I cannot draw...

so...

When I started to think about the image for my next bead journal project, I was once again nervous that I wouldn't be able to illustrate the picture that was in my head.

Whenever I first get the idea for a project, I collect images and items that I squirrel away in an box of inspiration. Every time I come across something that strikes my fancy for a particular project, I add it to the box. I probably have more than 10 or so "collection boxes" -- quietly waiting for the day when I'll pick them up and create something from the treasures contained within...


Today was the day that I picked up the June BJP collection box and....began...

I wanted this piece to be a self-portrait, of sorts. I had visited the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. over the Summer and was struck by this self-portrait by Dutch painter Judith Leyster.


I loved that she's dressed in her finest while painting...as if, she's at her best when she's doing what she loves most. I love her hint of a smile and the fact that she holds 18 (!) paintbrushes in her hand. I love her confidence, her relaxed manner and the fact that she's looking out at the viewer as if she's delighted that you've chosen to look at her portrait. I love the lace and buttons at her cuff; and I love that she's painting the portrait of a happy fiddler...a stark contrast to many of the serious portraits of the day.

To me, it's clear that Judith Leyster loved her art and her painting, yet didn't take herself too seriously. I imagine she had quite a sense of humor and that...makes me smile. I think she had a mischievous streak and I believe we would have been friends if I had lived down the street from her in the 17th century.

OK. So, even though I cannot draw or paint like Judith Leyster, I have learned to collect images that I can use to help me illustrate the shapes I need. I found a picture of a girl standing in profile, a picture of Renoir's portrait of Monet painting, an artist's palette brooch, and even the music to Beethoven's Ode to Joy...all in my collection box...


Because of the ability to scan images and re-size them, I can often get the shapes and sizes I need by manipulating the images electronically. Then I make a collage of the shapes and trace the collage to eventually develop my picture. And I didn't really have to draw very much at all...only tweak things a little bit...

I was excited this time because I was able to take the opening line of music for Ode to Joy and use the Twirl filter in Photoshop to give me a music wave in the background of this piece.
It's just a beginning but I'm very grateful to my all-in-one scanner/printer/copier and my Photoshop program for helping me get started on this piece. And I just thought you should know that I didn't draw it on my own. I had a lot of help...