Inside my sketchbook...

I have always been fascinated by sketchbooks; it is here that we can see the artist's mind, heart and soul at work. I absolutely love peeking inside these treasure troves. I have tons of sketchbooks; many used and some brand new that I bought because they were simply beautiful. I love all kinds of sketchbooks...Canson wet media ones, expensive leather ones with paper from Italy and regular ones that are sold at Target. I love handmade papers from India, Nepal, Egypt...Inside my sketchbooks I have drawings in various stages of completion, sometimes with watercolor washes over top of graphite. I have ideas and grocery lists and to-do lists and drawings for paintings and...everything!

(an old sketchbook-2000)

On the front page of every sketchbook I write a blessing or prayer where I invite the god/goddess of creativity into my art and my writings. This is the Hindu god Nataraja who embodies the whole process of creativity. Each prayer that I write  has different words/invocations...this one says "Nataraja...Creator..Destroyer...Please bless my thoughts, my work, my creations. Work through me. Create through me with passion, love, thought. Let Mother India shine in my work" I absolutely love writing these special words because they are powerful beyond measure. I also love looking back through the years and reading them...they let me know where I have been; signposts on the journey.

                                                     (graphite and watercolor wash-2002)
This drawing with wash never turned into a painting but I absolutely love drawing...the whole process is challenging, joyful and meditative all at once. I still may paint it one day.

                                            (pen, colored pencil and graphite)

(Female Ganesha, watercolor and gouache, 18' x 24", 2006-SOLD)

This is a sketch that turned into a painting. As you can see, I changed some things from idea/sketch to completed painting but the essentials are the same. Of course not all my paintings start out as a sketch but lots of them take root here...in words, poetry, concept. Thanks so much for looking...I have enjoyed sharing this very personal and deep part of mySELF.