Watercolor Wednesdays - Remember

moleskine, watercolor, pen, colored pencil, charcoal

My offering for WW's (you can view my post & member feedback here) first week of September challenge - 'honoring those who were lost in 9/11 and those who keep us safe.' I can't believe it's been 10 years since the dark day that changed America & our world forever. I love this quote because it's a reminder for us all to hold onto faith & hope in troubling times.

May everyone stay safe this 10th anniversary weekend.....

Blessings to you & yours.

Illustration Fri. - 'cultivate'

"inspire purple and white" moleskine - watercolor, pen, color pencil

Under the wire [really] for IF's word this week 'cultivate'! This was a last minute-in-between-other-things sketch. I've always loved these flowers and recently bought some here in Texas, they used to just pop up (or 'jump-up' as they're known to do in certain areas of the country) I pressed quite a few when we lived in Michigan - my daughter loved their little faces :> Anyhow the pot in this is totally wonky and the leaves didn't get my full attention but so glad I finally opened up one of the moleskines I got for Christmas.

Which brings me to a quick mention/question: I don't know if any of you moleskine users have noticed recently but this new one didn't take watercolor well at all (in the past it would 'bead' up and be workable for a bit). It's been over a year or so since I've worked in a new moleskine and I haven't changed my brand of w/c, it's still W&N - so wondering if they started cheaping out on the quality or thickness of the paper - just sayin'....

Anyhow, I've been immersed in 'The Artist's Way' that I mentioned in my last post and hope to visit everyone in blogland very soon. Until then, much creativity to you all...

Illustration Fri. - 'chicken'

For IF's prompt this week 'chicken' and also the last spread in my Sketchbook Project journal 'in flight' - yay! Didn't think I'd get it done but under the wire I pulled it all together after finding out they extended the postmark date to next week (yes you still have time if you think you missed the date!) I'm making a Flickr album for the whole journal and will post a link to it when it's up.

And what does my illo have to do with this week's word? Well when I first heard about the project I was hesitant to sign up thinking I wouldn't be able to give up my journal forever and - yes I'd definitely be too 'chicken' to try this pose even if I could do it (!) I like both my feet on the ground thank you very much :>

Have a great weekend!

Illustration Friday - 'Equipment'

moleskine journal: watercolor, colored pencil, pitt pen

Trying to do IF weekly like I used to, so here's a quick one - and actually part of it was a loose sketch from about 7-8 months ago and so it doesn't really reflect my current work or how far I've come in that time. I mention this because even though I've been drawing off and on for years, committing to it daily has made a huge difference in my style & the direction of my work.

Anyhow, I digress, this entry sewing 'equipment' was created in my trusty, dusty, almost-used-up moleskine. It has definitely seen better days, but at least pulling it out reminded me to order a couple of new ones!

As for sewing, I used to indulge in sewing 'binges' but not much anymore. Even still, I just can't seem to let go of my favorite fabric stashes, vintage trims & spools, mason jars filled w/buttons, etc. that I've long collected - how about you??

"I imagine that yes is the only living thing." e.e. cummings

Hello friends, it feels like ages since I've posted and even more since I visited everyone, I will try to get around soon, promise.

Rain, rain & more rain in the forecast this week, unusual for south Texas that's for sure...April showers bring May flowers tho, right? Until then, I've got my own sketched bloom above [it was great pulling out my watercolors & colored pencils on a whim].

Besides, I'm in a bit of 'research and discover' mode the last few weeks so let it rain, I've got plenty to keep me busy. And I've been saying 'Yes' to a few things too, one of them being a new camera, a Canon Rebel t1i. My other one was adequate for what I needed but it bit the dust awhile ago so decided on an upgrade. I feel like I have SO much to learn - and it isn't even one of the 'big boys' as far as cameras go. I'm aiming for a photo shoot after the rain lets up....

The other source of busyness is focusing on a new direction for my work, more illustrative in style and design oriented. There are a few things connected with this forward motion, but I'm not ready for a reveal just yet :)

What are you saying 'Yes' to right now? Was it spontaneous or did it take you awhile to decide - maybe you juried it around in your head or had someone help you realize it was time??

