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

This is a sketchbook that has handmade paper and is covered in hand-tooled, hand-stitched leather. God, I love the paper so much. Thanks, Paul.

O, Death
O, Death
Won’t you spare me over til another year
Well what is this that I can’t see
With ice cold hands takin’ hold of me
Well I am death, none can excel
I’ll open the door to heaven or hell
Whoa, death someone would pray
Could you wait to call me another day
The children prayed, the preacher preached
Time and mercy is out of your reach
I’ll fix your feet til you cant walk
I’ll lock your jaw til you cant talk
I’ll close your eyes so you can’t see
This very air, come and go with me
I’m death I come to take the soul
Leave the body and leave it cold
To draw up the flesh off of the frame
Dirt and worm both have a claim
O, Death
O, Death
Won’t you spare me over til another year
My mother came to my bed
Placed a cold towel upon my head
My head is warm my feet are cold
Death is a-movin upon my soul
Oh, death how you’re treatin’ me
You’ve close my eyes so I can’t see
Well you’re hurtin’ my body
You make me cold
You run my life right outta my soul
Oh death please consider my age
Please don’t take me at this stage
My wealth is all at your command
If you will move your icy hand
Oh the young, the rich or poor
Hunger like me you know
No wealth, no ruin, no silver no gold
Nothing satisfies me but your soul
O, death
O, death
Wont you spare me over til another year
Wont you spare me over til another year
Wont you spare me over til another year

-Ralph Stanley

]]> http://www.thefineprintuf.org/2010/01/27/8365-drawings/feed/ 1 http://www.thefineprintuf.org/2010/01/23/3365-drawings/ http://www.thefineprintuf.org/2010/01/23/3365-drawings/#comments Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:09:22 +0000 Leah Herman http://www.thefineprintuf.org/?p=1196

I decided to do a self portrait today. I guess it was a little awkward, because I ended up standing in the Hub’s disabled person stall for twenty minutes while I scribbled in front of the mirror. Still, when in the realm of awkward things that I do, it ranks pretty low on the scale next to openly staring at someone on the bus for a half hour. Sometimes they don’t even notice the sketchbook I’m working in.

I will be posting one drawing per day for three hundred and sixty five days. Today is January 20, 2010 and this is officially post number 1. I am doing this for two reasons. First and foremost, I need the practice. Drawing is something you lose if you don’t do it every day. Second, I want to demystify the process of making art. People think that I pull this shit out of my ass. Oh, Leah, you’re so talented. Oh, I could never do that, I’m just not creative.

I’ll tell you what. I don’t pull this shit out of my ass. I work. The only way to get better is to practice. And this will be a document of me. Practicing. Art is a  unique combination of concept and skill – you have to have both, and if you lack one or the other, you will suck, and you will suck hard.

I don’t have a grand vision of people lining up to ask me for advice, because I feel like I still have a hell of a lot left to learn. But here’s some for free anyway, because I think that ending with the phrase “suck hard” sounds too naughty: Nothing good in life comes easy, but practice and preparation will help get you there.