Yesterday the dragon effort felt disappointing to me. It did not go in the direction that pleased me. I look at it today a little less critically. I think there are changes to be made but I don't feel quite so down about it. The kayak trip up the creek and back today has lightened my mood. I feel less critical of myself as a result. MUST kayak more!!!! The creek bed is lush with growth, the water lilies are just beginning to open and the birds abound. It was truly a refreshing and much needed excursion. Again, MUST kayak more!!! Now What,The Thing Will Not Add A Picture. ÉÉÉ Okay it's a day later and now the picure uploaded okay.

Sometimes the most obvious place of all is the safest and most overlooked place to be. In the oblivious mass of millions of organisms there is a certain knowledge that the sound of one hand clapping will not be heard. It is reassuring in its lonely endeavour to deliberately not matter one bit in the grand scheme of things. A quiet walk through the woods today netted a few wildlower photos which I am pleased with. It has also left me feeling rather small.

This day had a good start. I spent a couple of hours with a pleasant little Malti-poo named Benny. He was to tiny...probably about 5 pounds...and sooo cooperative. Just an all round joy to work with. Now to the dragon...I have progressed down the neck and nape as well. It is slow going as it is such a large area to cover and uncharted territory. As usual I have a good idea of what I want to see happen but I am just letting it unfold as I go. This is not a disciplined approach to drawing but I am weary of the disciplined process and want to fly by the seat of my pants. Freedom of expression...even if my approach has in the past been condemned as 'scrapable' by a more strictly disciplined artist due to its lack of total preparation...blah, blah,blah. This way is more fun and feels freely creative to me.

Well now, back to the dragon. I've had my foray into the beauty of nature and followed it up with some progress on the dragon. I've moved down the back of the neck, making it thicker in depth. At this point I am drawing a portait of his head basically...the overall size of his body is taking shape in my mind. The dragon will need a powerful thick neck in order to support the weight of his head which is huge. His body is by comparison massive...mountainous even. Oh, oh, oh, a series of 11"x14" drawings on which to grow his body...I see it. What a good idea; Ilike it. For now, however, back to the head. I should have a good deal of time to work on it today. The weather is up and down with sunshine, rain, thunder and lightning then sunshine and the works all over again. It's a good day for the bugs to attack and for me to stay in to draw.

This morning was overcast but not very dull so I followed my paths about the place armed with my camera. My goal was to record the beauty that wildflowers offer unbidden to our landscape . Some were successful shots and others too blurry as there was a bit ot wind to deal with. But such beauty abounds if one simply allows it to grow naturally. The lack of direct sun let the depth of color come through. Unfortunately it also brought out the mosquitoes and black flies in hungry droves. There is still one flower I have as yet to capture digitally. It was so lovely and delicate but alas a blurry shot. I'l give another try later. All of this, ofcourse, was instead of working on the dragon but I still have the afternoon for that too. Hah, I got that wildflower photo inspite of the wind and intermitent rain! And here it is too...it's a little wild Tiger Lily also referred to as Columbia Lily. There's only the one on the whole acreage that I've seen.

Today I moved forward with the dragon. More shading has developed and I have begun to move to the upper neck and ears with some success. I at least like the look that is happening. It is quite different from other dragons that I have seen depicted. And, that is indeed what my goal is...something different...something that has come from my imagination. I had a short foray out of doors to mow my series of paths throughout the property. We had to murder so many trees, shrubs and wildflowers when we built last year that I refuse to cause any more than necessary impact to our little strip of land now. I love the wild untended look of field and forest. Every walk about the paths leads to new discoveries of various wildflowers that others might call weeds. I intend to allow our lovely thistles to bloom again this year...their flowers hold a stunning beauty.

Today I made some progress on the dragon. Mostly shading taking place and finer definition of some of the facial features. I like the look so far. I can see this dragon developing into a dragon themed series. It is growing in the back of my mind as I work. I still envision that valley dwarfed by the 'dragon' mountainside as something I'd like to work with. Yesterday was a lost day artwise. Six hours grooming Zak and Freedom. It takes 3 hours for each and that is a very simple non foofoo style except for the poodle face and feet. I did digress from the 'they are dogs afterall' philosophy; I gave them each a lion tail. It is cool and funny looking all at once. I gotta have some creative outlet on those 'work' type days!

This is yesterdays progress on the dragon. I like how it is developing but still have no real idea of exactly what to do next. I like the feeling of freedom to take this as I go. I also feel a bit adrift creatively as this is not what I have been doing to date in my other art projects. It is creative licence at it’s most free...feels odd. I have the basic outline in place. The shading and surface of the dragon skin are beginning to take form.I had a lot of time to work on it yesterday...more thunder storms... pelting rain and hail kept me indoors. The baby flowers that are growing bravely really took a beating but they survived. It is still dull and raining today but so far not stormy. And, the power did come back on at 4 pm yesterday. Whoa, there is a sudden sunny break in the clouds...off to enjoy it.

