Hello again!

A lot has changed since I last wrote you.

I completed the year-long challenge to create a detailed 8.5" x 11" page each day for an entire year. Because of the virus lock-down and social distancing, I was forced to complete some Urban Sketches while sitting in my car, with my sketchbook propped on the steering wheel.

I was determined to not take any shortcuts or let the quality suffer in favor of hurrying up, so it took me several hours a day to complete each drawing. I thought I'd be relieved to have finished, but once the cut-off date, April 12th, 2020 came along, I didn't want to stop. I missed the daily routine and structure of having an assignment each day. I was reminded of my theater days and the ennui that followed a stage production. After the sets were struck and the last cast-party held, there was always a weird vague feeling of aimlessness. I learned it's best to have already begun the next project.

And so it is now. I'm already a chapter or two into my next book, which will be full-color. Now that I can take a little more time with each drawing, it's a joy to be painting with watercolors again.

We also adopted Willa, a lab/golden retriever mix who could not be more perfect for us. She's eighteen months old, gentle and friendly and smart as a whip.

One thing COVID19 has made clear to me is how fortunate I am to be able to work from home on these drawings and continue to publish my books for you. Although my art classes are on hold, and I miss working with my students in person, I am one of the luckier ones amid this pandemic. I live very minimally, so I have very little overhead. "When you've got nothing, you've got nothing to lose." I know that not everyone is as fortunate as I (or my partner Donna, whose therapy practice has moved almost seamlessly to on-line sessions).

As we hunker down in our homes, I hope I can distract and amuse you with my big fat books of drawings.

My sincerest thanks to all my readers. As ever, all my books can be seen at etsy.com/shop/stevenreddy

And now, back to work!

Steven