Birch Color Study

Finally -- tonight some time to work on painting and sketching! It's so frustrating now to try and re-create the sense of our trip to Canada. After some stalling and hemming and humming and self-distracting and working on other "non-Canada" art, I finally did this quick color study with pastel pencils* -- smeared them around with some water -- then added more pastel and fixative -- then some white acrylic -- and am beginning to get the feeling back! Up north in these woods is one place where the shadows really and truly are BLACK -- once I remembered that I felt more on a roll. And that amazing little streak of turquoise peeking through the clouds on the right? It's true. Yep, the sky there is truly turquoise along the horizon. Even my very literal and non-poetic hubby said, "it feels like you're on top of the world or something..."

(*Carb-Othello pastel pencil in Raffine sketchbook -- not the best surface for pastel, but very nice for a quick study!)

Oh Canada!

We have returned from vacation -- we were "dropped off" into the middle of the wilderness in Ontario for a week of fishing and COMPLETE removal from the world at large. Right now I'm re-adjusting to the "real world" -- feeling way over-stimulated by traffic and crowds and general busy-ness, feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the stuff here in my own house, even feeling a bit cooped up by the fence in my own back yard. Tomorrow is the return to work, and I'm just not sure how THAT'S going to go... Oh my, but what a wonderful week! The only thing we missed were the family members who weren't able to make the trip. We nearly missed our luggage, courtesy of NWA, but that's going to be the topic for tomorrow's post, I'm sure.

I did NOT get much art done on this trip -- but I did spend a fair amount of time contemplating my surroundings and just how I MIGHT do some art if I wasn't on a rocking boat coated with northern pike goo. I took some photos -- got my sister to take more -- planned and thought and now am crazy to get to work painting some of the weird scenery I saw up there. I don't know if it can be done, but I'm going to try, so look for it soon!

Here's a cool thing I found out. There are some bald eagles here, and loads of bald eagles up in Ontario, so I've heard them cry before. The first time I heard a bald eagle call I laughed, it was so high pitched and rather wimpy sounding compared to a hawk, and didn't seem to match the bird making the noise. Over the years I've gotten used to it, though. But -- THIS week -- for the very first time, and I heard it twice -- I heard a bald eagle SING. Not call out, or chirp, but sit in the tree and very sweetly and seriously SING A SONG. Who knew?**

Oh well. I will be working this week catching up on blogs, painting some paintings, washing up some nasty smelling laundry, and trying to get some things worked out with Northwest Airlines (who, if you haven't noticed yet, are currently on my short list...)

** Ornithologists know, I suppose, and my mother knew, because she had heard it before, too. I can't find an audio clip, though!

In The Weeds

I'm in the weeds (as in busy over my head!) more often than I care to think about. The past two weeks have been crazily hectic -- a co-worker changed jobs (a nice way of saying quit), leaving me doing the work of 2 1/2 people, right at the same time that we got busy again at work anyway, right at the same time that we had a huge garage sale planned here at home, right at the same time we're getting ready for a vacation next month, right at the same time I had a pastel workshop to attend, right at the same time that I have an out of town meeting to go to ... you see how the list goes on?

So, this means I've been a baaad blogger.
I'm waaaaay behind on reading e-mails.
I'm too tired to draw or paint much more than a few lines.
And I've not gotten to visit my favorite blogs to see what's going on in much too long a time!

BUT -- I see a light* at the end of the tunnel:
We may have a NEW co-worker in the next week or two (which would be in record time! Keep your fingers crossed and good thoughts happening for me!) This would take me down from my current 6 or 7 days a week back to the standard 5.
It's actually good that work is busy -- makes the days go by better, don't you think?
Our garage sale was today and it was a huge success. (This is despite the fact that a rather large bag of rubber stamps "walked away" from the garage sale ... we're wishing flat tires and bunions on people who steal from garage sales -- and may they get splinters in their fingers, too.)
Now that the garage sale "junque" is out of my house, I can actually see the room where I'm supposed to be painting.
Hubby and I decided to just go and buy a few extra clothing items, which let us get packed for our vacation way early, so that's DONE already!
The pastel workshop (yesterday) was another huge success, and I learned so much hearing it all again. If he comes back to town in the next six months I'll take it yet again -- I need repetition if it's ever going to fully penetrate this thick head of mine.
And the out-of-town meeting -- well, we're staying at a really nice hotel, and it's early next week and will all be over with soon, so it will be another thing off of my list.

