tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753686625776428512024-03-13T15:02:58.163+00:00Kirsty Hall: The Diary ProjectAn envelope a day for a year: a drawing on the outside, a mystery on the inside.Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.comBlogger368125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-64757092838535746272008-02-12T15:21:00.000+00:002008-02-12T15:43:29.702+00:0031st December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2255658595/" title="DP 365 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2181/2255658595_b898941185.jpg" width="500" height="250" alt="DP 365" /></a><br /><br />Well, what can I say about the final envelope? Drawing this was tough because I was filled with a heady mix of relief, sadness, elation and anxiety that made focusing on drawing quite hard. Plus I've never found finishing things easy, so I put this one off until I couldn't avoid it any more.<br /><br />At first I thought that I should end with something spectacular but in the end, something very simple seemed more apt. After all, the whole point of the Diary Project is that all our journeys with drawing are a work in progress and an endless acceptance of where we are right now. <br /><br />I know that many people have been inspired by this project and to you, and everyone else, I have only five words to say: <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">GO DRAW. DO IT NOW!</span> <br /><br />If I can do it, so can you...<br /><br />It doesn't have to be perfect, indeed, I've found during this year that the quest for perfection is the enemy of drawing. Instead, it just needs to be something that comes from you. <br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.53pm on 31.12.07<br />Returned: 4.1.08Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-6497276831318356542008-02-12T15:16:00.000+00:002008-02-12T15:21:33.988+00:0030th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2255658537/" title="DP 364 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2238/2255658537_2a475f049f.jpg" width="500" height="250" alt="DP 364" /></a><br /><br />I know that a lot of people work with watercolour by drawing in pen or pencil first and then filling it in with colour but I seem to prefer doing it the other way around. I like to lay down the colour first and then add detailing in pen. For this drawing, a few lines of coloured pen seemed a much more subtle and appropriate choice than the harshness of black ink.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.55pm on 30.12.07<br />Returned: 2.1.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-3173702043311701222008-02-12T15:08:00.000+00:002008-02-12T15:14:19.322+00:0029th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2256457296/" title="DP 363 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2390/2256457296_ef0d94d8d5.jpg" width="500" height="251" alt="DP 363" /></a><br /><br />Oooh, look at that red! <br /><br />I love this drawing; the simplicity and the colour make me <span style="font-style:italic;">very</span> happy and I may have to do a larger version just for myself. I don't bother framing and displaying all that much of my work, although there's still a fair amount of it around the house, but sometimes I make something that I know I want to keep and this is definitely one of those. Of course, I know that I'll probably never be able to capture the same energy and feeling but I don't mind giving it a go. I never do exact copies of things but I've always worked in series so making different versions of things doesn't bother me.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.55pm on 29.12.07<br />Returned: 2.1.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-38904613062128368412008-02-12T14:56:00.000+00:002008-02-12T15:07:50.990+00:0028th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2255658459/" title="DP 362 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2004/2255658459_ab46e48529.jpg" width="500" height="249" alt="DP 362" /></a><br /><br />Black ink worked into a slightly wet watercolour background. I am still pleasantly surprised by the intensity of colour from this Sakura travel set of watercolours. I've avoided watercolours, particularly the pan sort, for many years because in the past I'd found them wishy-washy and hard to use but now I'm having to rethink that attitude.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.53pm on 28.12.07<br />Returned: 2.1.08Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-54054115611825980232008-02-12T14:50:00.000+00:002008-02-12T14:56:24.774+00:0027th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2256457182/" title="DP 361 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2417/2256457182_7275041782.jpg" width="500" height="254" alt="DP 361" /></a><br /><br />Drawn from life, this is one of <a href="http://kirstyhall.co.uk/blog/2007/12/let-them-eat-cake/">the beautiful thistles</a> that <a href="http://madebymilla.blogspot.com/">Camilla</a> bought me for my birthday. She said that she got them because they reminded her of the Diary Project drawings, so it seemed only right for them to become a part of it.