I have started annotation and correcting drawings in red. I know it’s self-abusive and a little insane. It really reminds me of being in school and getting a graded paper or test back and it’s all bloodied up. For example:

I haven’t been too harsh and ruined many sketches by directly writing on them in the red. But I have setup the idea that there’s at least some space for the red on a facing page. I dumped a bunch of photos into the A Digital Sketchbook page on this site. I have a few more since then and I’ll leave them here for now.

I could zoom in and provide a great, clear picture of the red text but it’d still be illegible to the average person. Probably. I can read it most of the time, but not always. I can at least figure out the rest with context clues about 50% of the time. Some, however, is lost to the ages.

So it goes…

Perhaps those aren’t the best example of the red. Here’s a better one I completely forgot about:

And some closer shots

Certainly not a finished work. Not even remotely.

Anyway. I feel like I’m making some small progress. And that feels pretty damn good.

Its just text though…

Yes, just text here, however I did manage to finally add something to the only other real page on this site other than my about: The Digital Sketchbook. Finally added some sketches to it. I’m feeling kind of upbeat and proud of myself for that.

I’m also thinking of abandoning Instagram as an art-hosting platform and just using Cara. I know. I’ve said things like this before but maybe I mean it this time. Meta and generative AI et al. are out of control and I just get a funny feeling from it all. Part of me wants to abandon the social media ship wholesale. However, I know myself too well to actually go that far. I’ve drastically cut down my use of the big F book, but I still spend far too much time on Reddit and Instagram. Sure I get that shot of fun brain-chemicals when I get bullshit Internet validation, who doesn’t? And I’m hopelessly addicted to it. Am I making some steps in the right direction to get off the internet instant gratification? Not really. I don’t know. Hopefully.

I realize the self-contradiction in the last paragraph: joining Cara and abandoning social media said in the same breath. And even posting about it on a blog is ridiculous. I’m lost. Guidance would be nice, but where do I even turn for that in this arena? I could ask one hundred people and get one hundred different responses, all contradictory. Probably. It would be worse than the responses on Family Feud. Both the responses form the contestants and the survey participants. It’s almost like they’re trying to throw curveballs on the simplest of questions, all overthinking it. Or, maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m overthinking. Occam’s Razor: it’s me.

I’m way off topic here. Was there ever a topic? Maybe my next post will be something better. Maybe I’ll collect some thoughts before the online ramble. Don’t get your hopes up too much.

I’m still drawing these little trees. I just like them. Here they are:

I’ve posted the last 2 to instagram already. The first one is going to live here for now. I don’t know if it’ll ever make it over there. Maybe. I don’t know. I have / had a longer post typed up on my computer but can’t get it here on my phone. So this is all for now. Later!

I have been working. I swear. Just not doing the work I want to be doing. Too much work for other people and not enough for me. Too much working for the county. Since I’ve last posted here I’ve gotten more into the leather thing. I made a nice little wallet:

I’ve had to get some equipment to make all of this stuff, but I’m not going to show pictures of it here. Yeah, it all came from Harbor Freight and Temu. well, mostly. I did end up buying some from the giant. Unfortunately.

But I digress… I was able to sink my teeth into this project. It felt good to do something new to me, something different and out of my wheelhouse. I watched a bunch fo YouTube videos and Googled a ton fo stuff to be able to make this. I know, it’s humble beginnings. But a beginning is a beginning and I’m proud of my work.

As proud as I am of what I have accomplished, I am also hyperaware or what I have not. I know, the last post was about too big a set of goals for the year and I’m about to rehash it here, so bear with me a moment. The trick was to be setting smart goals. That’s S.M.A.R.T. goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. My list for the new year was none of that. It was just dumb New Years Resolutions, and everyone knows how those go. They almost always go right out the window.

New goals are coming on a weekly basis. For the time being, the goals will be kept largely to myself. I definitely put too much out there with the resolutions, and have learned form that experience.

More to come kiddos, In the meantime I’ll keep making stuff

Later all!

I did a little watercolor drawing of Charlie here:

I know I’ve been way behind on my goals, still. It’s really difficult to keep up on possibly unrealistic goals. I thought I was being fairly reasonable when I set them up, but apparently was overreaching. Part of my problem is that I come home from work tired every day and then don’t take time on my off days to recuperate properly. Who can actually do that these days though? I certainly don’t know who gets to do that. Anyway, enjoy this watercolor, the underlaying ink drawing, and original picture of Charlie.

I also posted this on instagram a few moments ago.

