Hello!
It's been a cold, wet May here in Port Townsend, and I've been loving it. What can I say, I'm a shade-loving plant.
Exciting news
I've signed up to be part of the Port Townsend and Surrounding Areas Art Studio Tour August 24, 2024. That gives me just three months to get some new work made and to prep the studio for the event, including making signs and displays that optimally can be used later at pop-up markets and the like. If you're around that day, please do stop by. (I'll send out more info closer to the date.) If you can't make it on August 24, you're welcome to make an appointment to see the studio another day at any time in the future. Just send me an email request at hello@thimbleberrystudios.com.
Speaking of new work, I've got two images I'm working on that I plan to turn into new linocuts. This step in the process is taking longer than usual because I'm trying to incorporate much of what I've learned over the last few months. This has been a self-guided education (my favorite kind of learning), tapping into inexpensive or free learning opportunities.
Learning Resources
Classes
I've been taking classes at Domestika for some time now. They're well-made and inexpensive (often around $5.) You don't get individualized feedback from the teacher, but that is fine with me because I still learn a lot. Here are two courses I recently took and loved:
This course is a good example of how I approach classes like this. It's about using a dip pen, but I took it mainly to see how Philip Harris illustrates the natural world. Check out his incredible work at https://www.philipharrisillustration.com/ .
Again, not about printmaking, and I rarely use pencils like this, but I learned so much about how to work with dark, shadow, and light. Amy Dover's gorgeous art can be seen at https://amydover.squarespace.com/ .
Books
I can't believe it took me so long to read this book. It is such an incredible resource with tons of detailed drawings and explanations. 10/10, highly recommend. It's available at my local library and may be at yours, too.
"Wild New World: The Epic Story of Animals and People in America," as you can probably guess from the title, has nothing to do with art. I started reading it because Washington Anytime Library was promoting it (and providing unlimited electronic copies to check out) and the subject interested me. What really drew me in was Flores's inclusion of the concepts of culture and individuality as he wrote about non-human animals. That is the kind of perspective that I hope my art portrays because, for one, it's a more accurate representation, and two, it increases humans' empathy for non-humans. This book is well-written and researched, so I suggest giving it a read if you'd like to learn more.
That's all for May! Hope you're well and thriving,
Darby
7 comments
Great resources! Can’t wait to see photos of your studio tour weekend.
Your May weather sounds ideal.As you know, I am a shade-loving plant, as well!
Thanks, Woody! Tan’s book is on my TBR list, as is Coyote America. Hope you’re well!
Sounds like you have created an ideal existence in a beautiful place. Congratulations!
I too thoroughly enjoyed Dan Flores’ book Wild America and have since read Coyote America by him, another good read. Have you read Amy Tan’s new book The Backyard Bird Chronicles? It is her version of nature journaling complete with amazing drawings. I think you would love it.
Thanks, Gwen! This will be my first one, so fingers crossed:)
Thanks, Maura! Wish you could be here, too.