Line Drawings and Gouache
Putz House Fun!
Hastypearl
I recently bought a great collection of Putz Houses.
The word Putz comes from the early Moravian tradition
of decorating for Christmas,
with street scenes or nativities or even Noah's Ark.
This practice was even more popular than decorating the tree.
After World War II,
the Japanese started making paper houses with holes in the back,
to be illuminated with strung lights.
My houses were Made in Japan.
The shapes and colors that you can find, seem to be endless.
So, I have recently been inspired by many, but specifically by the drawings of
Trudi Sissons of Two Dresses Studio,
Claudia of blog AdiandBert, Michele Maule,
and as I have mentioned before, Jane LaFazio.
I follow all four, either on their blogs, websites, FB or Instagram.
Separately, they each are committed to practice...drawing.
Simple, right?
My husband and I talked about it.
I said...you know, if I did a few sit ups every night, I'd be stronger.
If I practiced a language a little bit every day, I could speak it.
If I drew every day, Id get better.
Most of us aren't naturals at everything, but if we work at it, just a little every day...
we would see a change!
So, this past week, I took up my pencil, and started drawing a little bit...every day.
To make it a bit more challenging,
I tried to position my Putz houses, at different angles each time,
so it wouldn't always just be one dimensional.
Am I a Rembrandt? No.
Not even close.
But by the time I put a little watercolor on my sketches, I liked what I saw.
Most of the time, we are so self critical, that we quit.
That wasn't my goal.
My goal was to draw, and draw often.
I decided to make my little scenes, Nighttime Scenes.
I used a product called, Fineline Masking Fluid Pen, for the little stars.
I bought mine at Asel Art Supply in San Antonio,
but I'm sure that you could find it online.
It has a small pin, that inserts into the tiny delivery system,
that constantly self cleans and I never had a problem with flow.
When the mask drys, you simply paint over it.
When your paint is dry...you simply rub the mask, off.
It was fun seeing my Twinkly Stars appear in my night sky!
The houses seemed like they needed some wildlife,
so I drew some Reindeer.
I would like to say that I was "off" on those drawings,
but truthfully, those Reindeer, have always been a little spooky faced to me!
Maybe you can see that in the Reindeer piece,
I masked some Holly Leaves and I added some Gold Paint
for the berries and the Reindeer antlers!
After a week or so, I had done 6 drawings.
That's exactly 6 more, than if I hadn't drawn :)
They didn't take long and I really enjoyed it.
In Silence, or with Music going or talking on the phone, it was time well spent.
I plan to continue for as long as I'm enjoying it.
The point isnt to become a slave to drawing...or doing sit ups or learning a language.
The point is to take care, that we aren't just letting time go by,
without doing things that we've wished to do.
We all know how fast the days go by...
So, I Hope this posting Encourages you, just as Trudi, Claudia, Michele and Jane,
Unknowingly, have Encouraged me!
I'm so glad that you stopped by!
If you would like, there is a place on the right side of my blog,
to sign up to receive email notices of my hastypearl postings.
I wont overwhelm you. I promise!
I usually check in every couple of weeks!
For those of you living in the Northern Hemisphere,
I Hope you are enjoying these last days of warmth,
as we head towards cooler days,
and for you Southern Hemisphere dwellers
...I'm a little envious of you as you head into Spring!
Happy Learning....xo Laura
