103

I usually find younger people to be less interesting to draw, although with the advent of so much cosmetic surgery and botox, older people may not be so much fun either. This girl, however, was intriguing to me with her upturned nose and deep set eyes. She was perfect for a book discarded from the North Arkansas Regional Library.

I miss the south. There is a beauty to the desert, but it doesn't speak to my soul. I hope I won't be wandering around in it for 40 years like a child of Moses.

One of the good things about Arizona is that there is little opportunity for fires such as the ones I unexpectedly visited over the weekend in California. Here, there is nothing to burn but rocks.

I suppose every place has its problems.

101 and 102

More Library People. I enjoy doing these, although I am not certain why exactly. These two are from a new group of books I got recently. I was particularly pleased to get this one from the Public Library of Detroit, Michigan.

I am off to Los Angeles to visit some of my husband's relatives for the weekend. I have the car so completely packed with children's stuff and bird cages that I am unsure if we will be able to move at all. I always think we will pack lighter next time, but it never really happens.

You can click on the pictures above to go to the auctions for these pieces. Thanks so much for dropping by.

Illustration Friday: Extremes

I suppose this week's topic is very appropriate in light of these two pieces I finished last night. They are extremely different from what I usually do. I had a couple of linoleum block prints sitting around that needed to be spiffed up a bit, and it went downhill from there.

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The picture of Mona uses a discarded library book cover, leather finished mat board, decorative papers, beads, table knives, vintage metallic wallpaper, and the aforementioned linoleum block print.

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The Blingless piece uses a pair of discarded library book covers, leather finished mat board, nuts and bolts, linoleum block print, large wooden letter blocks, and beads.

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I have a commentary on the adhesives used in the pieces on my art supply blog. The blingless one will go up for auction on eBay tonight, and the one of dear Mona will go up for auction on eBay Sunday night as part of the art squared theme week on redoing the old masters. Just follow the eBay link in the sidebar to reach either one as they come available.

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Thanks for visiting, and y'all come back now, y'hear?

And 100

Yes, it's Library People #100. It's a milestone for me, and somehow an accomplishment at a time in my life where every day is somehow the same, even though it isn't.

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My husband is home for the weekend, and he brought a terrible cold with him. I feel like the whole house is a biohazard. I am spending the weekend sleeping on the couch and otherwise avoiding being in the same airspace with him. I so hope I and the kids don't catch it.

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I just got a shipment o discarded library books, thanks to the fabulous efforts of my friend Zack. [Thanks Zack] I plan to get on to more Library People this week, assuming I don't catch this crud.

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I think I'll go have some orange juice.

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PS - you can purchase him on eBay right now. Follow the eBay link, and feel free to bid early and often.

99

Well, here we are at the precipice of a personal milestone. This is my 99th Library People drawing. I should have #100 done sometime this week, but I think there is something special about the 99th one, too. It's a little like a race wherein the finish line has come into view.

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Not that I'm finished with the series. I may never be finished as long as I am able to find the old books I need to draw in, and I suspect there will be old books for some time to come.

What will be the future of books, though? How long will it be that we use paper and shelves to house information? Wouldn't it be much easier if everything was housed on a tiny little drive that could fit in your pocket? Think of the space I could clear in my house for other, more useful things like......... OK, maybe not.

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Incidentally, the book was previously stamped as being from Bertrand Smith's Acres of Books in Long Beach, CA.

Illustration Friday: Open ...[and shut]

Intriguing, this week's Illustration Friday. It's been a very long time since I entered a show, so I hope you'll save a vote for me. I am actually going to enter this one. Scary.

I used to enter art shows all the time. They are an exciting, albeit expensive hobby. First, the artist pays to have the artwork reproduced on a slide [do they still do that? what a pain that is] then the artist pays a hefty sum to have the slide considered, then the artist must pay to ship the artwork if it is accepted, and then the artist must pay to have the artwork return shipped if it doesn't sell, and if it does, then the artist must pay another 50% to the sponsoring gallery, and wait 6 months through numerous whiney phone calls to get paid. I know how galleries can stay in business.

The last gallery I showed in was erl originals in Winston-Salem, NC. Despite whatever signed agreement they had, you were easily 6 months getting paid. No one ever told you when something sold. Finally, in frustration, I called them to say I would be coming in the morning to pick up my work and a check for whatever had sold. It was a 5 hour drive. An assistant had it waiting for me at the door, and the gallery owners wouldn't even come out to see me. They went belly up a few months later, owing hundreds of artists hundreds of thousands of dollars. I was lucky.

So, for me to enter an art show is a big deal. If I don't get in, that will be OK. I did this linoleum cut from an image of a man with a black eye that I had also drawn recently. One eye open, one eye shut; a good metaphor for life. If it gets into the show, you can see it and purchase a cheap original print, 6" x 6". It will also be listed in my eBay store if you live nowhere near the show in question, or should it not make its way into the show, just click the picture or title above. Or you can purchase one directly through me, sending me $10 to nschorr2@cox.net through Paypal for US , $11 for Canada, and $12 anywhere else. Be sure you have a correct mailing address. And thanks. I need the money.