Much creativity to you - be well....

IMT - 'ticket' [to a summer solstice]

The prompt this week over at Inspire Me Thursday is 'ticket' and so with tomorrow being June 21st, the Summer Solstice, I was inspired to create a poster-like drawing with a titled 'ticket' at the bottom (I may add more to the ticket, ie. date, exact time of the solstice etc.)

I tried to incorporate things that make me think of summer:

RED STRIPES - pool umbrellas, awnings, beach towels, and the red & white stripes of our US flag...
GOLDEN YELLOW - abundant sunshine & fresh fruit pies...maybe that's why my sun's middle ended up looking like a pie?!
CLOUDS - big, white, fluffy ones dotting the sky like cotton balls, giving us [short] respite from the hot, blazing, sun...and that sun is mighty hot here in Texas! :>
KITES - flying them up on a hilltop or in a field on a cool, clear breezy day, usually the day after a heavy rainfall...
GRASS - the whir of lawn mowers, knee-deep meadows, emerald green, ladybugs...


'summer solstice' moleskine, artist crayons, color pencil, pitt pen


closeup for detail

I had a lot of fun with this and actually I love creating art with the solstices in mind. I didn't get a chance to do anything for the summer solstice last year as we were in the middle of a move, but I did do one for summer 2007, you can see it in my Flickr album here as well as one for the winter solstice 2008 which you can view here

I hope you find the time to do something fun or relaxing to ring in the first day of summer.

Have a great weekend y'all!

Inspire Me Thursday 'Swirl'

Soooo happy that I'm finally getting a chance to join in over at IMT, seems like ages since I've done any of the prompts!

I love adding swirls into my artwork - either as a background repeat motif or as part of the main subject as with this illustration. I've always been fascinated with 'Tree of Life' art and have seen many interpretations of it from different cultures and mediums including fine art, jewelry and metal sculptural wall art.


'tree of life' - moleskine, mixed media

This particular tree of life is part folk art / part expressionism representing marriage so to have some special symbolism for me, I added 13 leaves (#of years married) and also a heart entwined with a 'swirl' of roots, which pretty much signifies that everything I do is from my heart. It is at the very 'root' of my existance, guiding me to the people I need to be with on my journey and for the most part sending me down the right paths :>

Before I forget, I also wanted to mention that Susan Tuttle is having another GIVEAWAY of her book, Exhibition 36: Mixed Media Demonstrations & Explorations. I already have a copy of her FABULOUS book, but it would be nice to gift somebody if I win. Pop on over to her blog and enter here

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful week!

Inspire Me Thursday - 'Healing'

moleskine, watercolor, pitt pen

'This week’s creative prompt is Healing. We have all felt pain at certain times in our lives — sometimes physical, sometimes emotional. Create art that celebrates your own personal stories of healing. Be inspired by medicine, nature, faith, or whatever may have helped you during your journey to healing.'

My offering for this week's IMT prompt couldn't have come at a better time. I've been struggling lately with a few issues since our big move to Texas 2 months ago. Some are art-related, some not.

To me, nature always seems to be the place where peace can be found and healing begins. It's been so hot here lately but as the day cools down I've been heading outside - either on bike with my daughter, alone with camera in hand or out for a good power walk when I just need to sort things out. Upon returning I find my step a bit lighter, my mood somewhat brighter and the surprise for me is that I've been turning to my journals to reflect and try to record my thoughts & feelings with images (altho I would love to fill the pages with a flow of words, my pages still tend to be more visual). Understand that I have never been a journal or diary keeper so to do this on a regular basis is a breakthrough for me! :>

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit and I hope that whatever healing you are going through, peace & light stay with you on your journey.

Illustration Friday - "Hoard"

This is my first Illustration Friday offering since our BIG move to South Texas about a month ago. I can't tell you how good it feels to finally be almost set up and ready to rock out some great new work -- well at least attempt to :>


moleskine, pitt pen

I wasn't really sure what to draw for 'Hoard' and was about to pass this challenge by - until I started unpacking sketchbooks, plant & flower reference books and a HUGE envelope of pressed flowers.

