Day 49: Paper Cranes

Red Paper Crane

Paper Cranes

A few weeks ago, I picked up an origami kit at the thrift store that consists of some wonderful paper and a much less wonderful book about how to make origami animals. Since I’m recovering from my eyeball surgery (it went well!), I decided that using the kit and making paper cranes would be a good activity for today. I made the red and yellow cranes and Jim made the blue and green ones. As total beginners, we both decided that origami is very relaxing sometimes and entirely frustrating at others. (Why is a pocket fold so impossible?!) With a bit of practice, though, I’m sure we’re both going to really like it.

Day 11: Balalaika Player

Watercolor Painting of Balalaika Player

Watercolor of Russian Musician Playing the Balalaika

Illustration from Trubloff Children's Book

Pile of Vintage Children's Books

On the way home from work today I stopped at the thrift store and found several vintage children’s books with beautiful illustrations. I bought them all up (for a total of $2.00!) in hopes of using them as inspiration over the next few weeks.

Tonight, I sketched my balalaika player in pencil and then used paint and sharpie to fill him out. The original illustration that I basically copied comes from the book Trubloff: the Mouse Who Wanted to Play the Balalaika.