Lily S. May–Life with Art
While I was out walking yesterday among old houses and gardens returning to life, I saw that I was being observed. A cat in a window and I watched each other for a while and then I took out my phone and photographed the scene. Later I changed the image into a black and white… Continue reading Cat in the Window
I'm working on another scratchboard drawing, learning from further mistakes. And I take walks every day, in the neighbourhoods and parks in the city. On Tuesday, I was walking on a street I love, admiring the gardens and trees, the birds, the houses I passed. I took a few photos on my phone as I… Continue reading Seeing
There were beautiful dogwood trees in flower in Toronto over the past few weeks. I love the shape of the petals and included them in a scratchboard drawing I made recently. Dogwood in Toronto, 2021 Although I’ve made several scratchboard drawings, I'm just learning about the medium. I'm not someone who usually takes courses in… Continue reading Dogwood–Learning
This is the most recent scratchboard drawing I've been working on. It may be finished. I'll have to be with it for a while more until I decide if it needs more adjustments. I'm happy with how it's going. Originally the image was quite different--done with fine lines and different design elements that I eliminated.… Continue reading Springtime
I was working on a 9" x 12" scratchboard drawing that became very complex and regularly entailed long periods of contemplation before knowing how to proceed. Earlier this week I decided to take out a small scratchboard--5" x 7"--to take a break from the larger image. This is what I came up with. It followed… Continue reading Spirit of the Leaf
During the pandemic, I've been out walking on streets of houses surrounding the neighbourhood that I live in. I always take solace from the trees and gardens I see. But I've been surprised at how the look of some of the houses improves my sense of well-being. In particular, I often love looking at the… Continue reading Scratchboard Houses
I hope you are well as we move into spring. I've seen crocuses and snowdrops blooming in Toronto this week and birds and their songs are returning. The scratchboard drawing reproductions (see Unearthed) have also returned, though these are from the printer and not from their wintering homes. The drawings came out well with much… Continue reading Unearthed 2
I've been carving another block print. And yesterday I thought it would be good to also get back into drawing again. I haven't done this in a while. It's a way for me to be connected to seeing and paying attention even when not involved in a larger project. So today after breakfast I drew… Continue reading Drawing Again
Here's 3 more interior drawings I've done over the past month. I drew the desk laden with odds and ends and the pruned and sprouting jade plant while our place was being painted. The final one I drew at the end of November.
We recently had our place painted. It involved packing up all our stuff, giving some of it away and moving it and furniture to the centre of rooms so the painters could get to the walls. During that time I drew boxes and disorder. Now that that's over, it's enjoyable to sit down and draw… Continue reading Bowl
Arts of May 