Day 21: A Teapot

This morning our friend flew back to Hawkes Bay after her 10 day sojourn in Auckland.  I puttered around the house tidying things up and late morning stopped for a break. I settled down with a cuppa, a sandwich and my sketchpad.

The dog was sleeping. Music was gently playing. The sky was a gorgeous blue and the sun was streaming through the windows into the dinning room. I was happy doodling away.

It was peaceful ... and then the lawnmoving man arrived next door. Ah well ... the peace was good while it lasted.

Medium: Stabilo Ink pen on Sketchbook paper.

Time to complete: 20 minutes.

Day 20: Lots of Cake

Today my mum turned 82 years. She has always had a sweet tooth and it was mandatory that a cake would feature somewhere in the day's celebration. She was spoilt by her friends and family with flowers, gifts and cards.

At the end of the day, she told that it had been a perfect day filled with surprises and laughter. I am so glad she had a wonderful time.

I drew the cake in a hurry .... and the proportions are not spot on, but the cake was very good.

Medium: Rembrandt Pastels on Canson Mi-Teinte paper.

Time to complete: 20 minutes.

Day 19: The Takeout Coffee Cup

This is my salute to the humble takeout coffee cup. A receptacle of necessity and, in itself, a modern design wonder.

Although not my container of choice, as I much prefer a china cup, you just have to acknowledge the practicality of this solution to the modern problem of coffee on the run.

Worthy of its moment in the limelight ... here it is ...

Medium: Charcoal liftout using a putty rubber on 150gsm paper 

(Size 594 x 420)

Time to complete: 1 hour and 10 minutes

Day 18: Coffee Queue

It often seems to me that before the work day begins, you are called upon to make a large number of decisions when buying your morning fix. I listen to people place their orders and I wonder at the complexity of them. 

"Half strength cappuccino with trim milk, low froth and chocolate, please" or "Double strength flat white with Soy and a dash of cinnamon, thanks".

At my local cafe,  the orders flow quickly from teller to barista and the queue of people waiting for their coffee provides an interesting and ever changing backdrop to the start of a day. 

Some mooch with heads nodding to unheard beats of music. Others gaze absently into the distance. A few stand thumbs flying across micro keyboards doing whatever it is one does while waiting in a coffee queue. There is no chitter chatter. In the background hums the cacophony of hisses and splutters, chinks and dinks, clicks and clatters of the coffee making process.

The queue lives ...

Medium: Rembrandt Pastels on Cansen Mi-Teinte Paper

Time to complete: 35 minutes

Day 17: Cupcake and Demi-Tasse

We have a lovely friend visiting from Hawkes Bay and she bought some amazing cupcakes for afternoon tea from the little shop in Birkenhead. The cakes were not too sweet and not too big.

There was a variety of flavours which made it hard to choose the one you wanted to eat. Some were quite ornate and festooned with whirls of colour; others were a little more restrained with promises of inner lushness.

Within 30 minutes, not one was left and I have to admit that my cupcake did not survive until the end of the drawing. It was far too tempting.

Medium: Stabilo Ink pen on Sketchbook paper

Time to complete:  approx 30 minutes

Day 16: Pots of Green

My mum loves her pots of green. She lives in a small unit and livens up her porch, lounge and kitchen with splashes of green to bring the outdoors in. Some of her plants flower and she is particularly proud of her new bloom.

We are not sure what the plant is. She thinks it was given to her some years ago as a birthday present and it flowers every year in spring. She calls it a 'gift that keeps giving'. This year, it has started flowering a little earlier than usual. I noticed when I arrived there are also a number of daffodils in the little garden up the road.

I don't think the daffodils are going to last tonight's wintry blast with temperatures predicted to go down to 2 degrees. However, mum's flower is safe. She has moved it indoors into the warmth. It was a little task I helped her with before our afternoon tea.

Medium: Winsor & Newton Watercolours on Hahnemuhle Watercolour Paper. 

