Ink Vanilla

Outside My Window

Early morning, upstairs in my studio, I enjoy latte and scone. Meanwhile it's a matter of gathering pencils, brushes, papers, paints, and inks. Taking cursory glances out my studio window, sun peaks through clouds. From the other side of my house, in the next door neighbor's driveway, loud thumbing sounds emit from a basketball. Although I can't see them from my window, I know all too well the neighborhood kids habits. Most weekday mornings just before the school bus arrives, six boys gather together to shoot hoops, tease, laugh and shout. Around eight thirty, the bus arrives. It stops before a line of mail boxes opposite the front of my house. For several moments, engine idles. I envision the kids climbing aboard. Perhaps their thoughts fill with anticipation as to what the day may bring. Will it be good or bad?

Just as the bus pulls away, the neighbor's dog (Gus) begins to bark incessantly. This will last for nearly ten minutes. But soon persistence unheeded, he offers mere whimpers. In turn, this quietude provides complete concentration on my work. Watercolor brush receives clean water from a glass jar. Prussian blue leaves a light stain on Arches paper. Brush hairs barely touch the edges of black ink strokes. For nearly two hours, I'm in my zone. Finally, when I feel satisfied with results, I look out the window. Eyes widen.

Large snow flakes fall swift like flour sprinkling from a giant's hands. "I can't believe it. It's actually snowing," I mutter. Indeed... a big surprise. The past few days had been showing signs of true spring. Much warmer temperatures were here. Buds bursting forth on branches. Crocus bringing forth purple colors after long months underground. Surely this snowstorm is just a springtime fluke! It lies deep on the ground. Trees are laden yet beautiful. I look for birds. No sign.

And so goes the mysterious behavior of weather no matter what the season.

~ Moving onward ~

I would like to offer a big THANK YOU to Monica over at M&Co

She wrote a wonderful post about my blog. Suffice it to say, it's left me speechless. Anyway, be sure to visit Monica's blog. You'll be delightfully rewarded with fascinating posts about decorating, gardening, cooking, and other lovelies like her two dogs. I adore Luna even if she is deservedly spoiled.

Note: When able, I would like to send gifts to Monica, Lisa, Juan, and other individuals who've contributed what I believe to be genuine comments, emails, including those of you who've featured my blog. You're kindness and efforts deserves something special in return. Rather then just thanking you with written words, I want to send a handmade gift. Once the shop goes online, I'll do my best to contact all of you regarding this offer. Of course, that's if you want one! 

Until next time... Cheers!

Btw, possibility I might not post again until two weeks from now. Just really need to give full attention to producing my products. Once I get the shop online, I would like to also return to writing my storybook about Edmund Dawkins. And send some new children's book illustrations to book editors. I'll show you some of these in April. Lots to do!

New Design For Shop

Here is a small sampling recently completed to use as my new design for upcoming Junes Melange Online Shop. This one is for keeps. Slogan reads: Timeless Art and Craft...From the studio of June Parrish Cookson. Felt previous design was too gloomy. If interested in viewing what it looked like before, check out November 8th, 2007 post. Perhaps you might prefer this lighter more elegant version? I certainly do.

Meanwhile, busy working on lots of products to sale at the shop. Also continually designing website! Original product designs will consist of primitive to somewhat contemporary motifs. There are hand-painted Chinoiserie designs on linen scrolls including paperclay sculptures; a variety of figurative and landscape motifs applied to boxes; folk art portraiture similar to styles of Rufus Hathaway, Ammi Phillips, Dennison Limner to name a few. The portraits are painted onto wooden panels including linen and canvas. Finally, watercolor and ink on paper depicting subjects such as floral, insects, and mammals. Printed paper is applied onto wooden plaques then covered with a layer of melted beeswax. All of these products are taking a lot of time and effort to design and produce. My goal is to create art with a bit more decorative appeal for people's homes.

Once I'm confident items meet my particular production standards including website properly working, I'll finally be ready to open for business. At first, only a few will be showcased then gradually add more pieces to sale. Nevertheless, your patience greatly appreciated.

