My Creative Spot Blog

getting serious about loosening up

2010-09-19T14:39:00.001-05:00

Watercolor on gessoed watercolor paper. My daughter, Kajsa, went to Yellowstone this summer and took several photographs of the wildlife - I painted this once and it was stiff and awful so I tried again and this time it turned out much more like what I was aiming for - I have never painted on gessoed paper before but it sure helped me to keep it loose - 8x10 -

I like this one!

2010-09-09T19:03:00.001-05:00

This started out to be an acrylic under painting for an evening sky and distant treeline water color painting. I realized that the foreground was too dark to go back in with watercolors which had been my original intention. (OK so I wasn't thinking straight from the get go ) Anyway, I started messing around with pastels on the under painting and this is what I got and I'm very happy with it- Surprise!!! I never like my artwork and I like this. 11x14 on 300lb water color paper.

Having more fun with watercolors

2010-09-03T20:58:00.001-05:00

Still having fun practicing watercolors - working on getting looser --- for my birthday I got four new watercolor books that have inspired me to try new and different styles and techniques - I'm thrilled because I feel good enough to practice several days a week - small 4x6

Painting Little Jewels

2010-06-11T14:08:00.001-05:00

I am having lots of fun wrinkling up wet watercolor paper and then dropping or painting with watercolors--I then let it dry a little and go back in and do a little negative painting - My paper does not hold up to this technique very well I'm using a student grade 90lb -I am going to try some other papers -

I'm not very familiar with negative painting techniques and sometimes I just define an area or two - but talk about loose - this is very very loose - two of these pieces I have done in other media I think I blogged them if so I'll post a link to my original versions - I have no idea if these are any "good" but I do know that I enjoy making them and looking at them so I guess that is all that counts for me- these are all small 3"x5"-

This is rock creek I did it in colored pencil as a thank you note to my uncle here

I tried this scene in pastels here I like this version better.

another try at Pastel landscape

2010-06-05T14:40:00.000-05:00

Still working on getting looser and how to do leaves against the sky so the leaves and the sky do not look choppy. I do not like the leaves and sky area in this and it is not fixable so I think I need to do some small practice studies so I can figure out how to get the look I want. I tried a watercolor underpainting on wallis sanded paper on this piece. The watercolor caused the paper to buckle even though I had taped it firmly - next time I will dry mount and see if that holds the paper flat while wet - it did flatten back out when it had dried. As usual I overworked this so the entire underpainting is gone- there were several areas that would have been lovely had I restrained myself and let them peek through the pastels - this is small 8" x 10" - It has been so long since I posted on blogger things have changed and I can't figure out how to left align the text - there it's fixed-

Mangoes and Crayons

2010-06-03T21:29:00.002-05:00

I spent the day in my studio - Worked on a pastel landscape I had started last month - and then decided to work with crayon - I've always loved the colors on mangoes and I had two in the kitchen - For some reason I feel very relaxed when I work with crayons and the best part of crayon is you have to quit before you are ready to because plain paper will only take so much crayon - 5"x7" on plain paper

Ashley's Iris #3

2010-01-08T20:55:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure if I'm done with this Iris or not - the series may not be done- but I think this piece needs work - however, I'm going to leave it alone for a while - Pastel on colorfix paper 8 1/2" x 11 1/2". The background is weird but that is what happened - it reminds me of some old fashioned William Morris motif - I just love the colors in the central large petal on the blossom - and have yet to do them justice -

Ashley's Iris #2

2010-01-03T16:24:00.000-06:00

Since the last Iris had a failed background I started with the background on this one - Ink on watercolor paper approx 6" x 11" - I am having fun with the ink - this one was fun # 3 will be pastel - maybe later this week-

Ashley's Iris

2010-01-01T14:17:00.002-06:00

Took lots of reference photos when we were at Lars and Ashleys this spring this iris was from her garden- the black background evolved when the original watercolor pencil background failed - watercolor pencil on fabriano HP 140lb paper approx 5" x 10"

I really want to get back to making more art and watching less TV

Something Different

2009-10-25T15:22:00.004-05:00

Ink on watercolor paper- obviously inspired by fall - I had fun doing this and I like the finished product - except I now have black India ink freckles

Impressionist Landscape - A Sad Story -

2009-10-11T19:58:00.006-05:00

For the last two months I have been looking forward to a weekend workshop entitled "Painting the Impressionistic Landscape in Pastel" at the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa -My friend Rosemary signed up with me and came down from Chicago for the class-

We made reservations at the Marriott for Saturday night - we packed our supplies our clothes and got up at 5:00 am on a Saturday so that we could arrive on time- we were 15 minutes early but the building was locked I rang the bell and a guard came from the museum and checked to see who I was & what I wanted - I told her we were here for the class and she called in to check and see if we were in the right place - we were - she was surprised no one else was there but said maybe people were running late -

We waited and still no one came - to make a very long story short - There was no workshop!!! - it was still on the museum's website and the artist's website and they took our money - but somehow - there was no class - I cannot say how disappointed I was - The people at the museum were very nice and very apologetic but - there was no workshop -!!!!!!---- ????? We made the best of a huge disappointment and spent the morning at the museum - it is fabulous - lots of Remingtons, Morans, Caitlins, and even a newly acquired Georgia O'keefe - it is an outstanding collection of paintings, bronzes and artifacts - definitely a world class collection - and then we went to a local street fair with art - not so great but interesting -

Arena had invited us to have dinner at her house - Heath and Noah came too - and we had a wonderful meal Boeuf Bourguignon a La Julia Child and panna cotta with raspberries for desert - Arena is a wonderful hostess and cook we enjoyed our evening-

So... on Sunday Rosemary and I held our own little Impressionist workshop and these two pastel sketches are the results of my efforts to create an impressionist landscape in pastel - both are 6" by 9.5" on hahnemuhle paper- it is a very soft paper and has a velour like texture the top sketch is from a photograph I took at Darlene's house the lower sketch is a copy of a Richard McDaniel Landscape

one more try

2009-09-07T21:34:00.004-05:00

I tried this one once more- this time on canson mi tientes smooth side - I got some things right but I'm still having trouble with the leaves and the dark bunches of leaves-- I think I keep making them too much alike - I like the background and the sunrise and the fore ground- but I have to study trees with leaves - they are very difficult - for me at least - Ive had a great labor day weekend-- I made three pieces of art - They were great practice pieces and I learned from each - We also had a nice day on the boat - and dinner at red lobster -

baby steps no acrylic

2009-09-07T12:50:00.004-05:00

This is how I wish this piece looked .... but I used photo shop to enhance the contrast 9x12 pastel on colorfix - the lower version is more accurate-- maybe a little faded on screen when compared to the actual piece - it is hard to get a good scan and then I guess it looks different on every monitor - I wanted to try to paint this in acrylic but I could not face putting pastels away and cleaning up my studio and setting up for painting so it is in pastel - I think I will just keep practicing in pastels but the next time I will be braver with color & contrast

Portrait Practice

2009-09-05T22:05:00.003-05:00

Ashley's dad - this guy has a great face -- very open and friendly and relaxed --with lots of character - pastel on aubergine colorfix - does not scan well 9x12 - not quite done but almost - tomorrow a sunset in acrylic - maybe

Thanks to Uncle Richard

2009-09-01T21:22:00.005-05:00

My Uncle Richard made this beautiful Shaker Sewing Basket from a piece of silver maple - I received it just in time for my 60th birthday-- what a wonderful gift! He made several other boxes (a total of 5) and a bowl out of the same piece of silver maple and gave them to my sisters, my mother (his sister) and my brother -The sketch below was the front of my thank you note to Uncle Richard -

Correcting Mistakes

2009-08-23T17:44:00.005-05:00

In school you had to go back and correct your mistakes -So I went back to see where I went wrong - how else will I learn???

