Mid-Block

...Work in Progress...

Night Walks

I had a good run Saturday, just as the sun was setting somewhere beyond the clouds that have enveloped the city for the past several days. I savored a break in the rain and turned my run into a walk after I passed my back gate. It felt luxurious to take this time, to just walk. I walked the blocks near mine, my neighborhood, and found such joy. In the damp cool air, and the ground, the plants and trees, the building fabric also suffused with the dampness. Lights were beginning to come on and fill the streets and doorsteps with spots of warmth in the cool. I was kind of astounded at what a beautiful place this is - as I am on regular occasions, always seeing things differently. Somehow the Lynyrd Skynyrd ballad on my ipod was also perfect. I took a walk in my neighborhood after a run a few weeks ago, later in the evening - past dark, when I recorded - with my little camera, striving for steady hands - some of these pools of light that warm the dark streets and embrace the architecture. And after this evening's run, I finally captured the wall of the carriage house of the Bed & Breakfast that is my back gate neighbor, across the lane. I've always admired this inspired trimming of vines.

Beginning 100 West Jones

I am beginning the 100 Block of West Jones, north side. This is a really dense block with a continuous street wall, except this nice little garden, a relief, a side yard to No. 122, built in 1852. The wing, whose setback creates the garden space, was added five years later.

Delayed Gratification

SAVANNAH POSTCARD No. 1
SAVANNAH POSTCARD No. 2
SAVANNAH POSTCARD No. 3

Can it be? It has been a month since my last post.

I worked really hard all summer to prepare for a show at DeSoto Row on September 12 & 13. I sold This is Savannah books and note cards and postcards on a variety of themes - vintage automobiles inspired by my friend Ken, aprons inspired by Cheryl Day of the delightful, delicious Back-in-the-Day Bakery, wedding silhouettes inspired by Afton and Samuel's beautiful Florida wedding. The original impetus to make cards was thanks to my good friend, Christine, who is the mind of the most charming boutique in town, Terra Cotta. It was a great experience, after the task of set-up was finally gratefully complete. I am so thankful for good friends who stopped by and for all the new interesting people I met, including the other talented vendors. I have built a budding collection of stationery on Etsy http://www.turnofthecenturies.etsy.com/ with countless ideas yet to bring to fruition.

Just barely in time, the afternoon of the show, I finally got a chance to bring together drawings I've been making and images collecting to create the Savannah Postcard No. 1, the first image in this post. It was the best seller at the show!

I have wanted to and talked about designing some cool postcards for this amazing city, Savannah, for about five years. Finally, I've begun! Two more this week and others growing. They draw upon old maps and feature new drawings, watercolor, collage. The first set are maps; more architectural drawings, the fabric of the city, to come. The maps are almost crammed into the postcard format but are really quite nice as larger prints...

200 BLOCK West Jones Street

Every time - it is so gratifying and surprising to stitch the drawing together and lean back and look at the block. To compare building widths, heights, rhythm of openings, height of the main level. I can surmise this block was built in the mid-1800s, with the building at the eastern end a later addition.

200 BLOCK West Jones Street_Raw Material

I've finished the FIRST block of the Jones Street. There's a long road (street) ahead...

I finished - mostly - last night, but left a few unknowns. I could not tell from the photos I shot where a door belonged on the bottom left house and what its roof was like. I also missed the garden wall between the two with a small grotto fountain. I checked it out at lunch on my bike between downpours. Endless rain is good drawing weather - I don't feel guilty for staying in. But - enough, already!

Notice the window swap on the street level double rowhouse. Drawing surgery.
The window blinds on the neighboring house are way too dark. Remind me to lighten them. I normally don't draw them, but there was little texture, otherwise. Perhaps I should have rendered some of the beautiful brick facade.

You know you've been drawing a lot when your neck is strained and your upper back is tight and your - um - rear is sore from the nice old hardwood chair that fits the drawing table. It's rough.

Blue Dichotomy

Too many ideas and not enough time, always. This weekend I indulged in several new sprouts. One is shooting toward drawing-maps of Savannah. These two drawings, one layer each just completed, compare the urban structure of Savannah and an Italian hilltown - Phase One.
Drawing one million tiny thin lines can be therapeutic.

Jones Street is just under the surface...