I think this is the first book where I decided to start each book with the traditional self portrait. I recall this painting being referenced from a photo where I looked significantly more photogenic than expected, hence the “generous portrayal”.

On the left side, a thought about claw-foot tubs; to the right, suggestions from a visiting artist to Karen’s studio who was one of the first to look through my sketchbooks and see some real value in them. Thank you Tom!

Another bastardization of the claw-footed tub (I’d love to make a real bathtub with human feet one day), as well as some sketches with Karan d’ache wax crayons that I had just acquired.

A failed attempt at brainstorming (but mostly just playing with my Pilot Parallel Pens)

The drawing on the left was a really fun study of a photo of Fia’s cat, Miko (who is very sweet and also quite large for a cat). On the right, a sketch of a joke that Ana told me her father used to tell. The original joke was in Romanian, but it roughly translated to something about hammering a nail through a window with a cat? I didn’t understand the joke, but I liked the imagery.

some gouache doodles on the left, and what I assume to be bipolar rage on the right.

Sketches, to-do list, little-to-none of which actually got realized.

Mirror Thoughts (bonus dog)

More mirror thoughts, in gouache this time. The painting on the left eventually became a full oil painting that hung by my entryway until my most recent move.

More mirror thoughts that evolved into planning for a reflected self-portrait (which I remain quite proud of). The secondary color palette on the left-hand side always looks so delicious to me when I revisit this page.

The initial ideation for a bathtub painting that got started but never finished, unfortunately.

Mind Mapping!

Thinking about flooding, I think

Gouache doodles and cloudy sketches

More clouds, and an attempt at practicing hand-lettering — I retain an abundance of room for improvement

Some cartooning practice, trying to learn to draw children distinctly from adults

gouache sketching from a bar in Lincoln while I waited for Wolf to join me

reflections on my post-appendectomy scarring

Planning for wood engraving practice, plus some alcohol marker sketches about some terrible abdominal pain I was having

sketch of wolf, and a to-do list

Portraits from a hangout with the UNL Math grad students. I never had anything to contribute to their math discussions, so I took to painting them instead.

Trying out Flourescent orange and blue colored pencils (the pencils don’t make as lovely a pair as paints do, in my opinion_

planning for an etching about my fear of water, stemming from some unsavory experiences with bullies at a christian summer camp.

thinking about how to represent hair underwater + a sketch of Wolf’s dad to the right from when the family came to visit.

Cartooning about my day, featuring my dear friend Ana, Wolf’s family, and a very comfortable hammock at the park.

India ink sketches

More india ink sketches, this time thinking about negatives.

An iris from the front yard, some practice painting glass, and a book recommendation that I received

nonbinary moment lol

got my finger all blue doing some indigo dyeing at Karen’s studio. Very fun!

A stamp I found at an antique store where I assume a previous visitor arranged to letters to say “Chloe Of Omaha”