Buttnekkiddoodles

As you who come here from time to time may have noticed, I haven’t posted new work in a couple of months. I have been bedeviled by computer gliches. Currently the scanner isn’t cooperating with the computer so I’ve been handcuffed, for the moment, in putting up new work. My apologies to those who checked in looking for updates. I do hope to remedy this but as I’m woefully inept at ferretting out the bugs and then correcting them, the solution drags on. This is the month that a solution must emerge, or I throw yet another computer out the window. One day I may follow the beast out the same window.  Now’s not the time as the massive snow drifts beneath my window would cushion the fall. Stay warm and be well.

Mostly drawing with fountain pens for the time being. The search right now is for water soluble inks that I can work back over with washes and Pitt brush pens, and, an ink that doesn’t clog up the feed and inner workings of the fountain pen. So far I’m getting nice results with Calli inks, Noodler’s, and Platinum Carbon. Pelikan Font has been lifting when hit with water.  I’ve been cautioned to steer clear of Noodler’s by my pen repair guy who say’s it’s been muckin’ up the pens he’s worked on, but I’m using it in the less expensive pens such as the Pelican Junior, the Lamy Safari, and Noodler’s own just released fountain pens. OK so far but I’m hesitant to try it out in  my Peican 215, Lamy Studio, Visconti Rembrandt, or any of the vintage pens I have. I’m using the Platinum Carbon in the Pelikan and like the results. I’ve tried the Calli Burgundy in my Visconti and loved the rich delivery.

Hey, sorry I haven’t been posting as much new work lately, been under loads of work and deadlines. I even missed the 12 hour Labor Day life drawing marathon at the Palette & Chisel. But, I am working on loads of fun projects, a 9 color lithograph at Anchor Graphics for the current exhibit at Columbia College Book & Paper Center called La Loteria which opens September the 9th.  And, I’m also working on a sketchbook project I hope to have  published in a year. More on that later.You’ll notice I’m using fountain pens since my trip to Portland. I’m reinvestigating them after many, many years during which I had given up on the tool, in part because the inks were not waterproof and in part because I had ruined a couple due to improper care. Well, I got the bug, and how. Some new inks are on the market now and I’m rethinking the pen and it’s merits. The top left drawing was done with Platinum Carbon Ink as was the drawing directly below it. I was turned on to it by Portland artist Bill Sharp. I had been looking for a fountain pen ink that was waterproof and wouldn’t clog a fountain pen. I had been making extensive use of rollerballs and gel inks but as of late I’m quite enamoured with the fountain pen. I’ll go over my discoveries in a later post. Cheers.

Back in Chicago after great visit to Portland and saddlin’ up old routines. The top drawing in the middle column is by British artist, now residing in California, Pete Scully. I did the drawing to the left of his of his unorthodox grip as he draws. He motors along and gets great results. We wer drawing the same scene in Jakes, my drawing is in the previous post. He said he hated drawing bottles but I’d look over and he’d just be knockin’ ’em out. Wonderful guy, check his stuff out at Urban Sketchers or link to his blog below.

Finally got back into some life drawing sessions this month. I’ll spare you, for now, the rustiest, and most belabored efforts. These drawings are largely from the Friday night open studio at The Palette and Chisel. I like the format on those nights, more about why in a future post. The random heads are studies of folks on the trains and buses I took to and from the sessions.