Kate Ristau's Blog, page 26
June 29, 2018
Teen writers: Drawing Dragons Day 178
Today, my teen writing class at Portland Community College wrapped up. It was an incredible week. I had poets, novelists, short story writers, and quite a few artists.
I hadn’t planned it at the beginning of the week, but by the end of the week, I knew we had to make a zine.
These kids were ready. They had dialogue and settings, drawings of strange characters, and so many pieces of art.
Art in the biggest sense possible.
One poet writes better at 14 than I ever will.
One boy has a better understanding of dragons than I do.
They were sassy with each other and oh so smart. They shared their work and shared their time.
They were not angels. They were writers.
Here’s a page I worked on with them.
Keep creating,
Kate
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June 25, 2018
Chocolate ice cream: Drawing Dragons Day 175
When I was a kid, my mom would buy Spumoni ice cream with chocolate, strawberry, and pistachio. The pistachio is still my favorite.
The chocolate was a far 3rd. If no one was paying attention, I’d pull out the green and pink, and leave that chocolate square unfinished.
These days, I don’t always have ice cream in the fridge because I’m an adult and I can eat whatever I want and therefore ICE CREAM!!!
But tonight, there was chocolate.
And then there was none.
Turns out, even our least favorite things can find a way to making our lives sweet.
It all comes down to what’s in the fridge.
Here’s a little bit of chocolate ice cream for you. If he was hanging out in my kitchen, we’d totes be friends.
Keep creating,
Kate
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June 24, 2018
Sweetly: Drawing Dragons Day 174
And sweetly we go into the night. With just a few little revisions, the platypus went away and the horns softened and the teeth tucked in. This little one brings me joy. I love his feet!
We are back at home after a week at Maren’s alpaca ranch. No chores for us tonight; the suitcases are still in the car.
Sweet dreams, my friends!
Green and purple dragon really cute soft pawsKeep creating,
Kate
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Duckbill Platypus Vampire Dragon: Drawing Dragons Day 173
I vant to suck your blood…and splash water at you…and cover you in cute!
That’s all, ya’ll.
Keep creating,
Kate
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June 22, 2018
The Drawing of the Three: Drawing Dragons Day 172
Three, it’s the magic number. Yeah, it is. It’s the magic number.
And it’s sleeeeeeeeeepy.
Keep creating,
Kate
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June 21, 2018
Oh, Them Tacos: Drawing Dragons Day 171
“I regret nothing.”
“Me neither.”
“Except that knight appetizer.”
“Yeah, and eating the dawn.”
“You know, it’s going to be real dark tomorrow.”
“Yep. But those tacos were good.”
Kerry Beyit’s painting is regal and not full of tacos
Keep cr-eating,
Kate
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Sir FrownyPants: Drawing Dragons Day 170
“I don’t believe in you.”
“Well, I don’t believe in you either.”
“Now that we have that settled, time for tacos?”
“Yes, my friend. Let’s do this.”
Reference: Dragon Hunters by Alan Lathwell.
Keep creating,
Kate
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June 19, 2018
Star Dragon: Drawing Dragons Day 169
I wanted to draw a Star Dragon. I never thought it would actually work.
My mom is here at the alpaca ranch now. How lucky am I? Here is the moon at dusk. No stars yet.
Keep creating,
Kate
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June 18, 2018
Deer: Drawing Dragons Day 168
Anyone who knows kids, has kids, or watched a movie about kids one time knows it’s hard to get kids to sleep–especially when they are someplace FUN.
Well, we are at my friend Maren’s alpaca ranch, and it is capital F Fun around here.
Thus, it took Wonder an hour to get to sleep tonight. That was with me, snuggling him in bed, wishing him brighter tomorrows.
When I crawled out of bed to do expense reports (#ParentingWithAJob), I saw a flicker outside the window.
A deer. Just beyond my reach.
I watched it eat apples off the tree for a minute, then I did that thing you’re not supposed to do–I walked back into his room, picked him up, and took him to see the deer.
His sleepy eyes shot open when I said the word.
You see, I saw one yesterday, but it was gone before he could really see it.
Now his sleepy eyes were bright, scanning the fence, finding the little baby.
And then, it’s mama.
For a moment longer, we stood by the window, looking for the daddy. Then, I carried him off to sleep.
In Chinese folklore, the Qilin is a chimerical creature, often depicted as part deer or giraffe and part dragon. They are often shown walking on clouds, as they are peaceful creatures, whom would never harm a blade of grass by stepping on it.
That is how those deer must have felt for him; slipping through his dreams and pulling him from his bed.
This image from JetHero13 seemed a perfect reference for tonight. This sketch of a Qilin is just on the edge of the clouds. May he bring you peaceful dreams.
Keep creating,
Kate
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June 17, 2018
Feather Duster: Drawing Dragons Day 167
Who are you to say I cannot fly?
I’m made of feathers pulled from those who touched the sky then fell down within your grasp not caring for their bodies but longing for the feel of the ground beneath their talons. Like them. Like them, I’m made of light and air and even as you drag me through the dust I know my wings will pull me up one day and loose me from your hand — I cannot hate you. The dust you drag me through is tiny broken pieces of you; your world is falling apart.
But for me, still, and always, there will be time to fly.
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