Art Journal » pen

Mondoodle 26-07-2010

elise — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:02:59 +0000

Do I need to go somewhere different for a little while? Or did I just need to send a character there? A journey somewhere warm and interesting would be good. Somewhere peaceful… With long views of distant mountains and enormous clouds forming and unforming overhead.

Yes. That would be nice.

Drawn Monday July 26, 2010 at 8pm while thinking of something quite different altogether. While the brain’s away, the pencil will play…

Where would you go right now, if you could?

Mondoodle 19-07-2010

elise — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:27:35 +0000

This is a character I’ve been playing with a little. I’m calling her the bumblebee girl.

I know what happens next! She’s a good explorer but those are slippery poles and there are so many strange things beneath the waves.

Drawn in the lounge on the comfy blue couch at 9pm, Monday 19th July, 2010. With vampires running around in the background. Hilarious!

Mondoodle 12-07-2010

elise — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:22:56 +0000

Winter is very much here in Melbourne and so I was on a tram this evening coming back from Novel class, instead of on the bike. A useful thing about trams is how the mind wanders and curls. And how, for no reason whatsoever, the strangest drawings happen. I find this guy slightly disturbing although I definitely like the idea of having small nests hanging in your house. Which makes me wonder in a slightly Shakespearean way (plays within plays etc) does he live in one himself?

Drawn at 9.18 on a tram travelling along Swanston and Lygon Sts. Coloured pencil added later. Monday 12th July, 2010.

Time for another Quick-draw soon.

Mondoodle 05-07-2010

elise — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 07:42:23 +0000

No excuse. None. Preoccupied, but not kidnapped. Working, but not in a jungle with no internet. I was teaching a class of Junior Fiction writers today and it took me back to some of my absolute favourite books. That was a segue from ‘kidnapped’. Did anyone else get an unrealistic expectation from childhood novels that there was an exciting dangerous life to be had, replete with smugglers, hooded strangers, mysterious happenings and cryptic cues? Even the odd secret passage or two. I certainly did and, I must say, have been mightily disappointed on that score. Perhaps that’s why I write…

Mondoodle drawn in an old notebook, Tuesday (damn) July 6, 2010 at 11.30am. In a tram.

And tell me your expectations from your childhood readings. Anyone actually try to get down a rabbit hole?

Mondoodle 28-06-2010

elise — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 04:38:39 +0000

Yes, you are caught in a time loop. You thought it was Tuesday but it’s Monday again, and again. Which is good because it means it’s drawing day and I’m not late! If I was (and I’m still liking the time loop story) it was because I had an evil migraine on Sunday night which stuffed up my eyesight all Monday. Ergh. No fun at all and certainly not a productive day!

So here we are.

And here is a picture cos I love you guys.

Why have a parrot on your shoulder when you can have a terrapin?

I’m looking forward to seeing what happens around her as I finish it!

Mondoodle 21-06-2010

elise — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:53:34 +0000

A little character that popped out tonight…

Drawn in the lounge near the heater (winter is definitely here), 9pm on Monday 21st June 2010.

She reminds me… I must see the Tim Burton exhibition soon. Anyone been?

Mondoodle 14-06-2010

elise — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:27:34 +0000

I was writing today in a cafe and (everyone who has ever workshopped with me can laugh now) I did a new beginning to my novel. This is something I do (shuffles awkwardly) well, quite often. In fact I am known for multiple first chapters. It’s a talent. Someone’s got to have it. One day I will write a final chapter. Now that will be an exciting day! Anyway, I was writing a dream sequence. Yes, I know. Don’t worry, it won’t get into the novel, I was really just trying something out. But I liked the imagery. The character was walking on the ocean, blind fish beneath his feet and a huge moon hanging impossibly low overhead. It was day, but night as well.

And then I drew this. It happens a lot – I have a theme or an idea and it keeps coming out in different things until I am done with exploring it.

Drawn in my fifth moleskine, on the afternoon and evening of Monday 14 June, 2010. This was not a quick one – but as it was my last present-to-myself day off after the exhibition, I thought I’d just keep going.

Mondoodle 17-05-2010

elise — Mon, 17 May 2010 13:49:07 +0000

It’s hard to think of these when I’m in the throes of the exhibition but here we are!

A fun moment before the Thursday’s action!

17th May, 2010. It’s a card too now

xx Elise

Mondoodle 26-04-2010

elise — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:06:38 +0000

Sorry about last week’s lack of Mondoodle. It’s a little strange being up in the studio tonight. I’ve been working in the lounge for weeks now, painting of course. I’d prefer to be up here as the light’s so much better but the big canvas made me relocate. I haven’t actually worked on that for a while but it’s too much of a pain to yo-yo all of my clobber back upstairs and down – the paints, the reference material and the easels. Yes, I seem to always have three set up at the one time. One lovely studio easel (although the upright post hits the roof up here) and two sketch easels. Seems I can’t just work on one thing at a time when I paint in oils either!

I like this peaceful moment. I can imagine his chest rising and falling as he breathes and the lovely warmth of him. A protector and a friend. Wouldn’t it be lovely if bears could purr.

Monday 24th May, 2010. Posted in the lamp-lit studio at 11pm with the smell of fresh cinnamon tea-cake still in the air.

Mondoodle 22-03-2010

elise — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:07:02 +0000

It’s late, it’s dark, the cocoon studio is a clutter of paintings around me and smelling strongly of turps and oils.

In my slightly wonky tired state it’s rather nice and very familiar. I think… a link to my past as well as my present as it almost feels like it could be my mum’s studio as much as my own.

Here’s a work in progress… I’m interested to see how it turns out.

Drawn on the couch, sleepy after evening classes, but still incapable of sitting without drawing.

At 9pm on Monday 22 March, 2010.

Goodnight all.