Well, that's it for now. Hope all of you are doing well.

Until next post ~ Cheers!

Blogiversary!

One Year says the little birdie!

How time flies since the very first post went online here at Typepad on March 12th, 2007. First and foremost, a very special thank-you goes out to the lovely and very talented Lisa Tutman Oglesby . Her kindness and support are always most appreciated! Others appreciated, visitors who've left inspiring comments and/or emails. Your constructive opinions and/or kind thoughts about my art and blog inspire me to continue maintaining Ink Vanilla. Also, would like to thank previous clients who've hired me to create artwork for them. And lastly, a special thanks to Typepad for continual  mention thus far of my blog in New & Notable Blogs sidebar; others who feature my blog whether past or present: Notebookism, Drawn!, Moleskinerie, Charming Sam; and last but not least, the newly discovered Kathleen at her feminine and elegant blog Brocante. If I've left out anyone, it's not intentional. Please forgive, just can't recall presently.

Anyway, forever Grateful to Everyone!

So... look forward to continuing the blogging journey. Many, many, new endeavors yet to come!

All the best, June.

Inside the Studio: Wall Art and Cart

Hello.

Here is the last post regarding the appearance of my studio. Above is a photo of area beside the closet seen in previous posting. Bottom shelf contains some Junes Melange items you might recognize. Top shelf, miscellaneous objects recently created just for fun.

Below the shelving is metal cart on wheels. The newly painted blue drawers belong to an old dresser now in retirement. The top drawer holds art tablets and some frames awaiting artwork. The other two, I refer as my lazy drawers. Here, various drawings and art reference materials are set aside to sort through on another day. As you can see, no orderly manner happening here.

Above photo is the area where my work desk is located (see February 6th studio post). As mentioned in previous post, here is the other five dollar curtain panel used to hide various art supplies such as glues, varnishes, paints, and much more. Some of the pictures on wall were purchased several years ago at Shorey's Bookstore located in Seattle. Sadly, the bookstore dealing with used rare books and prints, closed in 2000.

Behind the candle holder is a beeswax plaque discovered at flea market. Later, I'll take it down and shoot a closeup. Appealing due to antiqued appearance and European city scene. Also, love the miniature pictures of antique chairs displayed in old frames I painted with milk paint medium. Lately, these depictions of chairs have inspired me to draw my own version of some antique decorative chairs. So, perhaps in the very near future.

Closeup of shadowbox I recently made. The picture of birds comes from magazine tearsheet. Here's a game: Can anyone guess what those bunches of small objects with round heads are? No guess? Answer found somewhere in this post.

Handmade bulletin board hangs above my work desk. Pictures pinned to canvas are inspiring due to color or subject matter. Still in pursuit of a hanging vintage birdcage to replace the chandelier.

That's it for Studioscapes and clothespins. Ha,Ha.

Onward to something different. Stay tune for Wednesday, March 12th!!

Cheers!
 

Inside the Studio: Art Materials Two

Hello.
More pictures of my studio. This is the area behind my work desk containing a bookshelf (seen on right) which stores seashells,  unfinished wood plaques, shadow boxes, and other various items used for art pieces. My cat Coco likes to hang out in this chair when I'm working in the studio. Curtain panel was purchased at an antique store for five dollars. The other curtain panel is displayed in another area of the studio which I'll be posting soon regarding art on my walls.

Some more views . . .

Baskets on top shelf holds raffia, Spanish moss, and various decorative papers.

This area was once a clothes closet but not long after moving into my house, I decided to utilize the space to store art supplies and various other items such as books, boxes, and a basket to hold some magazines. The items are resting on a large masonite board measured to fit snuggly inside the space. I covered it with two pieces of canvas material to hide an ugly metal storage rack beneath wherein holds plenty of miscellaneous supplies and papers.

Closer view inside closet.

This is  a handmade companion board  I created a few years ago called 'Isabella & Friends.' Need to do some touch-ups and attach support on the back so it stands upright.

Closeup of Isabella and her bird.

Another handmade companion board titled 'Colette'. Both boards are made from pine painted with acrylics.

