Sunday, July 20, 2008

My Current SKETCHBOOK





I love peeks into people's sketchbooks.  I have been working on this Moleskine book for a couple years now, but you wouldn't know it by looking at it.  However, it has been with me to Africa, Europe, and India.  I really cherish some of the drawings, especially those I did in Africa - Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zanzibar.  They are all pencil and some have some watercolor color additions.  Here are a few from then, circa 2005. 

The top drawing is from Rwanda.  I was fascinated by the clothing - mostly the combinations of western clothing and the traditional prints.  I think you can read what I wrote in this journal styled entry.  Oh, and that was a white flower I pressed in the book.  It turned purple in a matter of weeks!

Next is from the second part of the African journey - Tanzania.  There we met many of the tribs that still exist (to an extent) in Eastern Africa.  This is my rendering of a Maasai warrior. 

Third is from the last leg of our African tour - Zanzibar.  It's an amazing island where I got the best buys.  I found one shop that had the best selection of antiques, both African and Islamic, I have ever seen.  I would go back just to shop.  However, we got to spend a bit of time on the beach where I did this drawing of the Muslim woman, a starfish, and the tower in the background.  It's unfinished.

Lastly, this was an unfortunate site we passed by on the way back from seeing the gorillas.  (Another story).  But this poor boy was biking and had been hit by a car on these gravelly, curving roads.  I can never let this image leave my mind.  This drawing was an attempt.

3 comments:

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Wow, great pictures, bilsey.
Glad to have you back.
The pressed flower is a good idea- it makes the sketchbook a scrap book.
The Maasai warrior reminds me a bit of an old time warrior from Scotland.
I know what you mean about seeing something tragic and gruesome and having it haunt you.

BillGoat said...

i have a pressed feather too - but it's with a list of the fauna I saw - not near any drawings to show. :)

Jeremy said...

when you look at your blog, dont you feel proud? you have such great stuff and its great to see it all side by side. you are super talented, mr