OniOniOniArt

  Moon Phase & Black Cat Version II Tiny concertina softcover art book, 1-1/8" square I have loved tiny books since I was a kid, and I used to both collect them and make them. I usually made them with staples, because as a kid, that seemed like the most logical binding, but I also experimented with string, tape, and brads. I would draw comics in them, usually cats, after they were bound, which was rather ass-backwards of me.  So now I'm a wee bit older and I still love making books (and I still have 4 tiny books from my original collection). I wanted to show how I made this one, which is composed of thick black paper, parchment style paper, hand-carved stamps, and a ribbon closure. All materials are archival safe. How it's Made: It always begins with a pencil drawing. After sketching out the moon phase cats, I transferred the drawings to pink stamping material and carved each one by hand. I love the primitive look of hand stamping and I wanted this book to be reprodu

I've started re-reading my Heian-era Japanese Literature books (all English translations) and thought I'd write a few thoughts about each while it's fresh in my mind. I started with Hojoki and Tsurezuregusa . So, this is just my announcement, you can read a bit more about my  Heian Obsession here  and I will post all of the book reports to this page .

Ok, so I've already fallen of the wagon for this challenge...whoops! and only 20 days in, too. I will say this, I have been working on etsy things instead. This challenge, though I only made it 20 days so far, has accomplished my major goal of jump-starting my creative drive. I have some projects I want to work on again. So, I'm not going to beat myself up over it. Instead, when I get into a slump again, I'll pick it back up. This challenge should serve me, not the other way around, right? The cat is my attempt at foreshortening, which is not a skill I consistently possess. I was inspired to try that again by the Caravaggio ceiling mural that received recent press for being located inside the most expensive house currently for sale in the world. That ceiling mural, with its use of the foreshortening technique, is incredible...Caravaggio himself was kind of a jerk, but what an amazing artist. ~cat sketch January 20, 2022~ ~Admitting I've fallen off the wagon: January 29,

  Just a very quick sketch today because I have a lot to do. This is the tiny syngonium on my desk that is recovering from a cat attack in its footed 2" pot. The entire thing is actually in a larger glass bottle/terrarium (which I did not draw) to prevent further cat attacks. ~January 12, 2022~ The Gallery for this Draw Something ( anything! ) Daily Challenge can be seen   HERE

  He kinda looks like he's flying but he's just having a nap sprawled out in a sunbeam on the floor. Damien is very much a Solar Panther. ~January 11, 2022~ The Gallery for this Draw Something ( anything! ) Daily Challenge can be seen   HERE

  I read about a European badger ( Meles meles - seemingly aptly named) in the news this morning that apparently excavated a large stash of ancient Roman coins in Spain (and below that was a cute video of the same species using someone's cat door to enter the kitchen at night and feast on the cat food in Britain). So naturally I found a badger to draw. Unfortunately I did not quite capture the little tank form of the badger that I was striving for in my drawing, but I'm not patient enough to fix it now...other things are calling. ~January 10, 2022~ The Gallery for this Draw Something ( anything! ) Daily Challenge can be seen   HERE

  Trying to learn from yesterday, I started on the sketch first thing this morning and the fox pup scratching his neck proved to be a good reminder that sometimes you should scrap what you're doing and start over (from "scratch" as it were). As I began drinking my coffee, I began sketching. And it came out pretty bad, so I decided this needed a do-over. The second one (produced by my more caffeinated brain) is much better... not perfect, but at least I got the idea of motion into the drawing and that was mainly my goal this morning. Failing can help you improve. Also, caffeine is a miracle worker. ~January 9, 2022~ The Gallery for this Draw Something ( anything! ) Daily Challenge can be seen   HERE

  Now I remember how this challenge would get away from me at times... Yesterday was the perfect storm of "busy-ness" where we had errands to run, house chores to complete, and I had an order for two pairs of earrings from Etsy. I should have done the sketch before I did anything but I didn't. Then, at 10pm when I was tired and ready for sleep, I remembered! And so this happened. I didn't even want to go upstairs to get my sketchpad so I used what was in my nightstand drawer. A notepad and a pencil with an eraser that doesn't work. So, like I said, this happened. ~January 8, 2022~ The Gallery for this Draw Something ( anything! ) Daily Challenge can be seen   HERE

  Fat cats know how to live. It's a snow day and also Anniversary Day. We actually went out yesterday in anticipation of the snow and spent a bunch of quarters at the mall arcade. The Jurassic Park game is really fun with the Walking Dead (which is similar in style) a close second. I looked it up...a new one is only $9200! Put it on the wishlist! ~January 7, 2022~ The Gallery for this Draw Something ( anything! ) Daily Challenge can be seen   HERE

  The drawing of this lizard was interrupted by errands today but luckily I remembered to come back to it. The hubs walked in while I was working on it and said " ugh " (and actually flicked out his tongue much like a lizard)...which I suppose means that it looks real enough ;) ~January 6, 2022~ The Gallery for this Draw Something ( anything! ) Daily Challenge can be seen   HERE

  Bunnies are so cute, and calming, and soothing. The migraine continues unfortunately, perhaps it is the crazy weather and the smell of the woodstove. ~January 5, 2022~ The Gallery for this Draw Something ( anything! ) Daily Challenge can be seen   HERE

  It is 10 degrees outside and incredibly sunny. I woke up with a migraine and the incessant daylight hurts my eyes - it is reflecting off the snow brilliantly. I should be thankful for a sunny day midwinter. The hubs contends I am a vampire. (Where are my sunglasses?)  Not wanting to lie about all day, however, I came to my studio to accomplish the daily sketch. I looked up at the cute, tiny amigurumi Scottish thistle I have on top of my book cubby and decided a thistle would be today's subject. I'm still working out the rusty parts and to foster my continued participation, not overworking anything to the point I get frustrated. This is a stress-free practice. I shall now retreat to my dark chamber. The mini cloche and clay pot were given to me long ago by my friend J. I added the thistle (purchased from a lovely etsy seller) and base. The whole thing is under 3" tall. I come from Scottish stock and so respect the thistle ;) ~January 4, 2022~ The Gallery for this Draw Som

...Moose Loaf This is the first moose I have ever drawn. May it be the first of many! ********** Side Bar: Moose & Squirrel The above drawing was inspired by moose tracks in the snow discovered on the other side of our barn... ...and here are the squirrel tracks to complete the bad joke! ~January 3, 2022~ The Gallery for this Draw Something ( anything! ) Daily Challenge can be seen   HERE  

  I did so little drawing last year and I feel so rusty. So this at least looks like a kitten, right? That leg angle gave me some real trouble (you can probably see the eraser burn...thought I was gonna burn a hole in the page)! My so-called skills may be shaky, but I have already learned something...use the HB pencil because the 2H I used yesterday is barely visible in the photograph. It's only day 2, but so far I am pleased with my simplification of this practice. I spent but a few frustrated minutes on it and now I can move on to something else. Accomplishments! Progress! Baby Steps! ~January 2, 2022~ The Gallery for this Draw Something ( anything! ) Daily Challenge can be seen   HERE