This is the space for our members to discuss and share their creative projects, ranging from written works to drawings, photography, and even craft projects such as knitting and woodworking. Self promotion is welcome (websites where we can view and/or purchase your work). Please do continue to preface if content is NSFW and be sure to properly spoiler/link such content.

Now that we’re near the end of 2024, I can see the smoke clear a little on what maybe wasn’t the most prolific year but which saw a lot more experimentation and (at least theoretical) focus on quality. Splitting my concentration between ink and graphite on the illustration front has had a salutary effect on the “traditional” pictures (I think) and I’d like to keep that going (the latter actually outnumbered the former this year; I don’t think that’s ever happened before). A few big trips (New York, Chicago and…uh, Baton Rouge) made up for the dimunition in bike rides (though expanding the latter in Detroit proper really helped reinvigorate my creativity) and I had a few ideas for improvements in practice that have at least partially gone into effect already (not least using our multiple college libraries as a drawing—if not yet watercolor—production space as well as an art history learning resource).

Despite earlier worries, I was able to make my painting quota for the year due to a penultimate burst of experiment (especially with inkwash) and though I’m keeping my options open concerning a possible quota reduction in 2025, I’m not as hawkish on the idea as I used to be. I’m especially gratified that this last-minute push had such varied results this year (at least three paintings I’ll try and keep for the duration). Every year it feels like my “ideal” painting season gets pushed back more and more; sometimes it’s late summer, then it’s high autumn, and then early winter (and that’s leaving out the bursts of inspiration that can occasionally happen in the spring and early summer—’21 was especially good for this). I’d ideally like to smooth this out to include, you know, the entire year, but we’ll see. Then there’s the question of putting my work out there, group activities, and collaboration, which I’m still turning over in my mind. The steps I’ve taken thus far have been really encouraging.

Hope everyone has a safe and pleasant holiday, whether or not you celebrate one around this time of year or even get any time off (I have today and tomorrow as usual; I kinda wish Christmas Day came a little earlier this year—I don’t mind working Christmas Eve but I love chilling the day after). The header image is from Menagerie Legation, one of the inkwash pictures I’ve been playing with. I was really taken with Theodore Gericault’s ink-and-gouache works on brown paper and wanted to at least do a few homages if not use his methods more imaginatively (a sketch he did of a groom with a horse was one of my first ever copy sketches and he’s been a subconscious inspiration ever since). This is closer than I came with Two Swans.

How’s your work going?