Melinda Barnes

Sketchbook drawing

A recent drawing.

The World of Plant Life

Nice illustrated end papers from The World of Plant Life by Clarence J. Hylander, Ph.D., published in 1939.

Gorilla downtown

A sketchbook drawing from a few months ago.

 

Demon head

The finished paper mâché demon head. I think it turned out well. I wanted to try making a 3-D version of something I'd drawn, and this captures the spirit of the original, seen below:

Sketchbook drawing

From November 2016.

Armature

This is the chicken wire armature I plan to use for a papier mâché demon head. I think this might be my 2nd attempt at papier mâché, 1st using chicken wire, so it will be interesting to see how it turns out.

Thompson's Point

Thompson's Point is a spit of land on the Fore River, home to an old industrial site that is in the process of being redeveloped, with some establishments already up and running (my favorite is the International Cryptozoology Museum). These structures caught my eye.

Pet memorial

My cat Olive died in March of this year at the age of 16 after some kidney problems, and one of the tokens of remembrance provided by the vet was a nice big tuft of her fur. I finally got around to making this little envelope for it. I used an ink stick and stone to make the ink, which I feel sort of clumsy with as a medium but I liked the ink-making ritual.

New Car

My friend Alicia brought me this little tin car, made in Kenya and sold in a gift shop at Chicago O'Hare airport. The pink bumper is a nice touch.

sketchbook drawing

I've been doing more sketchbook drawings lately. Looser and less focused, trying to see what comes out when I don't refer to photos for inspiration or accuracy. Self-portrait with wig at the bottom.