Kajsa's head got way to wide and tall - I think part of the problem is that I work flat I think I should work on an easel and work vertically - parallel to my reference or subject -

This looks much more like Kajsa mostly I changed the width of her forehead and hair and enlarged the glasses I also narrowed her shoulders - Not a great or even a good work of art but definitely a learning experience -

Plus after seeing the corrected version on a computer screen I could see the bridge of her nose was not shaded correctly so it looks even better now -Pastels are great for fixing mistakes - I fixed them so I could see what I did wrong next time I might try to fix the art work - I am very please with the corrected version - and what I learned by doing it - ;-)

portrait practice

2009-08-16T19:27:00.004-05:00

Went to Oklahoma City Art Museum for a portrait class - it was VERY basic but we had fun - this looks nothing like Kajsa but--oh well the next one might -and I will spend more time- I think the forehead is wrong - the mouth maybe looks a little tiny bit like Kajsa's mouth - this was quick about two hours -

Heath and Arena both did excellent pieces -in fact I believe they both "out drew me" or is that beat me to the draw- I'm quite impressed with their work

over worked but improved

2009-07-23T21:17:00.003-05:00

this is about learning so I forgot about loose and tried to fix some of the things I did not like about this the first time I "finished the path" (see previous post for first version) -- I added more- and lightened the sky --- darkened tree foliage -- warmed up the path-- added a few foreground darks -- -

I think experience and understanding of what works imparts freshness and looseness and that means lots of trial & error -I need way more experience to get fresh and loose without overworking - I might try this again and see if I can get a better cleaner version - this particular piece is way over done but I did learn a lot

still working on loose - A Path

2009-07-12T22:54:00.004-05:00

I'm just practicing - I tried sketching for all most one full year and I guess I'm not really a sketcher - I like making bigger pieces - so I'm going to just bite the bullet make bigger more finished pieces and work at making better art - this is OK but I am not happy with the upper foliage I like the path and the foreground contrast - But in looking at this ( it's a photograph as the piece was too big for the scanner 11x13") I'm surprised at how blurry the leaves on the tree look - I think I worked on it for four or five hours today -

still working on loose

2009-07-10T21:51:00.002-05:00

I bought lots of pears in december they were all photographed then eaten - these were the yellow ones but they look red in this sketch- pastel on colorfix paper about 10 x 7 - Just practicing -

working on loose

2009-07-08T21:49:00.003-05:00

I like this a lot 11 1/2" x 7" on bristol - crayon & colored pencil - I took reference photos of these pears last December but never did anything with them - I want to get looser and working with crayons is helping me do that - it is also hard to overwork it because you can't get anything to stick to the paper after a layer or two with the crayons -

Myriad Gardens Orchids

2009-06-28T20:46:00.002-05:00

I tried this same Orchid reference in pastel on black paper a few weeks ago this is Colored Pencil and black marker on Strathmore velum bristol - 8 x 10" I like this better - but it took a lot more time to get it to where I liked it -

La Partida

2009-06-21T12:05:00.003-05:00

I am not a musician and never will be but, I just love to play my hammered dulcimer - it makes me happy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4_nefYvlRc (click this link or on the link below to hear me play this)

-this is called La Partida I learned it several years ago at a dulcimer festival from Rick Thum there are lots of mistakes and unevenness in this but I love this piece - so up it goes -

I'm also practicing one called The Meeting House - It's my sister Jan's favorite piece and I always played it for her when we vacationed together over the fourth of July in the North Woods of Michigan's Upper Peninsula- aka UP NORTH - this is the second year - we won't be there - or maybe the third - I miss her and our vacations with family and friends - so watch for "The Meeting House " coming soon to a blog near you!

This month my blog is one year old - I've posted 95 times and have done a lot more art work than I would have made without the blog - I think my focus has changed and I'm going to use the blog as a sort of record - to me, for me - of the things that I am doing to support my need to be creative - but I'm trying to not spend so much time on the internet because like TV it is very easy to end up just watching and not doing - and the last thing I want to do is watch others live their lives and not have time to live my own - One of the bloggers I know calls her blog "Progress - Not Perfection" - I like that - and I believe I am learning to give up the idea that I need to be perfect or even especially good at anything before I do it or post it - It is about the journey the enjoyment, the lessons learned and the time spent being very much in the moment .

Different strokes from Different Folks Summer Vegetables

2009-06-13T22:04:00.002-05:00

Another challenge from Karin Jurick at Different strokes from Different Folks Summer Vegetables -

I'm not sure why I did an abstract version I generally don't like abstracts--

in fact I generally dislike abstracts

but when I first saw this image I thought there would be LOTS of abstract versions

I'm surprised that there are not.

I started a realistic image and kept thinking it should be an abstract so here it is

"three tomatoes two onions and a bunch of corn on a plate"

crayon & colored pencil on vellum bristol approx 10" x 7"

Orchid

2009-06-03T21:53:00.003-05:00

My niece Heath graduated from Medical School she is now officially a Dr. ! Congratulations Heath! We went to Oklahoma City for the Graduation - I had never been there before - What a nice city! no traffic and a great botanical garden / conservatory -it was called Myriad Gardens I took lots of pictures this orchid is based on one of my photos - working on whites and keeping it loose- 8 x 10 " pastel on black paper - very tough keeping the background black-

Different strokes from Different Folks Week 35&36 Pennsylvania Landscape

2009-05-25T22:07:00.002-05:00

Another challenge from Karin Jurick at Different strokes from Different Folks her reference photo was a gray scale photo of a Pennsylvania Farmscape. Karin asked everyone to invent their own color version. I made my fields the color of late summer fields - yellow orange and green . 6x9" pastel on Hanemuhle velour paper.

A work in progess - it's all about MOM

2009-05-10T20:19:00.002-05:00

For my beautiful Mother

I Love You Mom

In progress several hours more to go - Unfortunately I plan to age you a little

Working on Whites

2009-05-07T21:44:00.002-05:00

Little 4.5" x 5.5" pastel on Wallis paper- White on white study - not easy - not a total success-- but not a total failure either. I'm in Artistic rehab now and just trying to find the best exercises to get my artistic muscles back into shape.

I brewed a whole pot of decaf for this sketch and I can hardly see the coffee - I guess I'll go make another cup and this time I'll drink it -

May #3 the luck of the draw

2009-05-07T12:05:00.006-05:00

I have kept my word to myself and spent an hour a day in my studio - the day after I did Carolyn in pastel I did a second version in watercolor pencil which I did not like and will not be posting -

the next day I found myself blogastinating and forced my self into my studio shut my eyes and pulled out a photo from my photo reference drawer -and this is what I got - It took a couple of days to do - not what I envisioned but it represents about 3 hours of fiddling I did not like the paper I need to stick to Wallis and Colorfix papers for pastels -- what a huge difference paper makes-

tonight I will try a value study in white ? HUH??? OK just a study in white

Approx 6" x 7" best viewed from a great distance in very low light

Carolyn & My life as a Slug!