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.53pm on 27.12.07<br />Returned: 31.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-69370477009593567692008-02-12T14:47:00.000+00:002008-02-12T15:16:31.897+00:0026th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2255658367/" title="DP 360 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2376/2255658367_70d412afc3.jpg" width="500" height="253" alt="DP 360" /></a><br /><br />I had the sudden urge to draw in coloured pen. It was something I hadn't done for a while so I had to hunt the house for my set of fine-nibbed coloured pens. I swear my art materials hide themselves when I'm not looking!<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.05pm on 26.12.07<br />Returned: 29.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-85053540960321702792008-02-12T14:44:00.000+00:002008-02-12T15:15:34.668+00:0025th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2256457068/" title="DP 359 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2401/2256457068_1db32484d3.jpg" width="500" height="252" alt="DP 359" /></a><br /><br />I found it very hard to draw on 'significant days' because I always wanted to do something extra special. I usually ended up having to let go of that feeling completely before I could manage to draw at all and this day was no exception.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.26pm on 25.12.07<br />Returned: 29.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-13499591278587844402008-02-12T14:38:00.000+00:002008-02-12T14:43:57.474+00:0024th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2256457022/" title="DP 358 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2042/2256457022_1c1793abcb.jpg" width="500" height="252" alt="DP 358" /></a><br /><br />I've drawn a lot of these sort of 'hovering in space' objects over the course of The Diary Project. Part of me likes the abstract quality of floating objects on or slightly above the page but looking at them now, I wonder if I need to anchor my drawings more.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 9.50pm on 24.12.07<br />Returned: 29.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-19063081838551625882008-02-12T14:34:00.000+00:002008-02-12T14:38:47.983+00:00ApologySorry for the huge delay in updating this, folks. Unfortunately my son has been quite ill since before Christmas so although I successfully completed The Diary Project, I haven't had the time or energy to write up the last 8 envelopes. I'm hoping to get it completed over the next few days though.Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-68950800138734094032007-12-29T14:50:00.000+00:002007-12-29T14:56:22.969+00:0023rd December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2145343312/" title="DP 357 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2146/2145343312_fcd39b14ac.jpg" width="500" height="252" alt="DP 357" /></a><br /><br />Wetting the paper afterwards gives a very different look to working directly onto wet paper. With wet paper, the line will spread and blur in ways that you can't control and the black ink will often separate into its constitute colours. Working with a wet brush over an existing line results in more controllable washes of soft grey (or purple depending on the kind of ink used in the black pen) surrounding a still black line.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.53pm on 23.12.07<br />Returned: 27.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-70253799601059217892007-12-29T14:43:00.000+00:002007-12-29T14:50:10.332+00:0022nd December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2144518667/" title="DP 356 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2123/2144518667_7d17b04d55.jpg" width="500" height="255" alt="DP 356" /></a><br /><br />I've noticed that when I'm struggling with inspiration, I often fall back into working wet into wet. It's such an easy and comfortable aesthetic for me. The centre of these drawings were worked in pen on small sections of wet paper while the outer lines were drawn on the surrounding area which was mostly dry. I like the combination of blurred and sharp lines.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.46pm on 22.12.07<br />Returned: 27.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-90946985457038820832007-12-29T14:37:00.000+00:002007-12-29T14:42:44.866+00:0021st December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2144518665/" title="DP 355 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2237/2144518665_377acf3edc.jpg" width="500" height="252" alt="DP 355" /></a><br /><br />Ah, now this one is definitely gouache paint over ink pen outlines. I know this because I tested it several times with watercolour paint but it was always too patchy so I switched to gouache, which gives a lovely flat matte finish. Isn't it amazing how paints, which generally all start out with exactly the same pigments, end up with such very different qualities and uses. <br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.55pm on 21.12.07<br />Returned: 27.