Another History Quote: Lincoln

Reading History

In our Village of Merici Westside Book Club, we're reading Stevenson's Kidnapped.
It's a rollicking good story, but, between the Scots words peppered throughout the story and the complex political background, i'm not sure our members are picking up on enough.
No doubt i think they need more than they do.
Anyway.  Turns out i actually wanted my OTHER blue text, about the History of England. But of course i had to explore the US history book before replacing it on the shelf.
And i found this quote by a guy i'd never heard of, but should have:

Wordless Wednesday: Specifics of my Art

Considering the white areas to be the "negative space," i would fill that in with some of my favorite doodles.  

News You Can Use

 i just opened this week's ARC of Indiana newsletter.
Probably the entire newsletter won't be online for long, but here is the link:

https://mailchi.mp/arcind/the-arc-of-indiana-e-newsletter-xesmwksb9k?e=f9ff9ffc8b

And

Some Arty Talk: Talent or Work?

  One thing i've said repeatedly on this blog, and in person, is that natural talent doesn't go far without effort, and just because your first efforts are unsatisfactory - well, that means you are NORMAL, not defective in artistic talent.
  Here's some other people's words on the subject:
https://emptyeasel.com/2019/01/17/is-natural-artistic-talent-a-myth/
https://www.artiststrong.com/artist-mythbusting-the-talented-artist/
https://www.liveabout.com/art-is-not-about-talent-2578393
https://www.bedlamfarm.com/2015/09/29/everyone-is-born-an-artist/

Nearly Wordless Wednesday: from my "Art Lessons" sketch book

  i think i did this book about five years ago, over several months, maybe a couple of years.  (Should've put the date in it!)

  You're seeing this now because these are the basics in the background of my doodles.  It's kinda equivalent to the computer expert knowing which button to push.   Nothing terribly difficult, just something worth knowing.
  The concept, and many of the pages are from Kathy Barbro's website, https://artprojectsforkids.org/
i came across them as individually published blog pages, but she's now collected her projects into several ebooks.
  Thank you, Kathy!

  You might notice that, though she is a school art teacher, and designs the projects, i use them myself.  Though i've been doing art since i was 2, i have learned a lot from this, and from time to time will refer to it.
  Next week i hope to show you mor pages from this, about specific attributes with which i work.

"Wordless" Wednesday: Sign of the Times?

Dee Brestin, one of my favorite Bible study teachers

is closing her webstore at the end of this month. Until then, everything is 50%off. 
i have used many of her studies and recommend them all.
Like none of you enjoy a good bargain.
i didn't see the offer on her store site, but here's the link to her mailchimp.
https://mailchi.mp/deebrestin/dee-is-closing-her-warehouse-may-31st-everything-50-off?e=a54e65a6e6
 https://deebrestin.com/store/
Be sure to check out her Aslan images too. They were painted by her daughter.
https://deebrestin.com/aslan/

Wordless Wednesday: Pink and Pink

Behind the (not exactly) Scene: Dictionary of my strokes

This one began with a scribble, really, randomly moving my pen over the page.  You can see it in the outline. The froggie on the left was suggested to me by the shape of the area.

Boom asked how i come up with these.
No plan really; i have some

Midweek Image: One Step at a Time

   These are kinda doodles done while thinking of something else - yes, the top one was done over 2 or 3 hours.  i was watching a movie on TV.
  The lower one i did during book club, with my mind on the book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe..  The quote is from one of the pages we were reading, and i think there was  unicorn in the chapter.  Something else in the chapter, i don't remember what, evoked the image of the Bugling Beagle.

  Max is convinced, no matter what i say, that i know what i'm going for when i begin.  No, i have no clue.  Sometimes i deliberately choose one of more elements, and if i wanted to make "finished art" out of one of these, yes, i would plan in advance.
  But these things are something i do with my hands to keep me focused and awake while listening. 

If you'd like to make regular designs similar to these, you might check here  https://forestwoodfolkart.wordpress.com/2017/06/17/borders-art-design-art-beginners/
When i started these strokework things years ago, i used paint & brush, but the pencil/pen is handier.