2009-05-03T14:01:00.003-05:00

Pastel on Wallis paper 9" x 12" this is my brilliant and talented niece Carolyn she is an ALL American pole vaulter- She recently placed seventh at the nationals we are extremely proud of her.

As for me -- well I have recently been living the lifestyle of the all American SLUG - I go to work come home eat dinner and watch TV -no computer no email no drawing no dulcimering - It was all that I could do - but now I seem to have more energy - The slug lifestyle is easy and nice but eventually I got a little bored with it- I believe I burnt out during our recent kitchen remodel and it has taken 4 months and a visit to my mother to get fully recovered .

I made a vow to my self that I would spend at least an hour a day in my studio doing something - ANYTHING every day in May - so this piece is the result of my first couple of studio hours. I was inspired by a wonderful photograph of Carolyn that was taken by her younger sister Cecille - Cecille is a very talented photographer- Thanks Cecille hope you don't mind this unauthorized use of your photo. And the cover of the most recent issue of Drawing magazine - I love the scribble style -

Boogie waiting for me to get busy!

2009-03-18T21:32:00.002-05:00

Ok so my current excuse is we just finished remodeling our kitchen - and we are way to old to be doing these DIY projects!!! I am still recovering - I can't believe we survived -- but Kajsa (who helped me tile and grout the kitchen floor -while the boys worked the tile saw ) is having severe back pains - poor baby -

Pastel version

2009-02-11T21:56:00.002-06:00

I thought the water color was flat and boring so I tried the same reference in pastel-- I like it much better -- of course-- it took quite a bit longer to do about two or three hours compared to maybe an hour on the water color version--- this piece is 11" x 15" (on Brenda Mattson paper which I don't like )- I actually enjoyed doing this so maybe I will allow myself to do some more pastel and pencil pieces and work on watercolors and sketching a little less - AHHHHH it feels good to do something fun again

Forcing Myself -#2

2009-02-08T21:41:00.004-06:00

It's like a switch was turned off and the lights went out - I have not felt like making art in weeks and I miss it but I am having a very hard time getting switched back on - tonight I just forced myself - I found a photograph in a book about old houses and used it as a reference not good art but not awful - I think I just burned out for a while and now I'm trying to get going again - watercolor 8" x 11"

The Art of Baking

2009-01-22T17:43:00.002-06:00

OK I found this on line recipe for no knead crusty bread so I tried it - started it around 8 last night and finished baking at 5 pm today - easy and good was VERY crusty so I rubbed the loaf with butter which makes it softer try it both ways - I'm surprised how good it tasted and had a very nice texture See it done here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13Ah9ES2yTU
No Knead, Dutch Oven Bread1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting.
You may use white, whole wheat or a combination of the two.
1 1/2 tsp salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran for dusting
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add the flour and salt, stirring until blended. The dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let the dough rest at least 8 hours, preferably 12 to 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.
The dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it. Sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let it rest for about 15 minutes.
Using just enough flour to keep the dough from sticking to the work surface or to your fingers, gently shape it into a ball. Generously coat a clean dish towel with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal. Put the seam side of the dough down on the towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another towel and let rise for about 1 to 2 hours. When it’s ready, the dough will have doubled in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.
At least 20 minutes before the dough is ready, heat oven to 475 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in the oven as it heats. When the dough is ready, carefully remove the pot from the oven and lift off the lid. Slide your hand under the towel and turn the dough over into the pot, seam side up. The dough will lose its shape a bit in the process, but that’s OK. Give the pan a firm shake or two to help distribute the dough evenly, but don’t worry if it’s not perfect; it will straighten out as it bakes.
Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake another 15 to 20 minutes, until the loaf is beautifully browned. Remove the bread from the Dutch oven and let it cool on a rack for at least 1 hour before slicing

Different strokes from Different Folks week 19-20

2009-01-18T14:53:00.006-06:00

Another challenge from Karin Jurick at Different strokes from Different Folks her reference photo was a night time scene of the Jefferson Memorial. The challenge was posted just when we had a beautiful full moon at perigee. Every time I saw the reference photo I was reminded of the beautiful moon we were seeing and so the dome became the moon in my version of this challenge -

Watercolor 9" x 11"

Lethargic

2009-01-17T18:42:00.004-06:00

Lately it's been hard to get motivated - but today I did a couple of little things in my sketch books (and dated them incorrectly)- so here they are -

I'm still learning -- this watercolor sketch of a cherry started out O.K but then with every glaze I went out side the lines so I had to fix it -- and the cherry kept getting bigger-- then I did not wait for the stem to be completely dry or else I used to much water when tinting the back ground - Live and learn -

this was a based on a sunset of a farm it started out so bad I was tempted not to finish it but then I messed around with a micron pen and it turned out much better than I had hoped for

I've been Tagged

2009-01-14T06:03:00.002-06:00

over on Flickr they are playing a game of tag - if you are it you have to list 16 facts about you and post a photo of yourself - (I photoshopped my sister right out of this picture )

1. I'm the second of five children - I was also born a blond

2. My husband and I owned and operated an industrial manufacturing company

3. I love my children more than life itself - Two happiest days of my life were the days we brought our babies home from the hospital (we adopted both at birth)

4. My horse was named Cowgirl I loved to ride bareback

5. I taught snow skiing (snow plow classes)

6. I'm afraid of the dark (like a moonless night out in the woods no flashlight -)

7. My favorite food is Nachos

8. I listen to books on CD

9. I am a cancer survivor - I have been bald

10. I cannot sing - But I love to play music on my Hammered Dulcimer

11. Favorite music to listen to- Folk Based Blues -(Guy Davis)

12. I played the Cello when I was in Jr High School

13. Favorite summer drink is a Tanqueray Gin & Tonic

14. I had a flock of sheep and spun their wool and wove it on my loom

15. Gunnar & I lived in Ogden, Utah and Bellevue Washington in the 1970's

16. My sweet husband of 38 years makes me breakfast every Sunday

POP ART

2009-01-06T21:28:00.002-06:00

yahoo!!!!! this is a sketch under an hour- this is what I joined EDM to learn to do - If I did it once I can do it again - I'm happier with this than any other piece I've done since June - except of course I am not happy with the handwriting and journaling but YEA!!! ME!!!!!

Forcing myself

2009-01-05T21:08:00.002-06:00

Forcing myself to learn water colors -

I recently did a pencil sketch from the same black and white reference photo of my niece Arena. I tried to fix the eyes on the pencil sketch and I think I ruined it.

Arena was about 4 or 5 years old in the photo ( she is very old now -- at least 30!) This was one of her favorite photos of herself - and I've had the original or a copy of it for a long time --at least 5 years -- and never did anything with it ------- so then I was chiding myself for resorting to pastels for my recent self portrait and decided I would do a watercolor based on Arena's photo even if it was in black and white - In the reference her smile is so sweet and her eyes are all most elfish - She was and is very cute and sweet - this water color is not as sweet or cute as the real little person - but is the best I could do - I Love you Arena - AK

Zentangles & Mandala Zentangles for your relaxation

2009-01-03T08:48:00.004-06:00

First I went to Barbara's Blog and saw some Zentangles - I really liked them - I had seen them before but did not quite get how to do them - mine just didn't look right . Barbara gave me a link to the Zentangle site where I could read about them and it helped me to see how it's done so I did a little page with just boxes to practice making some of the designs

So here is my first Zentangle - it was very relaxing and kind of meditative to do it I added color with pitt pens I like the bottom half better than the top halfThen I found another site how to draw a Mandala Zentangle I enjoyed making the mandala design. I will make more-- this is the perfect kind of art for those times when you don't want to do something big but want to do something relaxing and fun . Thanks Barbara.

