Monday, April 14, 2008

looking down on everything

I've been kicking about some ideas on the the theme of 'mail', which is how this drawing came about. I don't know how I feel about it. Well, I do, but I won't say! I'm trying desperately hard to be less self critical. I don't think it's very helpful, and sometimes, I think, it sounds like I'm fishing for compliments. Which I'm not. These are just the thoughts that go through my head. The habits of a life time are hard to change.

24 comments:

Teri said...

Gee, you sure get some interesting mail! And now it looks beautiful!!!

Nita Van Zandt said...

Your drawings are amazingly wonderful! It's a tough balance between creative satisfaction and creative growth. Let us evaluate it, all you have to do is keep drawing and posting!

doubleu said...

What I love most about your drawings are your layers of shadowing that is done with such care. And of course the strong attention to detail.

Good work!

Anonymous said...

great stuff! like the colours. i recognize some of those stickers from a paperchase set i have, i stick them to my international mail (and i love to post letters and stuff; email just isn't the same). wicked!

Genine said...

i love this` especially the little feather. what wonderful texture on something so small

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

Thank you folks. You're very kind.

Pete, yes they are the Paperchase stickers. God, I love that shop!

Cheers.

no way said...

I love the red/blue color combo, as well as the extreme details (as I always do.) Your patience and ability to lay things out and make them appear to be randomly arranged is superb.

PS-They sell Paperchase at Borders here, and it is ADDICTIVE. Why does it have to be so inexpensive? I don't need all these beautiful journals, etc., but I can't stay away!

littlemithi said...

Just been back here after a week or so of being drowning in work ... really looking forward to the moley project, and am loving your 'mail' exploration. You know those airmail envelopes with the red and blue strips by the side? I can't find them anywhere any more ... I used up my stash on the bird 'disperse' project and just can't get anymore ... :(

suzanne cabrera said...

Ok, so I already commented on this drawing on the Moleskine blog. But, really, I think this is a favorite. I love it. Oh...and Edgar's going to be so happy to see his house sketch made the cut!

Joan Y said...

This moleskine exchange is serving as the basis of so many wonderful drawings!!!! I LOVE IT! Red, white, and blue ... our favorite colors too! hehe.

Peceli and Wendy's Blog said...

All that red, white and blue and Union Jacks - something that is hard for us in Ozland to get rid of. We have a woman coming up for Governor-General which is very good, but most people hope she will be the last (governor general) and we can become a republic. Okay with that? Now back to the drawing - as usual it is perrrrrfect!
w.

Pippa said...

I love it. I love the use of the red and blue biros and I love that there were actual stickers and a stamp on there - matching your colours! It was only when I studied it that I found out that they were stickers. Excellent work. Pippa x

caseytoussaint said...

I wish I could see your work in person some day. It really fascinates me.

Brian said...

Absolutely great work. Ballpoint happens to be one of my favourite media for sketching. But I never for a moment thought that one could achieve this level of trompe l'oeil realism with it! I am quite blown away.

Do write us a post on your working methods. Do you first make a pencil sketch for this sort of drawing, or are you fearless enough to dive straight in with the pens? And how large is the drawing?

Anyway, I look forward to seeing some more!

Anonymous said...

this is another of your brilliant ideas and SO well done!
Ronell

that's just it said...

how do you do it?...

this is great!

Anonymous said...

Hi Andrea, this is an INCREDIBLE drawing! I love the colour combo' too. I think we're all our own worst critics, but that's good isn't it because then we keep growing. :)

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

Thank you, everyone.

No Way, I am a Paperchase addict too. Way too much gorgeousness under one roof. And, in Manchester, we have the biggest store (their flagship store, I believe) three or four storeys of the stuff.

Mithi, you don't see them anymore but I have a little stash!

Suzanne, I loved Edgar's drawing, and recognised it immeadiately. I see your influence in it, too.

Wendy, absolutley fine with me!

Brian, most of these drawings are in my Moleskine - it's the larger of the two size books. I usually work on A4. I just dive in with these drawings - I don't put any pencil sketch in first. I just put one object in (in this case the Air mail envelope) and then it just kind of grows from there.

Wow, this is the longest reply EVER. Thank you ALL. I appreicate all your comments. Cheers!

no way said...

PS on the Paperchase-
I bought a 2008 date book and ANOTHER sketch book yesterday-A4 size, I believe. The paper had that type of off white/yellowish color like a Moleskine, and I couldn't resist. And the planner was 75% off-it's only 4 months into 2008, right?

I should never visit that flagship store you mentioned. =Bankruptcy.
Becky

Anonymous said...

Whoa! What amazing artwork! Just what I needed to jump-start my day. Inspiring!

Anonymous said...

Wow. I am expecting something wonderful in the mail, too. I just ordered 20 of your postcards from moo. I am going to use them as an introduction to a project my students are doing next year. Thanks!

Sharon said...

The colors, the composition, the theme - everything about this is just wonderful Andrea!

Anonymous said...

Really like this one and what you were able to do with just the two colors. Very cool!

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

Thank you all, chaps.