Whew. I sometimes have to make myself stop and remember that I'm SO very fortunate -- great family, friends, job, etc. -- that there's really nothing to get stressed about. Nothing at all.


*(The light may be actually located in September, but it IS there.)

**And -- not to make excuses -- but I could NOT get this pastel painting to photograph correctly -- and no matter how I goofed around with the color, couldn't get it to look right. This is as close as I could get. For once I'd say that the original looks MUCH better than the photo! Still, here it is -- In The Weeds.

***AND I have to add, the nice little light feathery marks at the tops of the weeds on the right side of the painting are from Paul DeMarrais, the workshop instructor, who gave it a little touch here and there to show me how to tie it all together. I just realized that I can't take full credit for this painting at all! THANKS, PAUL!!!

;-)

Creek

Maybe gone too far -- something brooding about this one. There are several things I would do differently with this if I were to do it over -- less grey mixes, cobalt rather than cerulean in several places , the list could go on! I'm going to scrub out a little of the splatter at the bottom of the waterfall, and take another look at it tomorrow. Any suggestions for small fixes would be much appreciated, but I'm ready to be done with this.

NOW I'm ready to do something bright, and fun, and cheerful, and silly!

(The technical schtuff: 22" x 30" watercolor on 300# hot press paper)

Creeks and Such

I've been working the past few weeks on a full sheet watercolor of a mountain creek. It has turned out to be an ambitious project, and I've been at several "Oh S..." points on the painting, if you know what I mean! Tonight I was thinking of how I miss all my "blogland" friends and thought of this simple little WC sketch I did nearly two years ago -- much smaller than what I'm working on now, but still...

IF this monster turns out okay I'll share it with you guys.
IF you NEVER see it, well, you'll know that I've carried it down to the creek for a good ole Southern-style baptism ... 'nuff said.

I miss simple sketching. There has to be a way to find time to do both!

Magnolia Bud WC

This little watercolor is based on an ink sketch I did here in my Moleskine. It kept "calling my name" as they say, and I just had to do it. Since DH thinks I really ought to do SOMETHING to fund my art (and I have to agree with him, even though I have a full time day job) I'm going to be putting it up for sale (so if you're interested let me know ;-) .

I'm asking what you guys think about it -- what, if anything, does it need to make it feel more complete or better?

I happened to keep a record of how it progressed, too -- so if you're interested you can see it here.

Dragonfly

The last few weeks, I've taken a break from the computer (sorry to have just disappeared!) and have been painting and painting and will be posting something tomorrow (I hope!) Meanwhile, this is a photo from a trip to Ijams Nature Center the other morning with the two wonderful nieces from Arizona and our friend Marcia. Yep. Sometimes it IS all about the equipment ...
:-) Now, to catch up on e-mails, etc ...

Humming Along

I've been BUSY AS A BEE lately!

On a new self-imposed "health program" of eating right (organic and natural), exercise, stress management, and getting extra sleep, and am feeling better than I have in years! Problem is, it is time consuming right now. BUT -- I'm finally getting back in the groove!

~~I'm back to painting with some projects in mind and in the works ~~
~~I have a possible / probable commission for a CP portrait ~~
~~ And, if you'll look at the photo, you might guess that I got a brand new toy! ~~

Thanks to you all for all your recent comments, support, inspiration, and encouragement!
New art to come soon!

Peony

Despite the wonderful colors of spring, I can't seem to stop working in black ink in this book.

The other day I went to this web site for Tazo tea looking for a certain tea (I'm hooked on their Giant Peach tea and Mango tea) -- if you love a beautiful and thoroughly thought out web site, go see this one. It's one of the best I've seen in a while. Be sure to have your tea leaves read while you're there!

(Technical bit -- 0.05 Staedtler black pigment ink in Moleskine sketchbook -- and it's my next-to-the-last page! There's something satisfying about finishing a book and starting another!)

Magnolia Bud and Branch

The magnolias are budding and will soon be in full bloom. When we bought our house years ago, one of the first things I did was cut a magnolia bloom from the tree in the front yard.
Bud losing its outer covering while the first petal opens outward.

First Lines of Backyard Sketch

Several people have asked how in the world I drew the chipmunk in the previous post, and I have to be sure that nobody thinks I actually drew that much detail in one sitting. This is the original sketch, with the bird detailed quite a bit more than the original few lines, and the chipmunk's ears started. I scanned it at this point for my sister's benefit, because I KNEW she would ask -- it wasn't really intended for everyone to see, but since it's been brought up ...

