December 10, 2025
Dear Liza,
Sometimes, instead of a well-thought out, challenging art project, I just want to doodle on the couch with Auntie Bridgett and Grandpa Nelson.
That’s how this series came about. It started with this, a ballpoint pen doodle filled in with colored pencils and patterns. Then I rounded the corners and added some flourishes. I liked how it looked, so I photographed it.
I decided to try and make another one like it, to see each step and share with you. Here’s the doodle. I wasn’t crazy about the wonky corners, but Picasso said that if you hate a piece, keep going.
So I colored it in with Staedtler colored pencils, like the first one. I left some spaces empty for Micron #12 patterns.
Once the spaces were filled in dots and dashes, it started coming together. Almost like a free form quilt.
I thickened up the lines and rounded the corners, and belatedly noticed that these were watercolor pencils I was working with! So I got my brush pen and added the tiniest bit of water… and magic happened!
I get the feeling this is going to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Love,
Grandma Judy
Dear Liza 