The evolution of a self portrait

2009-01-01T19:26:00.007-06:00

New Years Day -I did not get dressed all day - watched HGTV and did some zentangles ---then decided I wanted to do some real art - There was a portrait exchange over at Karin Jurik's Different Strokes but I missed the sign up so I decided I would just do my own portrait -

I put a rough sketch on water color paper but lost my nerve about doing it in water color - I thought I should do it in crayon- but then I thought maybe I would do it in the style I like to use with crayons but use pastels -

I scribbled random colors in the correct values to get the light and dark areas established -then started adding the correct local colors -It got real muddy so I sprayed it with water and pushed stuff around and wiped off some color then I reapplied some colors and real color and told my self to stop my mouth is very weird and wrong,--- some of the dark blues I used in the original value scribbles show through ---but mostly I like it and I tried something different -

happy new year !!

Getting the most out of "An Illustrated Life"

2008-12-28T20:47:00.003-06:00

For Christmas I received a copy of Danny Gregory's An Illustrated Life it was a wonderful surprise ( from me to me)- -
It is a beautiful and fascinating book but I don't want to miss a thing - I followed Winna Jill's advice to getting the most out of every page

If the shoe fits AKA - EDM # 1

2008-12-27T20:46:00.004-06:00

this shoe won't fit anyone - it is very small and the front half is solid -- no place for toes - A gift from my niece It is made of some kind pottery - I enjoyed sketching it - my sketch is larger than the shoe-

then a really quick sketch and a few blobs of water color I liked the water color so much I put color on the first version too.

JUL BOK

2008-12-17T22:41:00.006-06:00

Water color and micron pen in moleskine watercolor sketch book 8 1/2" x 5"

My husband was born in Sweden and came to the US with his family when he was 13 years old--- that was many many many many many years ago. We have a big Christmas eve meal that includes many traditional Swedish dishes. We decorate the house and tree with a lot of Swedish Christmas decorations. My favorite decorations are the straw goats they are called Jul Bok - In Sweden there are trolls called tomten who bring gifts on Christmas eve in a sled pulled by goats - so these straw goats are kind of like reindeer - sort of --

I'm not sure how many of these we have this one is about 12" tall I have one that is close to three feet tall - Our tree has lots of straw ornaments, red hearts, paper Dala horses and sometimes Swedish flags.

Here is Boogie and the Jul Bokken waiting for Santa

A Sketch of some Hammers

2008-12-15T22:33:00.002-06:00

So back to practicing water colors and sketching - a pair of hammers that I seldom use but they were interesting to sketch -water color on a very strange paper I have no idea where I got it but it is not really like paper more like plastic 4 1/2" x 8" fairly quick 45 minutes maybe - I am learning but I still need to work on my quick draw - drawing skills

I buy lots of hammers it must have something to do with BEAS disease some related syndrome but hard to diagnose - maybe I think I'll play better if I have better hammers but mostly I think I'll play better when I practice more - mmm do ya think practice would work?

my first public performance

2008-12-13T20:51:00.003-06:00

I don't "Play Out" as they say in the hammered dulcimer world - it means I only play in my studio and I never play for any kind of an audience - I have severe performance anxiety - I choke- big time -and my playing is an absolute train wreck if I think any one can see or hear me play - but at night if I am not making art I am making music-

I am mostly self taught and I just love the sound of this instrument - my Hammered Dulcimer is a Chromatic Grand built by David Lindsey of Bennington Oklahoma - I bought this one about 6 years ago when I lived in Illinois-- David had a booth at the Gebhard Woods Dulcimer Festival in Morris Illinois - and I had to have one of his dulcimers- they have the EXACT sound I was looking for (it is bright, brassy and loud- like me- without much sustain- also like me -) my first dulcimer was a Dusty Strings ( not enough notes) so then I got a Master Works (too much sustain and too soft a voice) and then I got my Grand it is absolutely just right

Thanks to the extreme kindness and supportive remarks that my EDM friends make regarding my attempts at art - I have the nerve to post my first public performance on the hammered dulcimer - It took about 10 takes to relax enough so I could get through this short version of Carol of the Bells - just knowing I had the camera on made me nervous

anyway thanks to everyone for the kind comments and support you have shown me both on my blog and my FLICKR I am wishing you all the very best in the coming New Year

December Virtual Sketch Date

2008-12-06T17:10:00.004-06:00

Pastel on Brenda Mattson paper 11"x15" for Virtual sketch date

this paper has very little tooth I don't think I like the paper -I am, however, satisfied with the drawing -

This is not what I would call a sketch it took about 3 hours - I did make an attempt with watercolors but that went straight into the trash - I am thinking more and more about - not learning to sketch in ink or watercolors but just play around with my standards pencils and pastels - I am so much more relaxed when I do -

Different Strokes - Her Boots - (maybe final version)

2008-12-05T20:30:00.005-06:00

This is the version I submitted to Karin's Different strokes from Different Folks - I'm having fun with the crayons but I think maybe this background is boring -I found a box of 64 crayola brand crayons - Kajsa gave them to me when she was cleaning her craft area out - and I discovered them while I was reorganizing my studio -- I enjoyed kind of scribbling with them -

I'm trying to blog less create more

2008-12-03T20:39:00.003-06:00

this was a demo/lesson on the Painting & Drawing channel that I watched on you tube last night -- the lessons change weekly so it may not still be there - I watched the video and then went straight to my studio to practice - It turned out ok but I don't like the sky - scan is not quite true to color but close enough -

This is the new challenge on Karin Jurick's Different Strokes from Different Folks I did this real quick in crayon & I like it way more than my water color for the last challenge -- but I'm posting the good and the bad so that was bad this one is pretty good - I'm considering if I want to do more or leave it as is -

Different strokes from Different Folks

2008-12-01T22:23:00.005-06:00

Karin Jurick has an interesting weekly challenge at her blog Different Strokes from Different Folks- (see all the entries for this week here )

the reference for this week's challenge was the photo below - my version is 5" x 8" on 90 lb watercolor paper it is done in watercolor, - this is my second time to participate it is a fun challenge.

Clean Studio

2008-11-30T11:54:00.003-06:00

This may not happen again for quite some time - but I got my studio in order - It does not look this neat today as I played in it yesterday ---and so it is now lived in - this is my favorite room in the house -

I had wanted to paint the walls and ceilings when we moved here but it was one of the better rooms in the house and now it has been close to three years and there are still MANY projects ahead of this one - we might even get to do the kitchen this winter !!! Yahoo!!!!! my kitchen is vintage 1970 it can use a lot of updating - at this rate maybe in 3 or 4 years I will get my studio painted, replace the old patio doors and get rid of the carpet which has some pastel dust stains - but I still like this room - it is my first room totally devoted to art and music -no computer -no TV -no guest bed (but it has been slept in a couple of time using blow up bed)

balancing my life

2008-11-23T11:09:00.003-06:00

Little 4x6 pastel on a scrap of velour mat board - my studio is a wreck - I got sidetracked while organizing and worked on this instead - I need to finish organizing it so I can work in it - after all it is the most important room in the house!
It is so hard to find a balance - when you have four hours per week day and 16 hours each Saturday and Sunday to do all the things you want to do - but as I write 52 hours seems like a lot of time -

9 hours blogastinating & other computer related stuff

8 hours doing art

6 hours house work + laundry

6 hours TV

6 hours reading

4 hours playing hammered dulcimer

4 hours shopping

9 hours for everything else-

time with Gunnar- visiting with the neighbors- talking on the phone- daydreaming-going out to eat- motorcycle riding - etc.

