Why is this book is called NineteenTopaz? Because 19 is my birthday number. And topaz is my birthstone.
I’ll post the pages as I consider them complete. To identify them I am sticking with the page numbers from the original book. When two facing pages are finished I’ll post the page spread, too.
This page was originally in the Topaz book. I cut it out and set it on the page in the combined Nineteen Topaz volume. And then I thought, this page needs nothing else to complete it.
I created the figure by drawing around some paint splotches, and set her on a background of mysterious letter and number symbols. I like to think they have meaning of some kind, but I don’t know what it is. Maybe the lady does.
A sketchbook is finished and now it appears here in serial form over however many weeks it takes to go through it. I created the book during the period 12/2023 to 12/2025. I worked on it in classes, workshops, informal groups, and on my own, so it’s a varied assortment of images.
I’ll be showing a page spread a week and I’ll also try to remark on anything distinctive about the work process or the subject of the images. The book is 10″ x 7″.
Thanks for coming along with me!
Pages 6 and 7
Both pages are derived from an activity we did in my online sketch group – a version of Exquisite Corpse. The pages were folded in thirds. I drew a series of heads, then flipped the paper up to cover the faces, mixed up the pages, and drew a mid-section for each figure. I repeated this again for the legs.
Later I glued the drawings into my book, filled in around the figures with India ink, and added compatible pen and ink surroundings for the group.
This activity worked great for me since I have no visual memory. As soon as I drew a section and then covered it up, it was as if I were starting anew. I enjoyed seeing the mismatched figures I came up with when we were done. Some of these people look pleased with their get-ups and others, well, maybe not so much!
Why is this book is called NineteenTopaz? Because 19 is my birthday number. And topaz is my birthstone.
I’ll post the pages as I consider them complete. To identify them I am sticking with the page numbers from the original book. When two facing pages are finished I’ll post the page spread, too.
Here you see pages 90 and 91. I did a little bit to the pages every so often; these weren’t done in one session. Inspiration had to have time to make itself known.
Sequence of work:
Scribble in ink all over page 91.
Paint all over page 90.
Cut out a stencil figure.
Set it on page 91 and paint over it in red.
Pull the stencil off page 91 to reveal the underlying page.
Glue the stencil on top of the colors on page 90.
Draw some dots on page 90. I guess I either lost interest in the dot idea or thought it was not going in a direction I liked.
FInished! Though the pages remained in this state for some time before I realized they were complete and I didn’t want to add anything else.
Why is this book is called NineteenTopaz? Because 19 is my birthday number. And topaz is my birthstone.
I’ll post the pages as I consider them complete. To identify them I am sticking with the page numbers from the original book. When two facing pages are finished I’ll post the page spread, too.
Here’s page 26. Over time, I added the lino print and a scrap painted paper to the page – then I waited for inspiration to strike.
When it did, I saw a flying saucer, so I got out my Posca pens and drew in details of the ship and its surroundings. It’s headed for some adventures, I hope!
A sketchbook is finished and now it appears here in serial form over however many weeks it takes to go through it. I created the book during the period 12/2023 to 12/2025. I worked on it in classes, workshops, informal groups, and on my own, so it’s a varied assortment of images.
I’ll be showing a page spread a week and I’ll also try to remark on anything distinctive about the work process or the subject of the images. The book is 10″ x 7″.
Thanks for coming along with me!
Pages 4 and 5
Page 4 is a black and white pen drawing of a section of a very colorful quilt I made – one of my random sewing adventures. I enjoyed translating the colors into just two shades and it was challenging to make it work when the fabrics relied so much on color to make their point.
You may also see the smeary black area at the bottom. Well, way along in this book’s progress I spilled black gesso along the bottom. A lot of black gesso. I did a cleanup as fast as I could but it left its mark on almost every page. Well, every object on this earth has it life events, good and bad, right?
Page 5 is a five-minute rendition of a scene I captured in a photo while grocery shopping.
Why is this book is called NineteenTopaz? Because 19 is my birthday number. And topaz is my birthstone.
I’ll post the pages as I consider them complete. To identify them I am sticking with the page numbers from the original book. When two facing pages are finished I’ll post the page spread, too.
Here’s the new page – Page 71. Purse Head Lady and birds! This picture has the feeling of a myth or legend or symbolism or metaphor or whatever. You can create your own meaning. I just like the look of it.
Here it is with its accompanying page, which was part of the Topaz book and has now been transported into this volume (at random; it was here before I did today’s featured page 71).
