In case you don't recall my last attempt at a drawing bag, it was a mess! (Check it out here: When things get out of hand.) That one is mostly torn apart, now, and some of the leather pieces were used to build a more streamlined bag. There are only two compartments...one for the sketch book and one for drawing tools. It's much more convenient to take with me, now, since it's small and light and still carries what I need. Just for fun, I also carved some simple designs in the cover. I'll probably carve some more in other places, eventually, but I won't obsess about it.

You ever have an experience where, in retrospect, you can't help but ask yourself, "What the hell was going through my mind?" A while back I decided to carry a sketchbook around everywhere I went so I would always have one handy and practice all the time -- you know, like real artists. Obviously, I "needed" a drawing bag of some sort. It was a simple thing...hold the sketchbook and the pencil box. Wait a minute. It needs to be durable. Yeah. So I would make it from leather. I have plenty of scrap leather laying around. I'll have it done over a weekend. Oh, but it has to completely open up (for the life of me, I can't remember why). And if I want to carry the pencil box AND pens, I'll need an extra pocket inside. Good thinking...plan for the future. Hmmm....now I have this pencil box on the outside bottom and an empty space at top. I better add another pocket up top to help fill out the space. Yeah. Looking sweet. Hey, this is kinda heavy. Guess I better beef up the handles and shoulder strap rings. Excellent. This could carry the weight of a car. That's about the time the little imaginary dude sitting on my shoulder finally got my attention and said, "What are you doing? Is this a drawing bag or tank armor?"

Here's what I ended up with...check it out. Heavy-duty construction and enough space to carry more than I need. Sides are open, but snap together. That allows the bag to open all the way (I still don't remember why).

Nice handles, right? Except that now the bag flap won't open past vertical.


And finally, look at the pockets. Pencil box at the bottom. Enough space in the top for a 3-piece chicken dinner. Well, you know....I get hungry.


I suppose I actually need to go through something like this every once in a while to remind me not to over-think things. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it, but I should probably keep it in a prominent place so I remember not to let things get out of hand.

I had a need for a relatively large easel recently and came up with this item. Cut a couple of 2x3s (2x4s would work just as well) to about 7 foot long. On each 2x3, screw a piece of 3/8 to 1/2 inch board or plywood. This is what the backboard clamps on to. This piece needs to be long enough and wide enough to allow clamping where you need it. It also needs to allow you to clamp the backboard at the right height(s) that you'll need. The backboard in the photo is 2x4 foot 3/8-inch plywood (I actually use this one as a photo background as well). You can use any size you like. Spring clamps are used to fasten the backboard to the legs -- quick and easily adjustable. The whole arrangement is then leaned up against the wall. When I'm done I'll be able to just stick it in the garage without it being in the way. (Hover over image to enlarge).

I took a class the past few weeks on intaglio printing. These pictures are my first attempt. First step was etching in the lines using hard ground and acid bath. (Hover over images to enlarge).

Second step was aquatint on the rocks and a little burnishing. I also scratched in some drypoint in the eye and nose to darken it a little.

Since that print came out a little flat, I added a little more burnishing and drypoint to give the rocks some depth.

You really can't see it in these photos, but I over-wiped this print, leaving it a bit fuzzy in many places. I'll need some more practice before I can do it with some degree of efficiency.

I finally got to practice some drawing with a male model the other day. We don't get them too often. It's good to go through that change every once in a while. I have a tendency to get too comfortable with a particular body type and then I struggle when the body type changes. (Hover over image to enlarge)

It's been a busy week. I haven't done much in the way of new pieces. I did, on the other hand, get to put in some drawing yesterday. (Hover over image to enlarge)

Summer is a bad time for me to try and get anything done in the studio. Fortunately, I can still do some drawing in more places than the studio. Here's a thought I'm exploring for a rather large piece. It still looks a bit stiff to me, so maybe if I draw it a few more times it will look a bit more natural. That's what makes drawing so nice....paper's cheap. (Hover over image to enlarge).

Over the past year, a friend of mine had been trying to talk me into life drawing as a means to improve my drawing skills. I finally started last December. Sometimes, I find it hard to tell if I am actually improving, but I believe I am, at least, getting more consistent. There are days when it seems to come a bit easier and then there are those that it seems nearly impossible. The images here are the better drawings over the last five months. They are all 20 minutes drawings. The first one is done in pencil in early December. (Hover over photos to enlarge)

I started using charcoal in late December. This one was done in mid- to late-January.

I have also tried some pastels. I find there are some benefits and some drawbacks to using pastel, but I really like the look. This one was done in late February.

Here is one done recently in compressed charcoal.

And finally, I took a closer look at faces last week.