Well after thinking about it I guess I don't waste as much time as I thought I think this is a realistic list (except maybe I spend less time on house work) I get a huge amount of enjoyment blogging and visiting blogs so to me it is not wasted time -

A work in progess - it's all about ME!

2008-11-16T15:52:00.007-06:00

I'm working on this little sketch of Arena her left eye is wrong & I'm not sure what about it is off or how to fix it-

but mostly the work in progress is ME -

I am working and learning at many levels. Here are some things I've learned so far -

Making Art is Hard Work

I like to work horizontally

I want to use sketchier looser lines-

Artistic styles and subject matter I admire are not necessarily styles or subject matter I like to use

I like working on landscapes and portraits of things and/or people

I don't enjoy doing still life arrangements or abstractions
I am easily distracted and like to try new things

I like to work in pastel and colored pencil

I want to take more workshops

I want to learn to use water colors

I'm not interested in selling my art work

I am interested in and enjoy the creative process

I love to buy art supplies and art books

Blogging is time consuming

I learn a lot when I try new things

I love interacting with artist's and creative people on line

I need to practice sketching people more

I don't want to make a cool journal

I do want to make good sketches

I am glad I joined everyday matters

I am still searching for my style

I need to improve my drawing skills

I want to be more aware of composition in my larger pieces

I need to get off the computer and clean house or make art!

post card swap

2008-11-15T11:40:00.003-06:00

Post cards for the swap - I am working on learning to use watercolors for sketches - I like how fast they are but you do need to practice techniques - and learn some control - I meant to get this to the post office today but I was blogastinating and so they will be mailed on Monday -

Dusty the Hen (originally posted as "Liz's Rooster or maybe its a Chicken)

2008-11-11T17:01:00.005-06:00

I can't find the original link to this critter that I used as a reference but here is the blog where it came from- I did it a couple of weeks ago 3x5 watercolor in accordian fold sketch book --I didn't like it at first but now I do and oh well it is what it is (making chicken sounds for myself as I type .. bawk bwahck bwa bwa bawk)

I love the Sunrise

2008-11-09T18:44:00.005-06:00

This was a hazy morning with a mist over the lake sometime in the last week of October

This Sunrise was taken on Thursday November 6th as our ship came back to Galveston and our cruise came to an end.

Getting ready for work in the fall this is my morning view of the lake and the sunrise - Here is another new day-

I am happy every day because I get to see this beautiful view - I have to remember how fortunate I am to be living in this time and this place-

I love the sunrise at this time of year because the sunrises in the sky where it is not hidden behind the mountain and I can see it and take pictures of it - Sometimes I take pictures every day of the week it is just so beautiful - Last year the best sunrise was on my sisters birthday - January 11th here is what I saw that morning -

Leafing

2008-10-28T21:46:00.002-05:00

4" x 7" Color pencil and water colors - I actually have been doing lots of little art's I will post some on flickr no time to blog - I'm sure I won't post again until after my CRUISE!!!! I'm going on a five day Carnival Cruise to Progreso and Cozumel courtesy of my employer -

October Virtual Sketch Date

2008-10-20T22:37:00.003-05:00

Crayons on inkjet paper with black sharpie marker background - I see things I could fix like the shape of the plate but this is how it's gonna stay - another fun challenge if I have time I might try it in water color- 81/2" x 5"

Visit VIRTUAL SKETCH DATE to see other participants

Practicing Lessons

2008-10-19T11:34:00.004-05:00

I have been watching the Painting & Drawing channel these are two little watercolors I did using the techniques I learned in Interactive Acrylics Three - Watercolour but of course I used watercolors and he used acrylics - but I did learn some techniques and it was a great practice exercise

I thought the mid ground got a little muddy in the top, first piece, so I redid it and I thought the second trial was stiff - But I enjoyed the lessons learned and I love the cloud techniques

Blogastinate

2008-10-19T11:30:00.003-05:00

Blogastinate -Main Entry: blog·as·ti·nate
Pronunciation: \blog-as-ti-nāt, \
Function: verb Inflected Form(s): blog·as·ti·nat·ed; blog·as·ti·nat·ing
Etymology: Mixed English Blog short for Weblog a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer ; also : the contents of such a site and the Latin procrastinatus, past participle of procrastinare, from pro- forward + crastinus of tomorrow, from cras tomorrow
Date: October 2008 (coined by Kathleen Okmark)

Transitive verb : to put off intentionally and habitually the posts in ones own blog by spending too much time reading the blogs of others.
intransitive verb : to put off intentionally the blog postings that should be done.
blog·as·ti·na·tor noun - preferred (alternately blog·as·ti·na·ter) one who blogastinates

Morgan Marie

2008-10-12T16:42:00.002-05:00

Morgan Marie - my brothers daughter - Quick study from a photo my sister posted I set my timer for 15 minutes but I was totally not done so I gave myself 15 more to finish - so it was 30 minutes total and I quit before I was done - I am working on sketching but instead I think I made a small drawing - This is colored pencil on colorfix paper about 5"x7"- I have only used this paper with pastels and I must say it absolutely eats the colored pencils up -

Boogie's Breakfast

2008-10-08T21:04:00.002-05:00

This is our little dog Boogie (as in Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy) he finds it hard to wait calmly while I make his breakfast KONG -
His Kong is filled with one thin slice of ham chopped into little pieces - Sometimes he can sit calmly and wait for breakfast for as much as 10 or 15 seconds at a time before he forgets himself and starts to levitate.

Hmmmmm

2008-10-07T22:42:00.006-05:00

Hmmm I don't think I have a style -- in looking at my sketches and drawings I don't see a trend yet -
But.... I am getting looser and sometimes I can do good things pretty quickly - I only spent about 2 1/2 hours on the Chicago Bean - I liked how that turned out -

I am doing much more art now -- and I have come to realize I probably will never have wonderful sketch books or Journals - I'll just have the messy good and bad mixed up drawings and sketches with messy writing -
but then my goal has never been to become a good journaler - I just want to learn to draw better, faster and have more fun doing it - and that is happening.

Thank you Delph (aka Kazumiwannabe) for the reference photo as you can see this 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" watercolor sketch is based extremely loosely on this lovely photo. - I am still learning how to use the water colors - and these little bushes were my practice for tonight I think they turned out better than my landscape - but I am allowing myself to learn and not be too self critical - Next --- Liz's chicken Dusty

Different strokes from Different Folks

2008-10-06T21:47:00.004-05:00

Karin Jurick has an interesting weekly challenge at her blog Different Strokes from Different Folks- kind of like Virtual Sketch Date but weekly-- the reference for this week's challenge was the photo below - my version is 11" x 6" on 90 lb watercolor paper it is done in watercolor, black sharpie marker and a little color pencil - this is my first time to participate it was a fun challenge.

