Micron Pigma ink & watercolor in large Moleskine watercolor notebook
(To enlarge, click image, select “All Sizes”)
After I saw Martha’s rendition of the Christmas lights on Berkeley’s 4th Street shopping area I decided to make my way there one evening to sketch. I hadn’t really planned on going there tonight though. I’d gone to the Blick Art Supplies store near there since Jackie (a knowledgeable sales clerk there) had offered to help me select some good oil painting brushes. I also gathered a number of other items I needed, even though I was annoyed that I’d left my sale coupon at home. That was the second absent minded act of the day. The first was trying to return my Masterpiece Theatre Prime Suspect DVD (EXCELLENT!) to the video store without the DVD inside. Before I left home this time I made sure I had the DVD in the box and in the car to return on the way home.
When I went to check out I discovered the Absent-Minded Artist struck again. Earlier today, in preparing to take a walk with Barbara, I’d removed my wallet from my fanny pack to lighten the load and never put it back in. Both Barbara and I were feeling like half-wits on our walk — I was recovering from yet another migraine last night and she’d been unable to sleep the night before.So there I was with all my items rung up and no money or cards to pay for them. (DUH!)
All was not lost though, since 4th Street was just around the corner. I drove down there, parked, looked for something to paint, moved a little, parked, moved some more, until I finally found a scene I wanted to paint.
Since I didn’t have much time, I drew straight away with ink, not worrying about perspective and straight lines (which is obvious). When I was ready to start painting, I put on my cool strap-on headlamp and it worked great. I tilted it to shine down on my paper and could see the colors I was mixing just fine. Unfortunately just as I started painting Cody’s turned off their interior lights so I had to paint that from memory.
When I got home I discovered Miss Absent Minded struck again. The DVDs were still on my car seat — I’d forgotten to return them again.
Jana Bouc, Artist 
10 replies on “Cody’s Books & the Absent-Minded Artist”
the colors are so wonderful, the golds, rust and green look so good against the blue and purple
that light sounds like a great idea!
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i like this a lot.
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You’ve created a lovely glow here just as you did with the ATM!
I wonder if the migraines affect memory? I’ve had a mild one for the last two days and I know I can wipe those days from my mind – it’s quite disorientating when the migraine wears off and somehow the week has gone.
Look on the bright side, you’ll just have to buy some more stuff to use the coupon!
BTW, yes, blocking in is just making those large lines to indicate the space the body takes up.
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I HATE DAYS LIKE THIS!!!! Glad you were able to salvage it so gloriously! LOVE the feel of this painting, Jana! Loose and yet accurate – wonderful treatment of the DARK NIGHT and the bright lights !!!! BRAVA!
Hope today is better!
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Those are the days that keep you humble and make you appreciate the good days. I’m sorry you are having so many migraines, I haven’t had one in a few years due to hysterectomy and antidepressants, it might not be everyone’s answer, but it sure did help me. And YES it does effect memory. As for your drawing I love it. Now I want to do night drawings!
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Jana, I just love stories like this. Me Im absent minded every day of my life you would not belive the things I doLol. I even amaze myself:).
really loved this story and will be thinking of this one often through the day:)
Happy holidays,
Linda
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I can join this club too!! Jana, could you post a pix of yoru head lamp??? Great drawing. I’d like to draw in the car and its SOOOOO dark now!
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What a wonderful sketch! It captures the feel of that particlar spot just beautifully. Have you thought of sending Cody’s a oopy? I bet they’d love it!
Other tribulations aside, you must have great parking karma. I know how hard it is to get a good spot down there. 🙂
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This has a wonderful glow to it – skew lines are just right. My local shops at night are one challenge I haven’t risen to yet – I’ll have to do them soon.
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I agree with everyone—this sketch has so much life and originality, Jana. Your work is so distinctive and, to use a surprising word, uplifting. Not that you have a moralistic intent (thank God) but that you paint so authentically and wittily, too.
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