Documenting the week of May 6-12
Substack: https://monumentsinruin.substack.com
Though it takes a bit of commitment to photograph, catalog and share the entire week of ink into one article, the process has become somewhat cathartic for me. A welcomed reflection on the processes and accomplishments. Small wins and casual upsets. Some topics openly discussed while others are vaguely overshadowed.
While trying not to jump around too much, it seems best to break things into blocks. Daily steps, challenges and weekly commitments. All will remain in order and noted though some sections may step forward and backwards in the time line.
Side note: I am also aware that there is a touch of catch up on where the Tuesday work lands weekly. For that reason, I have been debating on holding back a week so I am not directly on top of the work and cramming to get the info included. For now, let’s not get too worried about dates and get started.
May 5 - 12
Sketch and Catch! This was not my favorite work of the week. Not a great way to start a blog, right? It happens. Whatever this lizard character is, it seemed to loose steam as quickly as the pup did in the heat. We barely had time to get it fully formed before tapping out to go for a water break. So be it! Perhaps it was the switch up of using the sketchpad sideways. Ink vs Pencil debate? No excuse. Only an observation!
Last week I was truly enjoying these character creations. Looks like there was a bit more of that energy pushing into the next page! Nothing is sacred. This is only paper and pen. The process is the reward. Having fun sounds like the perfect way to break in a new page.
Wednesday May 6
The idea of creating a monster yearbook is still echoing around in my head. If it ever happens, you will understand my excitement around the accomplishment.
Thursday May 7, The Opossum
This piece was inspired by a post-rain event. On my morning trip to work a tree had fallen in the road and busted into multiple pieces. Thankfully they were somewhat manageable and could be cleared to prevent other motorists from encountering them as I had.
As I eased my way further down the road, just around the next corner, there was a opossum sitting to the side of the road. Though it was in my lane it was easily passable. It looked fairly worn down and possibly traumatized from the nights storm.
Possible that it had gotten caught up in a battle with the nearby creek that was heavily flowing with stormwater. Either way, what surprised me is that it chose not to move at all. Not even a twitch. Like a heavily worn statue, it sat there, throwing caution to the wind. It was relatable in a way and also a shocking moment of natures strength and resilience. Both from the creature and Mother Nature herself. Hoping the day went better for it than the night did.
On my way home it had disappeared into the woodland so I want to think it found a ray of sunshine within a rather overcast day. Either way the experience stuck in my mind throughout the day and made me want to sketch a opossum.
Decided against going with the asphalt depiction and went for a touch of stonework for stability. A more hopeful outcome, right?
Friday May 8
Continuing further into this world made me search for safety. Perhaps the overcast weather influenced this work toward a happy ending.
Even more than the stonework, it felt like this piece needed a comforting background. A contrast to the stone footing. Decided to pair the stone with wood and give this little creature a choice of where it can stay. Was very happy with the way it turned out.
In the end, this is where it stopped. There are many directions that could be taken on the right side of the page but let’s leave that for the viewer to fill in the blank. Literally.
Saturday May 9, The Scream Reimagined
It is near impossible for me to watch television in bed without immediately nodding off. However, there are occasions where I may choose some evening entertainment via the tube. In this case, my immediate nod was followed by waking to a documentary about Edvard Munch and his 1893 piece titled, The Scream. Most will have seen one of the multiple versions he created.
As my coffee sat cooling on the table my thoughts went back to the idea of a creator making multiple versions of an iconic work. I decided to take a shot at a loose recreation of it’s concept. After all, there must be something in here worth revisiting. With no intention of exacting the detail, I chose a mirror image angle (bridge to the right), hands down and many other liberties.
I am hesitant to note my opinions of the work when shared. It feels more balanced to let the viewer decide how and what they see and feel in the work. It is almost always different from my interpretation. You can read further or simply enjoy the finished work below.
Sunday May 10
Some of my favorite parts of this are the people in the upper right. To me, it brings to mind an elderly couple casually walking the bridge. Helping each other enjoy the moment in their waning years. In contrast to that, I like the lower left tree limbs that somehow converted to a six fingered hand reaching toward the screamer. A true nightmare effect that occurred at the last turn of the piece. In my opinion, it ties everything together very nicely. Youth is wasted on the young.
“Youth is wasted on the young.” George Bernard Shaw
Sunday May 10 Weekly Challenge
The weekly challenge that was presented this Sunday was “My Imaginary Friend”. Oh geez! What a fun concept. In the real world I have never experienced the imaginary friend. It felt more accurate for my current process to depict these sketch works as my imaginary friends. From monster yearbook creations and opossums to movie characters and aliens surfing the universe, these are all friends of my imagination.
There is a single eye alien’ish creature that continues to resurface in my work. It was the first thing that came to mind as a reoccurring “imaginary friend”. However, this triple eyed goofball came pouring out onto the page and the end result here makes me as happy as the kid shown who is lost in the moment of imagination and creation.
Daily Sketch Challenges May 6-12
As often as possible I will push myself a little further in these daily challenges by working the previous day into the current theme. Whenever I can collaborate the theme into a single cohesive sketch it feels extremely satisfying.
…is this the end?