A Serious Relapse

2008-09-29T21:31:00.005-05:00

Just when I thought I was getting better -

I have had a serious relapse of BEAS Disease (Buys Excessive Art Supplies)

I was just browsing around on E-Bay and there was this auction for 90 tubes of Winsor Newton 5ml watercolors and some how I bid on them- and then I guess I won the bid -and then I got all these tubes with 56 diffefent colors--for about 25 or 26 of the colors I got a single tube -for 24 of the colors I got two tubes -and for 6 colors I got three tubes -

but they are luscious and I have been experimenting see Brushy Creek #3 or4

And they were a great buy $107.00 which included shipping -

Brushy Creek #3 or 4

2008-09-29T20:45:00.005-05:00

I have worked from this reference photo several times I have done it in pastel in colored pencil and this time in watercolor - I'm not happy with the scan - it seems if you get the darks right you don't get the highlights if you get the highlights the colors are off but this is as good as I could get - close but I like the actual painting much better than I like the scan- 5.5" x 8" on strathmore 140 lb cold press about an hour or so of working time not counting drying time no preliminary sketching

I'm proud I quit working on this before it was finished or ruined WOOO HOOOO!!

September Virtual sketch date

2008-09-27T21:16:00.004-05:00

My first virtual sketch date except I don't think I registered in time - next month I will -

I just saw Susan's and loved it-- Here are my two little water color sketch versions - in the first one I did not have a reference just memory from looking at the picture in the second one I had printed out the picture to have a reference -(computer and studio are at opposite ends of the house so I can't just look at my screen)

I did light sketches with gray watercolor pencil for both but went back in with a micron on the first one because it looked dull

now this is more like it (I think)

2008-09-26T22:31:00.002-05:00

I couldn't listen to the debate any longer so I tried one more time to get this -I'm sick of it-- but this was quicker and I think better than any other try -at sketching this particular scene.

My goal with these sketches is not to make great paintings but to acquire the ability to sketch a good approximation of a scene - I want clean lines and color in a fairly short period of time - so this try is much closer to my goal than any others I don't know why this is so difficult for me but this try was better and took under 10 minutes

I used a timer when I did this sketch - micron pen time was under 10 minutes and the painting part was very close to 10 minutes- I have been saving these dried out sunflowers for a month so I could sketch them and tonight was the night.

Both done in my home made accordion fold sketch book small page size 3.5" x 5.5"

Never Ending Vista in Watercolor & Brownies

2008-09-24T21:52:00.004-05:00

Another very small (4"x7") version under 30 minutes --but this time in watercolor - much better than my first (never to be seen by anyone) trys of this in watercolor --

I think doing it in colored pencils, which I feel comfortable with, helped me understand how to do it in watercolors which I still am just learning to use- it is still not as sketchy or as quick as I would like

(I was baking heavenly brownies so I did this while they were baking after I cleaned up my kitchen mess - I had 27 minutes to paint )

Here is a great Chewy Fudge Brownie recipe
2/3 cup cocoa
12 TBS butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup flour

Butter & flour 8x8 baking pan preheat oven to 350 F

Melt butter and cocoa in sauce pan over low heat stir until smooth remove from heat and let cool a little - stir in vanilla, eggs, sugar and salt then add flour and mix well- spread in pan and bake about 45 minutes until top is dry and toothpick inserted in center come out barely clean - cool and cut and ENJOY

These are very very rich and moist MMMMMMM good I wish I could share them with you all

The Never Ending Vista (revisited) in colored pencil

2008-09-23T22:44:00.004-05:00

The Never ending Vista (revisited)

Is a 40 minute 4"x7" piece of mediocre art a sketch or a drawing?

A favorite spot of ours in Wisconsin-- I did a larger version in colored pencil this was an exercise in speed - but it was not as speedy as I wanted it to be it took about 40 minutes to do this little 4x7 sketch - I tried it in watercolor and am not posting due to the extreme terribleness of the water color painter (me) -

I did a larger version in colored pencil about a year ago here is a link to the larger version which took about 8 hours working time -

Never Ending Vista original 8 hour version

Neanderthal valley - Not as seen on TV

2008-09-22T20:51:00.005-05:00

I have become a slug-- I am not posting -- not that anyone cares if I post - but I care because the whole point of this blog is to do it for me-- I want so much to learn quick sketching techniques to capture the moment and not slavishly copy my reference photos - and make up tight works of art -

- I sketched this in ink with a ball point pen while we watched a national geographic special on neaderthals last night- Kind of an imaginary landscape- I quickly painted it tonight so I could post something- I do like it and hope I can do more like this - I am becoming more comfortable with the paints and I do think they encourage speed and looseness

And thanks to Donnna aka the happy painter for sharing her link to the Painting and Drawing channel They have several great watercolor demos -

http://www.thepaintinganddrawingchannel.co.uk/prog-2.html

I'm having more fun now

2008-09-13T13:43:00.004-05:00

I finally have time (because I gave up cleaning house and doing laundry) to play around with my watercolors and its getting to be fun - thank you Capt Elaine for the link to How to Draw and Paint

http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com

I've been watching the watercolor lessons and they are very helpful - trees and distant hills etc. I watched my favorite PBS show this morning "Landscapes Through Time" with David Dunlop-- he talked about soft focus distant hills & lights and dark - he does oils but the basic principles are the same regardless of medium - so I did a couple of soft focus hills with skyline -in the handmade 3.75" x 5.5" accordion fold sketch book - - but then I saw the tree tutorial and put the tree in front of the hills - I'm having fun and learning lots -

I really needed to see someone actually painting with watercolors - how wet is the paper how drippy are the brushes what size brushes etc. you just can't get all of that from books - the videos are very helpful - wish there were workshops close by-

Rebecca Revisited & Lessons learned

2008-09-11T22:48:00.008-05:00

So - I have done about four of these of Rebecca -- I'm just trying to learn how to use the paints - I guess what I am doing is some kind of wet in damp - I think doing the light micron pen sketch first helped me to not overwork the watercolor -- but it's so very hard to -step away from the painting and STOP -

Then there's the paper thing -- this one is in the moleskine watercolor sketch book and so far I think I like this paper better than any thing else I currently have its softer-

But the best part is this was real quick and not muddy-- now to learn how to do quick little landscapes with out overworking -

LESSONS LEARNED - Less is more and- Simplicity is very very difficult - at least for me

Messing around with Daniel Smith

2008-09-08T07:25:00.007-05:00

Got my Daniel Smiths in but then was unable to play with them until Sunday. This scan does not do them justice they are very bright and clear. I didn't get much done with thm yet except this color chart -no mixes just the straight from the tube colors with water - then lifted a stripe down the middle.

My sister Jan but it might look more like somebody else- Sorry Jan it was just a quick sketch

first sketches in watercolor moleskine

2008-09-03T22:44:00.003-05:00

I used to hate to start a new sketch book because I wanted everything to be really great and then if one sketch went badly I wouldn't work in it anymore. So now my new way is to put something really bad in it right away and then things only get better and you can't wreck it because its all ready messed up.

So this brand new moleskine watercolor (my first) got really messed up - I got things upside down and sideways - So now I wont be afraid to mess it up because it was messed up from the start -- but I do like the apple and the blueberries the peach and the kiwi.

These are done with inktense and watercolor pencils - I ordered 20 tubes of Daniel Smith water colors they are on their way -- wooo hoooo they shipped out today--I can't wait to try them out on the paper in this book.

