She tries to learn, without falling back on the safety of digital fixes. I have learned much from this little attempt. Here's what I've learned so far, including earlier realizations:

1. Use the good bristol paper, the attempt might be good, and anything thinner doesn't hold up to watercolor pencil
2a. Always leave a border around the edge, so important design elements are not cut off
2b. Masking tape on the edges of the paper might be a good idea!
3. Even with intuitive drawings, do a pencil drawing first. Later, with the 'rational', 'conscious' mind, I can edit, and adjust. Especially on the lettering, for I've always had to fix the lettering.
4. I really must buy more watercolor pencils in varying hues. I cannot make mint green decently by trying to use a dark green pencil lightly. There's no way I can do it light enough that streaks won't happen.
5. Swish the watercolor brush 3 to 4 times on the edge of the water container. Any less, and the brush will have an uncontrollable amount of water.
5. Try to avoid water droplet accidents. They really can't be fixed.
Yes, that blotch in the lower left resulted from such a drop.
6. Don't use smushed up Micron pens and expect to have full control.
That ugly 'R' in the book title resulted from such a pen.
7. Practice, practice, practice!

One of the many things I pondered while stitching today at work was digital versus hand made. Digital still has its merits. There really is a talent to using the programs, which I've only really just scratched. But, yes, I can see where an artist who only does handmade would look at a digitally enhanced piece, and declare it to be cheating. There's no way I can color neatly like the smart mask fill-ins. And there's no way anyone else can, either. I think the fairest solution to the Fair requirements would be to make a separate category for the digital artists, so hand made artists aren't competing with them. I rather suspect I'm the first digital artist they've ever encountered, hence there was nothing about such in the guidelines.

Is one better than the other? I think it depends on what your art goal is. There is something more 'raw', more 'vital' about a handmade piece. The digital somehow, even though it is all originating from the mind of the artist, seems a little removed, more 'intellectual'. Perhaps those imperfections give it the reality of life, cause it to speak a more vivid truth.

As I was pondering this, a song came on the radio, which seemed to address it. Mark Brian was on the Bob and Sheri show, singing "Fork in the Road"

Either way is better than neither way
and anything's better than nothing at all...

Just do it, how ever you do it, but DO IT!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

"Joan in Hieroglyphs"
8:33pm

This is coming into being as part of another project. We've borrowed _The Royal Tombs of Egypt: The Art of Thebes Revealed_ from the library. It's a huge book, with many beautiful large color photos in it. A gorgeous winged Ma'at is shown, embracing the cartouche of Nefertari. I've began a pencil sketch of her. But of course, I want to place my name in the cartouche.

Now I have a little pendant which is supposed to be my name in hieroglyphs:

I wanted to add "Beloved of Set" as part of my name, so I found a hieroglyph dictionary on the web. This is first version of the cartouche:

But as I was looking at it, I realized something Julia had been trying to tell me was right. That name would be closest to Jo-Ann. However, the 'a' is not pronounced, so I think this cartouche is better:

Of course, I've already inked it with the 'Jo-Ann' version. Should I restart the whole picture? Hmmmm-m-m. The book isn't due back until April 12th, so I've got lots of time.