Artsy Book Club and ... an Announcement!

Okay, before you get all confused into thinking that this here crazy blog got voted for Art Ed Blog of the Year in 2013, relax, it didn't. However, it did get NOMINATED for Art Ed Blog of the Year for 2014! I'm thrilled and honored to be among some of my favorite art ed bloggers. Click here to check out the other nominees and cast your vote for Art Ed Blog of the Year...which, if it happens to be mine, I thank you!

I'm also excited by the number of you who have not only have joined the Artsy Book Club but already begun drawing and posting your work! To inspire the rest of you, I thought I'd give you a peak at the work that was posted today. Remember, anyone can join this book club (even if you are One Drawing a Day book-less, I'll update the page with the daily drawing tasks) and anyone can share their work there. To view drawings posted, simply click on "Recent Posts by Others" on the right hand side of the page.

So, without further ado, check out these wonderful drawings of Day #1's assignment: A Still Life with a Fine Tipped Pen...

Jill created her still life on brown craft paper with a white pen. As soon as I saw it, I was like, WHAT?! Isn't it stunning? I love the contrast of the two mediums not to mention her lovely line. It looks like a reverse etch-a-sketch to me.

Alright, ya'll know Phyl over at There's a Dragon in my Art Room, right? If you do, then you know this still life is, like, SO Phyl. She's fun, funny and quirky, just like this drawing. If you are not familiar with her blog and you are an art teacher, do yourself a favor and check it out. She's Art Ed Blog of the Year material any day in my book.

I love this drawing by Abby. She's a fellow art teacher who proves, with this drawing, that you don't need a glorious still life or a huge block of time to just draw something. ANYTHING. Even if it's your keys. I love what she wrote about her drawing:
This is my first assignment. It is a symbol of how busy my life is these days. Sometimes I feel like I live in my car. Ok not literally but I am in my car more that I would like to be, especially sitting in traffic.

These lovely drawings were created by Marcia who is ALSO nominated for Art Ed Blog of the Year! Congrats, Marcia! Her blog is Art is Basic and, well, it's basically amazing. You've gotta check it out and add her to your voting ballot (just read you can vote for more than one of your favorite blogs, how fun!).

Art teacher Rina created this sweet drawing. I love this still life of that delicate tea pot, box of teas and cup. I want to see this painted and framed in my kitchen, I love it so!

Kerry shared this drawing and I love it for it's snapshot-of-my-life-ish-ness. It looks like a healthy snack break with mystery miniature pigs. Kerry, I think I need details!

So I may or may not have lurked Roo's FB page to find out what an incredible artist she is! I love this sketchy style of hers. This is her nightstand which she says she needs to clean...I say, LOOK AT THAT AMAZING STILL LIFE! Cleaning is always at the bottom of my list.

Okay, can you guess what this is? I thought oranges in an egg carton but Janet, the artist, wrote: Here's my drawing for day 1. The author suggested drawing something that had meaning to you, so I drew the eggs that are down on my worktable. I have started doing my yearly pysanky egg work, and these are empty eggs waiting to have something done to them.

Ya'll, Maria is my art teacher buddy whom I've become fast friends with even though we've never met. She's from Ecuador and she's so fun! I mean, just look at her still life set up! She also created the awesomely surreal drawing below.

I was so inspired by these...and so unmotivated to tackle my latest sewing project, that I drew this view of my sewing machine and spools of thread.

Always one step ahead, Phyl has already begun Day #2's drawing assignment: using a calligraphy pen (don't have one? just use whatever, ya'll!) and draw some organic still life. Think flowers, plants, you name it. And don't forget to have fun!

I don't know that I'll always be able to share these drawings...but I was too thrilled not to do so today. Hope you'll join us on our drawing journey!