Kate Ristau's Blog, page 42

Drawing Dragons: Days 18 and 19

I waited to show you yesterday’s dragon because it’s a combo deal. You get two today. You can’t have one without the other.

They form a heart. Kind of.

The legs are getting easier. The wings remind me a little too much of a mollusk. And the one on the right is wearing a dragon hockey mask.

Also, they should be holding something. What should they hold?

BTW, expect to see these dragons reemerge around Valentine’s Day, with something like:

You light up my life

or

You set my heart on fire

or

Our love is never dragon

or

Something about scales and wings?

Uh-oh. I need some help here. Even the chocolate isn’t overcoming this sleep deprivation.

Here’s to big sleep and love that drags-on.

Yeah, I know.

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Learning and frustration: Drawing Dragons Day 17

Bob helped me draw my dragon today — we talked about the shape of the dragon, the chest puffing out, and I particularly liked how he helped me figure out the claw coming toward the viewer.

It was not easy for him.

I got so frustrated. I couldn’t get the shape right. He was going too fast. He wasn’t showing me what he was doing. He wasn’t being specific enough. He was being too specific. Where do you put that arm? What’s wrong with its legs? How are you drawing that thumb? What do I do with the rest of the arm?

About ten minutes in, I told him it wasn’t working. Something wasn’t right. It wasn’t him though, it was me.

I wanted step-by-step directions. I wanted him to fix things, but not fix things. I wanted to be good at it. I wanted him to like it. I WANTED.

Wanting leads to frustration, and frustration leads to anger…or chocolate.

I slowed down. I focused in. I worked on the dragon’s body. I didn’t draw the wings because I didn’t want too. I liked the way the dragon looked. Except he looked too plain — too many dark lines and simple edges.

“What would you do?” I asked Bob, calming myself, breathing.

“Maybe you could add a ridge? Over there?” He pointed over the shoulder of the dragon.

I nodded my head and drew ridges down its back, and then along its arm.

I like him.

But, I don’t super like myself.

I want to be able to learn without the edge. It reminds me of high school math class, when I would get stuck on a problem, the frustration would creep in, and I wouldn’t be able to finish it.

I need to figure out how to deal with that.

That’s the lesson for today. Not the tail, not the dragon, but myself. Listening, questioning, and finding a better way.

I’m dedicating this one to my friend, Kristin Noreen. It’s her birthday. She wanted a purple dragon, so here it is, with all it’s attendant complexities.

Thank you for all you do to support other writers, Kristin. You are a light at the end of the frustration, and a voice of support and encouragement.

Keep on writing.

 

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Cookie: Drawing Dragons Day 16

Today, I achieved a goal: I met my Apple Watch Move Goal while literally lowering my hand after eating the last of a peanut butter cup cookie.

Hashtag Goals

It was a long day, but a good one. I spent the evening at Barnes & Noble, celebrating Micayla Lally and Linda Atwell’s new books. I hadn’t drawn my dragon yet, so I obviously needed peanut butter cup cookie fuel.

I chose a reference again. I was just telling Micayla and Linda that I don’t feel as much satisfaction with the product when I follow along with someone else’s drawing, but I really do learn a lot in the process.

Today, I learned about CUTE LITTLE TOES and how to make those eyes that SPARKLE a little bit.

It looks like she’s saying, can I have another cookie?

Yes, darling, you can.

Enjoy!

 

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Burp: Drawing Dragons Day 15

My friend Meg Currell writes these amazing theater critiques and heartbreaking essays. But, she ate a green dragon apple — scratch that — 5 apples.

Image by the once lovely Meg Currell

And now I’m mourning her loss. She has been eaten, utterly consumed, by a dragon I’m calling: Burp.

I had dreams of drawing a bucktooth dragon, but this is the face I was sketching.

It is confusing, and rather frightening, but not in any way I intended.

So, Burp was granted smooth lines and graceful curves.  She looks so content, with her hands on her belly.

After two slices of pizza and some parmesan bites, that’s how I feel too.

RIP, Meg Currell. Or should I say RIS (Rest in Stomach)?

What’s next? At some point, I need a lesson on perspective. And how to draw fiery burps.

