Some odd sketches

Today is an odd day. The weather is odd. I feel odd. I had two odd migraine attacks in a week, normally I’ll have two in a year. In an odd way I don’t feel like doing any art. So I just chose some odd subjects. I did these all in my moleskine, which felt odd after a long time of not using it. And I used odd colors. Ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, raw umber and payne’s grey. For no specific reason, my eyes just fell on them. In order to do some of these subjects, I had to twist my body oddly to see them, since I refused to get out of my “comfort zone”…

Ten to twelve…it’s an odd clock, it can’t be trusted.

An old pitcher with an old, hand crocheted “doily” from my mom’s kitchen, frequently used to keep out the odd insect.

An old candy bowl, now used to hold old porcelain pieces I pick up everywhere. Many of them were dug up when we established our garden. It’s a habit I learnt from a good friend in SA many years ago and we both still do. I miss her on this odd day. There is always a piece of old porcelain lying around on the ground, telling a story of times long past.

Ostrich eggs, straight from the farm. Odd bird, the ostrich; quick and vicious despite its calm looks.

Just a lamp, nothing odd about it.

25 comments:

Dave said…: You set yourself an interesting challenge! I think my favourite is the lamp, though they’re all good.; May 17, 2007 6:25 PM
mARTa said…: ah Ronelle, oddly beautiful…all of them! I suffer from migraines as well…about 4 to 8 a month…I understand the odd.; May 17, 2007 6:53 PM
Robyn said…: Odd is nice – very Alice in Wonderland. I like this odd palette. Lovely sketches, the milk jug cover with the beads took me back to my grandmother. She had crochet with beads over everything, even dangling lamp shades. To me it was like Aladdin’s Cave.; May 17, 2007 6:57 PM
Lin said…: Ronell — I LOVE your limited palette use – it looks great!! And even feeling odd-your work is still divine!!!; May 17, 2007 7:50 PM
Tonniece said…: Migraine, and not in a mood to do any art………and still here are five great sketches. Although they are all super I like the eggs and the lamp.; May 17, 2007 7:55 PM
Teri C said…: You even manage to have great stuff when having an odd day! Maybe odd is good. Hope those migraines go somewhere else.; May 17, 2007 7:56 PM
Nancy Van Blaricom said…: Great work all of them, but I’m sold on “ten to twelve”. I love the composition and the colors… and the line… Great work.; May 17, 2007 8:40 PM
Jeanette said…: Wow! So beautiful…I will definitely come back! Soon!; May 17, 2007 9:21 PM
Sandy said…: Oh how I love your loose, light touch – Just Great , all of them!; May 17, 2007 9:56 PM
Stacy said…: I really like your “odd” sketches and how the palette ties them all together in a set. My favorite is the lamp, something in the way the paint flowed. Odd explaination, I know. Your description of how each item was odd was much better. 🙂; May 17, 2007 11:20 PM
shirley said…: These are lovely – so many wonderful reflections.; May 18, 2007 12:53 AM
Lindsay said…: Odd how I just happened to drop by! I, for one am really glad you shared your odd day. These are poinent (sp) and sweet.; May 18, 2007 6:14 AM
Brenda Y said…: They may be odd to you, but to me they are exquisite!! You have such a wonderfully loose and fluid style and the limited palette is fantastic (something I’ve been working on lately too!) I love the idea of collecting odd pieces of porcelain and putting them in a jar. I do hope you get over your odd feeling and your migraines.; May 18, 2007 7:21 AM
caseytoussaint said…: Ronell, these are wonderful – I really love the clock and candlesticks, and as Brenda says, the limited palette works beautifully. I hope you feel better, I’ve been worried about you….; May 18, 2007 10:21 AM
Rebel Alliance said…: nice drawings… congratulations!; May 18, 2007 3:26 PM
platitudinal said…: These sketches are lovely. They truly capture the beauty of every day. There’s peace and serenity in them. I hope those elements color your days, and less odd days frequent your doorstep.; May 18, 2007 9:12 PM
Carole said…: I do love the way you turn your everyday life into these quirky writings and beautiful moody sketches. I like that colour palette and the slightly out of focus look about the sketches.I hope you are feeling better.; May 19, 2007 11:00 PM
martha said…: These are fantastic! I can only aspire to such looseness and juicy color.; May 20, 2007 8:36 PM
ksklein said…: actually all the odd stuff turned out to be really good.; May 21, 2007 1:29 PM
Emma Pod said…: These are all beautiful odd things! You did an especially nice job on the glass objects. I hope you are feeling better!; May 21, 2007 7:49 PM
Africantapestry said…: thanks for commenting, I appreciate it!
ronell; May 22, 2007 8:08 AM
Laureline said…: Wonderful collection of oddments! It’s really fun to see your mind working, the way you string together your sketch vignettes!; May 22, 2007 9:23 PM
Fanta said…: The eggs are just wonderful. But so are the glass containers. How on Earth can you make them look so lively, shiny, airy and beautiful???? You have a real talent there.; May 23, 2007 9:48 PM
Jana Bouc said…: What a feast for the eyes! I like the candlesticks and eggs the best.; May 24, 2007 6:16 AM
austin said…: I’m drawn to burnt sienna and clocks so this painting is one I would love to posses. The colour combo is very calming so I use these as often as possible in my home. I find them soothing. Your “odd sketches” are moving.