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-28550308600263647642007-12-29T14:31:00.000+00:002007-12-29T14:43:41.358+00:0020th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2144518659/" title="DP 354 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2067/2144518659_3927b134e0.jpg" width="500" height="254" alt="DP 354" /></a><br /><br />I not sure what this was drawn with; the grey could be gouache or ink but I seem to recall that it was watercolour paint. I've arbitrarily decided that it still counts as a drawing as long as there's some pen on there too. Last night I was working in watercolour again and found that I couldn't bring myself to post an envelope that only had paint on, I had to do another one that also had pen - yet another hidden rule or bias that I didn't know I had. Actually, it's always baffled me why gouache or watercolour is considered painting but ink, even when you put it on with a brush, comes under the heading of drawing. There's probably some historical reason for this but it's always struck me as a bit illogical.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.54pm on 20.12.07<br />Returned: 22.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-10936540261507781832007-12-29T14:23:00.000+00:002007-12-29T14:31:02.139+00:0019th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2144518653/" title="DP 353 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2217/2144518653_a5347434fe.jpg" width="500" height="254" alt="DP 353" /></a><br /><br />A first experiment using watercolour on the envelopes. I was surprised at how well it went on, the paper didn't buckle nearly as much as I'd expected. <br /><br />I worked wet into wet on this drawing, laying down a random shape using the blue watercolour and then drawing over it with pen while it was still wet. I've discovered that using a thicker nibbed pen works best when working onto wet paper - very thin ink lines just disappear almost completely as the ink spreads and forms a wash.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.56pm on 19.12.07<br />Returned: 21.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-50651087519554508112007-12-29T14:12:00.000+00:002007-12-29T14:23:44.670+00:0018th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2144518651/" title="DP 352 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2081/2144518651_07dc1bc646.jpg" width="500" height="253" alt="DP 352" /></a><br /><br />Another experiment with the Sakura glaze pens. This time I drew the forms in white glaze pen before going over them with red Inktense pencil. I didn't want to wet the pencil so I ended up going over the pencil several times to deepen and intensify the colour. One of the nice things about the glaze pens is the embossed quality they have, it makes filling in the spaces between lines a <span style="font-style:italic;">lot</span> easier.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.54pm on 18.12.07<br />Returned: 21.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-91998152538435653662007-12-29T13:40:00.000+00:002007-12-29T14:12:27.046+00:0017th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2144518645/" title="DP 351 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2245/2144518645_480432818d.jpg" width="500" height="251" alt="DP 351" /></a><br /><br />More fun with new art materials; this was drawn with the new set of <a href="http://www.handyhippo.co.uk/s182-1-Sakura-Glaze-Pens.html">Sakura glaze pens</a> that I got for my birthday. I laid down the little dashes with green and blue glaze pens and then when they'd dried, I went over them with a blue Inktense pencil, which I then wet to form a wash. I wasn't originally going to wet the pencil because I liked the little white 'shadows' that formed around the raised glaze pen lines. However, the pencil had also highlighted the internal edge of the envelope, which left an unattractive line that I needed to disguise. If I use this technique again, I'll start the drawing in the middle of the envelope!<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.37pm on 17.12.07<br />Returned: 20.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-24694806776159643882007-12-28T03:09:00.000+00:002007-12-28T03:20:30.029+00:0016th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2138913593/" title="DP 350 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2206/2138913593_ed8ba2b04f.jpg" width="500" height="253" alt="DP 350" /></a><br /><br />This was drawn with the finest pen I own - a Sakura Micron ink pen with a 0.25mm nib. The Diary Project has been a great justification for indulging my pen habit, I guess I'll have to come up with a new excuse next year!<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.56pm on 16.12.07<br />Returned: 18.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-53143484620763782592007-12-28T03:05:00.000+00:002007-12-28T03:09:34.348+00:0015th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2138913591/" title="DP 349 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/2138913591_42aba381fc.jpg" width="500" height="252" alt="DP 349" /></a><br /><br />Even my 40th birthday party couldn't stop The Diary Project! <br /><br />I tried out some of the <a href="http://www.pencils.co.uk/products/derwent.aspx?sid=20">Derwent metallic pencils</a> that I got as a birthday present in the centre of this drawing. <br /><br /><br />Posted: approximately 11.30pm on 15.12.07<br />Returned: 18.