Image Discovery and Development

Image Discovery and Development

I’m in constant wonder of how artists come up with ideas for drawings, painting, etc. It’s that constant mythical blank page syndrome that many artists face with great trepidation. Even at age 55, I suffer frequently from it. Then even if I do get an idea, I’m faced with being way to critical of myself, the dreaded imposter syndrome. Of course not all my ideas suck.

About eight years ago my wife and I built a lovely garage sized building in our backyard to use as an art studio. I love this beautiful blue building and all it’s windows. I’ve thought of doing a painting of the studio many times, but my critical mind has always pushed those thoughts away, until one early morning in late summer I noticed that the full moon was still shining brightly in the bluing western sky. As I walked toward the studio my angle of sight positioned the moon directly above the studio. Walking closer still, the moon comically came very close to touching the nose of our weather vane dog. I took the above photo, but I still didn’t have an idea.

As part of my recent cancer surgery and recovery, I’ve been doing a lot of research of rabbit holes online. In one of the extensive investigations I discovered that I have an interest in linocut printing. I bought some linocut tools a while ago, but almost forgot that I had them; but what to carve for the print block. Then I remembered I had taken the picture above. Thus began the process of redrawing the image into a design I could transfer, carve and print well.

Digitally recreate the photo in to a purely black and white image.

My idea for the final linocut coloured print.

There’s a lot I need to learn still but I will record my efforts on this project, good or bad and post updates as I go along. One clean framable print is the ultimate goal. I love this dog and moon image so much I’ve already titled it as “Poochaluna”, as in dog and moon. I’m so deep.