Becky adds to Erin's book: "Transform"

My creative nonfiction students created proper noun timelines of their lives. There are a lot of book and movie titles in their lists, and they've inspired me to brainstorm alongside of them, thinking of the titles that have fueled my life at all of its different stages. What resulted was a semi-autobiographic and mostly silly doodle of a few transformations from 16 to 42:

Adobe Illustrator remains a beast I choose not to wrangle--mostly due to reluctance to move beyond my comfort zone. I like feeling confident in the four things I can do with it. This gave me a little permission to stretch my AI boundaries and learn a few new things (adding textures!) without smashing my laptop.

My Singapore

Marina Bay Sands, the Singapore Flyer, rooftop bars, and skyscrapers don't do much for me. But turning a corner in Joo Chiat and seeing a friendly row of candy colored shophouses makes me grateful. "My Singapore" is those quaint, hidden pockets of art and charm and elegance. I love 'em.

Erin's wisdom

Erin's sketchbook introduction resonated with me. She writes about "enjoying the process of creation, layering words + image, found + repurposed items" and that she "feel[s] nourished every time I make something adds joy to the word." Oh, to always give myself that permission to nourish self, and oh to be confident in the value of joyful contributions that appear to have no monetary or productivity rooted value.

I tried to heed her words and just play--and to play based on inspiration from the world around me. A friend in India sent a block print card (upper left), and from there I doodled my version of the web of flowers. Into AI it went, and the flowers were recolored over and over again. Those hours could have been spent in many more significant ways, but I don't think my heart would be quite as happy.

Becky's Drawing in Martha's Book

I do love the value of a sketchbook exchange. We get to dabble, we get to fail, we get to try, and we get to learn to be okay with that. Right? Maybe? Sort of? For this round, I modeled a willingness to embrace doodles that veer off course.

Originally, I had fantasies a black line drawing would turn into a coloring book page as an entry for Doodlers Anonymous, but in the end...oh, in the end I just let myself step away from the book.

Sherbet Animal Party...ack!

The theme was "Contrasts in Nature." (great theme, Martha!) My vision was unusual animals decorated in patterns from the natural world that contrast with their unique selves. The result was not what I'd envisioned, and so after first drawing in pencil and then partially inking...I ran out of steam and found myself watching Jimmy Fallon Youtube videos and taking lots of snack breaks. So, to bring it to a close, I quickly scanned the drawing and "painted" with Adobe Illustrator in hopes of a miraculous (unsuccessful) make-over. It seems to me that a walrus and his wild friends have invaded a pint of rainbow sherbet. Sighhhh....

Black Ink Drawing