Stony Heart Transformation

This weekend I have been pondering over my own need to soften my heart, to seek after continued change and growth, and how easy it is, if not watchful, to become calloused and crass, even under the pretense that such a departure from vulnerability and feeling is justified.  So, I got another can, and decided to play around with the whole "stony heart" vs. " heart of flesh" idea.  I started with an old sardine can because I liked the shape.  

Then, I started the heart on the inside of the can.  

Then, for a gentle background, I inserted some text which has become deeply meaningful to me which reminds me of the characteristics indicative of one with a soft heart.

Then, to finish, I added the painting of the stone, to suggest a peeling away or a departure from it, and framed it with a little color, and a scriptural reference to that hopeful promise in Ezekiel.  Not sure if I'm done with this one yet, but I enjoyed the start.  

 

 

Fatty Potter Revisited

Last Saturday, I posted a quick pen and ink sketch of a 1930's mugshot...but as I kept looking at it off and on this past week, it just wasn't sitting right, seemed too flat and bland...so, this morning, I decided to antique the paper in the oven with tea bags and chicory brew to give it a little more color.  Then I went in with a faint watercolor and gouache to put in some more tone here and there.  To finish, a little white prisms color highlight here and there.  Hopefully, Mr. Fatty Potter, the now notorious thief, would be more approving...wherever he is.  

Mr. Fatty Potter

One of the things that I like to do when I run out of creative juices, is to scour over pictures of vintage mug shots and just start sketching the folks that had the unfortunate opportunity to be saved in the annals of mugshot history.  This morning I found this very dapper young man nicknamed Fatty Potter, from the 1930's and decided to have a go at some cross hatching and sketchy poo.  Here is the result.  I don't know what I like more about this fella, the fact that he's got some nice swirls in the hair or the that his nickname was "Fatty!"   Reminds me of the ol' Morrissy song..."You're the one for me, Fatty"