My 'Hoard' offering' was right in front of me - I am a hoarder of everything flower-related. I'm also learning Spanish right now so after scanning this spread in (and desaturating it, it looks better in b&w I think) I added some text: "the pretty flowers - enchanting & beautiful"

Thanks for visiting and Happy Friday. Have a great weekend y'all!

Daydreams

colored pencil, moleskine

Do you daydream? Do you find yourself daydreaming much lately? I find that I tend to daydream more when I'm introspective & need to sort things out. However, lately it seems to stem from all the ideas and sparks of inspiration I've been experiencing!

Almost everyone does it naturally and psychologists estimate that we daydream 1/3 to 1/2 of our waking hours, although a single daydream lasts only a few minutes. Because our society today tends to focus on 'getting things done', daydreaming is viewed in a somewhat negative light. To some it may seem frivolous, indulgent or that of someone who is unproductive, but it's actually quite beneficial.

It's been known to help you:
1. Relax
2. Manage conflict
3. Maintain relationships
4. Boost productivity
5. Cement your beliefs and values
6. Boost creativity and achieve goals
7. Relieve boredom

(Source: Article -'Why Does Daydreaming Get Such a Bad Rap?') http://www.webmd.com

So remember to indulge in daydreams - you just never know where they can take you!

Muse Monday / Inspire Me Thursday: Watercolor

Muse Monday is taking a short intermission - not much going on in the way of progress re: my new space and next Monday is Labor Day so it will return the following Monday - hopefully I'll have some great news to report that we're finally making headway. I do have a how-to organizational project that I'm working on - a great solution to having all my tools displayed neatly and within easy reach, hint: involves pegboard but not in the traditional sense. What I have in mind is way more cooler and decorative than the sheet the guys hang up in the garage!! :) Stay tuned!

Busy week coming up so I wanted to get some quick journal entries done in my moleskine with watercolors and colored pencils. I like using watercolors in my moleskine because the wonderfully creamy paper (I love my moleskines!) resists them initially so you have time to work them before they settle in.

I find myself lingering over the last bits of summer before it fades away and have been savoring my garden's final offerings - flower designs have been on my mind and showing up in my doodles and sketches. I generally don't write a lot in my journals (I'm working on that, it's hard for me to do) but I did write all over the background very subtley in white ink on the single flower pages, a bit of a breakthrough for me :)

Have a great week and wherever you are, I hope the sun is shining on you.

"Be like the flower, turn your face to the sun." -- Kahlil Gibran

Illustration Friday - "Discovery"

moleskine, 'inchies', watercolor, colored pencil, japanese chiyogami paper

Okay so a bit of a stretch for discovery but it was a discovery for me recently when I came across a long forgotten stash of these lovely handmade papers! I've been creating 'inchies' for about a month now and I just love them - so fun and somewhat addicting :) Anyhow I cut the papers up into one inch squares and they looked like little presents and for some reason I thought of them tumbling into a big sack. Actually I've been working on a Christmas card line so maybe that's where I made the connection?!

The Mighty Moleskine

5.25 x 8.50 moleskine sketchbook
watercolor, pitt pen, colored pencils

I have been wanting to get one of these lengendary notebooks for a few months now but kept putting it off because I had my hand*book journals and other assorted small and large sketchbooks etc. etc. and did I really need another one, they're all the same anyway right? Well let me tell you - they are NOT! I am so impressed with the quality of it - from the original 'moleskine' cover to the creamy smooth threadbound pages. The only downfall I see with getting one is that now I'll have a really hard time sketching in my other books!!

My first entry in it pays homage to our upcoming Summer Solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere on June 21st. Solstice comes from the Latin sol, sun; sistit, stands. For several days before and after each solstice, the sun appears to stand still in the sky—that is, its noontime elevation does not seem to change. For thousands of years many cultures have held solstice celebrations and associated it with renewal, life, fertility and the potential for a good harvest celebrated with outdoor feasts, singing and dancing.

It's the "longest day" of the year so have a picnic, invite some friends over for a bbq, stay up late and do some stargazing, light some candles (citronella will keep the mosquitoes at bay) and enjoy!!