Time to complete: 35 minutes

Day 15: An Inky Teapot

I decided to chose an item at random from my backup kit today. The card I chose said:

"Using Indian Ink and a brush draw an object(s) by holding the brush between two fingers at the end of the handle and work freely in fluid movements from the shoulder."

The teapot and demi-tasse were already sitting poised on the bench counter, a remnant from a tea and coffee moment earlier in the day. The arrangement said "Use me".

It was interesting holding the brush at the end, and working from the shoulder encouraged large fluid movements. It was an exercise that took mere moments but while I was working it seemed that time was standing still.  I had to really concentrate on what I was doing and nothing else existed. It was simple and gently meditative.

Medium: Indian Ink and brush on Sketchbook paper

Time to complete: approx 15 minutes

Day 14: Blue Teapot

It was a green tea day and it arrived in a lovely hand fired blue teapot. When faced with such blue cheeriness the day can only look better!

When the world is all at odds

And the mind is all at sea

Then cease the useless tedium

And brew a cup of tea.

There is magic in its fragrance,

There is solace in its taste;

And the laden moments vanish

Somehow into space.

The world becomes a lovely thing!

There's beauty as you'll see;

All because you briefly stopped

To brew a cup of tea.

Annon

Medium: Mixed Media on 12'x12' Stretched Canvas

Time to complete: 3 hours (in two time slots on same day)

Day 13: A Splash of Red

I late afternoon splash of red or little gin and tonic with sushi and crackers and cheese may not be your normal afternoon tea fare, but was exactly what called for today when a friend from Hawkes Bay arrived for a visit. 

I am looking forward to a week of morning teas, brunches, lunches, chats, gossips, sharing, reading, movies and shopping. We will need to have the odd glass of wine or gin and tonic some days to fortify us during the process.

This is my second attempt at a watercolour and both times the subjects have involved glass objects ... perhaps there is an unconscious theme here. I am starting to appreciate why many artists love to work in this medium ... and I obviously have a long way to go to get my head around using it, but I am happy with both attempts so far.

So here is a toast to 'A Splash of Red' 

Medium: Winsor & Newton Watercolours on Hahnemuhle Watercolour Paper.

Time to complete: 1 hour 15 minutes

Day 12: Coffee Pot in Winter Light

During my time with Nicola today we noticed that,  in the winter light from the window, the edges of her coffee pot merged away into the softly darkening winter light. The Danish coffee pot became a soft almost ghost like shape which accentuated the simple classical shape.

I said at the time that when we had finished the coffee, I would love the draw it but we got waylaid with chit chat and when it came time to draw ... the light had moved.

I had to recapture it so we had to adjust the setting. The pot was placed on an old shoe box to lift it back into the light and a cloth was draped over a chair and the box to disguise them and make the arrangement more interesting. There it was .... back again ... the disappearing edges of the coffee pot in winter light.

Perfect ... because some things simply are.

Medium: Vine charcoal on Sketchbook paper

Time to complete: 45 minutes

(in fading light)

Day 11: Cup and Saucer

I had a busy day today with friends and family. It started with art and finished with art - and the space in between was punctuated with convivial get togethers. I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my time.

Sometimes days are like this ... perfectly balanced, comfortable, heart pleasing and soul warming. May there be many more.

I ended my day doodling while my mind wandered and meandered around the events of today. It was a gentle finish to a great day.

Medium: Stabilo Ink Pen on Sketchbook paper

Time to complete: approx 40 minutes 

(with some short gaps)

Day 10: Waiting at the Mall

This elderly gentleman was waiting on the seat by the coffee shop at the Milford Mall and he had nodded off. He had a Colonel Sanders beard and moustache and lovely thick white hair. Just as I finished the sketch, he was abruptly woken when his wife returned and gave him a shake.

