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! 🙂

Drawing From Memory

I prefer to draw from a reference photo but yesterday, I decided to try drawing from memory:

It helped to have a good teacher.  The teacher was Jeanne-Marie Webb from the online class:  Paint Your Heart and Soul 2019.  This year the theme is painting loose.

I drew two faces with charcoal pencil, Derwent Inktense Blocks and chalk.  Next, I fragmented the faces by cutting up the eyes separate from the nose and mouth.  I glued the features so they didn’t completely match on a separate piece of paper.  I collaged my Gelli-Plate printed papers with my drawings.

I am starting to see improvements in my face drawings… Hoorah!

How about you, do YOU enjoy drawing from memory?

Cheers! 🙂

Eyes And Noses

I recently started an online class that is completely out of my comfort zone.

I love the colorful art of the teacher, Ardith Goodwin so I decided to give the class, “Distortion of Eyes and Noses” a try!

I thought you might enjoy seeing how I created a whimsical eye yesterday from one of the assignments.

I started with a watercolor background to give me inspiration.  I drew a quick sketch in pencil.

I used the pencil sketch to get my creative juices flowing.  I added details with a black permanent pen and additional color with Tombow markers.

I finished by softening the watercolor around the eye with gesso and a quote:

I encourage you to change the way you look at things!

Cheers! 🙂

New Year Inspiration

Happy New Year Friends!!

Have YOU put on a your creative thinking cap(s) for 2019?

 

I purchased this art book a few years ago…

It is just the daily inspiration I need in the new year!

I made a book-marker for it… You can see I have a square as part of my design (see yesterday’s post).

What inspiration will YOU use in your creativity in the new year?  I hope you share it with me!

Cheers to new creative discoveries! 🙂

A Season For…

December is a season for…

Holiday celebrations with family and friends near,

A bouquet of flowers with reds and greens from my dear,

It’s a season of giving and sharing good cheer,

And saying, thank you, to YOU, my blogging friends this time of year!

Wishing you ALL a very Merry Everything!! 

Cheers! 🙂

Holiday Traditions

I often find myself thinking about holiday traditions this time of year and remembering times from my childhood…

This drawing of a sweet girl recently appeared in my sketchbook and I was reminded of the faux hand muffs that my sis and I had as young children, anyone else remember them?

I don’t remember wearing them very much as they weren’t the most practical in keeping my hands warm.  😉

One of my holiday traditions that I started several years ago was making this easy and yummy, Caramel Snack mix:

I thought you might enjoy making it apart of your holiday tradition!

Cheers! 🙂

P.S.  Do you have a favorite childhood memory or holiday tradition?  I hope you share it with me.

Joyful Music

One of the highlights during the month of December is the special music…

Last weekend, I heard a trumpet solo and today at church, I listened to a violin soloist.

I like to close my eyes and listen, it brings my heart JOY!

What special music do YOU enJOY during the month of December?

I hope you share it with me.

Cheers! 🙂

Exploring Landscape

I recently completed an online class from Anita Lehmann called, “Translating Landscapes.” The class was hosted by Carla Sonheim.  

I am still learning so much from this class!! Anita is a wonderful teacher.  She is also a licensed architect in Washington State.

Exploring the elements of design in landscape has helped me to SEE my subject in a different way.  I am learning to see more abstractly as “shapes.”

We warmed up with a favorite subject of mine, PEARS!  I enjoyed experimenting with a variety of art materials using the design elements on a 6 x 6 inch paper:

Next, I applied the design elements to my photo from the lake:

Here are my favorites from this exploration:

“Motive” combines several design elements into one design.

If you’d like to learn more about Anita H Lehmann and view her art, please check out:  Anitahlehmannartist.com or ahldraws on Instagram.

Cheers! 🙂

Her Heart Overflowed

Her heart overflowed with love…

She felt grateful for this gift…

So she gave it away freely!

I think LOVE is a gift that I can give away “freely”…  How about you?

And the funny thing about this gift, the more I give it away, the MORE I get in return!

Cheers! 🙂

Matching Outfits

I remember how my grandma made my sis and I matching outfits as kids.  My sister is two years older than me.

Sometimes these memories come to me when I’m making art.  Does this happen to you?

I created this art in my sketchbook last night. I started by glueing a stocking hat and sweater for a dog from one of my Gelli-plate printed papers.

I then drew my girl’s face.  Next, I glued her vest and pants to the paper.  Kind of reminds me of paper dolls… I drew her arms and boots around her collaged “clothes” and the dog around his “sweater” from my imagination…

The proportions are a bit off on my girl but I like the dog! Lol! ☺️  And the poem I wrote reminds me of my childhood and how much fun we used to have playing in the snow.

I have always thought it would be fun to have a little dog to dress up in matching outfits! 

Cheers! 🙂

P.S. The child in me wishes it would snow but the adult says, “Please, only in the mountains!  I don’t want to drive in it!” 😉