I am fascinated by reflections in store windows and often take photos of ones that interest me. Here’s a view of the interior of a restaurant in Media, PA, taken in February 2026.
A couple of days after I took the photo I attended an online sketching session held by my friend Zoungy Kligge. We participants had a nice low-key chat while drawing. I decided to try to replicate this window. I knew I would treat it as a flat surface and not try to depict it as having reflective qualities.
Here’s how things went. I drew it in pen and colored it with watercolors.
I enjoyed puzzling out all the different relationships among the various objects. I have a couple more photos of reflective windows from that photography session, so I think I might try another one.
A sketchbook is finished and now it appears here in serial form over however many weeks it takes to go through it. I created the book during the period 12/2023 to 12/2025. I worked on it in classes, workshops, informal groups, and on my own, so it’s a varied assortment of images.
I’ll be showing a page spread a week and I’ll also try to remark on anything distinctive about the work process or the subject of the images. The book is 10″ x 7″.
Thanks for coming along with me!
Pages 2 and 3:
Regarding Page 2, we had just finished having a lot of renovations done to our new home. Here you see my drawings of the new shower and a view of the stove area in the kitchen.
Page 3 shows an activity I return to again and again – making negative space figures. Here I have used India ink and acrylic ink.
Well, here’s another workshop I attended where I learned a new skill. This time it was Upcycled Brooches taught by Mia Volkommer at the Smithsonian, online.
You may remember back in December 2025 I learned to make ornaments using aluminum drink cans. This class took things a step further.
Then using a template, we cut and folded the metal into a shallow tiny box. Very tiny! Only about 2″ square. Mia gave us templates for other sizes, too.
This origami-like work is not as easy as it looks, but it’s not hard, either, once you get a feel for the materials. Patience is required, though, and attention to detail.
Once we had our box(es) done, we filled them. As I worked, I realized that to get what to me would be the most satisfying results, I would need to upgrade my collection of 3D tiny objects. I had to kind of fall back on what I had around, and I was stymied until all of a sudden I remembered the wire sculpture class I attended a few weeks ago. I found some thin wire in my collection so quick quick, I made a background, wrapped a shape, threw in some beads, and there it was…
… a face!
What to do with this little guy now? Mia showed us several ways to attach a pin back, so it could be worn as a brooch. I favor the other suggestion, gluing a magnet to the back and letting the refrigerator wear it! Another idea was to glue the kind of picture hanger that has a little triangle to hang on a nail and make a teeny wall piece.
Well, wherever it goes, I enjoyed making the piece, and I also like that these could be an outlet for my interest in picking up interesting objects off the ground. Let’s see what happens! Thank you to Mia and my classmates for a fun activity and some new ideas!
On a freezing cold night in February a group assembled at the library to set their intentions for this new year 2026. I was there, and here’s what happened.
I’d never done a Vision Board before. However, I’ve had a lot of changes in my life in the last two or three years. Some changes just happened, and some I initiated. I’ve been doing some reflecting on the scenery along this old highway of life, and so, when I saw the library newsletter advertising the event, I knew I wanted to go.
Our group (all female, teenagers to seniors) were met in the activity room by a lot of collage materials, including a treasure trove of magazines. The leader of the group (Denise, one of the librarians) took us through a reflection process before we started to work, to settle and clarify our thoughts for the board. I found this really calming and helpful in choosing what I wanted to do once I got my hands on the materials.
I picked a bright pink background. Denise had stressed letting the process flow, and this cheerful color stood out to me as a good vibe for 2026.
I chose a pile of magazines and took them back to my table (as time went on my tablemate and I swapped magazines so we had a lot of great material to use) and began cutting out words and pictures that appealed to me.
Then I got to work constructing my board. I turned it vertically and put in a woman figure. Could be me, could be Mother Nature, could be a goddess or Everywoman.
By now I had a sense of what I wanted the Vision Board to do. Others around me were quite specific about their goals and hopes, but I wanted to leave my images and words open to more than one interpretation. I felt I’d continue to reflect on things as the year went on and so should my Vision Board.
I added the words that seemed right and then I was done.
As our leader, Denise, suggested, I put it where I will see it every day, in my art room.
You know, I’m not one for affirmations or the power of positive thoughts or the like, but I do value the reminder the Vision Board gives me every day to take a minute to think about where I am and where I’d like to go.
And, I’m really appreciative that our library has so many programs for all of us to bea able to create, socialize, and learn something new. Thank you to the Brandywine Hundred Library in New Castle County, DE.
Claudia McGill and Her Art World 