Sunday, July 18, 2010

We like it, but we don't.

A while back I got a very exciting email from a schoolbook publisher asking me whether I would like to do some illustrations for them. I agreed to draw a couple of sketches for them to judge. I know, you're not supposed to do work for someone without getting paid, even if it's just previews. Thing is, I really really wanted this job. Illustrating schoolbooks, can you imagine? So many children would grow up with my drawings.

The publisher emailed me sample poems and texts from the future schoolbook. Unfortunately, after I sent in my first proposition, they replied with a list of changes which would require me to start over completely (at the same time, they said they liked the drawing very much. It just wasn't quite right, and could I try another style, and perhaps change the colours, and not have so many lines in it?).

With two jobs, I don't exactly have time right now to draw something over and over again when I'm not getting paid for it. But I had an idea for another poem from the batch, and since the publisher left me the choice of trying a new illustration instead of redoing the first one, I did just that.

I sent in a rough sketch (as per their directions). The reply was a laconic and worrying: "It's very nice." I sent in the finished illustration a couple of days later.

That was two weeks ago. I didn't get a reply, and I don't think I should expect one. Therefore, here are the rejected illustrations.

The mine

Summer

It's a funny thing. Many of their comments to the first illustration were about how dark it was, how the colours were sad and not bright enough.* I had a vivid flashback to an art class some twenty years ago, when the teacher looked at my painting of 'Summer' and asked "But why is everything so sad?"

I tried twice more to paint something 'happier'. Couldn't do it. Of course, that was also the same teacher who claimed real artists never made pencil sketches first, so what did he know, huh?

Either way my self-esteem isn't quite sure what to do with itself right now.


* It's supposed to be a drawing of a mysterious and legendary mine. I was purposely staying as far away as possible from rainbow glows and sparkly lanterns, which would have annoyed Seven-Year-Old-Me to no end, but I suppose that was a mistake.

198/365:Dies Caniculares

198/365:Dies Caniculares
198/365:Dies Caniculares, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

July 17th

Unusual heat. Poland is not immune to Dog Days, but they never last this long and I don't remember them ever being so intense. Everything is sticky with sweat, and there is no respite even when the sun goes down. I don't know whether I'm falling victim to the 'good old days' memory distortion, but I can't recall a worse summer.

197/365: Guest at work

197/365: Guest at work
197/365: Guest at work, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

July 16th

A little green caterpillar :D

196/365: Seven, six, five, four, three.

196/365: Seven, six, five, four, three.

July 15th

The cemetery next to work, again. It was raining, but in that heat not even little old ladies cared enough to hide.

195/365: Olga's weird little creature

195/365: Olga's weird little creature

July 14th

"Quick, quick! Does anyone have a camera? There's a really strange and cute bug in the bathroom!"

Said Olga from work.

194/365: How to tell the Caps Lock from the Shift by touch

194/365: How to tell the Caps Lock from the Shift by touch

July 13th

My most excellent keyboard (of which I already have a photo in this 365 set, alas) with practical addition: an ant sticker so that I can feel the Caps Lock when I accidentally hit it instead of Shift. Just wish it wasn't peeling already.

193/365: Water is the best drink

193/365: Water is the best drink

July 12th

When I was a little kid, my mom never let us drink sodas unless it was somebody's birthday or an equally momentous occasion. Consequently I drank a ridiculous amount of Coca Cola while in college. Then...I stopped. I don't remember whether it was a question of frugality or health, but barring special occasions and emergencies, for the last six years or so I've been drinking nothing but water.

Tastes damn good, too.

192/365: Wish you were here

192/365: Wish you were here
192/365: Wish you were here, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.
July 12th

Our hosts at the Sulejowskie lake. Very friendly, even if they hissed a lot.



Swan

Swan

Swans

From the beach


Swans at the lake

Monday, July 12, 2010

191/365: Zalew Sulejowski

191/365: Zalew Sulejowski
191/365: Zalew Sulejowski, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

July 10th

The Zalew Sulejowski is an artificial lake which formed after a dam was built on the Pilica river in 1969. Its purpose is to be a potable water reservoir for the nearby town of Tomaszów Mazowiecki and also further north, Łódź, where I live. Nowadays Łódź has its own deep water wells, but the Zalew still supplies other towns. The lake covers over 6600 acres and is also used for water sports and blissful summertime recreation. :) Which is what we did this weekend, camping on the banks, far away from resorts and rental places so that for most of the time, we had the whole beach to ourselves.

The lake is also shallow at that point, so I could wade out waist deep to take this picture.



Camping at the lake

Laundry and boat

The forest

Golden Hour

Firewood for the island

Fisherman's camp

Leaving the island

The sun

Swimmers

Saturday, July 10, 2010

190/365: Freedom?