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Simplicity: Drawing Dragons Day 14

Yesterday, we forgot everything, though we didn’t know it until today. We missed not one, but two birthday parties.

In my head, they were today.

We had planned this weekend away. But then today appeared, with all its nothingness, which was supposed to be all wrapped up in somethingness.

So we played Magic in our pajamas. We hiked and we went on walks. We introduced our new dog to an old friend, and she snuggled into a new one too.

We wrapped up the day eating stir-fry and drawing dragons. Not complex ones that called for long forgotten attention. We searched for simple dragons, we found our reference, and we drew, snuggled underneath a pile of blankets and a day that appeared before us like a gift.

Sometimes, the mistakes we make are presents. I need to remember that.

So, here is today’s dragon: Simplicity.

Sketching Simplicity
Simplicity in Ink
Wonder’s dragon: 128376. All of his dragons are numbered. It’s part of his mythos.

 

 

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Dragon Ballet: Drawing Dragons Day 13

Wonder had his first ballet lesson at Portland Ballet today. He couldn’t contain his excitement, pulling on his tights and tying his shoes.

I corralled him through the door and sat on a bench, wondering about these moments, where we’re waiting on the outside, wishing our kids strength and hoping for courage courage…because it takes a lot to make these tiny steps.

And not just for them; we bend under all that worry that we bundle inside and push away while we smile and hustle and convince them to head in the door.

I waited outside, and I started my dragon.

A ballet dragon, I thought. I’d draw it for him.

I sketched the legs, the tail, the feet.

.

By the time the head came around, it was super clear that the body was too small. But those toes! That pointe!

As Wonder leapt through ballet class, I erased the dragons’ toes.

I had dreams of a cute dancing dragon, but I ended up with a stalwart fellow, pointing his claw, dreaming of delicate twirls.

Sometimes what we imagine takes much more work to achieve.

Wonder came out of class; I was not nearly finished.

“What was your favorite part?” I asked him.

“The jumping,” he said.

 

 

 

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Drawing Dragons Day 6: Rooster Wave

This dragon is definitely more fierce than my other dragons. Still, it’s face reminds me of a rooster. Cock-a-doodle-doo!

And we all know I have a problem with the lower extremities. So I tried something different — I added an extra claw in the back of the foot, and I also thought about where the dragon leg joints would actually be. You can see the circles in the first picture. The legs made a little more sense in the end.

The body, though, was too big and blank after inking. So I added spikes…which kind of looked like waves. They looked weird, so obviously — I added more. And more.

Let me introduce you to Rooster Wave.

And me — Hufflepuffin’ on a Saturday morning.

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Drawing Dragons Day Five: Dapper Bottoms

So, I honestly have to tell you, I’ve probably spent more time on drawings in the last 5 days than I have in the last five months.

I’ve been sketching everything out in pencil beforehand, and I am trying to build off the pieces from the last few days.

But that back leg. It still mocks me.

Allow me to introduce “Dapper Bottoms.”

I tried using the head size to measure out the rest of the body. It worked out well. And I love how her wing rests on the ground.

But then you see it. That leg. That back leg.

Emerging like an alien from her stomach.

Sweet dreams, friends.

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Drawing Dragons Day Four: Popeye Bottoms

Drawing from instructions yesterday was interesting, but a little unfulfilling. Today, I decided to draw from memory what I had learned.

Turns out, I had not learned about feet at all.

And I forgot his tail. But I added that in.

I tried facing the dragon’s head the other way, and I liked that better.

In the end, though, his back leg reminded me of Popeye’s arm. So I added an anchor and called him “Popeye Bottoms.”

Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

I yam what I yam — I’m Popeye the Sailor Dragon!

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Drawing Dragons Day Three: The Kid Dragon

Today I went to a Kid’s Drawing Website and followed directions. It was actually very soothing, and the result ended up looking like a perfect little dragon.

But,  ultimately, this was not very fulfilling for me. I want to learn, but I don’t want to just copy, you know?

I suppose that’s how you get better though. Seriously, I wrote a lot like Chuck Palahniuk until, one day, I didn’t.

This little guy is super cute though. I’ll call him “Bottoms,” because look at his bottom. And that tail!

The question is: how do you draw from reference or from directions, and still keep the joy?

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