Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks…

What are you thankful for?

I am thankful for many things, especially “nature” and its ability to soothe my soul in all four seasons in the Pacific Northwest where I live.

I try to get outside for some fresh air each day, even if it’s just a walk to the mailbox.

My cat, Jack walks around the backyard with me on the days when the sun is shinning.

I recently created an autumn themed mandala in watercolor using some leaves from my yard as inspiration. I also added iridescent watercolor for some sparkle.

I finished my piece with color pencils. I think I will frame this one!

Many thanks to each of you for your likes and kind comments on my blog this year.

Wishing you a day filled with Giving Thanks!

Cheers! 🙂

Stuffed Animals

I created this drawing based on the words from the assignment I told you about in my last post, “This might be impossible to read but it was fun to make.”

I had so much FUN drawing the stuffed animals and hiding the words.

Here is a close-up of the animals and words so you can read them.

Sometimes I don’t try ideas because I think they may be impossible to do! I’m glad I gave this one a try because I discovered stuffed animals are really quite easy to draw.

What would you like to learn to draw or paint if you didn’t have any obstacles in your way?

I hope you give your ideas a try!

Cheers! 🙂

Art Journal Prompts – Part 2

I wanted to show you the page in my art journal that I completed from Monday’s post:

Below is the photo from Monday of my unfinished page Art Journal Prompts:

I enjoyed a trip down “memory lane” and found this photo of me ice skating with my dad when I was almost 5 years old. (Notice the old cars in the background!)

I encourage you to create your own art journal prompts! I hope you share with me what you do!

Cheers! 🙂

A “Bug” In My Bonnet

I enjoyed my blogging break for the last two weeks… Although I couldn’t stay away from reading so many of your creative blogs! 😃

I am looking forward to a new month… December is here! And Christmas is just around the corner… Hoorah!

Someone put a “bug” in my bonnet in the last couple of weeks and I have been drawing these bugs from my imagination:

I started with their imaginary “hats” from my Gelli-printed papers or copies of my own artwork.

I drew my imaginary bug in pencil before adding permanent pen.

There is something wonderful about creating from your imagination. It is so freeing!

Lastly, I added color pencils to give these bugs a little pizzazz…

Which bug(s) do you like?

Cheers! 🙂

Abstract Landscapes

I am creating mixed media abstract landscapes for my November square-a-day project.

I have discovered how much I enjoy creating these simple landscapes with copic markers and color pencils:

Most of the landscapes are from my imagination. I enjoy trying different color combinations to create a feeling or memory.

Sometimes I will finish them with a little collage. I added Gelli-printed deli paper to this square:

It reminds me of the lake and the repetitive sound of the waves on the sandy beach.

Cheers! 🙂

Primary Fun

I’m enjoying the assignments from my online class, Creating Simple Characters with Nelleke Verhoeff.

It was primary fun to color these characters with yellow, red and blue color pencils:

I encourage you to draw characters as things from your imagination!

Cheers! 🙂

Planting Patterns

I have declared the month of June to be doodle month for my Square-A-Day project.  I look forward to showing you all my squares at the end of this month… but here is a sneak preview:

Drawing doodles or patterns is something I find calming and relaxing.  I did this one in my art journal with color pencils recently:

It looks like I am planting patterns like rows of flowers or vegetables in a garden!

Patterns and inspiration are everywhere… 

Like this photo I took recently at the lake.  The moon was almost full!

There are patterns in the water, the trees and the sky!

I hope you will be inspired by the patterns in your world!

Cheers! 🙂

 

Where Is Spring?

It is hard to believe that Spring will be here in two months where I live in the Pacific Northwest!

We recently got about a foot and a half of new snow!  So pretty when it is fluttering down from the sky but not so pretty when the snow plower piled the driveway with a huge berm yesterday…Ugh!

I finished my doodle from last week!  YAY! 😀 If you didn’t see that post, you can find it here:  A Little Doo-da-ling

It was super fun to work on it a little each day when I had a few minutes:

And the finishing touches:

I added two colors of color pencils to complete it.  I’d love to hear what you think!

Happy Friday!

Cheers! 🙂

Learning Color Pencil

I am taking an online class from Kelly Hoernig called, “Art and Nature in Color Pencil,” at JeanneOliver.com

I purchased Kelly’s book a few years ago.  I liked her idea of combining this art medium with collage:

Yet, learning color pencil seemed like a difficult subject to me.  It reminded me of watercolor in that you start light and add layers to get deeper values.

Taking an online class is helping me get more comfortable with color pencil:

(YES, I realize it is CRABapple not CRAPapple…) Lol! 😉

It helps me to get feedback from my teacher, Kelly and learn from my classmates.

Writing down the colors I use in my sketchbook creates a guide for future subjects I study further.

I am learning color pencil slowly and hope to add collage soon!

What subject would YOU like to learn more about?  I encourage you to take a class!

Cheers! 🙂

 

A Rare Sighting

This weird bird was recently spotted in a jungle somewhere…

A Crawfish-Bibbed Spear-Head Bird

It is so hidden in camouflage…

That it takes people time to recognize it.

Yet, if you are patient you will be lucky to see…

A rare sighting of this bird!

I hope it gives you a smile today…

Happy Weird Bird Wednesday!!

Cheers! 🙂