190/365: Freedom?
190/365: Freedom?, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.
July 9th

The sparks at work found him drowning in one of the AC water drains. The puppet girls gave him some food and some stuffing to nest in, and he recovered very quickly. We named him Chopin, and then we let him loose outside.

189/365: The best leftover bag in the world

189/365: The best leftover bag in the world
July 8th

Because it contains food from Ganesh.

188/365: Windows at night.

188/365: Windows at night.
188/365: Windows at night., originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.
July 7th

Did I mention I have so much work that I don't have time to take pictures of anything interesting? Yeah, well. The weekend will be better, I promise.

187/365: Weeping willow

187/365: Weeping willow
187/365: Weeping willow, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.
July 6th

On the way to work. Not quite the photo I wanted this to be, but I suppose I can always try again on another morning when I'm not running late. They are rare, those mornings.

186/365: Where do you think you are going?

186/365: Where do you think you are going?
July 5th

Well, it seems dead set on getting to that window, I suppose. Why not!

185/365: Bzzz

185/365: Bzzz
185/365: Bzzz, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.
July 4th

A beautiful summer day in my parents' garden, and so many creatures about if you just pay attention.

184/365: Sunset at home

184/365: Sunset at home
184/365: Sunset at home, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.
July 3rd

My windows face south- all I see outside is the courtyard, but the chimneys are always golden in the evening.

183/365: Painting

183/365: Painting
183/365: Painting, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.
July 2nd

I was trying to get my illustrations into a publishing house this last couple of weeks, but I don't think I made it. :( If they don't reply by the end of next week I'll post the picture I drew.

182/365: In the neighbourhood

182/365: In the neighbourhood
July 1st

I like my neighbourhood. It's like a little town in the middle of a big city. Quiet and busy all at once. I don't know what's in those bags.

Friday, July 9, 2010

181/365: Intruder

181/365: Intruder
181/365: Intruder, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.
June 30th

Pre- breakfast. :) At lunchtime.

180/365: Almonds

180/365: Almonds
180/365: Almonds, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.
June 29th

I eat a lot. I eat all the time. I'm trying to eat something healthier than candy. I eat almonds.

*crunch*

Thursday, July 8, 2010

179/365: Sweet pea

179/365: Sweet pea
179/365: Sweet pea, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.
June 28th

The one I planted died before it could blossom, alas, so I bought a bouquet at the market. It was a good subject for a last-minute photograph.

178/365: Paintball

178/365: Paintball
178/365: Paintball, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.
June 27th

Was too busy shooting my gun to shoot with the camera.

177/365: Self portrait with plants

177/365: Self portrait with plants
June 26th

I cleaned the kitchen. Such achievements call for commemoration. Of course, the thyme would be in focus...I am not. There's only so much I can do with a tripod and broken 50mm lens (it doesn't autofocus).

176/365: Whee

176/365: Whee
176/365: Whee, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.
June 25th

No laundry in my room this week! I don't have time to wash anything. But the pegs are up anyway.

175/365: Charlie on the corner

175/365: Charlie on the corner
June 24th

Another 'oh shit it's nearly midnight' photo. The fellow on the postcard is Charles Haslewood Shannon, a painter who caught my eye in the London National Portrait Gallery. I do like self-portraits. I have a postcard of this one by Sir Joshua Reynolds pinned up next to it.

174/365: One, two, three

174/365: One, two, three
174/365: One, two, three, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.
June 23rd

Bad photo, but the only one I had from that day. Work is wearing me out!

These are bells on the old factory building where I work, I don't think they're used at all anymore.

173/365: Broken

173/365: Broken
173/365: Broken, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.
June 22nd

It can't really have broken due to strain, not this way. I think one of the carts in the factory where I work hit it in the corridor. All because I don't have time to make a copy of the bike room key.

Well, it's ok, I have new gears now and they work much better. :)

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Sketchbook Interlude

I thought I would share the few sketches I did in Amsterdam.


Failure to draw the Rijksmuseum

Drawing in Amsterdam

Sketches below from Bitterzoet, waiting for Phosphorescent to come on stage. I did mean to actually draw the band but when they got there I was too busy listening. Very, very nice concert.

Waiting for Phosphorescent

Bitterzoet

Half of these people look like they're in the band

Still waiting

172/365: Lentils or flax

172/365: Lentils or flax
172/365: Lentils or flax, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.
June 21st

Not sure which. I planted a lot of random stuff on my windowsill.

171/365: When I work on the weekend

 171/365: When I work on the weekend
June 20th

This is how I set things up. The tablet isn't mine, but the compies are. (And please notice how wonderfully my bean plant has grown!)
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