I refuse to fail entirely. I can fail partly, or even mostly. But the effort is always a partial win. I had been behind on this aspect of my goals for the year anyway when last week happened. It was an 80 hour week because of snow removal for work. Long week, but hopefully rewarding when the check comes in.

Today was a better day, I got some art goals accomplished. I finished two commissioned books. Delivery is tomorrow, and I’m very excited to see how they react. Can’t wait in fact. Here’s the pictures I’ve been waiting for:

The blue one is maybe a little less exciting because there’s only two pictures and no fancy printing on the inside. But I’m really proud of both books.

I’ve gotten my hands on some leather and I’m making stuff with it! the plan is for some books and other related accoutrements. Some of the other items will include: magnetic pen holders for notebooks, zippo belt holsters, and wearables. Everything is in limited supply due to limited leather stocks for right now. More to come. Open to commission, you know how to find me.

I’ll break it down. I promise. This year is going to be a good year, a productive year. I have a lot of work to do to prepare for all of this work to be done. This blog is my overarching project, the main storyline. I’m planning on posting once or twice a week, generally on Sunday or Tuesday, so make sure to check in on those days for any progress or updates.

I’ll start here since we’re here anyway. Working backwards on the list above: 1.) I’ll provide myself with myself on paper, answering the tough questions I don’t really want to ask or answer. 2.) All of my process videos will end up here, Instagram, and probably on my little YouTube channel. I’m going to take video of the vast majority of my work time. 3.) I don’t currently post everything online because most of it is in a sketchbook and very incomplete. Also, difficult to photograph. 4.) online sales will become a real thing. Maybe here? And maybe elsewhere, 5.) Business Insta account to be established and this blog will auto-post there. 6.) Bank a post or ten for weeks when I’m too busy to make a post on the fly. Keep them saved up for rainy weeks. 7.) Domain tbd. 8.) This is the fun part where I stalk some accounts and try to get someone to strike up a conversation with me about their work. The hard part will be coming g up with good questions to ask. The impossible part will be getting people to answer them. 9 to top of list.) Basic schedule I’m setting up for myself. I really hope to be here writing twice a week but once will suffice. Maybe I’ll even be able to generate a small core group of followers who want me to keep doing this… probably not tho. However, if you’re considering it let me know.

Printmaking is what my degree says I do. So I feel confidently obligated to make some prints every once in a while, that’s why it’s only every other month that I’m committing to a print. Any kind of print will do. I’ll probably be doing a bunch of relief prints because they’re able to be done without a press. But if I do figure out some sort of a press situation the. I’ll take advantage of it. Until then, it’s relief all the way. I’d like to get into a few exchanges as well. See what other people are up to and how they do it for real. Hopefully I’ll end up with some cool work too. Hell of a bonus.

Here it comes. I may not be totally consistent with anything but I really enjoy bookmaking. Any kind of book I end up doing, blank for fun/personal use, commissioned, or something with content is going to count for this one. I am also going to include modified books here too. If I fool around with something mass produced to make something interesting and beautiful then I’ll count it as well. If anyone reading this wants a book make for them, I have some materials and am open to commission. You know where to find me.

Drawing is such an open concept. Everything from traditional graphite and charcoal to inks and more esoteric media are all under consider. I’ll even accept some small installations and light/shadow play as drawing if I can make that happen. Maybe even some photography could do the trick. Although, I am not that kind of photographer. No eye. Apparently. But I digress. I think the list explains it pretty well, I have to do a drawing outside of a sketchbook every week or so. Three per month is the ultimate goal.

For those of us keeping track, the previous post was the beginning of a painting. The first quarter of a finished piece. Maybe a quarter. Probably less. More will be revealed on that front. Again, I think the above list is pretty self explanatory. But I really want this one. These are probably the most time consuming things on the list because of the drying and waiting and overthinking and everything. However, they are also probably the most visually appealing or interesting to me and possibly others also. It’s the most traditionally popular item at any rate. I’ve limited myself to a minimum size and not a maximum. There’s not a big reason for that. But the minimum is set so I don’t cheat and do a bunch of tiny works and cheat myself out of doing something moderately sized and much better.

That’s kind of the list and the explanations of its parts. I have my goals. I have my ideas on what I’m going to do to accomplish the list. I may need to get myself some project ideas, some kind of guidance on content etc. maybe that’s where this all comes together and I get help from you. We shall see what happens. I’m kind of burned out on writing this post if I’m honest. That is all for now. More to come later. Happy new years.