Ink & Color Pencil Drawings by
Carolyn M. Blattel-Britton Ó
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I was born March 30, 1955 to Mary Catherine Perry Blattel and Carl John Blattel. My Dad passed away in 1978 and my Mom is a resident of the Colonial Manor in Zearing. I have one older sister, Marianne, who lives in Ankeny, Iowa with her husband.
I graduated from NESCO High School in 1973, where I took one semester of Art. I’m pretty much a self-taught artist. When I was younger, I would do drawings, but I just didn’t think they were good because I couldn’t make them look real. When I couldn’t accomplish that, I remember being frustrated. I started drawing again in 1978 using technical drawing pens with colored inks and color pencils on Baronial Ivory Classic laid text/cover paper. Now I work on rag mat/museum board. I became comfortable and gained confidence when I came up with my own style and drawing like I wanted and whatever I wanted instead of worrying about what I thought others might think it should be like. I first make the border on the paper, and then graph it off to help me balance it. Then I do the complete drawing in pencil, trace it with a technical drawing pen and black ink, and erase all the pencil lines. Then I use technical drawing pens with colored inks and I finish coloring with over 100 Berol Prisma color pencils. I really have fun doing these drawings. I thrive on the growing and learning process with each drawing I do. I have also been blessed with a strain of the obsessive compulsive disorder which somewhat explains my many idiosyncrasies. I’m very thankful I have a job where I can work at home and be with my guys.
Ink & Color Pencil Drawings completed between 2001-2006...Check for Availability & Prices
In 1980, I attended my first art show in Ames, Iowa. Since then I have participated in many art shows and exhibits. Television interviews, newspaper articles, awards, exhibits and commissions over the years have honored me. Some of the drawings I have completed include: Our Town Zearing, The Saint Anthony Family Recipe Book, The Iowa State Fair, The Charles Iowa Colby, Jr. Family, The Iowa State Capitol Complex for the Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation building by the Iowa Arts Council, The Noah Lacona Family, The Life of Bill Riley, Father Gander Nursery Rhymes Book, Iowa-My Home drawing and Calendar for Iowa Public Television, Iowa State Fair Award Winning Recipe cookbook for the Iowa State Fair, Story City for the Story City Historical Society, Downtown Des Moines by the Meredith Corporation for the Greater Downtown Des Moines Child Abuse Neglect and Prevention Center, Several drawings for prints and T- shirts of RAGBRAI from 1986 until 1993, Grinnell College, Iowa Arts Festival for Downtown Iowa City, Iowa Special Olympics, Dallas County Courthouse, Wallace Elementary in Johnston, The Beaverdale Fall Festival & Lutheran Social Service of Iowa. I do not have any more art shows scheduled nor am I accepting any commissions. I am having fun and challenging myself by observing life and letting my imagination wander, creating whatever helps me to keep thriving...In 1999, I started working on the illustrations for a book about Harry & Myrtle, a couple who had frequently made cameo appearances in my drawings over the years titled The Adventures of Harry & Myrtle. I have completed that book along with a story line and have even completed the drawings for a 2nd book, Harry & Myrtle American Vacation. I continue my quest in search for a publisher...Failure is not defeat unless I quit trying...
...Otherwise, I am just taking care of my guys and hanging out in my rock garden...
If I want to take a break or need to air out my brain, All I have to do is just walk across the street to our rock garden where I can sit on benches Benny made just for me or I can spend hours wandering around detailing my garden just like I do my drawings.