I was fortunate to spot the little chipmunk just a few feet away from me while I was sitting with my sketchbook in my lap. He froze for a few seconds -- long enough for me to do a quick few lines blind contour style, and remember enough for a few more lines after he dived down into the hole. I found reference photos for the coloration from this point, and then went back to his hole to draw the ground. Now, if you look closely, you'll see that the chipmunk could as easily have been a squirrel if I'd "fleshed it out" a little differently ... and don't let an ornithologist get CLOSE to that bird drawing, because he would probably tell you it's not a bluebird at all, no matter what color it is! And, looking at the bird, you'll notice that there are several different lines for the ovals of the head and body, and I really have no idea what a bluebird's beak really looks like -- the bird itself is really pretty generic! :-D

Back Yard

Minnie the Mooch
"She calls it 'Hi-dee-Hole' "
(Chip Calloway)*

Bluebird and chipmunk in the back yard. I started with quick line sketches, and then had to look up reference photos for colors (ain't Yahoo Image search great?!)

*with apologies

(Further details: 0.05 Staedtler pigment liner & Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils in Moleskine sketchbook)

Nature Walk

This week's challenge for the Everyday Matters group is to go on a nature walk* and draw the things you find and pick up. This was an easy one to do and a hard one to stop on! I did the above page yesterday, and couldn't resist this little feather today. I always was one of those who had feathers and rocks and shells sitting on the windowsills -- my favorite 3-D art!

*all from my back yard, which is pretty woodsy!

(technical bit: 0.05 Staedtler pigment liner and colored pencil in Moleskine sketchbook)

Bird Nest

We have had some terrific storms in Tennessee this week. While Knoxville has been blessedly spared the worst of the destruction, we still experienced some hard and high winds. This little bird nest, exposed to full view and all the forces of nature, is perched precariously on the end of a long limb of an oak tree in the front of our house. I couldn't believe it was completely unscathed when I saw it this morning.

Cherry Blossom

More spring pink from the weeping cherry tree in the front yard.
Laura also happened to draw a weeping cherry branch today ... coincidence? I ask you ...

If you need a chuckle (and don't we all), go see this picture on Patrick's blog.

Star Magnolia

Honestly, I don't know how these botanical artists do it. This time of year, the flowers that are budding in the morning when I leave for work are in full bloom by the time I get home, and withering on the branch by the time dinner is done.

Last year's Star Magnolia drawing ... I can't help but do blue somewhere on the drawing if the flower is white ... it's a compulsion, I guess.

Technical notes: Watercolor in Arches 140# cold pressed sketchbook. The drawing of the bud.

And this one is for Cynthia on the Botanical Arts group -- an example of watercolor pencils on the Moleskine sketch paper. I think I did the ink drawing first, then the WC pencils and water over it. Probably finished up a few details with Verithins. ?

Just looking at this makes me want to run out to the fern garden to see if these poppies are coming up yet! I love spring!

EDM Leaves?

Yes - I've been able to do a little bit of painting and drawing in the past couple of weeks, but not much. Last weekend, DH's parents and family came in, and were here until mid-week. This weekend, MY parents came in to visit. All in all a wonderful two weekends in a row, and as I very much love all parties involved, I've been more than happy to put artwork aside for a bit.

However, I did find time to begin this full size (!) watercolor of autumn leaves, inspired by the Everyday Matters weekly challenge a few weeks back, and based on a photograph I found on Morguefile. This is just the upper left hand corner. I left the largest leaves unpainted, because they will need to be really detailed and I was afraid that even an initial wash would mess me up -- I don't know yet if that was a good decision or not! This has really been fun to work on, as I've only drawn a few of the leaves at a time, then worked on them, then drawn the next few. Rather than being anything close to a precise copy of the photo, this painting has evolved as I work on it. Hopefully it will continue to feel this good!

I should be back on a more regular schedule by Wednesday and hope to begin then to catch up a bit on challenges.

Brown Blues

Now that September is here, and things are beginning to turn brown AND now that I've banished browns from my watercolor palette, I find I have a problem ... HOW DO YOU MAKE BROWN???

Really, I'd like to know.

Blackberry Lily

Blackberry lily, from my sister's yard. NOW I know how it got it's name!

This is in a new sketchbook -- it is 11" high by 13" wide, and is 140# watercolor paper. Much fancier than I'm used to, and I'm having a blast with it!

Windfall

Magnolia seed pod -- blown down by the recent winds, from the tree in the front yard. Inspired by Laura, although I could never do as well as she does! The details of the thing are driving me crazy. ANY ideas to "fix it up" would be very welcome!