I hadn't noticed the man because he was asleep. The reason he caught my attention was because it was a cold, wet winter's day and he was dressed in a short sleeve shirt. He was obviously one of those hardy souls who can brave cold temperatures in summer clothing.  I was wearing as much warm clothing as I could reasonably layer...and I had a big wool coat as well. I have often been described by my family as a 'hothouse flower'. Summer clothes in winter...bah, humbug.

Medium: Stabilo Ink pen on Sketchbook paper

Time to complete:  approx 10 minutes

Day 9: Cafe Chair

We were out of town today and stopped in at a cafe that was furnished with old wooden tables and chairs. The cups, saucers and plates were old bone china. The food was all hand made on the premises and the ginger crunch was to die for.

There was a little sparrow that kept flitting in and out of the cafe as the door was opened and shut when customers were coming and going. A couple of times I thought he was going to get squished but he always managed to make it through the gap. 

I completed this piece with those wooden cafe chairs and the little sparrow in mind.

Medium: Mixed media on Hahnemule paper.

Time to complete: 2 hours

Day 8: Pencil drawing of Cup

Today's project piece is a very quick pencil drawing of a cup which I completed at my mother's house. My mum has a large collection of fine china cups and I took one out of the china cabinet and drew as we talked.

The fact that I was not paying very good attention to the mechanics of the drawing is evident in the proportions on the rim of the cup.  I was too busy having a good chat to worry about it.

Here it is:

Day 7: Teapot and Flowers

My friend has an old teapot filled with artificial flowers that has sat for some years on her kitchen windowsill. The teapot's lid was broken many years ago but she could not bear to throw it out as it held too many family memories. The teapot was part of the fabric of her mother's life and she salvaged the flowers from one of her mother's many dried arrangements. She tells me that when she looks at it reminds her of the good times and she can't help but smile.

I finished the painting on the same day in two separate sessions.

End of the first session:

The finished painting:

Medium: Acrylic on Fredrix Medium Texture Canvas

Time to complete: 7 hours

(in two blocks on same day)

Day 6: Stacked Cups

I felt like doodling today so stacked a couple of the cups that I had inherited which had a similar shape, but different handles, and zentangled.

It was very relaxing to just nibble away at the cups in between interruptions, diversions and day dreaming. The designs on the cups came about organically...there was no pre planning and they do not in any way resemble the beautiful floral patterns on the original bone china cups that were once used for elegant afternoon teas.

It was a very pleasant way to spend my time. If you have never tried it, I would recommend it. Looking at the finished cups, I wondered how it would look if you drew the cups in ink on an MDF/plywood block. I think I'll follow up on that idea in the future.

A couple of zentangle cups:

Medium: Stabilo Ink Pen of Sketchbook paper

Time to complete: around 45 minutes

(excluding diversions and interruptions)

Day 5: Cafe Queen

I met friends for coffee today and took along my sketchbook as I hoped that, in between chatting, I would have a little time for people gazing.

The clientèle at a cafe around 11amish appear a little more relaxed. There isn't that feeling of impending deadlines, upcoming work commitments and limited time frames to hassle them along.  Although it was a cool day, the sun was shining and people had smiles on their faces and there were many meet and greet moments.

One lady, sitting at the table in front of me, was having a wonderful time reading a local paper and drinking her coffee. She was wearing an amazing deep blue wool coat with a wide faux fur collar. From time to time people would pass her on the way to and from the counter and she would take a break from her reading and pass a word or two. She was a delight to sketch because each time she finished a chat, she returned almost immediately to the exact position to read. 

When I was leaving, she asked me what I had been drawing. I showed her the sketch and she laughed and told me that I had missed most of her laughter lines and the wrinkles on her turkey neck. I bet she's a fun grandma.

Here she is:

Medium: Stabilo Black Ink Pen on Sketchbook paper

Time to complete: approx 20 minutes

Day 4: Cuban Cuppa

This was a "try it" day on a technique I had never used before. In the morning, I placed dots of fluid acrylic onto a large sheet of card, misted it thoroughly with water, let it run, covered it with gladwrap and scrunched, pushed and moulded the colours.

