is my temptress. I don't reach it, but I never think I shouldn't try. I suspect it could be quite liberating if I could.
So many of us struggle with that streak that just demands an awful lot, right? I think sometimes it's so ingrained in our personalities that we don't even realize the extent to which it comes into play. (Well, I thought that at least about discussions of the internal critic back when I read a Julia Cameron book. I lump that inner voice in with the rest of it.) As for the curiosity.... if we let go of that, what is left? Thank you for reading. I hope you have a good week.
"Whatever is going on with me is not necessarily what you imagine or what you picture." This has been key for me over the decades when I pick up on family or friends who are way off on figuring out what might be going on with me and my family. "Your perception of reality and reality are very different" . I've never thought of doing a Zine but your encouragement in giving just the folding a go, is encouragement enough for me. Thanks, Amy!
Zines sounds so inspiring! I feel like every time you talk about making something I am like…oooh I want the make THAT! I saw an illustrator making zines from her on location sketches recently. (Mel Chadwick, she has some really lovely YouTube videos.) I thought were a beautiful and simple way to share work in kind of a low pressure way. But I can relate to your feelings of wanting things to be polished…amazing! I find, for me, that can keep projects from happening or being finished. Sometimes I feel like I need the reminder that I heard once from Jake Parker of “finished not perfect”…to just get it done. To stop questioning it and just do it. But I can also be an over-thinker, a questioner of why or if I should be making something, a scrutinizer of my work. It throws roadblocks out for me.
But this, “When we fill space with our hands and our pens and our ink and our brushes and our paints, we soothe something down deep in our brains.” This is so true for me. This is likely an answer to those road blocks. And just for the record, I do think a zine by you would be amazing.
Thank you for your thoughtful reply, Erin. I will have to look up Mel Chadwick. I like your line about overthinking … “a questioner of why or if” ! I hope your current project is going well.
I just got my printer and scanner properly set up. I am intrigued by the idea of scanning and shrinking some of my own work to cut out and collage!! Your portraits are so lovely and graphic they retain their punch even in miniature!
Thanks, Lauren. I can see you having fun shrinking and repurposing some of your pieces! I always think about your spooky houses Inktober.
Yes thank you for that idea!!!
The kids and I did the folded booklets and drew stories in them today! It was so fun!
Should be fun to shrink some of your own work to use in collage. I will often copy my art to use for other purposes but can’t shrink things on my printer. I know there are work arounds and once in awhile I will do that to make them smaller. Have fun!
I received a very random grocery delivery this week! A box (from a service I’ve used for a couple years) full of ingredients that I’m not too familiar with & that have me googling for new recipes. Perhaps I should make a zine of those. Hmmm
lol. Ironic, right? And if they are ingredients you don’t know about, it must have really been a surprise. I hope you find some good things to try. Great zine or journal fodder — along with the football season ;) Missed seeing you today. Hope you all enjoyed your Sunday.
A random grocery delivery sounds very curious. I have never had a delivery. Instead I watch as delivery guys get confused by the elaborate address numbering system in our buildings and in disgust or just being in a hurry leave these boxes anywhere near our numerous entrances. Residents then photograph the misplaced boxes and share their location on the private Facebook group. We hope they find their rightful owner before to long. The contents could make a very good zine along with recipe ideas. Just a thought!
Having never taken part in Door Dash or any other delivery service here, I've never had the pleasure of a random mis-delivery of groceries. But we have, twice, received food from Dunkin Donuts that we did not order. The first time it happened, it was Father's Day and we thought for a minute it might've been a gift from our kids. But they wouldn't, and it wasn't. I think I'd have a lot of fun figuring out how to use random groceries, but it would depend entirely on what they were. What can we call the zine? Miss Tery? Drop It Like It's Hot? Fast Food? 😅
Last month I had thousands of ants in my living room and it was exhausting and humbling and just a lot (also gross?).
I was just thinking of the 100 day project yesterday and wondering how many days are left in the year and today you mentioned it.
I was wanting to do a nature sketchbook but I’m not good at actually drawing things. For whatever reason what I see in my head does not translate on paper despite years on uncommitted attempts. Anywho, I see other people’s nature journals and want to do it but am always disappointed. I was considering grabbing a notebook and making a page everyday, I’ve been considering it all week but have yet to DO IT. This morning while thinking of it I decided I would run out of things to draw from my yard pretty quickly. Maybe a zine is just the thing!
I was catching up on a much neglected pile of penpal letters and remembering your words about how we always write for other people to read. And also how you recently mentioned we ask other people instead of just googling for connection - I have a friend who I do this with, she seems to know everything and I have been contemplating why I am drawn to ask her and you nailed it. So your words continue to tumble around in my head long after you post them.
Looks like it’s 115 days until the end of the year (could be one less). There are so many nice, thematic things to consider documenting or drawing in the coming months. I definitely encourage you to just DO IT (as you said) if you are interested in nature journaling. It can be such a beautiful way to record the world around you. I’m curious about the “what I see in my head” comment…. You are drawing from the object right in front of you (or a photo), right? I am guessing yes, but that comment made me wonder. When drawing from a photo (or similar), just draw what you see — not what you think you know. So much of nature journaling is really about looking closely and really observing what’s there…rather than what we think we know. The other thing I would say is that…like with so many things, the more you do it, the more comfortable it becomes. We really do have to “start somewhere” when we build a skill….and keep doing it over and over. If a zine makes it seem more doable, do it! That would be a fun project. And thank you for letting me know words stick around.
No matter how small the yard I think there is lots of inspiration. Especially if the seasons are changing. One weed or flower can offer closeup examination and also different perspective. Color or ink…different art supplies or paper. This time of year I pick up leaves or flowers or rose hips when I walk and bring them home to draw. You might be surprised how quickly you can fill a sketchbook or zine! Photos work too and I know one artist who does photo copies of her photos and then draws or paints on top of the print! Everything is possible.
