I turned 2 and I missed it….

Tigerlilly

Graphite on Duralar

     I can’t believe I missed my blogaversary!  I would smack myself but in all fairness it’s been a pretty crappy month.  I have had two family members pass away within weeks of each other  and  my little big girl is recuperating from a nasty cold and a double ear infection.    So thank goodness, I found this drawing in my computer that I could post on this belated occasion.   Drawing on duralar is like taking a chicken bone to a gun fight,   But hey! I did it, it looks ok and I’ll never have to do it again.

 I love my blog and I’m really blessed for my virtual artist friends and  family members for their love and support…then I would like to thank the Academy…(hee hee just kidding).    It means a lot that I can go to an artist’s blog and ask ,”Hey, could you tell me how you did that?”  And they tell me with no hesitation.  Another example is when I  bought this drawing book and I didn’t understand some of what author was trying to get across, so I emailed her.  She took time out of her busy schedule and she explained it to me again,  breaking the instruction down more for me. She didn’t have to and could have easily told me to shove off or buy another one of her books, but she didn’t.  It’s many many little things like that has kept me going for the last two years  and makes me want to keep going, keep drawing, and keep learning….  I hope one day that I will be able to pay it forward.   

 Thank you!

Be Well and Happy!

EDM Montage….

 

EDM Challenges

 Colored Pencil on Sketch

 Since I am so far behind on completing my EDM challenges, I thought I do another grouping.   It was a great exercise in practicing colored pencil and layering color.  I used my cheapo sketch pad and colored pencil set. 

EDM #33 Draw an eye - I liked this exercise and I will probably do more of them on my own.  The books are right in saying that it is less daunting practicing one part at a time. 

EDM #26 Draw a vegetable or anything you like - This is my beautiful carrot drawing and my favorite drawing of all the exercises.

EDM #19 Draw something you’ve made - This is a pair of ear rings that I made for my sister-in-law.  The ear rings are supposed to resemble tie-dye and were made out of polymer clay. 

EDM #40 Draw something with folds - This is from an exercise that I got out of a book.  I have a lot of difficulty with folds too.  I messed up some of the drawing by adding violet to heavily.

EDM #39 Draw your toothbrush - This is my cool black and pink toothbrush.  It’s is one of those breast cancer proceeds brushes.  The odd shapes in the brush made it a fun exercise.

EDM #22 Draw something old or vintage - This is a drawing of my Great-grandpa’s shaving brush.  The brush is one of my precious treasures.

EDM #23 Draw your foot - Well, I’ll never draw my naked foot, but here’s a drawing  of my foot in my favorite handmade,  half-inch thick, knitted house socks….Better than shoes! 

Be Well and Happy!

 

New Look and a Sad Dog

Dog

Graphite on Bristol Smooth

    First, We’ll talk about the dog.  He is the last portrait that I had hidden away from Christmas.  I wish I had something cute to share about him, but   I don’t know any of his history and  I didn’t even find out his name or the names of the owners.   I was asked to do the portrait and I drew it and there it is.  The only little tidbit I got was a he was a beloved member of the family and he had passed away.  The owners were very pleased  with the portrait though, which is always good news.

    Now my new look.  As you know,  I have wanted to change my banner and come up with a name for my blog.  So, I was completely ecstatic when Alana gave me Photoshop Elements 8 for Christmas.  I know my banner is too busy…I tried, but I could’nt get that background out.  So I decided that for now I will just leave well enough alone.   I would probably change it a hundred times anyway, even if I thought it was perfect.

Be Well and Happy!  

Jacob….

Jacob

Graphite on Bristol Smooth

     This is another portrait that I worked on that was a Christmas gift.  The original looks so much better than the image above, but at least you have an idea of what he looks like.  I was asked to draw two of him in the same pose.    Drawing people is still pretty scary for me….Sometimes they work out and most of the time they don’t.  So as I write that I am extremely proud of this portrait, it’s a huge understatement.   I still have a hard time with blonde hair  though, but I’ll worry about that another day.  

      I have been breaking in my new easel and painting like crazy!  Not that I have anything remotely nice enough or finished enough to show…but I am really having fun making a complete mess:)  So even though it may not be good for the eyes, it is definitely good for the soul.