Closeup of 'Colette'. These companion boards are not for sale at this time.

And last but not least . . .

Again, here's my beloved cat Coco (a.k.a. the Wise One).

Some of you may recognize him from my other blog. Last April, Coco was diagnosed with kidney problems when I noticed he was losing excessive weight and drinking an unusual amount of water. Since his prognosis, he's given intravenous fluid therapy about once a week. Although, for the last three months he's only needing this once every two weeks and regaining weight. Even though he seems better, he'll have to remain on a strict diet low in phosphorous and other food sources known to cause kidney failure. Some days walking is difficult due to muscle stiffness and all around weakness. On better days, he behaves like a young kitten, thoroughly enjoying his wrestling bouts with my other cat Lilly. Hope Coco will continual to hang in there for a long, long time to come.

Well that's it for now. I have just a few more photos I'll shoot of my studio then it's onward to new territory showcasing more of my artwork. In other news, Junes Melange on line shop will officially open within the next few weeks. Lots more to create before I'm ready to show you all the new items which won't be shown on this blog until the official opening of shop!!

Until next time . . .
Cheers

Inside the Studio: Art Materials

Hello, more photos of my studio! This area is situated to the left of work desk when entering the studio. It's also opposite from the assemblage shelving seen in previous post. The wall shelving works great for storing various painting supplies. Below the shelving sits a cabinet containing more supplies such as paints, tapes, staple guns, heating plate for melting beeswax, and other materials I'd rather keep hidden from sight when not in use.

Basket with pastels, chalks, and watercolors. Upper shelve holds watercolor mediums, egg tempera, and porcelain watercolor dispensers.

Shelves hold colored pencils, inks, including one of my pieces titled 'A kind Act'.

More shelves containing dry pigments, ink pens, nib holders,  paint stirrers, and milk paints.

Box in background contains oil pastels, and craypas. Box in foreground holds vintage buttons, wooden tags, and small abalones to use in collage and/or assemblage work.

Color charts for milk paints and acrylics. Behind the hydrangea is a fragile maple leaf which I'd pressed between book pages many years ago. I'd snapped off the leaf from a tree that grew in a back yard where I once lived. It's just a little memento of the place even though color and suppleness no longer remains.

Stay tune for more photos!

Inside the Studio: Assemblage Items

This is the area to the right of my workdesk where I keep some of my assemblage pieces and other items displayed for inspiration. The very top shelf contains a few recently painted boxes and shadowbox frames to be used in the near future.

Closer view.

Yet another view displaying memento's. Placed in antique saucer are seashells gathered from a trip to the Oregon coast; small pine cones fallen from trees in back yard; mason jar contains pressed leaves and magnolia flower from previous home; vase and dried hydrangeas seen in earlier studio post.

These are some of the wood pieces purchased at Sanford & Son Salvage in Tacoma, Washington. I'll utilize them in some future assemblage pieces. Image of butterflies originate from a magazine page.

A few days ago, these previous modern style porcelain dolls discovered at a garage sale, had bodies with broken hands and partially missing painted shoes on their feet, including blond tangled wigs. Skin tones were bright china white with dark brown eyebrows, long black eyelashes, and vivid ruby red lips. Admittedly I disliked their garish and ordinary appearance. No matter, inexpensive and of no collectible value, I decided to purchase with intention of eventually transforming. And so after ridding myself from guilt of destroying their true identities, I finally managed to remove unwanted items and completely recreate their faces using gouache paints in dusty tones. For some reason, they seem quite happy with their new transformation.

Stay tune for more pictures of studio!!

Inside The Studio: My Work Desk

Continuing studioscapes, here is my work desk. Actually it's a very long table with a three-drawer file cabinet located beneath where I keep various art supplies at the ready. From the window when the blind is open, I have a view of my back yard filled with numerous trees and gardens. Set upon the desk are brushes, paints, drawing tablets, various papers, a few assemblage items stored in small containers. Last but not least is phone and the ever present clock.

Working on an idea for renaissance design using ink and charcoal.

