not a lazy suzen

Ever hear anyone say that your environment is a reflection of your mental/emotional state? Well, I think this photograph explains a lot. This was taken at 11:30pm last night as I was getting ready to leave the studio for the evening. This place is a bit of a freaking disaster–which is normal for this time of year when I am scrambling to tie up loose (and fraying!) ends. Let me walk you through a bit of what you’re seeing…

On the front table, which I had originally used as a writing/research table at the beginning of the semester, is a pile of random samplings. Embroidery hoops, empty shopping bags, books, hats and scarves, and a dish filled with slices of three different chocolate cakes (although, you can’t really see that since it’s wrapped in the red and white dish towel). On the table in the middle are a bunch of dirty dishes that are all filled with soap and water but just haven’t been rinse and scrubbed out yet. There is also a coffee maker. I’ve taken to brewing a pot of coffee and parading around the 4th floor with it, offering coffee to anyone with a mug. On the floor is a makeshift napping area I’ve conjured up to meditate and nap on. Because I’m stressed and drinking lots of coffee, I tend to get a little uppity so I need to have self-imposed “timeouts”. This is proving to be quite successful in regard to my work productivity. It’s remarkable what 25 mins of quiet time in the dark can do to settle shaky hands.

On the back table is the latest drawing I’m working on. It’s hard on my back drawing like this but today I’ll be placing it on the wall so I can draw the rest. Here are some photos:

I’m working from an image of an abandoned house in Tilting, NL. This drawing is a quite a bit larger from the last one I did, the house portion is about twice the size as the one before it. I felt like such a nerd when I was sketching this out because I remembered to use the proportion rules I learned in my first drawing class at ACAD. Rulers and calculators, people. Thank goodness this image is very geometric and easy to upscale.

Now, as with the first househauling drawing I did, there is a ton of intricate pattern detail. I have no idea why I keep doing this to myself. The roof alone took about 3.5 hours to draw. Ugghhhh.

Man alive! I stayed in the studio last night and refused to leave until I finished the house. Sure, there are little things I’ll probably adjust but it’s done. What you’re seeing here is the top of the drawing. As I mentioned previously, I’m going to pin this to the wall today so I can continue the drawing in full view rather than having to roll it up in order to work. The house will be standing on a series of wobbly stilts that will look a bit like a forest of white birch trees. I’ll be including a little mini-Suzen in there somewhere but that’s something I still have to negotiate.

While I’ve been working on this, I managed to listen to the entire reading of Gil Adamson’s The Outlander on CBC’s Between the Covers and that really made the drawing go pleasantly. I really loved the story and Anne Marie MacDonald is such a talented reader (unlike the chick that’s been reading the Twilight series on Audible. I had to stop listening because a) the story was terrible and b) the reader spoke in this weird teenagery monotone). I recommend downloading the podcast episodes of The Outlander if you’re into audiobooks like I am. Each episode is about 15 minutes so it’s great for quick listening while you’re in transit or doing housework. I’m probably going to get a start on listening to Lisa Moore’s Alligator. I started to read this in normal book format a few years ago but never finished it. And upon listening to the first episode, I’m happy I’ll be listening to the book rather than reading it if only because the reader has the same St. John’s accent I had when I lived there.

In other news, I should show you the rug that I finished hooking! I still have to hem the edges but here she is in all her glory:

(This detail shot makes for a great desktop picture, FYI!)

Hemming the edges on this is going to be tricky but worth it. I’m going to have to use a lot of bias tape. I’m also thinking that I will be keeping the mat on the wall but I’ll be painting the wall a colour that isn’t gross gallery white. I’m thinking a warm grey and maybe I’ll paint outlines for the lake to sit in? Because, you know, I have all the time in the world to do these sorts of things. Heh.

And with this, I will leave you. I have so much work to do that I’m almost delirious (I initially typed “delicious” haha).