Tag: flowers

May 24, 2015

The last long weekend

My last day of work was this past Wednesday and I’ve taken the past few days off before school starts to take care of some things around the house and to do the last of my pleasure reading until the fall, The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley. This afternoon is probably the last of the family parties that I will be able to participate in until the Fourth of July.

In other news, Michael Nobbs has redesigned his website, Sustainably Creative, and has now made his podcasts freely available. I have followed Michael since I was part of the Everyday Matters Yahoo! Group and I really respect his ideas. He also has a really nice British accent and a generally soothing voice.

My tooth is also feeling quite a bit better—not perfect, but better.

May 6, 2015

Northampton Garden

I’ve been delving into my reference files and made the above drawing from the same scene that I drew in this drawing from 2009. I made the earlier drawing from life and added the watercolor at home. I find it very interesting how I approached my current drawing differently (more loose and imaginative).

March 20, 2015

Spring!

“Spring is the time of plans and projects.”
― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

Today felt like a late January winter’s day with snow and wind, but over the past few weeks the snow mounds have gone down some and I can see grass on my lawn again. I am trusting that true spring weather is coming soon.

For the past few weeks I’ve been busy working on projects for other people, which I will post when they are finished. I’m looking forward to when they are complete and I will be able to make some things just for me again.

January 13, 2015

My first project of the year

Preparations for the Twitter Art Exhibit are underway again, this time back in its original home of Moss, Norway. I working on my own contribution, a peony done in stipple, with watercolor to be added tomorrow. The call for artists is available here. Check it out – there is still time to participate!

The charity that will benefit from this year’s show is Home Start (Moss, Norway location). I did some reading about the organization and it has a really great mission. As a single mother, I am so thankful for the support I get from my family and I don’t know what I would do without it. An organization like this is great for families who may not be so lucky as I am.

I will post the finished piece later this week when I finish it up. It should be in the mail to Norway by the weekend…

November 22, 2014

Open your sketchbook.

This thought came to my mind one day while sitting in church. I took my own advice and did some more in my sketchbook (the drawing above), as well as another drawing that I will use as my Christmas card this year. I even had the courage to break out my dip pens and I stayed up late a few nights to work on it. It seems that starting a drawing is the hardest part, and after that the rest is all downhill.

October 30, 2014

More sketches of blossoms.

I wish I had done more ink drawing in October. I have, however, started going to the gym again after over a five year break, so I am proud of myself in that regard. Already I have noticed a huge improvement in my sleep and clarity of thought.

Below are some more sketches I made in my new gray toned sketchbook. I really like this book because of the soft feel of the cover (almost a silky feeling), the general substantial feel of the book in my hands, and the color of the paper. There is some drag on my fountain pen which I don’t like, but I enjoy the color of the gray ink on the gray paper, so there are tradeoffs. I tried out colored pencils but I would like to do some experiments using black and white colored pencils for drawing.

October 25, 2014

Doodled Lamp Shade

Some time ago I bought a lamp at Target and started doodling on it with some Sharpie oil based paint pens. Last weekend I finished it up and I love how it came out. It was tricky to work with the pens because the lamp shade was made of a textured fabric and the paint flow was uneven. If I did a project like this again, I think I would just paint with a normal brush and I would have more control.

Lamp shade doodled on with gold and silver Sharpie oil based paint pens.

October 11, 2014

Weeknight Pen and Ink

I’ve been continuing to work in pen and ink for #inktober and I’m pleased that I have sketched most nights this week, although I haven’t done much by way of experimentation. One of these days I hope to take out my dip pens for a change.

October 4, 2014

Inktober

I’m a few days into the month already, but I stumbled upon Inktober and I think it’s a great idea, considering how much I love ink. I decided to participate, with some modifications as I’m sure I won’t be able to complete a daily drawing, or even post every day. I will be able to put some work in on a drawing every day though, and I will post updates throughout the month.

This is the drawing that I have been working on in my sketchbook after work this past week. It is loosely based on a photo of mine, but mostly made up. I like flowers with many little parts and drawings that are done slowly and repetitively.

August 10, 2014

Filling my Reservoir

I took a bus trip to Newport, RI yesterday with my sisters. I am close enough to Newport that I could go whenever I want, but I don’t go as often as I would like and it was nice to go via bus because I didn’t have to worry about driving or parking. I didn’t take very many photos but I felt like I soaked up a lot of inspiration like I always do whenever I visit. I really like the seaside/nautical atmosphere and water in general.

Right now we are in a drought and the water level in the lake is very low. My energy/creativity levels have been somewhat on that same level lately but I feel that this outing yesterday refueled me creatively. The prospect of fall coming is really starting to excite me. The most exciting prospect of this upcoming fall and winter is that my space is now fully insulated and heated and I will have a comfortable place to work.