A Learning Experiece & my favorite poem

2008-08-31T14:41:00.006-05:00

Another page for Mandy's Journal this one was not assigned -- just do whatever you want to do.... I wanted to include this poem somehow -- I just LOVE this poem - at first I thought about illustrating all the little images -- stars, birds, grain, etc. - but I realized that would get way to busy and the images would be too small.. so I went to a local cemetery during my lunch to find angel statues - its a huge cemetery but I only found one angel she was at the grave of a very young woman who died around 1917 --I sketched the angel with colored pencils but when I went to write the poem -- the wax in the colored pencils severely inhibited my ability to write the poem

Lesson learned don't plan on using ink over color pencil - Here is a photo of the angel

Ten minute experiment

2008-08-30T10:13:00.003-05:00

I set the timer for ten minutes and first sketched this spent hibiscus with water color pencils - then I gave myself another ten minutes and used my Pitt Brush Pens-

I was able to get a lot more depth with the Pitt Brush Pens - I used the grays for a value sketch and then went in with the colors over that -the pitts sketch was under 10 minutes and I felt like I wanted more time to go back in and develop the darks with the watercolor pencils

- I think so much is about learning to use your tools--

My Style ?

2008-08-29T19:24:00.013-05:00

Another page for Mandy's journal project I was supposed to talk about my style -- I don't think I have one. These pictures show two extremes of me --the Hammered Dulcimer Player Me and the Old Lady Biker Me.

My daughter and I laugh hysterically when I put on my biker helmet -- and my sister can't look at me when I put it on because they both think it is not me at all - I just think its silly and fun-- All the little boys that see it have to tell me how much they really like my helmet - I believe them.

I learned to ride a motorcycle when I was 52 -(I am 59 now and in the photo above)-I really love the way it makes me feel when I ride - it reminds me of when we had a horse (her name was Cowgirl) and I would go galloping through the fields bareback (Cowgirl was bareback I wore clothing)

http://www.1001journals.com/journals/3107/

Mandy's original post was Message #54272 New Dutchie introducing herself.

My first real Journal pages

2008-08-28T20:37:00.005-05:00

This page was done as part of an assignment for Mandy's journal project. Mandy recruited participants from around the world in the making of a journal that is part of the 1001 journal project. I volunteered to make some pages to be a part of her journal. Her journal will consists of Art Journal pages from 15 different contributors. She has sent out pages with written assignments for us to do. Some focus on technique, some on soul searching, some on observation. Contributing journalers then send their finished pages back to Mandy and include an assignment for her to do when the package is returned to her. My completed journal pages are on their way back to Mandy in the Netherlands.

This is one of the seven pages I was assigned. It is a map of my day -

I am not really a "journaler" or "collager" I am more of an "eater" and "drawer" ... but I really enjoyed the assignments and it was a fun and different experience I can't wait to see the whole journal. Some of the journal pages are -- well more personal than I am on my blog but ... they will be up for all to see when Mandy puts them up in her journal.

http://www.1001journals.com/journals/3107/

Mandy's original post was
Message #54272 New Dutchie introducing herself.

Water color questions is it me or the paints?

2008-08-24T08:30:00.002-05:00

this is a small-- 4" x 7". Sort of quick-- under one hour no hair dryer. Watercolor on canson water color paper the smooth side. Painted with very cheap ($11.00 for 24 larger tubes) reeves brand watercolors from hobby lobby- I'm not sure if its me, just the way watercolors are, or the paints. To me it looks muddy and sort of gritty not sparkling bright colors like I see in so many posts - I'm sure that my inexperience with any fluid art mediums is a large factor but I also wonder if better quality paints make any difference and if so what brands are you all using --- Thanks comments and suggestions greatly appreciated

Moleskine Storyboard Notebook

2008-08-17T14:37:00.006-05:00

One of my purchases during my recent bout of BEAS disease *(Buys Excessive Art Supplies) was a Moleskine Storyboard Notebook there are 82 boxes 2.1875" x 2.75" or for you metric types 5.5 cm x 7 cm. I have labeled each of the first 82 boxes with EDM challenges 1-82. I have completed six of the challenge boxes with little drawings. Actually the bag is not yet done and the lamp is overdone -- never-the-less --I plan to complete the remaining 76 boxes -

But.... there are 152 smaller boxes- four per page - on the last 38 pages. They are 1.1875" x 1.435" or 3.7 cm x 3.9 cm - What were they thinking? those are really very tiny boxes - I don't know if I can work that small - what can I do with the last ONE HUNDRED FIFTY TWO tiny boxes??? --bug drawings?? any suggestions will be appreciated.

Something Dangerous / Boogies enemy

2008-08-12T22:54:00.004-05:00

One of the bad things about Oklahoma --- Scorpions live here !!!

These things are just plain creepy we have them around our house and our little nine pound Shih Tzu has been stung twice by them - He now knows not to mess with them and growls when he sees one

Watercolor on a 140 lb cold press Strathmore Watercolor postcard

Inspired by Starrbaby Sorra

2008-08-09T12:58:00.002-05:00

My apologies to the artist I got her painting upsidedown and sideways but I am not as uninhibited as she and my washes are only an approximation of her clear bright colors and sweeping gestural strokes -

I loved this post http://wistex1129.blogspot.com/2008/08/sorras-watercolor.html by Starr and was inspired to try my hand at a quick sketch - While cleaning the house today everytime I made a trip into my studio I added a little more - I still have two more bathrooms to do but this work is done!

Watercolor & watercolor pencil on canson paper. Thank you Starr & Sorra-

EDM #61 a grouping of 2 or more similar objects

2008-08-06T22:31:00.003-05:00

These are old (antique?) brushes from an estate sale, they were given to me several years ago by my sister Jean-- this is the first I have used them -- they were wonderful models they stayed put and never moved unless I told them to. This is watercolor pencil and ink in my moleskine -

PS -- I have found that lightly rubbing a white eraser over the moleskine sketch book page removes the sizing and prevents the washes from beading up on the page. This is easier for me than mixing washes with a little soap.

Thank you Geoffrey Williams !

2008-08-03T12:23:00.006-05:00

Gunnar & I drove to Dallas on Saturday ( to deliver a case of Old Style Beer from Chicago) to our daughter & son-in-law. We went out to dinner at a fun Cajun restaurant called RAZOOS just as we were finishing our meal a man walked up with a large piece of paper in his hand he said

"This isn't for money I'm not selling anything but I'm an artist & I like to challenge myself by sketching -- I made this sketch of you folks and would like you to have it"

How fun was that!!??!! I love the sketch talk about flattering I just lost 20 lbs and my old lady wattle--

left to right my daughter Kajsa, son-in-law Brendan, husband Gunnar, then me.

BLOGITIS

2008-08-01T18:54:00.002-05:00

In addition to my case of BEAS disease - I seem to be suffering from Blogitis - I think it is quite evident from this self portrait -( no I did not get punched in the face I just look like this - sorta)

Trees @ 70 MPH

2008-07-30T20:14:00.000-05:00

On our recent drive to Chicago I was experimenting with my Pitt Pens landscape set - I won these but had never used them - all the EDM'ers seem to like them so I thought I would give them a whirl -

I would search the speeding landscape for a particular tree - fix it in my mind --- and then sketch it - QUICK - a good way to force visual memory -

I also decided I liked the pens and bought three other sets along with 4-5 new sketchbooks - watercolor brushes- full sheets of several different papers-and many other things that I can't remember - Shopping at Dick Blicks was HEAVEN!!!

