Hi guys, and welcome to Drawing of the Moment – a blog that will soon feature work from all of your favorite Fine Print illustrators. To kick this off, I’ll be holding a contest. Remember that typewriter on the second to last page of the November issue, just waiting to be colored, cut out and folded? Well, if you have the manual dexterity to do that, and to take fun photos, send your wittiest photos of your tiny typewriter to leah.beth.herman@gmail.com. The finalists will have their photos posted on the blog. The winner will receive a handmade bookmark by me (if you don’t know what my work looks like, check out the cover this month), or, if you hate my artwork, then I guess I could make you cookies.

Photos must be submitted in a JPEG format, along with your name and a caption. The caption can be serious or stupid. Title your email “DOTM Contest.” Submissions are due by 5PM November 23rd.

Also, here are some revised directions to put your typewriter together:

1.) Color your typewriter.
2.) Cut out typewriter along the outside edge.
3.) From now on, the front of the paper will be referred to as Side A. The back will be Side B. Cut along the dashed line and fold the flap towards Side A. This forms the paper sticking out of your typewriter.
4.) Fold the L-shaped side flaps of the typewriter towards Side B. Fold each of the 4 tabs on the side flaps towards Side B. Put glue on Side A of the tabs.
5.) The plain rectangle in the center is the back of the typewriter. Fold the bottom of the rectangle towards Side B. Fold the top of the rectangle towards Side B. Then fold the final dotted line above that towards Side B to create a tab on the top. Now, put glue on Side A of that tab.
6.) Fold the dotted line above the words “The Fine Print” towards Side B.
7.) There is a tiny dotted line that begins at the keyboard. Fold the top part of the keyboard towards Side A.
8.) There is also a tiny dotted line at the bottom of the keyboard. Fold the bottom part of the keyboard towards Side B.
9.) Make sure the 4 tabs with glue are on the inside of the typewriter, then press them against the top and bottom. Now make sure the other tab is also on the inside and gently press the front of the typewriter against it. Voila!

Hello Breckenridge, Colorado!

He was a good businessman and even better at catching mice.

Last of the men in hats hops off the coil
And a final scene unfolds inside
Deep in the rain of sparks behind his brow
Is a part replayed from a perfect day
Teaching her how to whistle like a boy
Love’s first blush

Is this making sense,
What I’m trying to say?
Early evening June
This room and a radio play
This I need to save
I choose my final thoughts today
Switching off with you

All the clocks give in
And the traffic fades
And the insects like a neon choir
The instant fizz
Connection made
And the curtains sigh
In time
With you

You, the only sense the world has ever made
Early evening June
This room and radio play
This I need to save
I choose my final scene today
Switching off

Ran to ground for a while there
But I came off pretty well

You, the only sense the world has ever made
This I need to save
A simple trinket locked away
I choose my final scene today
Switching off with you

-Elbow, “Switching Off”

Just finished watching Seven Samurai for Japanese Cinema class.

Saffron Winter Rolls
These rolls are made for Santa Lucia Day, which happens on December 13th and begins Christmas in Sweden. Although it is originally a Christmas recipe, I make these delicious rolls all year. They can be served with a little powdered sugar on top or alone – either way they make a great breakfast, snack or dessert. I recommend eating them within two days of making, especially if using buttermilk, but that shouldn’t be a problem. These disappear fast!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup buttermilk (whole milk can be substituted)
pinch of saffron*
3 1/2 cups white bread flour (I recommend King Arthur brand)
1/2 cup ground almonds
1/2 tsp. salt
6 tbsp sugar
1 oz. active dry yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water (body temperature is good)
a few drops almond extract
1/4 cup butter, softened

*Saffron is a spice made from the petals of a flower by the same name. You can get it from most grocery stores, in the spice aisle. Store it in an airtight container. It is normally rather expensive, but don’t be scared by the tiny amount inside the package; a little bit goes a long way because it has a powerful flavor. Besides, making your own bread is so much cheaper than buying it that you can afford to splurge on some luxurious seasonings.

Glazing Ingredients:

1 egg
1 tbsp. water

Directions:

1. Place buttermilk in a double boiler and bring to a boil. You can make a double boiler yourself by putting water inside of a large pot and sitting a small pot inside of it, on the lip – just be sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the small pot. If using milk, no double boiler is needed.

2. Add the saffron, remove from heat, and let sit for 15 minutes. Then mix the yeast and water with a pinch of sugar and let sit until the saffron milk is finished infusing.

3. While the buttermilk and yeast are sitting, combine flour, ground almonds, salt and sugar in a big bowl. Add the saffron buttermilk, yeast mixture and almond extract when they have finished. Gradually beat in butter. I find that at this point that the dough is generally too dry to be kneaded, so I would recommend adding 1/2 to 1 cup of extra buttermilk or water if your dough hasn’t become a little sticky.

4. Turn on a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, until dough is smooth and springy. Oil your big mixing bowl lightly. Place your dough inside, cover with plastic wrap, and allow to rise for 1 hour. Lightly grease two baking sheets in the 5 minutes before the hour is up.

5. Slowly push fist into dough until it has deflated (“punching it down”). Divide into 12 pieces. Take each piece of dough and roll between hands until it has formed a long cylinder.

Then make “S,” “U” or cross shapes with each piece. To make a cross, simply cut one of the twelve pieces in two and make an indent in one piece so the other can be placed on top. Curl the ends so they form swirls. Be sure to form each piece on the baking sheets so you do not have to transfer it later.

6. Cover rolls with lightly oiled plastic wrap. Let rise for 30 minutes next to the oven (so they’re warm). Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

7. Beat the egg and water together to form a glaze. Brush onto the rolls. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden. Allow a cooling period of 5-10 minutes before serving.

How to Knead…

Rachel is your drawing for today. She didn’t notice until it was already too late.

To make slides:

• Buy an ISO 200 slide film if making film slides. If making digital ones, simply change the digital ISO to 200.
• Never hang your work when taking slides. Make sure you have a plain black or white surface to lay your art on. The only exception to this is  when the work exceeds a size that you can photograph from above.
• Make sure you take slides on a sunny day. Take photos of black -and-white work in the sun; take photos of color work in the shade. Try to photograph an equal amount of black or white border around the work, unless the work’s size is roughly equivalent to the camera’s field. Then there should be no need for a border.
• Arrange the slides with some of your best work in front and at the end. Place a good piece in the middle as well. Be conscious of how the school you’re applying to will view them, whether on a computer or in a slide sheet, one at a time or all at once.

At least now I know why I am missing one sock out of every pair I have.

“Aw, man.”

Figure Drawing Friday again. Just some quick little gestures.

Me again.  Bleeeeeh.

I call this one “Spelunking with Derrida.”

Daily Doodle giveaway! This sweet bookmark shall be yours if you are the first person to post your snail mail address as a comment (here, not on Facebook for those of you who access my drawings from there).

Kitty kitty kitty kitty kitty kitty.

Today Paul and I went to the Jacksonville Zoo and I got to draw a giraffe from life for the first time.

]]> http://www.thefineprintuf.org/2010/02/05/17365-drawings/feed/ 0 http://www.thefineprintuf.org/2010/02/05/16365-drawings/ http://www.thefineprintuf.org/2010/02/05/16365-drawings/#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 04:34:40 +0000 Leah Herman http://www.thefineprintuf.org/?p=1336 Hey everybody, meet Amy. She is your drawing for today.