I then left the canvas with the gladwrap covering it to dry for 6 hours:

Later that afternoon, I peeled off the gladwrap, turned the piece around a number of times until I saw a design I could build on. One way round and squinting - as you do - I could see the shape of a cup. I decided to go with that and gave myself 45 minutes to play.

This is what I ended up with:

Medium: Golden Fluid Acrylic paints on Canson Card

Time to complete: 1 hour 

(10 minutes set up in morning and 45 minutes painting in evening)

Day 3: Cappuccino Cup Collage

I decided to mix it up and collage today. I drew an outline of a cup and grabbed some magazines. I had two hours to play with ... and spent nearly half of that time being waylaid by interesting articles, colour ways and looking for matching tones. With just under an hour to go I had only got this far:

Clearly I need to get some focus on the task in hand. I decided to select one magazine from the pile and put the others aside. I was determined to find all the pieces I needed in the one book. Drastic measure ... but it paid off. One hour later, I had all my pieces and was gluing the last snippet for the collage in place. 

All done!

Medium: Magazine Paper Collage on Mixed Media Paper

Time to Complete: 2 hours 15 mins

(includes perusing time)

Day 2: A Study with Blue

It was so wet today that the dog decided that he was going into hibernation mode and hunkered down for a day of snoozing. I had arranged for a coffee meetup mid afternoon and braved Auckland's motorway and the Harbour Bridge to venture across to the other side.

The coffee was good and the biscotti was yummy, but the best part of the table setting for me was the water jug and glasses. The soft winter light bounced off the creme and pale green walls of the cafe and through the glass of the jug. Lovely....

I quickly sketched while chatting, and made a haphazard attempt at colour matching. 

When I got back home, I got out the long unused watercolours and waded in. Here it is:

Medium: Winsor & Newton Watercolours on Hahnemuhle Watercolour Paper

Time to complete: 1 hour 45 minutes

Day 1: Cappuccino Warmth

Two important things started today. One was the 100 day project and the other was the Northcote Glenfield Rotary Annual Charity Bookfair. The project is something I am attempting for the first time. The Bookfair, which runs for three days from 11 July to 13 July, is an event I have attended for many years.

 If you are a bibliophile, I recommend a visit. Here are the details:

Liz and I joined forces for the Bookfair excursion and we spent a happy couple of hours browsing the tables and found a treasure or two. After we were in need of a little warmth and a hot drink, so we went to Birkenhead for a coffee at OTT. I asked Liz if I could draw her warming her hands on her cappuccino. Just like that, I kicked off the challenge and started the Project.

Medium: Charcoal pencil in Sketchbook

Drawing time: approx 15 minutes

(in between a couple of sips)

Ready, Set ...

and almost Go.  It is the day before and I am as ready as I will be.

The time I have to spend on this project varies each day. With that in mind, and knowing that I must finish every piece I start in the same day, I must accept that I will love some pieces...and dislike others. There is no reset, restart or re work. C'est la vie !!

I have asked a few friends to write some idea starters around art styles and movements and and I have placed them in a container. On those days when the muse eludes me, or given I have a low boredom threshold and I just feel like mixing it up a bit, I will dip my hand in and see what comes out. I figure there is going to be the odd challenge in there. It will be an opportunity to explore ... and I like trying new stuff.

So, here's to the start of 100 days of work ... and may my byline be:

What is the 100 Day Project?

Choose one creative exercise, and then repeat it every day for 100 days. Record each daily effort and see what evolves in the work and in the self over time.

The aim of the project is to provide a framework to be creative. Started by Micheal Bierut in his "100 Days of Design" class at Yale, the concept was brought to New Zealand in 2011 by Emma Rogan. 

 This year the 100 Day Project starts on 11 July and ends on 18 October. 

For more information visit the official website at: http://100daysproject.co.nz/