The walls are all painted at last! There was a power outage resulting from the thunderstorm that roared through yesterday. In fact the power is still out but the generator is running right now. The dragon work is moving along okay. The face is taking shape and there are a variety of features beginning to present themselves as I lay down graphite. I am satisfied with the direction this is going. I see an unfortunate resemblence to a goat happening that I want to veer away from. There is a long way to go...no rush...no pressure...except from within. The lushness of the growth and greenery about the place at this time of year tends to pull me away from the dragon project quite easily. The wild roses are in full bloom, the wild daisies are budding and the many flower seeds that I have strewn about are making a good strong start. And, oh my oh my, the veggies in the hothouse are growing at an amazing rate. I love it. The dogs have taken to darting about and leaping in an attempt to catch the dozens of swallowtail butterflies that are dancing about the fields. They are such fun to watch. Freedom is tireless in his pursuit but Zak gives in a rest from time to time and just watches the game unfold.

Today is a paint the mud room day so onward I go with that. First to share the progress on Dragon which I managed last evening while trying not to be totally bored with tv. It is a together time for us and the dogs, all lumped together on the couch...it's quite a site I'm sure. A big ol' puppy pile actually. Mostly I am laying a base of graphite in combination with some darker areas that I know will be shading areas. At least I think I know...guess I won't be sure until the completed piece is signed and sealed. Lots of thinking time ahead as I paint the walls though.

I've made some progress one the 'good' paper with the dragon's' eye. Most of it was done while watching tv and then earlier to day while waiting for things to happen on the computer. Dial up is sooooooo slooooooow. This is good for art though. I have a clear idea of where to go with the dragon. It is just a matter of letting it unfold in my imagination. It is very freeing to work without a reference and a bit scary too. I'm not too sure sometimes if I'm doing the right thing but it'll lift without too much effort.

At last the scanner is unearthed and the room is back to normal. Here's the Great Dane that kept me from moving ahead on the dragon project. I have made a good start on a simple line sketch of how I want to proceed for the dragon in my sketch book. The eye will be the starting point on the smooth Bristol paper size 11" x 14". The head and a portion of the body will develop from there. I am seeing this as a portrait sort of head and shoulder effort; later works which will include a body to go with the head may develop in my mind as I proceed.

Awesome day, warm, sunny and I had the pleasure of grooming a gentle little King Charles Cavalier name Pebbles. It is incredibly delightful to have people bring work to me This drawing that I did for the shop wall looks just like her. I managed to get a few ideas down on the dragon but alas the scanner is still buried under plastic. The living room is almost done...I ran out to paint with one wall to go...arrrgh. Oh well, it just means one more day of upheaval...then I'll be done with that room. Only to move on to the dog's/mud room, but it will be progress. It certainly affords me lots of 'thinking' time. I am going to re-work the dragon's eye to be softer. I have a rather crusty looking lid going on right now that I don't care for. I envision something more lizard-like...something that seems possible as opposed to totally out there...if that is even attainable given that dragon's aren't real.

I am moving closer to making a start on the dragon. I gave some thought to where to begin and the eyes have it. In looking through my past efforts at dragons...not many and most a some what gruesome if not cartoonish an assortment, I know what I don't want to do more so than what I do. The eyes will hold the key to how far I take this. I've done cat eyes with some success and so I posted them for viewing. They will provide me with a sort of reference for the dragon work. I have also noted the strong resemblence that Pekenese and ShihTsu dogs have to the oriental style dragons of many art works....that is ofcourse only when they are having a huge hissy fit complete with snapping, writhing, flailing and growling...not when they are in the arms of their beloved owners. I have in mind a more down home sort of dragon something subtler and less flamboyant yet brutish, powerful. I want to bring out a wise calmness. Some how...more thought required. Oh, the Great Dane is done so no more excuses. It turned out kind of Marmaduke-ish. I'll post when I get it scanned. The scanner is buried under plastic while I paint the living room. Not an excuse, but my time is divided...I look at as creative thinking time while I get the mundane daily grind done.

My mood has shifted. I have been having sleep disruptions but my mind is filled with ideas for where to go from the leaping off point of the Marwari horse. I am leaning toward the dragon, mystical sort of theme. I pass by the reserve on my way home. The valley is dwarfed by what appears to be a huge sleeping dragon. This has been playing in my mind for some time. Perhaps it is time to explore what I can do with it. First things first however I must finish a Great Dane portrait...I am almost there. Meanwhile here is another horse drawing which I am pleased to share.

To begin I feel the need to define who I am and where I am artistically. I am able to produce reasonably accurate and realistic works from good reference photos. I want to stretch myself beyond this replicative form to something more creative and expressive of my individual view of life around me. To that end here is a post of my most recent and favorite graphite drawing. There are endless others but it is from here that I wish to leap forward and grow as an artist.