Happy New Year!

November Square-A-Day – Landscapes

I created landscapes from my imagination for my November Square-A-Day project.

Using a variety of art supplies, I explored simplicity with Copic markers, color pencils, watercolor, Gelli-plate prints and Pan Pastels.

“The real voyage of discovery consists, not in seeking new landscapes, but having new eyes.” Marcel Proust

I thought this quote summed up this month’s project perfectly!

Cheers! 🙂

October Square-A-Day Project

As I wait for the doorbell to ring and costume-clothed kiddos arrive with pillow cases or plastic buckets to be filled with sweet treats, I review my October square-a-day project.

This month I tried to stick to a theme. Nature was my inspiration. Simple squares. Gelli-plate printed backgrounds. What do you think of having a nature theme?

I left my 5×7 inch Gelli-plate out on my art table for the entire month of October. This led to some wonderful explorations with acrylic ink and fluid acrylics. I also enjoyed printing on old book pages.

Below are some of my favorite squares:

I believe I am now supplied with as many prints as the kids whose buckets were overflowing with Halloween candy! 😉 Sweet!!

I look forward to hearing which squares you like!

Happy November! Cheers! 🙂

Animal Sketches

I challenged myself recently to learn to draw different animals.

I started with collage paper scraps as hats in different shapes to keep it fun:

It helped me to start with animals that I was familiar from my imagination like the pig, cat and dog.

When I started with the gorilla, I used a real image online as inspiration.

I used pencil so I could erase if needed and I erased A LOT!

When I got frustrated, I drew a face of a girl! 😉 It took me several nights to complete.

It helped me to remember to use basic shapes like the circles in my rabbit’s face below:

I think my animal sketches have character! Do you have a favorite?

Happy sketching!

Cheers! 🙂

September Square-A-Day Project

Hello Friends,

I hope you are enjoying my daily art squares as much as I’m having fun creating them!

I tried to tell a story in each art square with watercolor or Copic markers and a touch of collage. Sometimes I added a little Micron black pen too.

My stories for September’s square-a-day project are simple, something I did or saw or felt for that day.

I was inspired by the artwork in this book by Roxanne Evans Stout:

I hope you share favorite squares that may inspire you in your own stories…

Cheers! 🙂

P.S. In case you are wondering, square #17, the words say, “Ferris Wheel.” It was the name of a paint sample. I thought it looked like a child’s name. Our local fair occurs in September. 😉

July Square-A-Day Project

Perhaps you remember my post regarding my inspiration for my first ten days of my July Square-A-Day Project? If not you can find it here: 10 Watercolor Squares

I created in watercolor for July but also some gouache for each day on a 1.75 x 1.75 inch square:

Nature was my inspiration for most of my squares. Yet, I did include a couple of abstracts and a little whimsy!

Painting outside at the lake was something I truly enjoyed! I encourage you to paint outdoors.

Cheers! 🙂

A Square-A-Day Project for June

I am still enjoying my square-a-day project, can you believe it has been 6 months?

I gave myself a theme for June. Can you guess what it is? Of course, many of you already know from my sneak peak earlier in the month.

I thought it was interesting how the 4th vertical row shares a similar color value when I lined them up yesterday.

What doodles and patterns stand out for you? I hope you share them with me!

Cheers! 🙂

May’s Square-A-Day Project

It seems amazing that a new month, June has begun…

Time to show you my square-a-day project for May!

I hope you are enjoying this project as much as I am!

Cheers! 🙂

P.S.  What colors appeal to you?  Please share!

Painting Tulips

I am in LOVE with the flower photos and gardens of my sweet, blogging friend, Ali at The Mindful Garden!

She grows the most gorgeous flowers in her yard!!  And takes stunning photos of them too!

With her permission, I tried to paint some of her tulips yesterday in watercolor.

Here are my process photos:

Watercolor is a difficult art medium for me.  Perhaps I struggle too hard to make my flowers look “real.”  And yet, I always feel like I learn to “see” my subjects a little clearer when I try to draw or paint them.

I do hope you check out Ali’s blog!  Her gardens are always a delight to my senses!

Cheers! 🙂

March Square-A-Day Project

A new month has arrived which means I get to show you my March square-a-day project:

I have a little more yellow in this one…possibly I have been thinking of sunshine and warmer days ahead!

I hope you share your favorite squares with me!

Happy April!

Cheers! 🙂