Hello, Loves.

How are you?  I've missed you.  I apologize for the sporadic postings.  I've been on the road nearly everyday.  My Dad (aka Troll) and I are hoping that it levels out after his next few appointments.  He's doing well so that eases my guilt for wanting to play.

The picture you see is Mr. Piper.  He's a peeved pumpkin.  The video will tell his story.  I, however, will fill you in here on how he came to be.  I get inspired by conversations, smells and storytelling.  I have a dear Love on Facebook that has men in her life that groan over pumpkin pictures.

I was reading a few of her comments posted by the men in her life and started laughing.  Its all good humor and fun.  I bond with people over the strangest things.  Pumpkins and goats for instance.  :)  I felt my hand crave the touch of paper and pencil.  

The day had been a rough one because of Troll's grumpiness.  He was tired as was I.  I just couldn't stop the craving so I got up and went to my studio.  I have a tower of paper and journals.  They are all unused and ready to go.  'Which one do I choose?' I asked myself.

I bought a small journal from Ranger under Dina Wakley.  Its a mixed media journal made with heavyweight cotton paper.  Now I will be the first to say that the paper is thick.....thick, I tell you.  I've not ever created on something this thick unless it was wood or canvas.

I grabbed her from the stack and sniffed my studio.  My studio smells like happiness.  The earthy smell of pigments, vanilla and love.  I took her to my computer desk and reached for my tin of Derwent graphic sketching pencils.

The sound of the tin and the feel of the coldness made my heart race.  I took a seat and pulled the label off the new journal.  I proceeded to 'crack' the spine of the journal to give her some flexibility.  A word of caution as she's thick and will rip if you get aggressive.

I opened my well loved tin and immediately started shaking.  Negative Nelly has appeared.  She was telling me that I lost all of my skills and that I couldn't break the blank page to save the day.  I let her talk until I clicked the mouse.

I needed to shut her up with some visuals.  I headed to bing.com and typed 'pumpkins'.  The search showed all sizes and shapes.  I saw a picture of a ceramic pumpkin and the shape was far from perfect.  Bingo!  I shall draw that shape.

Between the men of my Love and my Troll, I found another inspiration.  Wrestling.  What?!  Yes, wrestling.  They have a show on Starz that is called 'Heels.'  Its a story about two brothers fighting to keep the memory of their dad alive.  Its not a sappy story by any means but it draws you in.  Pun intended.

It took me back to my childhood.  Every Saturday morning the WWF was on the television.  My area used to host WWF events and they were HUGE sellers.  I was too young to attend these.  I remember being angry that I always had to go home and be still.  I used to dream of the day when I would  get to go to events like this.  Sadly, they no longer exist.

I picked the pencil up and with the glare of my screen alongside the glitter lamp, Mr. Piper the Peeved Pumpkin came alive.  His name is a legacy in the WWF....Rowdy Roddy Piper!  He is loved by the men in my family back in the day.  He was sassy.  I love sassy!

In full transparency, this is my first time drawing on pure cotton paper.  Its an experience you have to try yourself.  The paper is textured.  Its not forgiving.  When you erase, you get cotton fibers lifting.  It doesn't leave a hole as the paper is so thick but I recommend drawing on scrap paper first.  Its best to transfer your image.

After I drew Mr. Piper, I inked him with permanent black ink.  The surprise came here.  The ink didn't feather out!  I was worried that I'd wreck the drawing.  It stayed in place.  Yay!  Once he was drawn and inked, I fell in love with him.  I also worried that the ink would penetrate to the next page.  It didn't!  Surprise!  

He fits my situation.  He's a bit grumpy but he's sassy too.  I worried that he wouldn't fit for my viewers.  However, I art my way.  I can't stop my creative process to be all cutesy.  Trust me, I tried and failed miserably.  I think my level of unsuccess has been because of fear.

Fear of showing the real Sassy T and her art abilities.  I don't do nudes.  *Covers eyes*  They make me feel awkward, lol.  I do love to paint nature and fairytale creatures.  I'm noticing the success of other artists and that makes me happy.  Happy because they are doing what feels right for them.  Its time I step up my game and do what feels right for me.

Storytelling is what feels right.  Its how I break the blank page.  I tell myself that my character has traits and genes like I do.  I find a commonality and go for it.  Some storytelling is fabricated but most of its truth.  No matter how it sounds and looks.  

I find my hand relaxing the deeper I get into the story.  I find humor to be the best link in life and I use it.  I draw grumpy pumpkins and I feel good about it.  The lesson for all of us is to be who we are and not step in fear.  Be free, my Loves, be free.

The story to Mr. Piper the Peeved Pumpkin will be on my YouTube channel shortly.  I can't give an exact time or date as my internet provider is in control.  I've been dealing with sketchy internet. 

Blessings to you all!

Theresa (Sassy T)