Some Strange Fish

I apologize but I was unable to create a new weird bird for today…

But I do have Some Strange Fish!

Luckily, I drew these last weekend when I was feeling better.  Coloring them was relaxing with Tombow markers and color pencils – much like this school of fish I created in 2015 –  here.

Hope these imaginary fish give you a smile today!

Cheers! 🙂

Colorful Faces

I made quick random marks in my mixed media sketchbook using watercolor and water soluble Tombow markers.  I only had a few minutes to create before I fixed dinner so I didn’t even let the page dry before I went onto the next one.  I did 10 pages in about 15 minutes.

Next, I decided to make quick one-liner sketches of faces from a magazine with ink without thinking about my backgrounds (paint had dried).  It was super fun!

Here are my 4 favorites:

Do you have a favorite?  I hope you share it with me!

Cheers!  🙂

Poking Holes

It is interesting to me how one art experiment often leads me to another…

In this case, poking holes in my paper, led to playing with circles – first with Tombow markers:

Then cutting circle shapes from a variety of papers and stamping acrylic paint with a wine cork and adding a little glitter:

And using the holes from the previous page to add an interesting layer:

I’d love to hear how an recent art experiment led you to an unexpected outcome!

Cheers!  🙂

Yep It’s Yupo

I wanted to try yesterday’s technique – the crayon resist on Yupo paper.  In case you aren’t familiar with Yupo, it is a plastic surface – polypropylene to be exact.  Watercolor doesn’t soak into the surface and sits on top.

I started with quick drawing using crayons and covered them with water soluble markers.  I knew if I used a damp paper towel over it, it would remove color so I chose a dry one which basically just softened the crayons and didn’t add much interest.  I decided to try watercolors on top as you can see on the drawing below on the right:

I discovered that I could add texture with a paper towel if the area was still wet.  So I stamped my background with a clean foam stamp to create more interest.

After the watercolor dried, I decided to add Neocolors – which are a water soluble crayon.

And another layer of watercolor to add some shadows and create depth:

I really like how interesting this turned out.  I want to continue to experiment in this medium.

Cheers!  🙂

A Christmas Bouquet

My husband wanted me to make a card for his sister whose Birthday is on Christmas Day!

So I created this Christmas bouquet:

Funny, I don’t feel like my art is very good today…maybe because I don’t feel like his family understands my art or my need to create it.

So thank you my blogging friends for your support in my art!  It means so much to me!

And as the inside of my card says, “May God bless you today and every day!”

Cheers!  🙂

What Rhymes With Weird?!

Beard!

And since today is Weird Bird Wednesday…

I have a Bearded Hat Fish to help give you a smile!  🙂

Did you know that there really is a Beard Fish?  Of course, it looks nothing like mine!  Lol!

Just thought if you were fishing for some fun, I’d throw this fish into the pond!

Cheers!!

Fiddle Faddle

I’ve been trying to put the finishing colors on my doodle that I started awhile ago in my art journal.

It reminds me of the popcorn you can buy in the store called, Fiddle Faddle.  The popcorn and peanuts are covered with gooey caramel.  Yum!   Like the popcorn, I have a difficult time leaving my doodle alone.  I keep “fiddling” with it!

Here are some of the supplies I used on this doodle:

I started with watercolor but then tried gouache, Tombow markers, Inktense pencils, watercolor pencils and Prismacolor pencils.  😉

I learned a lot from my experiment with different mediums.  I learned NOT to use a water brush as I don’t have any control with it.  (I can’t stay within the lines).  I struggled with the Inktense pencils to get them to blend with other mediums.

I also learned to trust my instincts when it came to color and NOT coloring every doodle!  I hope you check out Annie Glacken’s doodles here that she did recently in watercolor.  My favorite is her Hummingbird!  🙂

You may recall my doodle progress where I last left off that you can find here.

Here is the completion of this doodle:

I tried to vary my color by creating depth and movement in my patterns.  I would love to know what you think!

Happy creating!!  🙂

The Fox Trot

My hubby and I took ballroom dances several years ago.  It was so much fun!  It challenges the mind and keeps one physically in shape… need to get back into it!  😉

This week has reminded me of the Fox Trot rhythm which is slow, quick, quick!  Lol!

Here is my slow part – painting my doodle in watercolor – making progress in this dance:

And a quick, quick flower sketch in my art journal with Tombow markers.  Added some water, white charcoal and color pencils to finish it:

Wishing you all a fantastic Saturday.. dancing to your own rhythm!!

Cheers!  🙂

Raining Buttons

It has been raining most of the weekend here in the Pacific Northwest.  I find doodling in the evening keeps my hands busy and I enjoy creating patterns and playing with color.

I created these two pages of circle patterns recently in my new art journal and they remind me of buttons:

I found this quote on the internet:

“I cannot count my day complete, ‘Til needle, thread and fabric meet.” – Author Unknown  I used to find joy in cross-stitch, then beading and now mixed media art…

For me today, “I cannot count my day complete, ‘Til pen or brush and sketchbook meet!”

Wishing you a Sunny Sunday, Friends…

“In the crazy quilt of life, I’m glad you are in my block of friends!”  – Author Unknown

Cheers!  🙂

Big Bold Blooms 2

I’ve started a new online art class with Lynn Whipple, “Big Bold Blooms 2.”

I love the positive energy that Lynn brings to her classes.  It is a 5-week class so you will be seeing a lot more flowers in my art!  🙂

Perhaps you remember some of my  mixed media flower paintings from her first class – you can find two of them here and here.

I enjoyed doing these simple thumb nail sketches of flowers with Tombow markers:

And then looking for the shadows as you can see in my second photo below:

And a third one I did with an elegant writer pen and Tombow markers and water:

I encourage you to give these a try with a fresh bouquet of flowers!  They are so FUN!

BLOOM where you are planted!  Cheers!  🙂