P.S. I have a very bad case of BEAS Disease*

*(Buys Excessive Art Supplies)

Gram's Barn for Ashley & Lars

2008-07-25T15:02:00.000-05:00

This is the pastel I have been working on it is about 17" x 11" on Wallis paper. It is a gift for my son Lars and his wife Ashley.

Lars and Ashley were married in a lovely outdoor ceremony on April 12th 2008, not 100 yards away from this magnificent old Kentucky horse barn. The barn belongs to Ashley's "Gram" and it is well over 100 years old. It was recently painted a very vibrant bright red. I hope in the years to come when they look at this painting they will remember the beautiful spring day when they began their life together-and know how much we love them both.

A Little sketch & Thanks ALAN

2008-07-23T21:34:00.000-05:00

This is a small sketch I did in my accordion folded sketch book -- it is a scrub oak tree that has a great silhouette-- it is on the way down to my rocky beach. This is the kind of sketching I want to be able to do - and slowly I think I will get better at it - I think I am trying all sorts of sketching methods, materials and mediums and at some point will find a way that suits me and my style and will enable me to make the quick sketches I am aiming for.

Also thanks to Alan on the 3rd stone - I received my ATC in the mail today safe sound and extremely well packaged - http://alanonthe3rdstone.blogspot.com/ It is a wonderful piece and I am honored to have it -

Tomorrow I'm off to Chicagoland YAHOO!!!!

I hope she didn't copyright this

2008-07-19T21:14:00.000-05:00

I sent 13 copies of The Creative License to various family members. My sister Jan, a confirmed non-artist, just sent me this scan of one of her first sketches after reading the book.

My response was:

OH MY GOD !!!! Jan your sketch took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes - REALLY !!! it is so wonderful - I can't believe it - WOW !!!

Jan responded to my compliment:

Aw, shucks, I was hoping for a positive reaction but this is TOO much! Especially coming from you. Anyway, it is my favorite sketch so far. As you see, I’m not sure how to draw trees, etc.; but I thought the dark windows and lack of brush was a nice metaphor for the emptiness the Goodrich was without you …

The sketch is of a cottage where we vacationed with my sister for about the last 15 years - This year was the first year we did not go - I missed her too.

Thank you Jan & Mike from Gunnar

2008-07-19T21:05:00.000-05:00

Thank you for the enlightened gift of the perfect Buddhist Tees for Gunnar
(metallic water colors do not scan well Buddha is a perfect gold & robe is jade green)

Goat Skull #2 the sketch

2008-07-17T22:26:00.000-05:00

The thing is - this blog is about learning to SKETCH and I keep drawing -
This Goat skull is woo hoo ... a sketch ( in ink I might add) - while not loose and lovely - it is a sketch - and it took under 10 minutes maybe only 5 --

The other thing I am trying to learn here is to draw from life (or death if I am drawing skulls - I do have another and some great catfish bones too!)

Most of my artwork is done from photos - flat two dimensional images that translate directly into flat two dimensional art works -- But to take a real life 3 dimensional view and put it onto paper -keep it alive and 3D -- now that is much more difficult for me - ( along with learning when to stop)

Goat Skull - from not so bad to worse

2008-07-16T21:03:00.000-05:00

I just love this goat skull my DH found it ( for free) @ an estate sale and brought it home to me -- Absolutely one of the best gifts he ever got for me - I sketched it with pastel - and it was pretty nice - then I added a shadow - ummm not as nice -- and then I colored the back ground to cover the shadow and toned down the colors in the skull -which basically ruined what was good in the original sketch - I keep forgetting to quit while I'm ahead and stop way before I think I'm finished.

Will I ever learn to STOP messing around and leave it alone -

I so admire simple, clean, understated sketches -- but, boy oh boy, it is really hard for me to stop!!

You will be seeing this goat again - soon I hope -

A Bluebird in honor of Ann @ Bluebird Hill

2008-07-13T11:52:00.000-05:00

This just goes to show you how affirming and encouraging the EveryDayMatters group is. I have been honored by
Ann @ Bluebird Hill- because she gave me this... TA DAAA!!!

a Brillante Weblog Award.(see at right)
Thank you Ann.

The rules of acceptance are:
1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate 7 other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

This is so fun -- now I can say thank you to the people who inspired me to blog and work more seriously at becoming a better artist. My first three go to people who are not EDMers but I have been following their blogs for some time and they are all great artists. The others are EDMers whose work I admire.

Here are my nominees (participation is optional)

Debby Cotter Kaspari - Drawing The Motmot
Michael Naples - Michael Naples A Painting a Day
Jenny - Sharon Ct daily Photos
Tracey - Tracey's Creativity Place
Margaret - Water Blossoms
Vicky - Vicky's Journal
Delph Courret - Kazumiwannabe

Their Links are to the right because I couldn't figure out how to insert a link in blogger correctly.

EPHEMEROPTERA (aka Mayflies)

2008-07-12T17:03:00.000-05:00

There was a hatch last night - when I walked the dog the air was thick with them. Today there are thousands of dead and dying mayflies everywhere. They live for less than 24 hour as mayflies but have spent a year in the lake getting ready for their big day. Today they fly, they mate, the females lay eggs and they will die. These hatches begin in the spring. Some are much heavier than others this was a very BIG hatch.

Today I sketched outside but it was HOT - I also worked on posemanic site for awhile - now that is challenging.

No Onions so #178 Something Red

2008-07-11T23:14:00.000-05:00

I wanted to do the EDM challenge and do some onions but I didn't have any so I picked some tomatoes and did a watercolor sketch in the little accordion fold sketchbook - I don't think watercolor is my thing - but I don't know what is -

- I am pretty much done with my big pastel project but I can't post it yet as it is a gift and I believe at least one of the recipients reads this blog -

Rosemary's Garden

2008-07-06T17:14:00.000-05:00

Sketched on Rosemary's front porch in 95o heat with a glass of wine - this was the first sketch in my little homemade sketch book - I used water color crayons, ink and my ASW $1.00 brushes lots of fun - (It may have had something to do with the wine)

EDM #169 draw a piece of cake

2008-07-04T23:09:00.000-05:00

No ink --water color wash and colored pencil - This is a leftover from dinner on the 2nd (see previous post)- the model was devoured shortly after I completed the sketch - food does not last long around here.

PS I made an accordian folded sketch book from a sheet of arches water color paper today -thanks EDM'ers for showing me how!-- It was fun to make -- I can't wait to try it as I do not like to watercolor in this plain paper moleskine sketch book -even with soap-

Dinner of Summer Fruits

2008-07-02T21:33:00.000-05:00

I am making an attempt to make the journaling neater.-- Working on page layout. and experimenting with the $1.00 water brushes I received today thanks to someones post letting us know about the great ASW sale --

Long before I was a sketcher and even now I am primarily an eater-- so I was unable to sketch our wonderful dinner of fresh homemade bruschetta with french bread lightly brushed with olive oil then toasted --and a divine homemade strawberry shortcake -- So the sketch above shows the remains of the makings

EDM #176

2008-06-28T20:51:00.000-05:00

This was my first try to paint first and ink later (thank you Donna )I enjoyed the process I am going to try a few more