Drawing: 'When East Indian, Chinese and Roman art converged; when Hinduism and Buddhism were One'

When East Indian, Chinese and Roman art converged; when Hinduism and Buddhism were One, ©Brenda Clews, 2014, 9" x 12". Permanent inks on Fabriano 100% cotton cold-pressed 140lb watercolour paper.

Testing Derwent InkTense pencils and blocks. My block remains - this drawing represents hours of frustration. I am not happy with this piece and it is being trashed as soon as I finish this post. The detail above isn't too bad and I do have raw photograph files of this drawing.

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Self-Portrait, a photo of the last four Self-Portraits, and the new grungy mirror with my cat

Little sketches from June and August - looks like I didn't do any in July. To draw a self-portrait: 1) I don't have to go anywhere; 2) I will sit still for myself; and, 3) I don't have to pay anything. Maybe half an hour or an hour of time and they are good little practice pieces (if boring and somewhat irritating since they are selfies).

Self-Portrait, 6 August 2014, ©Brenda Clews, 15" x 11", mixed media on Pentalic 130lb archival paper.

I have been quite blocked, I guess. Last Friday night I went to Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School Burlesque life-drawing and none of my sketches worked; in fact, I left early. One was almost ready to share but when I got home I continued working on it and quite ruined whatever was there originally. The self-portrait sketch above was done because there is no way around a block - you have to go through it.

Self-Portraits, June and August 2014, ©Brenda Clews, 15" x 11", or 8.5" x 11", mixed media on Pentalic 130lb archival paper.

Me and my cat, Aria, in a grungy mirror I bought at a local store for too much but that has a frame and a decent hook and the mirror itself is good quality. This photo taken before I cleaned it. It is for the self-portraits and did kick-start the drawing I did above.
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The Final Night of 'The Beautiful and the Damned' Toronto Poetry Series

The final 'Beautiful and the Damned' was a warm, funny, poignant, talent-heavy evening and somehow a fitting way to say goodbye to a great poetry series. I was honoured to host it. May it find its way among the stars it created during its run.

With thanks to Philip Cairns, who has been part of The Beautiful and the Damned since its beginning 3 1/2 years ago and who organized the evening, and John Oughton for his great Edgar Allen Poe trivia questions and especially the squeaky black rat prize who continued to squeak with Jeff Cottrill's beckoning. My cat is currently dragging it around her lair.

Many thanks to everyone who came out! xoxoxoxo

(it was too dark to take photos without making the subject stay still and using a tripod, but I did my best and really, considering the low light, they're not too bad)



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