Set up for upcoming original paintings depicting Elizabethan lady and gentlemen. They will be hand painted with either gouache or casein directly onto vintage plaster frames purchased many years ago at an estate sale.

Just a few assemblage items to be used for impending art pieces. Many other various items used specifically for this purpose are scattered all around my studio.

Stay tune for more pictures of my studio!!

Inside The Studio

Something Different To Post!

Well, guess it's time I share with you some pictures revealing my studio. For the next few posts a studio tour will have to suffice until new artwork is completed. And for now at least, you'll see what these surroundings look like until I'm able to purchase more things. Currently, I'm on the lookout for a dressmaker's form, vintage bird cage, vintage fabrics, including more architectural items for the assemblage pieces. Inevitably, my needs always lead to new rearrangements and replacements of things grown tiresome.

Studio is located upstairs in my house. It represents a very special and crucial place in my life. Seven days a week it's where I can go to contemplate and create with paints, paper, pen & ink, beeswax, and various implements. I like to surround myself with all sorts of interesting items and particular colors that inspire. It may sound trite, but I consider my studio the inner core of my heart like ivory keys to a piano. This is the place that offers an abundance of opportunities to seek and obtain inner visions. Basically, because I'm a very serious artist who strives to achieve  so much with my art, it is the one place I spend more time then anywhere else. Actually I digress. Another place is my office located down the hall from studio. That's where a lot of time is spent not only doing paperwork, but maintaining my blog and creating website. All necessary for marketing purposes. 

Like most artists who work alone and rarely get out, our lives can be a very lonely existence. Yet essential if we want to accomplish anything. Of course there are times when I have to shut the door and leave the studio. Otherwise I begin to feel like a caged bird. But whenever I do, feel a bit guilty. Those few hours spent visiting antique stores, eating at a nice restaurant somewhere in the city, or watching a movie, is time away from my artwork! Terrible I know but can't be helped. Just hope someday all the hard work brings rewards. Must be some sort of significance to all of this. It can be so draining especially when time is ticking and there's so much to accomplish before the inevitable happens. Suffice it to say, I'm not getting any younger!

Anyway, forgive my rambling. Moving onward . . .

First photo at beginning of post depicts several interesting items displayed on one of the tables near main work desk. I thoroughly enjoy displaying things in my studio. The glass vase contains a rolled tear sheet from an old Art & Antiques magazine depicting Sandro Botticelli's 'Lucrezia'. Other items, some old while others newer,  are an air pressure gauge, seeded ball, glass beads, glass and brass ornament, dried fern including hydrangeas from my garden, and glass dome fixture. In background is a mural sample I did many years ago for a client's home. Eventually I'll show you some photographs of client homes whose walls contain many of my hand-painted murals.

The Details . . .

Sample of original mural design painted on heavy watercolor paper using watercolors and metallic acrylics.

Items purchased through vintage stores located in Tacoma and Seattle Washington.

Dried hydrangea from my garden.

Fern leaves, seed ball, brass frame with old picture from a plant book.

Stay tune for more!

New Blog Banner

New banner and layout design! The banner (see top of blog) was designed by me and took a few days to create. The photographed image on left depicts an urn containing some small assemblage items from my studio. Center image is several designs fused together using photoshop. Image on right is an original picture I drew using charcoal pencil in combination with watered down blue and gray inks. Afterwards, taking a photograph of the art, I then did some minor photoshop trickery. For instance, instead of painting flowers, I decided to take photographs of some actual dried hydrangeas including lace kerchief. With a few color alterations to blend everything together, all that was left to do was a simple positioning of these particular items in her hands. Voila!

Other matters concerning my blog dealt with a new layout from two-column to three-column. Hopeful it's not too busy in appearance. On another note, not that it really matters to anyone else, but my blog is going to be one year old come March 12th. That was the day of my first post. Seems so long ago. Interesting to see how much has changed with my art. Happy to have come this far with it and hopeful to continue. Guess I'll have to buy myself a little present to celebrate.

New Posts In The Works . . .Paperclay sculptures and French Renaissance art.