happy birthday henri de toulouse lautrec

Yesterday was Henri de Toulouse Lautrecs 150th birthday. I know this because Mr Google told me so. (I do think its funny that some smart cookie in a high rise office somewhere, decides which famous person or event should be remembered by me!). Anyway, of course I clicked on the little graphic there on that home page and discovered a lot about the aristocratic Henri who died far too young (of syphilis and inbreeding) after a very productive artistic life. I also scrolled through a lot of his paintings on the official Toulouse Lautrec site which set me thinking that I might sketch a tribute to this master artist for another Art Journal Journey entry….. but alas, my day was busy with all those daily tasks that seem to have priority over creative endeavours and it wasn't until 10.30 last night that I managed to sit and scratch together a quick sketch.

Mine is done in cheap pastel chalks on the back of a brown shopping bag - because I like to repurpose stuff - and I call her "Naked Showgirl" which seems to be along the lines of where Henri spent most of his time  and from where he drew much of his inspiration. I didn't nip out to the local Moulin Rouge club though, I just followed a small basic pencil drawing from a book on how to sketch nudes and gave her a flowing pink shawl to hide the parts of her legs I couldn't get quite right! I'm pretty excited to have managed to get her mostly in proportion and will eventually glue my showgirl into my journal (after I've admired her for a while up there on my easel!).

I am having so much fun with all this art and art journaling and I want to try so many different mediums and styles and processes…… its taking over everything we do, what with paints, papers and paraphernalia all over the house!! I have to laugh when my teenage daughter tells me, "Mum, you are out of control!"

When the clock strikes midnight while I'm just finishing off a new creation, I tend to agree though!