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-58746303127689655692007-12-28T03:02:00.000+00:002007-12-28T03:05:02.230+00:0014th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2138913587/" title="DP 348 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/2138913587_b65d2bc9d1.jpg" width="500" height="253" alt="DP 348" /></a><br /><br />I tried to draw the spirals over each of these grey lines in a single continuous line but I only managed it on one of the three.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.29pm on 14.12.07<br />Returned: 18.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-6063246621010479812007-12-28T02:54:00.000+00:002007-12-28T03:02:43.470+00:0013th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2138913585/" title="DP 347 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2011/2138913585_b65d2bc9d1.jpg" width="500" height="251" alt="DP 347" /></a><br /><br />Once, when I was a toddler, my parents realised with horror that I had vanished. They searched the house and garden with an increasing sense of panic. Eventually they found me at the bottom of the garden, completely hidden in the rows of peas: I had been studiously ignoring all their frantic shouting because I was busy surreptitiously stuffing myself full of peas! I don't remember this at all but I can completely believe it because I still love fresh peapods.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.58pm on 13.12.07<br />Returned: 15.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-61007311353216379232007-12-28T02:49:00.000+00:002007-12-28T02:54:02.888+00:0012th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2138913581/" title="DP 346 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2323/2138913581_fa5c445533.jpg" width="500" height="250" alt="DP 346" /></a><br /><br />I loved this drawing when I did it and now that it's returned, I'm amused at the way the postal service has altered it with a suitably appropriate smudgy black postmark.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 8.39pm on 12.12.07<br />Returned: 17.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-7503572579308408452007-12-28T02:46:00.000+00:002007-12-28T02:49:27.312+00:0011th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2138907085/" title="DP 345 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2079/2138907085_e1b5df689f.jpg" width="500" height="252" alt="DP 345" /></a><br /><br />Adding the two thin lines on either side completed the drawing for me: often it's the simplest line that finishes it.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.52pm on 11.12.07<br />Returned: 15.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-51312800349926160812007-12-28T02:41:00.000+00:002007-12-28T02:46:43.243+00:0010th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2138907083/" title="DP 344 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2157/2138907083_40e45bf83c.jpg" width="500" height="252" alt="DP 344" /></a><br /><br />Walking home on a darkening December day, I took photograph after photograph of chestnuts hanging ponderously on bare thin branches.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.42pm on 10.12.07<br />Returned: 13.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-3583333562579259012007-12-28T02:35:00.000+00:002007-12-28T02:41:54.597+00:009th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2138907081/" title="DP 343 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2338/2138907081_64f27b027a.jpg" width="500" height="252" alt="DP 343" /></a><br /><br />Even this late in the project, I'm still trying out new materials and techniques. This drawing was made with grey acrylic ink poured in a random shape onto the envelope and then drawn over in pen. It was the first time I've used acrylic ink in the drawings and I liked its matte flatness. <br /><br />The pen marks were directly inspired by mattress stitch, a stitch that never fails to excite and delight me: one of these days, I must learn how to sew it!<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.55pm on 9.12.07<br />Returned: 12.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675368662577642851.post-33485441299999849122007-12-28T02:33:00.000+00:002007-12-28T02:35:48.233+00:008th December<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/2138907079/" title="DP 342 by kirstyhall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/2138907079_90deb0fb4b.jpg" width="500" height="251" alt="DP 342" /></a><br /><br />I like the irregularity of these looped, feathered lines; it would be a boring drawing for me if they were all ordered and identically angled.<br /><br /><br />Posted: 11.54pm on 8.12.07<br />Returned: 12.12.07Kirstyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234317772939906954noreply@blogger.com0