Saturday, February 16, 2008

The drawing spirit´s back


I´ve had a drawing hiatus for a week, the flu has been taking the best of me and holding a pen felt like an unthinkable thing to do.

Today was the day when the drawing urge returned, finally, and I grabbed my technical pens and some coloured pencils and drew the tulips on the kitchen table. Tulips in February is a tradition in our household, as I guess it is in many others too. It feels like the perfect way to celebrate that light is returning more and more every day, and that spring doesn´t feel so far away even though we´re in the middle of one of the coldest months of the year. (Well, except for this particular year, we have the warmest winter in 250 years in Sweden right now. But usually February is frightfully cold.)

Note to self: get a better tulip vase! They look cramped in this one when they are new, they deserve better...

12,5 x 17,5 cm, Faber-Castell technical pens and coloured pencils on Moleskine sketchbook page.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nina!! Welcome back!! Hope you feel much better soon! the tulips are lovely...just what a grey February day needs! I don't think I own a real vase...just a bunch of odd bottles and jars... deni........;)

Kate (Cathy Johnson) said...

Oh Nina, I'm so glad you feel better...your tulips make me feel the spring, just like my bluebird did yesterday! The power of art is amazing...

Jason Das said...

A really lovely drawing!

seesue said...

Nina, so glad you've got your mojo back. Lovin' those tulips you talented woman you!

Bill said...

I didn't know people got the flu in Sweden! :)
Oh well, I am glad you are feeling better.
I think there's wisdom in a partial coloring of a drawing. The ink, of course, stands on its own. But I have done that, too, and I think it taught me to pause and think before adding some detail or color or ... to a sketch or painting, and consider: what happens if I don't do that?
Nice work, have a good week!

Jennifer Lawson said...

We have had such a snowy wintel here in Maine—so cold and everyone has been sick, including me. I love your tulip drawing. Welcome back.

Nancy Van Blaricom said...

Beautiful ... I love your drawings.

littlemithi said...

Hope you're feeling much better! - And what gorgeous tulips too...

Felicity Grace said...

Beautiful sketch, glad you are feeling better! I don't know how you make dark black ink look so delicate ;) and that little touch of colour is lovely!

Gláucia Mir said...

beautiful! The flu didn't take your drawing abilities away! :)

Genine said...

Beautiful!!! Glad you are feeling better.

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

Oh yeah. They are stunning Nina.

Ann said...

Lovely tulips Nina! We have some just like those on our kitchen table too. They are such happy flowers. Glad you are feeling better!

Witness said...

Wonderfully simple, yet elegant! I'm glad you are feeling better. Thanks for sharing.

caseytoussaint said...

I'm sorry you've been sick, Nina. This is lovely - especially the way you've just added a touch of color to the flowers.

José Louro said...

Great.

juj said...

oh! SO lovely - perfect balance between line and color. Love it! also reminds me we have some tulips on the desk downstairs...now why didn't I think of that earlier?

"Maggie & Kevin" said...

Nina,

The tulips are so lovely, a favorite flower I look so forward to in the springtime. You've captured me with your illustration.

Unknown said...

Beautiful tulips!

wagonized said...

Beautiful. And i love the tradition.

quavers said...

the drawing looks fantastic

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