Great suggestions! Thanks for the encouragement.
Amy, you are allowed to cry and grieve and not do things “just because”. Avoiding the basement sounds great to me. I hated them as a child and as an adult I know they are just a place to dump things that can weigh you down even more, like storage lockers in condo buildings.
Random grocery deliveries sounds odd but very annoying if you pay for something and get the wrong things. Cabbage can be amazing…google “weight watchers cabbage soup”. I love it shredded with carrots and onions sautéed in a pan with butter and salt. I also used to make vegetarian cabbage rolls! Yummy but very time consuming and not appreciated enough for the work involved. Like so many household things.
Cream cheese of any kind reminds me of cheesecake. My sister made the most amazing no bake blueberry cheesecake when we recently visited. You can also add it into muffins for extra bit of cream goodness when baking.
Peppers are a favorite in salads or raw with dip or a Mexican pepper egg and ricotta bake or stuffed with rice or quinoa and various left over veg and served with tomato sauce and Parmesan. I used to do that and heat it in my microwave for a nice “single lady” meal.
Dylan Sara, the artist, does zines with portraits he did of Sktchy muses. I took a class with him on this. Check out his stuff on youtube Dylan Sara Zines. He sells them! You could too! Your portraits are one of a kind and amazing as are all your illustrated journal pages.
Your writing each week “blows me away” . I always hesitate to comment. Feeling not good enough as always.
Take time and take care of yourself. Get out and walk….dog or no dog it helps. Dogs do help one meet people. Even if you just borrow one. Believe me.
I am watching a bright pink sunset through the black tree shadows in Vancouver, Canada and sending a big hug.
Thank you, Gail. I appreciate your comment — and the comments you left in response to others here, too. So thoughtful! Your words here mean a lot. I love that you’ve shared ideas for the assorted grocery items, too! I know of Dylan Sara from Sktchy, but I am curious now to see his zines and will look them up. Thank you for the tip. I saw you mention your printer doesn’t do reductions, and I’ve discovered this weekend that I can’t do them on my current printer the way I did on my previous one either. What a bummer! But, like you, I know there are other ways to approach that. Your sunset tonight sounds lovely, and I hope the weekend was good. (Although I know from your comment in our coffee thread that it may also have been exhausting!) I hope you have a peaceful week ahead — I know you will be making beautiful art.
I just finished a two week lesson on zines in my middle school art electives class. My students had lots of fun with it. Their topics were varied: fast food, superheroes, trees, best friends, etc. So fun!
That’s awesome, Laura. I bet they really enjoyed it, and those are great topics. What format did they use in terms of page-count? (Or which turned out to be a favorite?) Thank you for commenting!
We used the 8 page format made by folding an 8 1/2 by 11 in. Piece of card stock.
Making a zine has been on my list! I'm taking this as a sign to actually do it! 😂
Awesome! What will it be about? (That's the tricky bit!)
Your curiosity is compelling, Amy, and I appreciate the ways you look at everything from so many different angles. I wonder what happens if you let them all just be as they are, without worrying whether they're as they should be? Or maybe that's just part of the process.
This stood out most: "I laughed as they talked about the whole point being the imperfection and the lack of polish, and I wondered if part of my problem is my inability to let go and embrace that." I feel this. I am this. Perfection is my temptress. I don't reach it, but I never think I shouldn't try. I suspect it could be quite liberating if I could.
So many of us struggle with that streak that just demands an awful lot, right? I think sometimes it's so ingrained in our personalities that we don't even realize the extent to which it comes into play. (Well, I thought that at least about discussions of the internal critic back when I read a Julia Cameron book. I lump that inner voice in with the rest of it.) As for the curiosity.... if we let go of that, what is left? Thank you for reading. I hope you have a good week.
I continue to see folding as a positive. I have always wanted to do a zine, do I know what I would include….noooooo…
My September project is to post on Substack weekly. And research dry point etching.
I know you've wanted to do a zine exchange - I didn't know that you didn't know what you would put IN one! Good goals for September.
"Whatever is going on with me is not necessarily what you imagine or what you picture." This has been key for me over the decades when I pick up on family or friends who are way off on figuring out what might be going on with me and my family. "Your perception of reality and reality are very different" . I've never thought of doing a Zine but your encouragement in giving just the folding a go, is encouragement enough for me. Thanks, Amy!
Thank you, Mary. I hope you act on that spark to fold a zine… I am sure you would fill it beautifully!
It's on my make-something list for this weekend! Thanks!!
Zines sounds so inspiring! I feel like every time you talk about making something I am like…oooh I want the make THAT! I saw an illustrator making zines from her on location sketches recently. (Mel Chadwick, she has some really lovely YouTube videos.) I thought were a beautiful and simple way to share work in kind of a low pressure way. But I can relate to your feelings of wanting things to be polished…amazing! I find, for me, that can keep projects from happening or being finished. Sometimes I feel like I need the reminder that I heard once from Jake Parker of “finished not perfect”…to just get it done. To stop questioning it and just do it. But I can also be an over-thinker, a questioner of why or if I should be making something, a scrutinizer of my work. It throws roadblocks out for me.
But this, “When we fill space with our hands and our pens and our ink and our brushes and our paints, we soothe something down deep in our brains.” This is so true for me. This is likely an answer to those road blocks. And just for the record, I do think a zine by you would be amazing.
Thank you for your thoughtful reply, Erin. I will have to look up Mel Chadwick. I like your line about overthinking … “a questioner of why or if” ! I hope your current project is going well.