Be Well and Happy! 

   

   

     

Khaki….

Khaki

Graphite on Bristol Smooth

   This portrait is of our childhood dog.  He was a sweet, loving dog and Genghis Khan of the neighborhood possibly fathering hundreds of  pups throughout the surrounding area.  He bears a very strong resemblance to this dog and most certainly could be Khaki’s granddoggie.  He was closer to my little sister than the rest of us and was she devastated when he left one afternoon and never returned home.  I  don’t know if he went away to die (he was really old), or he got shot, but we hoped that another family adopted him.  Anyway, my mom asked me to draw this for her for Christmas and of course I was more than happy to do it.   She loved it and I think it was her favorite gift!

Be Well and have a Happy New Year!

 

My new pretty….

     I have a few things to post, but I thought today I would share a very special birthday gift, my easel.   My old easel did not work very well and when I would paint, 9 times out of 10 the easel as well as my canvas ( wet with paint) would land in the floor.   Now, I could beat the canvas to pieces and my new easel will take it like a champ.

    The oil painting on the easel is one that my Dad and I were working on Thanksgiving.  It’s a Bob Ross  style painting.   The portion on the right isn’t finished, but I hope to complete it very soon. 

Well, I’m off to paint:) 

 Be Well and Happy!

Merry Christmas!

 

 Colored Pencil on sketch

       Well, I guess this is my last  entry until after the holidays.  I haven’t completed any new artwork, so I am posting this candy cane that I drew and colored in with crayola colored pencils a long time ago.  This is one of my favorite sketches and is certainly relevant to the upcoming season.  I do have a few pieces of art that I will be able to share after the pieces get to their homes.   But other than that, I’ve been shopping, wrapping, baking.  Then I had to give Sam his Christmas shave.  I had to get him handsome so he could see his girlfriend…It’s true love…really!

The drawing on the top is Sam and the one on the bottom  is Shasta.   A beautiful couple huh?  NOT!

      I’m going home for Christmas  and as it turns out I will also there for my birthday on the 23rd.  I am sooooo excited.  I haven’t been able spend Christmas with my family  for the past couple of years so I can’t wait! Oh, and did I say that I was excited?  

    I guess that’s about it for now.  I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Christmas!

    

 

My IPod…

 

EDM #97 Draw a present you have received.  Why is it special?

Graphite and ink on sketch

David bought this for me a couple of years ago for Christmas and it is still a very special gift.  I always keep my IPod in my purse and whenever I’m bored or stuck in the car traveling  I am able to pull out this little piece of technology and I’m instantly entertained.  I guess I’m like a three-year old in that aspect and I always have to have something to do in a car or I will get really cranky.  Cars make me claustrophobic after a while and I have to take my mind off  of being in a metal box rolling at high speed.  I have lots of music, movies, games, books and a few photos that keeps me perfectly content for hours so it’s the coolest thing ever,  except maybe the ITouch….

Theatre Masks…

Theatre Masks

Pigma Micron on Bristol Smooth

(click on image to enlarge)

Just how awesome  can a Zentangle be?  I guess this AWESOME!  Though I have way too many hours in this and I’m very excited  how it turned out.  My niece Leigh is studying theatre in college and was the inspiration behind this piece. I was looking at her pictures on Facebook and I was thinking how cool…the pancake make-up… the costumes…the lighting…..Then,  BAM! the Theatre Masks were born.   I like when ideas sneak up on you and hit you like a ton of bricks!  Leigh is such a beautiful individual inside and out and I’m very excited to see what her future holds because I guarantee that it will be just spectacular! 

   BTW, I’m still working on the Van Gogh painting and it’s still going horrible, but I’m trying to hang in there!

Gypsy…

Gypsy

Graphite on Bristol Smooth

     I sent my cousin an email asking her if she would like to see her picture now or let it be a surprise.  She replied, “NOW!”  So I sent it, she loved it and put it on her Facebook wall.  I am so relieved and since she has seen the picture…I can post it! 

    The picture she sent me was so cute and the dog is adorable, but I laughed the whole time I was drawing him!  I don’t know what Gypsy was looking at when his picture was taken, but he was cross eyed as could be.  So Thanks for the Laughs Gypsy!