Monday, February 25, 2013

Travel Tools for the Artist

I’m back from another week in Texas, where I spoke with big groups of kids about art and storytelling, met some great librarians, and ate more Texas BBQ (and Bluebell Creamery ice cream!). Here’s my favorite picture from the trip:

Slowly and steadily I’ve been getting better about organizing my art stuff for traveling. One of the best gifts I received this Christmas was this great leather wrap that holds all my micron pens, 4H pencils, erasers and sharpies. Have a look:

This wrap was made by my wife and it’s steeped in memory. The leather came from my grandpa’s farm, from a batch that was tanned years ago when I was just a wee lad. The material on top is raw silk that Anna and I picked up at a festival when we were newlyweds. I dyed the raw silk with a home brewed walnut dye that I made in our first apartment (with Walnuts gathered from Christendom College). The owl, Anna tells me, is for wisdom. Something I’m still chasing after.

And to think, I used to just toss all my micron pens, 4H pencils, erasers and sharpies into my bag, willy-nilly.

I know I've posted this picture before, but here’s the wrap in action: