Making a Splash...

Doctor's Office Doodles

2012-01-23T11:30:00.001-05:00

New Doodle

2012-01-12T16:17:00.001-05:00

Today's Doodle

2012-01-11T16:37:00.002-05:00

The start of a doodle...the sketchbook challenge for January.

What Today Has Taught Me

2011-12-26T20:41:00.001-05:00

Okay, maybe it wasn’t today that taught me this, but today I was struck by the fact that our family - our sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, aunts, uncles, cousins – blood relatives - are the most important things we have in life. The love of family… it outlasts separation and divorce, bad choices, illness, destructive words and arguments, and even death. The lineage passed down from one generation to the next, those connections that tie us together – strong family bonds – that’s what matters. Love, so strong and so pure, because the Source is Emmanuel, God with us. God, who is Love, is the source of light, and love, and life in us. And we’re family, and we’re strong, and our love for each other will be there when there is nothing else.

Tonight I am so thankful for my Christian family heritage. For my grandparents, my parents, my brother, my sisters, my daughter, my aunts, uncles, cousins, my nieces, nephew, and on and on it goes. God instituted the family as our source of support and love, and when God is the basis of a family – when His love flows through the generations, then these are the ties that bind.

Today my brother gave my mother a window frame from her home church that’s over 100 years old. This church and the fundamental values and beliefs, the love, the heritage has stood the test of time. My grandmother’s faithfulness to it and then my mother’s provided a firm foundation for all our (my siblings’) lives. And no matter what comes – the foundation stands sure and strong.

To my family – I love you all and you are the true treasures of my life. Thank you for loving me – always.

Part 1 in Culmination of Creative Chronicles

2011-12-21T11:27:00.022-05:00

Here is part 1 of the culmination of my Creative Chronicles. Months of creative ideas and work come together in one of the finished products - a mini art quilt, wall hanging for Christmas gifts. I have been sewwww busy (pun intended) since October making these mini art quiltsand other projects (more to come). Sewwww much fun! I got my very first sewing machine at a Black Friday sale, taught myself to thread it, and sew. Been a crazy, fun two months at my house! I'll be busy finishing up projects (I hope) all day tomorrow. Then finishing up gift-wrapping and cleaning house on Friday and Saturday.

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas

and

God Bless Us Everyone...

Just Checking in with a Quick Sketch

2011-12-16T16:13:00.000-05:00

I did this in a new sketchbook during lunch in the rain in KFC parking lot! You gotta do what you gotta do. Life is hectic. I hope everyone is having a lovely Christmas season. Busy...but lovely.

Something Different

2011-12-03T10:57:00.001-05:00

This is part of the “Creative Chronicles”. Creativity has just taken over and the ideas are flowing faster than I can make art. Love it when that happens, but I would love it more if I could get it all out of my system and spend at least 12 hours a day creating art. This is a gift to my friend’s son, who is like a nephew to me. He is an aspiring artist – so talented. I want him to encourage him to continue creating. He likes graffiti type art and I thought this just looked like him. I bought him the book “Journal Junkies” as part of this gift.
Creating this piece was so much fun and totally intuitive! I started with a black canvas (had been painted previously with black acrylic paint). Then I began to add the stamped circles from stamps I’d made from various things around the house, then I began to cut fabric shapes and scraps of painted paper and just kept adding and collage and stamping until I had the composition I wanted. I titled it “Controlled Chaos”. Merry Christmas, Houston!

I Have SO Much Catching Up to Do!

2011-11-27T21:40:00.002-05:00

I am way behind in blogging, because life is so much fun right now, I don’t want to miss a minute to sit down and blog about all the minutes that are making up my life right now. Make sense?
I have spent the past 4 days with my daughter, literally almost every minute. I cannot think of a better way to spend these days. She will be all grown and on her own way too soon, and she is a source of pure joy to me. Wednesday afternoon we cleaned a bit and decorated the Christmas tree,

then completely pooped, we left the mess we made and went to bed. Thanksgiving morning, we made pumpkin pies together and watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I was so proud of my first homemade pie crusts that I asked Grace to take pictures.

And Grace made Oreo Balls – crushed Oreos, mixed with cream cheese, rolled in balls, and then dipped in melted white chocolate chips… yum!

Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving. I think mine was the best in all my 42 years.

I’ll tell you in my next post about our Black Friday shopping – a first for the two of us, and well worth rolling out of bed at 1:30AM. Now it’s off to bed for the back to work after Thanksgiving Monday. Uuugh… But thankful for a job I love!

Is it Really Almost Thanksgiving!?

2011-11-19T16:37:00.001-05:00

I cannot believe almost a month has gone by since my last post. Life gets busier all the time. My daughter (almost 16) recently discovered basketball and loves it. I spend what time I am not at work either running her here or there, or collapsing, or creating! My studio is taking over my kitchen, except for this weekend when I felt a penchant toward cooking – homemade buttermilk biscuits at that, and next week it will be pumpkin pie baking day – Thanksgiving, my favorite day of the entire year.

Now back to the studio. Following are some of the little peeks inside to see what’s been “cooking” in my kitchen…

A Rainy Cold Late October Day

2011-10-28T08:27:00.000-04:00

Perfect Day for a Hot Steaming Cuppa

Spiced Chai, or Coffee, or a Latte, or Hot Chocolate or… what’s your favorite hot beverage for a cold, rainy day?

This is a small 4” x 6” drawing using the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen and colored pencil.

Saturday Evening Sketching Trip

2011-10-23T20:03:00.001-04:00

Late yesterday afternoon, I took a drive - with the sole purpose of sketching. I filled up a clean watercolor palette with colors like cobalt violet, brown madder, naples yellow, vermilion - fall colors.

I drove the backroads just drinking in the beauty of the sky, the leaves, the mountains - breathtaking! Then I'd find a spot and pull over and sketch. The sketch below was done before I went home to get a decent brush, a water container and the palette with fresh paints. The Niji waterbrush used below frustrated me so bad! I find that it clogs and I have to squeeze and squeeze and still can't get enough water out to even wet the bristles. I used the needle to clean it out, but apparently not well enough. I think the problem is I leave water in it all the time and rarely use it, so it clogs. Anyway I don't like it.

But the sketching trip is something I want to do again and again. Terrific therapy and the perfect way to spend some time alone with my art - although some company would have been great too!

Creative Chronicles # 2

2011-10-22T11:11:00.006-04:00

Creative chaos!! Love it.

I started out just sketching the bottle of flowers on the right in colored pencil, then added watercolor. I didn't like the background, so I gessoed over it, let it dry and went in with more watercolor washes. Then I added watercolor, watercolor pencils, and more colored pencils, and I think some white gouache. Oh, before I did all that, I glued the page to the page behind it for more support.

I like the effect of the gesso, the way it makes the background look sort of mottled...an interesting texture.

And lastly I leave you with a beautiful closeup of my supplies.

The first of my creative chronicles...

2011-10-18T21:56:00.001-04:00

This will be the first of several posts updating you on this creative surge I'm on and I hope it continues! In my previous post (earlier today) I told you about an expo we had at church that got my creative juices flowing freely again. And I've felt like I'm fully and completely ALIVE ever since. All my nerve endings feel like they're awake and alive and completely energized, taking in all the colors of fall and all the inspiration that this season brings!

The first project I tackled was a cover to my prayer journal, which is just a plain old 20-cent notebook from Wal-Mart, transformed!

as is our life - with prayer !

Work as Worship

2011-10-18T15:40:00.000-04:00

Sunday, October 9 during Sunday School at our church we had what was termed an “Expo”. It was set up similar to a fair or as the term suggests expo. One gentleman had his drag racing hobby displayed and he demonstrated and revved up his engine, showed his trailer; one man had his gun hobby as his display. Then inside the fellowship hall, a lady discussed how she crochets baby blankets and prays for the baby before she gives the blanket to the new mother – this is her ministry. I had my art on display, my journals mostly and some of my small paintings. All of these were examples of how our hobbies and talents can be used in ministry to other people. This event lit a fire under me!!! I had become rather stale in my passion and in my art, just needed a good dose of inspiration. And this was it! Since then I have had the creative juices flowing and my engine has been revved  I will share more in subsequent posts about the results of all this inspiration. Please check back soon…

This Week's Sketches

2011-10-01T12:20:00.002-04:00

I finally purchased the Pentel Pocket Brush pen that Roz uses in many of her sketches. And I agree that it is great! The first colors of autumn are starting to show their display and I captured them quickly at lunch last week in watercolor and colored pencil.

2011-09-24T20:41:00.002-04:00

A much-needed, very therapeutic Saturday of a little cleaning and a lot of sketching, reading, watching You've Got Mail for the 100,000th time... Pure Bliss... (except the cleaning - but the results are great!)

My first page of sketches is below, and then speaking of results...

The more finished sketch below may very well be my favorite sketch of my entire artistic career. I don't know why, it just has it all to me... great lines and energy, my favorite things - cups that hold coffee or tea, and of course, books. This sketch just feels like an accomplishment of sorts... And may I add that there is nothing, I mean NOTHING like a brand new Prismacolor colored pencil sharpened with an X-acto knife and chiseled ever so slightly at the end. YUM!! I had forgotten the pleasure that simple tool can bring. The shadows in the white cup were too dark, so I used white gouache to lighten it and add highlights. I started the line drawing with Faber-Castell PITT pens, and just went a little wild from there. I do recommend knife sharpened colored pencils. There is just something about the line they make.

And now I am having cinnamon coffee. I drink mine black but I'm sure most people use cream if not cream and sugar - black and strong that's the way I like it... Just add a dash or two or three of cinnamon to the filter after you put the coffee in and then brew! Perfect fall drink! Happy Saturday evening everyone!

Busy End of Summer Days

2011-09-17T13:19:00.000-04:00

One reason I haven't posted in so many days is because I'm too busy DOING to sit still long enough to blog! I've painted my window casing bright red...took me about 2 weeks to finish it.

These days are so very very busy. I am rarely home and so today is a special treat. A cloudy, cool, rainy day to stay home and be cozy. I am looking forward to fall days. Everything seems to calm down around this time of year. Days are shorter and cooler and I always feel like my life kind of takes on a more relaxed pace. I hope this fall is no different, because I could sure use a more relaxed pace.

Lately I've been on a book-buying craze (for lack of a better term). I just can't seem to stop buying books! Cheap, beautiful, enticing BOOKS!!

"Books to the ceiling, books to the sky.

My piles of books are a mile high.

Oh, how I love them!

Oh, how I need them!

I'll have a long beard by the time I read them." -Arnold Lobel

This is only the tip of the iceberg! My house is overrun with books, and all I seem to want to do is READ!!
I just finished The Help by Kathryn Stockett, and I'm currently working on a collection of sermons by John MacArthur, C. S. Lewis' The Four Loves, A. W. Tozer's The Pursuit of God, and yesterday I found Blogging for Bliss by Tara Frey for about $7 with my AC Moore coupon!

I've also been cooking a lot of Italian food after having finished Peter Pezelli's Francesca's Kitchen. All these are highly recommended. I think I'll go have some homemade spaghetti now following Francesca's easy sauce recipe... But first I will leave you with a few paintings/sketches I've managed to do:

Don't forget to sip some tea or coffee on this cool, cozy, September Saturday... Enjoy!

Trees

2011-08-29T20:39:00.002-04:00

God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars. ~Martin Luther

Colored Pencil Play

2011-08-19T13:39:00.000-04:00

I became inspired by the book The Best of Colored Pencil - I found it this week in a used bookstore. Finally - some examples of more colorful abstract work in colored pencil. If you've never seen this book, I highly recommend it. It's a showcase of work by members of the Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA).

Finally - a Whole Day to Do What I Love!

2011-07-30T14:16:00.000-04:00

I Love Coffee - No Really!

2011-07-30T14:14:00.001-04:00

I picked my favorite coffee cup up to wash it, and look!!!!

I had just been to lunch and completed this page - depicting of all things, HEARTS! Only to return to the office and find my love for coffee displayed as a coffee stain! How amazing is that!

My Faithful Readers

2011-07-20T18:43:00.000-04:00

Not feeling up to sketching or blogging lately, I give you instead a view of my zinnias growing in my garden adn some recent auction purchases, arranged for sketching later. Blessings, dear readers.

Not Your Typical...but a very wonderful Fourth of July Weekend

2011-07-04T18:07:00.002-04:00

My July 4th weekend trip: visiting a friend and her husband...Oh what a wonderful time!

Colored pencil sketches done while traveling in her "bookmobile" to bookshops and a book fair. The scenery was absolutely Gorgeous!!!

My friend thought my little tin of very short pencils was simply ingenious, so I must share it here. It's a credit card tin I bought at a dept store and turned into a pencil case. Inside are almost-used-up Prismacolor pencils that fit perfectly! And the tin fits perfectly in my purse!

And lastly, I must share my huge selection of book treasures that I brought home with me. This is not even all of them! I also got first editions of Corrie Ten Boom's The Hiding Place and Rosamunde Pilcher's Flowers in the Rain and Other Stories! Splendid weekend! Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Stopping to Capture the Moments

2011-06-15T21:36:00.000-04:00

Had migraine this afternoon, so I waited in car at church for Grace to finish and come out. (In my pj's) The flowers on the parsonage porch caught my eye. All I had with me was a small notebook and my trusty Pigma Micron pens, so I did a quick pen sketch and then when I got home I glued the notebook page in my Hand-Book Journal and added Caran d'Ache crayons for the flowers and watercolors for the rest. I love how this little page turned out and that I stopped long enough to pull out my pens and do this sketch...Something I haven't been doing enough of lately...stopping to capture the moments.

Recent Journal Page

2011-06-15T21:26:00.000-04:00

Did this at lunch a couple weeks ago. Catching up on blogging...

Bargains! And Some Weekend Decorating

2011-06-14T19:46:00.005-04:00

I'm finding many outlets for my creativity lately other than my usual two dimensional art. This weekend was filled with yard sale and auction sale purchases and arranging cozy spaces in my home. The rocking chair below was $22.50 at an auction sale - it's beautiful, comfortable and solid wood. The little magazine/book stand beside it was from a prior auction sale. The small lamp was only a buck! I got two for $2.00! By the way - the lamp is sitting on a monitor heater (eyesore). We now have central heat and air, so I covered the monitor with a pretty scarf of fabric I bought at a flea market or yard sale several years ago.

My favorite, long awaited purchase is this corner bookshelf for my bedroom. I had to pay $65 for it, but I have wanted a bookshelf forEVER and this one was absolutely perfect for this corner and so I kept bidding until I got it. The rocking chair in front of the bookshelf was from a prior auction sale for $5!

The shelf below was only $8 at a yard sale, and now holds almost all my art supplies and lets them be out and visible. I need that for inspiration. I got so tired of those plastic rolling carts with drawers. 1.) I couldn't see my supplies, and 2.) I was forever opening the wrong drawer, so I spent most of my art time opening and shutting those drawers looking for the right thing. Arrgh! But happily, problem solved for only $8.

And then there was this great unexpected purchase: I got two chairs just alike (pictured at right) for $1.00 each! The pair for $2.00. No one was bidding on them, so I thought why not! I love the pattern and colors on this and much to my delight they are extremely sturdy and comfortable!

I spent too much money, but I got all the things I've been wanting and thinking about, and at great prices!

I loved creating these cozy spaces throughout my home, and can't wait to enjoy them. I can see me playing musical chairs not knowing which one I like best :-)

Recent Hand-Book Journal Pages

2011-06-01T13:14:00.001-04:00

Today's lunchtime page above

And Sunday's trip to the lake resulted in the above sketch; more notetaking than sketching actually, as I had to do this in about 5 seconds (the line drawing I mean). My hand was very unsteady because the waves were extremely choppy due to a busy Memorial Day weekend with lots of boats on the water. The watercolor I could take more time on. ( My 9-year-old nephew looked at the beginnings of this attempt and said, "You could draw that better if the water wasn't so choppy, couldn't you?" - From the mouths of babes :-) )

Fun in the sun with family - pure joy!

JOY!

2011-05-26T14:43:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I get stuck and start questioning why I make art, what is the purpose?

I get it when I actually put the brush in the paint and push those colors around.

It's about colors and playing and expressing the joy in life. Pure joy!

Zephaniah 3:17 says that our Sovereign God - who created this universe - will take delight in me with gladness, will calm all my fears with his love, and will rejoice over me with joyful songs!!!! Think of that! And paint!

More Splashing

2011-05-17T22:20:00.003-04:00

I can see this becoming a nightly routine. So soothing, my evening art therapy session... night all.

Sometimes...Ya Just Gotta Make a Splash

2011-05-16T21:53:00.004-04:00

And so I did. In my handbook journal with an Escoda sable brush and my Yarka St. Petersburg watercolor palette. What fun. Good stress reliever. Love that quinacridone rose. I freely drew the flowers with a short stubby woodless graphite pencil. Felt good to play. Think I'll do it again tomorrow. I might just fill up the whole book!

Best Intentions

2011-05-06T14:00:00.000-04:00

You know, sometimes our best intentions go awry. I was all excited about ED in May and after the first two days, my wrist gave out on me. See the computer keyboard...I've been a secretary and typed all day long for 23 years. So they say it's a pinched nerve. Maybe carpal tunnel? Not sure yet, but this brace must stay on for 2 weeks and then back to the doctor. Now all my hobbies except reading, involve the use of my right hand. I can barely write, and certainly not without pain, and as you can see from EDM 3 I tried below, I'm not quite as adept at drawing with the brace. It might have had something to do with motivation as well :-)

So in saying all that...

I was off to a brilliant start, but alas, I will bow out of the EDinMay challenge so as not to put undue pressure and guilt upon myself, not to mention pain. I will be reading everyone's posts and getting my dose of inspiration so that when the wrist improves I'll be back at it. Until then, blessings to everyone!

Every Day in May Challenge 102–May 2

2011-05-02T21:15:00.001-04:00

Every Day in May Challenge # 101–May 1

2011-05-02T20:58:00.002-04:00

(click image to enlarge)

I cannot believe how refreshed and excited I am about these challenges. I needed this swift kick in the artistic pants to get me going again! Spring fever has hit me as of today!
A Bar of Soap never looked so good – this is the good old Ivory basic soap in a very colorful Southern Living Brio dish.

Not Your Traditional Easter Sunday

2011-05-01T20:55:00.000-04:00

What could be more satisfying than family art fun?! On Easter Sunday after church, I set up a table full of art supplies and played while my daughter spent some time in the sun - "tanning" - which of course meant burning, but that's a whole other story...

I didn't want to leave home to visit my family so I called them to come see me. And they did. Above is my niece and her two kids - Reagan, 3 and Trevin, 8. My pleasure was indescribable when my niece sat down and began to play with the Inktense pencils! So much fun!

It was Reagan's first time painting with real watercolors and quality paper below. She made lots of mud, much to my chagrin, but she had fun!

Below are my results of the day - done before the company arrived :-)

All in a Day's Work

2011-04-06T16:35:00.005-04:00

This seems to be all I have time or energy for these days - a quick sketch of a coffee cup belonging to one of the members present in a teleconference this morning. I was taking minutes, and during a a lull in the action, I got in this quick sketch and finished it up with colored pencil and COFFEE in my office. Literally. A cold cup of leftover coffee from the morning (or maybe the day before) caught my eye and I thought, hmmm... The Pilot G2 pen I used was water soluble...so I dipped a brush in the coffee and went right to work :-) Not bad I think :-) All in a day's work...sometimes you just have to seize the moment.

I Want to Win This Journal

2011-03-30T21:36:00.000-04:00

I just met Brenda Leyland from Tracy Krauss' blog. Thank you Brenda for your comment and for the heads up about your journal giveaway. Go to Brenda's lovely blog (of which I am now a follower) and leave a comment to win her journal - which would be just perfect for this time in my life.

http://beautiful.wordfromhome.com/2011/03/wrapped-up-and-ready-to-go-giveaway-1.html

O Praise Him!
He is Holy!

Deborah

Who Would Have Dreamed - Me a "Stylish Blogger" Award Winner!!

2011-03-29T21:00:00.001-04:00

You know what I am? Amazed, honored, and humbled that Tracy Krauss would present me with such an award! Getting this made my day, especially given my current state of non-productivity where my art is concerned. Thank you Tracy for your compliments and your confidence that my motivation will return!

Actually I'm doing two jobs right now, so work is zapping me and by the time I reach my front door (actually I come in the kitchen door) I am pooped.

Okay I am instructed to list 7 random facts about myself; well here goes:

I am pooped. (Oh wait, I think I said that already).
I just bought a new laptop which I feel guilty about spending money on, but which I absolutely love!
I have the most amazing daughter in the entire world. (No...really!) Her name is Grace by the way - Amazing Grace -- hee hee
I secretly love writing as much as I love art...some days even more.
All I can think about just now is painting the rooms in my house, planting zinnias all over the yard, and going on a road trip to antique and book shops.
I am going to a local auction Saturday in hopes of buying an antique rocking chair.
I've decided I love the color combination red and turquoise for my kitchen, but I'm afraid to go for it and paint because I might grow tired of the turquoise. I based my whole decision on some placemats I found at the consignment store.

There you have it. Seven facts about me. Or really seven random thoughts that came to mind as I typed.

Now to choose my seven blogs to receive this coveted award:

Ann Nemcosky would have to be the first person that comes in my mind. She is a homeschooler and artist whose work will inspire you to pieces: http://nemcoskyart.blogspot.com/

Next is Jennifer Edwards who happens to live close enough to me that I can take her class in May! She is an amazing person and artist who inspires me greatly; her newest blog http://drawn2be.wordpress.com/ and then she also has her original blog http://drawn2life.wordpress.com/, but you must meet Genevieve at the drawn2be blog! So stylish!!!

Dan Kent whose blog is not only stylish, but he absolutely cracks me up with his writing! http://danscanvas.blogspot.com/

Raena at http://raenassketchjournal.blogspot.com/ whose blog is so stylish and inspirational!

Laura Frankstone http://laurelines.typepad.com/ just take a look! 'nough said...

My friend, Timaree, at http://freebirdsings.blogspot.com/ who herself I think has to be stylish. She's just positive, encouraging and constantly busy learning new things and growing as an artist.

Last but not by no means least is Winna's World - http://winnasworld.blogspot.com/ oozes with style, this woman

Please visit each of these Stylish Blogs and let them know I sent you!

Tracy, again thank you so much for this fun award!

Spring Snowing and Shifting

2011-03-28T16:00:00.003-04:00

Posting has been sparse lately. I was inspired this morning by an unexpected snowfall - making for a beautiful drive to work! Spring snows are great because chances are they're not going to hang around long and interfere with business as usual.

I wrote this in my journal last night; maybe you can relate:

Artist's Block

I can feel my Colors shifting, along with my life, my spirit - all of it is shifting...changing, moving;

and I need to be still until it all comes to rest in the new place.

I need to wait and see - to understand what's next.

Absorb...wait for spring?...wait...for what?

I'm not sure...just wait to know how to proceed.

It is an expectant waiting, exciting even.

Our Creator God is Worthy!

2011-03-17T13:33:00.001-04:00

I finally took time out at lunch to do a painting in my Hand-book Journal. In the car at the park with the sunroof open and the blue sky surrounding me! Spring is coming and my soul is ready for some SUNSHINE!

Daisies in a Blue Vase

2011-02-06T17:16:00.001-05:00

Bright Flower ! for by that name at last,
When all my reveries are past,
I call thee, and to that cleave fast,
Sweet silent creature !
That breath'st with me in sun and air,
Do thou, as thou art wont, repair
My heart with gladness, and a share
Of thy meek nature !

~ William Wordsworth

Time Away

2011-01-30T19:50:00.001-05:00

I will be away from my blogging and the computer for a time. Probably about a month. Please don't think I have deserted you, dear readers. I will return just as soon as I can. I may be doing some sporadic posting as time allows.

Thank you all for your recent comments and for visiting my blog!

Painting # 13 in 100

2011-01-26T17:24:00.001-05:00

I started out with a blind contour drawing of a favorite cup - scattering the drawings randomly over the page and turning the cup at different angles for each drawing. So much fun!!!!!!!

My Review of The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan

2011-01-25T19:19:00.003-05:00

I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program. What a great way to get free books and what great books they are!

(Please click on the picture to enlarge if you'd like to better see the little drawing at the bottom.) The journal page for this book is more immediate and less artful, because it was 11:10 p.m. when I finished the book and it made such an impact that I felt I needed to get it down immediately before the magic disappeared...

I've never read such a book as this. It was magical and moving, a magnificent story.

- about choices,
- and life stories,
- about who we're created to be and who is chosen to accompany us in our life's journey,
- about consequences, and about characteristics and circumstances, sometimes beyond our control, that make us who we are.
- It's about brokenness and scars and how they become part of us...the past can't be erased, but instead the scars from our bad choices, or the choices of others that affect us, are woven into the very fiber of our being and into the very heart and soul of who we are. We make the choice to let our scars make us bitter or better people.

The Miracle of Mercy Land. I discovered that "Mercy Land" is a person, though from the title you're not sure? Her story, along with the stories of the lives that touch hers, will move you in ways you never imagined.

IMPORTANT: I need your vote!
Please, would you be so kind as to rank my review below? The more rankings I get the better my standings!!! I need your help!! Thank you so much!

Journal Pages and Drawings from the Weekend

2011-01-25T06:55:00.000-05:00

The little painting on the left is drawn in ink and colored with watercolor and colored pencil.
I can't decide on a background color for the one on the right, so we'll call it a WIP and I'll post the finished one later.

Journal Page & EDM Challenge - Draw Something with Spots

2011-01-21T13:07:00.002-05:00

My funny journal page from yesterday. I just love the little character at the bottom. I was looking at a picture of my sister and I started scribbling "her" hair and then added to the drawing from there - maybe a 25 second drawing. It kept me happily giggling for most of the afternoon. Such a fun thing to do! This character has absolutely no resemblance to me whatsoever, but I had drawn it in my notepad at work, and I wanted to glue it in my journal so I could keep it. It sort of went with this devotion from David Jeremiah. My artwork is indeed unique and so is this crazy little woman I created. I made her a polka-dotted shirt to satisfy the latest EDM challenge - draw something with spots :-) LOL

This will be my post for the weekend as I'm going to try my hardest to stay off the computer this weekend and be present! I plan to finish a book for bloggingforbooks.org, so look for the review and journal page soon. I also need to clean house -- blah, blah...

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

View from the Train

2011-01-19T21:40:00.001-05:00

I took a photo from a train that my husband and I rode in Cass, WV two summers ago. Today, working from the photo displayed on my digital frame, I did this 4" x 6" painting in colored pencil and watercolor. I've wanted to try working with colored pencils on acid free, lignin free backing board I purchased from Clearbags.com for quite some time. It worked great, even with the touches of watercolor. I used my new Schmincke Watercolor Set, which not only looks to be luxurious in every way, but it truly is.

Without Excuse

2011-01-18T19:24:00.001-05:00

I realize today that I have no excuse not to make great art. I am blessed beyond measure with art supplies. With a 4-day holiday weekend I organized art supplies with the intent to get everything within easy reach and also out where I can see it. I also wanted to leave enough room on the table to comfortably work on small pieces or journal pages.

And then as you can see, I made myself a cup of coffee and created a "playing with color" page in my 11 x 14 Aquabee sketchbook. So much fun.

Yesterday, I used my 50% off one regular price item coupon from A. C. Moore and bought a natural daylight hobby lamp for the table, because at night the lamp pictured above just was not working. Now it's so bright I need sunglasses!!!

Today, my Christmas gift from my husband arrived via Cheap Joes Art Supply. I had originally ordered the American Journey Watercolor Sticks, but was disappointed (you read about that here). Well, when this arrived today and I opened it up, the disappointment fled and delight set in to stay. Oh my goodness! I feel very, very wealthy suddenly. This is an exquisite watercolor set, folks!

Just look at these colors. It even comes with its own color key so that you can paint in the color swatches. Yum, that's all I can say... Yum.
I think I may be in love.

A Fun Page

2011-01-16T09:43:00.000-05:00

A fun page in my 11 x 14 Aquabee Sketchbook
Me, surrounded by what I love - books, flowers, coffee, and color!
Comfort and joy!

Book Review - Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner

2011-01-11T17:42:00.010-05:00

The central theme of the book is our ability, our power, to choose.

Susan Meissner weaves together two women, who lived five centuries apart, with the common thread of their power to choose; not to have their choices forced upon them by others. Other common threads that wove these two women together are their shared name, Jane; and a betrothal ring with the name "Jane", along with a Latin phrase from Song of Solomon inscribed inside.

I found this book to be a history lesson that made me feel as if I was a part of the mid-sixteenth century, watching and cheering Lady Jane Grey on. At the same time I could relate so well to present-day Jane as she searches for answers about herself, her marriage, and the origin of the ring she discovers hidden in the binding of a centuries old prayer book; a ring that seems to be hers by more than mere coincidence.

The historical Lady Jane's story is told by her seamstress/dress-maker, Lucy. A commoner that is able to make her own choices in marriage and in life. And in the end, both Lady Jane and modern-day Jane find that they too have the power to choose, and that they had it all along.

Please be so kind as to rank this review below!! Thank you so much!

Playing with colors and textures, a new studio arrangement

2011-01-11T17:17:00.000-05:00

New cabinet in the studio corner of my kitchen. This is such a cheering place!

Playing with watercolor stamping and background colors.
I glued a piece (a circle) of corrugated cardboard to a cork (you can see it to the left of my palette. I used this and bubble wrap to stamp. First I laid down a watercolor wash, then stamped into it with the stamp and then stamped the clean sheet of paper at top left. The top right piece is a mixture of cobalt violet and periwinkle and I've just stamped into the wet watercolor wash with bubble wrap. The other peices are playing with color combinations - Quinacridone Rose and Cobalt Blue. Don't reallylike the bottom two pieces. Not bright enough for me! Now the top right piece - that's just gorgeous!

A close up of the stamping

A close up of the cobalt violet/periwinkle mixture. The colors are separated more at the bottom, but at the top of this sheet I actually mixed the colors on my palette. You can see my cork stamp more closely here.

Today's Sketches

2011-01-04T16:28:00.001-05:00

Today I've enjoyed sketching - simple sketches of teapots, pitchers, etc. that I photographed one day at the local antique shop. I have these photos on my digital frame and just pause the photo and sketch it and then go to the next. I like this method of sketching, particularly during these rather blah winter months.

What do you enjoy sketching the most, especially during gray days?

Random journal pages and Review of American Journey Watercolor Sticks

2011-01-04T10:47:00.001-05:00

First Journal Pages of the New Year:

On the pages above I used Caran d'Ache Neocolor II watercolor crayons - beautiful, saturated color! Soft buttery crayons. Love them! Also the teapot was drawn with a Sharpie Liquid Graphite pencil I bought yesterday! Not bad - it writes similar to a pen, very smoothly - but it erases. I still like the old-fashioned scratchy feel of a wood-encased pencil though.

Trying out more new toys.

Disappointed in AJ watercolor sticks.

I'm exchanging them for the Schmincke Horadam 12 pan watercolor set that is now on sale at cheapjoes.com under clearance and overstock for $50.40!!! This is high-quality, expensive watercolor and so this sale is incredible! I am mailing my watercolor sticks back today. As you can see, the colors are very light and you can't get a good saturation.

1-1-11 (First Post of New Year)

2011-01-01T11:06:00.002-05:00

A sketch with my Design Ebony Pencil - the way the light was hitting the couch with the cushions scattered on it kept whispering "sketch" to me until it got so loud I had no choice but to obey. It felt so good to just DRAW - no pressure, simplicity... I call this "waiting". This is my husband's spot on the couch and I sat in my usual spot across the room on the loveseat waiting for him to come home from a week of working out of town. The couch seemed to be waiting with me.

A Christmas gift from my husband - a gift card to Cheap Joe's - here are my purchases! They got here just two days after I placed the order. Amazing! These are the new American Journey watercolor sticks. I can't wait to give them a whirl today! Also a ten sheet pack of 22 x 30 Kilimanjaro watercolor paper. This was such a hard decision for me - what to get with my gift card. But in the end I think I decided well.

As a member of the yahoo group Blissfully Art Journaling, I have been thinking long and hard about my Word of Intent for 2011. It's a word that sort of sets the tone of what you want to accomplish or focus on in 2011. I thought of many words, like "purpose", "consistency", "growth", "focus", etc. Words that evoked a sense of needing to do something. Words that to me sort of put the pressure on to be more, do more, achieve more...Words like this, goals, resolutions tend to put too much pressure on me, especially this year it seems. When I put too much pressure on myself (which I tend to do on a regular basis) I feel overwhelmed, tired, and a bit rebellious. So this year, my word of intent came to me right after I woke up from a long, much-needed nap after over-thinking the subject for a couple of days... my word... Celebration!

Doesn't that sound liberating, refreshing, and fun!

This year I will celebrate...
...life itself.
...all my achievements and all the bad habits and unhealthy patterns I'm overcoming.
...the fact that I have so many beautiful journals and sketchbooks to fill, a seemingly endless amount of art supplies, pens, etc., with which to fill them.
...my marriage - though not perfect, I will celebrate how far it's come and where it's headed by the Grace of God.
...all God is doing in me, in my life - all the blessings he has in store for me as I trust and obey Him.
...my family. I'll celebrate my mama and daddy and all they mean to me by visiting them as often as I can, and by accepting them just as they are. I'll celebrate my immediate family, my extended family, everyone who is so important to me.
...my friends. God has blessed me with several very close, precious friends. My church friends, work friends, artsy online friends, facebook friends... Girlfriends are just so precious in our lives as women. I want to celebrate and cherish those friendships this year by spending time with these wonderful ladies!
...my work. God has blessed me with a job that I absolutely love. And even with the changes that are taking place, I will celebrate the fact that God is in control, and I am blessed at work! I will trust God to place the person in the position of Director that He will use in the lives of all those at the training center to further His purposes. Separation of church and state? I don't think so...God is working in all and through all to accomplish something great!

So there you have it - my only New Year's Resolution is Celebration! Life is a celebration. I will celebrate through art and music and reading and relationships and work and play! Let us all celebrate this art-filled, wonderful life we've been blessed with!

Happy New Year!

A Very Special Christmas Gift - to my sweet niece

2010-12-26T19:20:00.001-05:00

You can see the very first humble beginnings of this idea at the bottom of a previous post of November 14
http://daloweartist.blogspot.com/2010/11/blog-post.html

A gift to my beautiful niece featuring her two amazing children - Trevin, 8 and Reagan, 3.

Here it is in stages, from my studio easel to the "grand opening":

It was a huge success and worth every minute of effort - she cried :-)

This Year's Good Intentions - Christmas Cards 2010

2010-12-26T18:59:00.000-05:00

I had good intentions, I usually do

But Christmas came too fast and left me in a stew

So many cards to send, handmaking each one

Left me tired and frustrated; it just couldn't be done.

So I sent what I could and gave up on the rest

Merry Christmas to all and may you all be blest!

Here's a sample of what I did get done.

Front
Inside
Back

I bought the gel pens above at the grocery store of all places! A friend at work had them on her desk to use to sign Christmas cards. They looked so yummy, I had to have some! I just happened to be going to the grocery store that night and found them! They are actually much better than the more expensive ones I've bought. They don't skip and they are bright and smooth - as yummy as they look! The brand is Academix - check your local grocer to see if they carry them.

Review of “The Pirate Queen” by Patricia Hickman

2010-12-20T14:52:00.014-05:00

A journal spread in response to the book "The Pirate Queen" by Patricia Hickman
completed December 19-20, 2010 in my Hand-Book Journal
mixed media collage

Please click here and rank this book review. Many thanks to Water Brook Multnomah for providing me a free copy of this book to review!
This story is a tapestry woven of fine linen threads in brilliant colors, each thread coming together in intricate patterns to complete the picture. All the threads come together at the end like a quilt, a tapestry, or a piece of art – a thing of beauty. At the end the reader is left satisfied, satiated. So many unexpected things happen; I devoured the book and savored it at the same time.

Why is the protagonist, Saphora Warren, referred to as the “Pirate Queen”? Because, throughout the book the theme is that Saphora is finding buried treasures - loving the unlovable and unlovely, seeing good in places other people can’t find it, redeeming love like God’s love flows from Saphora. I find myself wanting to be more like Saphora, who without even trying, just naturally gives and loves without resentment, but freely. She learns to see people without judgment and condemnation. And her life is made richer because of it.

I could relate to the struggles in Saphora’s marriage; only she takes forgiveness to a level I only hope I can someday reach. Her character is real; I didn’t find myself resenting her for being “too perfect” and this novel didn’t feel like a “Christian” work of fiction. Nothing seemed contrived to me. It was a real story and I was absolutely engrossed in it. I want to read more of this author’s work!

Please rank this review below. Thank you!

Sometimes It's Fun and Sometimes It's Tough -- Life at Work

2010-12-03T13:43:00.000-05:00

Do I have fun at work, or what!
This is a little area in my office with a huge window on the right of the table. I can create art for events that we have on campus or for the individuals who live here. I have shared the work area with one or two of the individuals here, teaching them to paint and play and express themselves.

Below are cards for a Lions Club event tomorrow. What fun!

This is a journal page I did at lunch today in my Handbook Journal.

I used the Pelikan gouache set below. I HIGHLY recommend this set. It's available from Dick Blick http://www.dickblick.com.

I love the brightness of the colors and their opacity!

The Director here at the state facility where I work is transferring to another center in the state. I am his Administrative Assistant and work closely with him. He and I have a fantastic working relationship, and I am rather devastated by this change. Working with him has been the best experience of my career so far. I handle change very well, so I'm sure I'll be fine, but right now it's very emotional and hard.

The phrase from Nehemiah 8:10 came to my mind yesterday and that is what is carrying me through these tough days. "...the joy of the LORD is your strength." Truly our joy comes from the LORD and He never changes! That is what today's journal page expresses.

2010-12-02T20:36:00.001-05:00

Not much time for anything but quick sketches and journal entries lately... I am working on my Christmas cards. I should have something to show you soon.
I've also been buying lots of new art supplies/toys lately! So many sales with Christmas nearing! Will share some of that in upcoming posts.

I hope to reformat my blog in the next couple of months. I'm bored with the layout, look and content. I have two blogs now (see http://deborah-heartsongs.blogspot.com/), but it's overwhelming to keep up with two, for me. I have joined Blogging for Books http://www.bloggingforbooks.org and I want to incorporate the book reviews into this original
"Making a Splash..." blog. After all, "Making a Splash..." is about the things I'm passionate about, and reading is certainly high on the list. I want to include more than just art in this blog, but I don't want to lose readers. I would love your comments. What do you think? Any ideas on how I could organize my blog so that it is more readable and interesting to you?

Art Project Central

2010-11-14T14:14:00.036-05:00

I've been busy, busy, busy!
Inspired this year to make all my Christmas cards, even though in prior years I haven't even gotten any out at all. This year I'm feeling Christmas in my bones and wanting to savor every minute before it flies past us and turns into January. I feel as if time is flying and I can't catch it. The urge to create this past week has been overwhelming. I wake up with plans to make art and mulling over the ideas and I go to bed with the same thoughts. It's been all-consuming. I knew I must answer the call I felt this week. So having Thursday off as a holiday anyway, I took Friday as well and I have spent four glorious days in the kitchen/studio making the most delightful creative mess you can imagine! Nothing is complete yet, but the juices are still flowing, so I hope to bring the project to fruition.

I started out by drawing a star and using it as a pattern to draw stars on this textured yellow fabric that a friend had picked up for me at Goodwill. I cut them out and painted them gold and silver (Liquitex acrylic, soft and heavy body paints). Some I stamped using needlepoint plastic that I picked up at Walmart dipped in white paint. I don't really know what it's called, but it does make great texture, which is why I bought it.

Christmas Cards in Progress:

Step 1 - "My stars and garters!" - a phrase my mother used to say :-)

Glued background and stars on the cards with Mod Podge and hung them up to dry. I've used stamping with various objects for texture - bubble wrap, the needlepoint plastic sheet, macrame beads, you name it. I also used Modeling Paste (Liquitex flexible) for the first time.

A close up of a card awaiting text and blending with charcoal

Big sheet for cutting out backgrounds for remaining stars. I've used sheets from a music book, slinging paint, cheesecloth, modeling paste, bubble wrap, direct painting with acrylic - I've used anything to make layers of texture. It was too bright, so I painted over it with a very thin layer of white acrylic paint - very watered down. This is a full sheet of Stonehenge paper as the support.

A glorious, creative MESS!

Almost finished cards (waiting for text) drying amid the creative mess!

Some more fun - paintings in progress:

Line drawing from my imagination

Color added but still not finished - obviously this is me surrounded by the books I love and of course a cup of coffee or tea (spiced chai I think)!

Sketching out an acrylic painting - see below for next step.

Step 2, the background color of what is to be a Christmas gift - acrylic on canvas

Painting 12 in 100

2010-11-03T20:00:00.000-04:00

Autumn!
11" x 14"
Watercolor

New Painting - # 11 of 100 Paintings

2010-10-25T20:01:00.001-04:00

5" x 7" Prismacolor Pencil, Watercolor, and white gouache

on Winsor/Newton 140 lb cold pressed W/C paper

Moleskine Pages - Backgrounds

2010-10-19T16:00:00.000-04:00

Not liking the sketches I'd done (rather haphazardly) in a fairly new Moleskine Sketchbook, I glued several of them together and then collaged and painted over some. I plan to add more later and now I'm happy and will actually use this Moleskine. In a Moleskine sketchbook - the paint of choice is GOUACHE. That is what it was designed for: See article by Melanie Testa in this magazine! Cloth Paper Scissors May June 2009

2010-10-12T20:25:00.000-04:00

5 x 7 on Stonehenge

markers, watercolor, white gouache

This is from a week or so ago. My heart didn't sing much today; I got a migraine at lunch and came home and went straight to bed. New medicine seems to be working somewhat - I'm blogging tonight...so that's a good thing!

New Watercolor in my Handmade Journal

2010-10-07T16:56:00.000-04:00

Here are the sketches, now for my journaling that goes with them, click here to go to my other blog: http://deborah-heartsongs.blogspot.com/2010/10/memories-of-autumn.html

Autumn Blessings, Deborah

2010-09-29T16:59:00.000-04:00

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
~ Pablo Picasso

My Lunchtime Sketch and Cezanne!

2010-09-24T14:13:00.005-04:00

Today's lunchtime sketch in the park
- watercolor pencil and watercolor -

What strikes me and incredibly pleases me about this sketch is that it reminds me (just a little) of Cezanne's watercolors. See Cezanne's "Trees Leaning Over Rocks"

During my first watercolor class in college, I did a watercolor of some dogwood blooms from a photo. The teacher looked at it, and started smiling and shouting to me, "It's a Cezanne! It's a Cezanne!!" Well at the time I had no idea what she was talking about. I was 19 years old, fresh out of high school, and had never heard of Cezanne. Since then I have studied him in depth and my interest in his work and life, particularly in his watercolors, has never waned.

Hey, maybe that's an idea! - I think I will do some paintings after his style and several posts on this Master artist, without a doubt my favorite.

Autumn

2010-09-19T20:43:00.000-04:00

Today's journal page in my Hand-book Journal.
Autumn - spiced chai, leaves, golds, and siennas, the last of the zinnias...

Making and Filling Journals - Quietly, but Busily

2010-09-13T21:57:00.005-04:00

I know it seems I've been very quiet lately, but although I'm not blogging much, I am quietly and busily creating journals - from scratch...This is so much fun that:

I can't seem to stop!...making, creating covers, and filling journals. Here's the cover to my newest one.

The blue is Folk Art Metallic paint - lucscious! I've collaged watercolor dyed coffee filters, fabric, and painted papers, then unified it with the paint. Later I plan to add some text - either quotes, stamps...I'm not sure yet...

Tonight I collaged and painted the back cover.

I've been doing a lot of writting in the current journal that I'm working on filling. I write, paint over, write some more, sketch, make notes - everything goes in this journal now. My made-from-scratch journal. Very fulfilling.

And here is a page where I just felt like playing around with watercolor and a brush.

The paper is just some old bond paper that I found in the closet, but it holds up very well to all my "abuse". I am having fun !

Practically Perfect Labor Day Weekend

2010-09-06T20:24:00.000-04:00

Hillsville, VA hosts the southeast's largest flea market each Labor Day Weekend. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it, having not been in a few years. The weather was perfect - clear blue skies, no humidity, highs in the 70's. I went Saturday and Sunday with my daughter, who happens to be my favorite person to hang out with.

Found this happy, very"me" pitcher at the Labor Day flea market and picked these zinnias from my garden to complement it.

One of my goals today was to complete the covers of my handmade journal. I collaged a copy of one of my paintings along with painted fabric and paper from prior play sessions and the definition of the word "live" (zoom in for details).

And I purchased the two stools at the flea market for $5 each, which prompted me to rearrange my corner studio once again. You can see other pictures of its continuing metamorphosis in prior posts.

The Finished Piece!

2010-09-04T12:00:00.000-04:00

Thank you to all who commented and made suggestions on what to do in the upper left corner.
I have solved it. I am so pleased with the way this turned out!!!!! I feel like doing a little dance among these brilliantly colored flowers! Doesn't this look happy! Happy Labor Day Weekend! - (for my fellow-Americans at any rate) :-)

Painting #10 in 100

2010-09-01T21:45:00.000-04:00

This is a fun piece I did with markers, watercolor and gouache.
The top left corner bothers me, I just haven't decided what to add yet. maybe just a darker shade of blue...
I thought about adding a butterfly, but I'm afraid it will stand out too much and detract from the flowers.
What do you think?

A Day at the Lake

2010-08-28T22:58:00.001-04:00

What a beautiful day at the Lake with my family! My favorite sketch of the day is of my daughter Grace on the float bobbing along behind the boat, having a ball! Love this sketch...

Who knew that Claytor Lake had a lighthouse! Everybody else was performing antics in the water while I sketched during intervals between watching them... "Watch this, Mama!"...add another brush stroke..."Mama, look at this"... another brush stroke... "Deborah, watch this!" Okay I will have to call it done!

Sketches at right above from the football game last night. Our team won 45 to naught!! Yeah Team!

And back to the lake today... a real RIGATA! How beautiful all those white sailboats were against the backdrop of billowy soft, perfectly formed, summer clouds.

This was a warm-up sketch I did in the camper from a photo in Southern Living Magazine before we left to ride the boat.

A perfect day, documented with sketches and topped off with a camp fire roasting marshmallows before heading home. And now I'm off to bed. Night all...

Some Recent Sketches

2010-08-20T19:28:00.000-04:00

The sketch below was done in the car parked on the side of the road, a very quick sketch.

Then I did the above sketch in my Hand Book Journal using Caran d'Ache Neocolor II crayons and water soluble graphite. I also added whtie oil pastel to the barn and the cloud.

Using a Sharpie pen (love those things!) to draw from a magazine picture.

Done from memory in my lined journal.

On Making Journals

2010-08-14T14:36:00.000-04:00

So many of you have asked for instructions on making the journals in my last post. I don't feel comfortable giving you instruction as I am a novice myself. I took a class at a nearby art supply store that closed shortly after my class. The instructor was Kathy Vincent and she was great! Her artwork is so fresh and expressive!

Here is the link to her website where she showcases her books: http://gallery.webfresco.com/kv/Books/

The stitch I learned is a PAMPHLET STITCH, 3-hole and 5-hole depending on the size of your book really. It's a simple stitch. I may attempt a video of myself stitching a book, but this is something I've never done. Good reason to try something new maybe :-)

Thank you all so much for your comments and your interest! Do visit Kathy's website!

Making and Filling Journals

2010-08-12T20:21:00.001-04:00

Relaxing on the couch sewing journal signatures

A close-up of the stitching

And the results! 4 journals - now I'm ready to jazz up the covers and fill them!

In the meantime...
Recent pages in my Hand-Book Journal:

In the above sketch I was drawn by the swirls on the stage - so many curves - the instruments and their designs, the musicians, and the music...I'm feeling a rather abstract or expressionistic painting coming from this sketch.

And lastly, my resolution of yesterday below. I'll have to add color later - no time.

A Day of Play

2010-07-31T17:41:00.001-04:00

Oh hi! It's raining pretty hard! Come on in and pull up a pillow! Today is Saturday, I have the house to myself...

and what better way to spend a rainy Saturday alone than in the living room floor playing.

Here's a WIP and a finished piece. I started this yesterday with white oil pastel resist, just drawing circles and a "frame" around the picture. Then I added the cobalt violet watercolor over the whole piece - with some quinacridone rose thrown in. When it was dry I wiped over it with a paper towel to expose more of the resist.

And today, I added all sorts of playful stuff with markers and colored pencils. I just played and had so much FUN with this! Just making up the shapes and colors of the flowers as I went along.

Finished piece - 5 x 7 W/N watercolor paper

I started out the day in my sketchbook. Looking through "Country Living" magazines, I found a picture of birdhouses and drew the little ones below. I had drawn the house about a week ago. I added some little details to it... check out the BUTTERFLY!!! I found him outside KFC in the parking lot last Sunday. He was already deceased! I used gel medium to put him in my sketchbook and then drew him below in Warm Gray 90% Prismacolor. I plan on using him in some future drawings, but will probably use all sorts of different colored designs on his wings.

Below is a finished little flower painting with watercolor pencils and Prismacolor colored pencils used dry for more texture.

5 x 7 on W/N Watercolor paper

And the next two little black and white drawings are the beginnings of future paintings...this being sort of the skeleton of how I start usually. Just designing a picture and then adding tons of color and texture...

BOOKS, BOOKS, and more BOOKS!!

Just thought I'd share my collection with you!

Happy Saturday!

Hope you enjoyed our play session :-)

New Purchases - FUN!

2010-07-27T16:31:00.000-04:00

I found this clock at lunch today for 5 bucks! The perfect balance for my artwork on the shelf in my office.

AND I bought these Folk Art paints. I know professional paints are better, but I love craft paint! The consistency and ease of application. My daughter will be away with my sister the rest of this week and weekend and I plan to PLAY in the studio!!!

Incorporating Art into Daily Life at the Office

2010-07-27T10:11:00.002-04:00

Maybe you've wondered how to incorporate art and creativity into your daily life at the office. Well, I thought I would share some views of my office with you. Above is my bulletin/inspiration board. I love those Mary Engelbreit calendar pages :-)

Below is a picture of my Prismacolor markers displayed atop my computer cabinet. And a great artsy clock my boss brought me back from a trip to New York City!

My colored pencil arrangement! for doodling when I'm on the phone :-)

And lastly some recent journal pages done at lunch in the park...

I hope everyone's day is filled with creative moments!

Strip Cropping - # 9 in 100 Paintings

2010-07-20T20:54:00.000-04:00

11 x 14 - watercolor and gouache
"Strip Cropping"

Painting # 8 in 100

2010-07-18T15:24:00.001-04:00

11 x 14 watercolor
completed today! 7/18/2010 - this took me about an hour

Reference material: the sketch below done during dinner at a restaurant near the Blue Ridge Parkway and from the window where I sat I could see the bridge. Perfect composition ready and waiting to be sketched! Now of course, the bridge is not really cobalt violet - but my version...is.

Fauvism - thanks Dan! I like that! Matisse. I love Matisse's work!

Doesn't this little messy work area look like fun!
I am loving painting watercolors at my easel. It's been very freeing to be able to just walk over, my palette all ready to go and paint.

# 7 in 100 -- The Long-awaited Barn!

2010-07-17T19:30:00.000-04:00

11 x 14 watercolor and white gouache

I did it!!! A barn that makes my heart sing! I've never been this bold with strokes and color! I have pondered how to do this for days - how to paint the barn so that it makes my heart sing...I woke up from a nap this afternoon and suddenly... I knew! I knew exactly what to do. I can't explain it, but I got right up and went to the easel and finished the barn!

It started out with this sketch...done in about five seconds in a car (with someone else at the wheel of course). Notice the date is 2002.

And here it sat on my drawing board for about a week getting little washes here and there.

And then I took a nap... and when I woke up I knew exactly how I would finish it.

This barn has a story behind it and is a very special scene to me. I used to see it at the stoplight every day when I would go out to lunch from work. This scene always made me gasp with its beauty, changing with the seasons, but always a stunning view. I can't tell you how many times I have sketched this barn with the range of trees behind it, nestled in the green hill.

One day I noticed they were tearing it down! No! Not my barn! Yes, my barn...they are building a new corridor to the highway and the barn was in the way and so it had to go. I have mourned its departure ever since. Nothing about the view draws me without this barn there nestled into the green hillside with the trees behind it. I wonder if anyone else felt the loss. I still feel the loss... progress... I'm not so sure. Everything changes.

#6 in 100 Paintings

2010-07-15T14:53:00.000-04:00

Number 6 in 100 Paintings

5" x 5" watercolor

# 5 in 100 Paintings

2010-07-15T13:49:00.000-04:00

It just occurred to me that I’m missing my happy art. The crazy swirls and bright colors, the expressive but not realistic paintings. I’m feeling a sense of loss and a sort of mundane-ness with the realistic sketching and painting, the disciplined painting. The learning, the rules… Today I feel out of sorts, sad, dull. I think part of the reason is I miss the bright colors, the coffee cups, the teapots, the crazy flower shapes and swirls.

I had dreams last night that were very disturbing – reliving the past, that sort of thing… and I thought, the therapy I need is to paint some “heart songs.”

I’m trying to fit my art into a mold that says “real art” to me. Real art is art you have to work hard at and be disciplined about, right? Play is not real art. Playing around with bright colors and images that are not realistic – that’s not real art. I realize right now, this moment, that I’ve made yet another mistake. Why do I make it so hard? Why do I make it so hard on myself?

I don’t want to paint barns and trees and realistic vases of flowers; I thought I did. Art minus joy. I have a painting on my easel now of a barn and trees. I like the painting, but it doesn’t make my heart sing! It’s a good painting (or a good start to one), but my heart doesn’t sing when I look at it. Knowing what it feels like for my art to make my heart sing; how can I go back to just the feeling of, “I have created a good painting.” There is no comparison.

I’ll still do the 100 paintings – but without any restrictions; maybe they won’t even be done with watercolor, maybe I’ll use several different media. 100 joy-filled pieces of art. Now wouldn’t that be better... My paintings do not have to sell! Why is it that in my mind art that doesn’t “sell” isn’t art! I compare myself to others, that’s what’s wrong. Art is an expression of the individual. It doesn’t matter what everyone else is doing! Art is therapy for me. The best sort of therapy. So, while it may not be art, per se, the above painting sure did make my heart sing AND it was done on cheap student grade watercolor paper!

Now I may go home and "liven" up the barn painting...

100 Paintings # 4

2010-07-12T21:48:00.001-04:00

11 x 14 watercolor and gouache in Aquabee Sketchbook

My daughter Grace asleep on the couch

Paintings 1-3 in 100 Paintings - Yep! I'm taking the plunge!

2010-07-10T20:50:00.006-04:00

Before:

I reworked the shadow that I thought was way too dark (top) by wetting it with clean water and wiping the color away with a paper towel.
Then I repainted the shadow in places only lighter. I am much more satisfied with the after version (left).

I'm thinking I might just take the plunge and do this "100 Paintings" idea that others are doing. Ann said something in a comment to my last post that made so much sense. The 100 paintings frees her and gives her a focus. I need to have focus in my work; rules, no - focus yes. My focus lately has been going back to basics. I used to sketch from life or photos in my sketchbooks and then do finished paintings. I've gotten away from that in the last few years with all the emphasis on making mixed media journal pages. I've grown tired of those in terms of my own work. I like to look at the pages of others, don't misunderstand me; it's a great art form. It's just that I need to grow in my ability to paint finished paintings. I feel myself slipping in that area. That is the reason for the Charles Reid books and the need to study and practice. Not that I want to paint like Charles Reid or Robert Burridge, or anyone other than me. I think over the years I have developed a style of my own, and I certainly don't want to lose that. For me it's all about the bright colors!

I've been thinking a lot lately, I mean really thinking about my art. No matter what I'm doing it seems my mind is on my art - turning over and over the ideas and insights. It's like I've got this incredible energy and passion lately. I love it when that happens :-) I got out my old sketches and it seems that my art is sort of coming full circle...I got away from realism a little and did the "doodles" aka "heart songs", and I'm sure I won't give those up entirely. They freed me and helped me to learn to loosen up and break all the rules. They helped me see who I really am as an artist. Now though, I'd like to refine those and create more "fine" art - finished paintings. I'd like to go back to my still lifes and landscapes that I did in the past, incorporating the bent toward abstraction and expressionism that I've grown to love in my work and in the work of other artists.

The sketch in the plastic sleeve protector at bottom left of the photo below is a crayon (Crayola!) sketch I did as a demonstration in a class I was teaching in 2000. I was demonstrating complementary colors in a drawing. Today, I used the sketch as reference and painted the watercolor above it. I like the way the pitcher in the back turned out, the bottle laying on its side was a bit of a disaster. So much so, that I washed it off and wiped it all out and started over on it. Still it's not very good, but I like the total outcome of this painting. I like the energy and color in it. Expressive. That's what I'm after - not realistic, but expressive.

The flower (close-up at left) is an attempt to leave the flower fresh - I was reading Charles Reid's Painting Flowers in Watercolor. Not overworking and trying to paint every detail, but getting the essence of the flower. I think I accomplished this here. It's not the most interesting composition mind you, but that wasn't really what I was after.

And now, some sketches while enjoying the bird feeder this morning. We had a yellow chickadee visit this morning! I was so happy - he stayed long enough for me to sketch him too. How accomodating! I changed my bird seed to a more expensive blend that attracts songbirds. It worked! A cardinal came over too and he fanned his tail out like a peacock - and of course we had a squirrel and a chipmunk on the ground getting the scaps. Wildlife of all kinds outside my window this morning! I love it.

And lastly, a contour drawing!! My daughter took a nap this evening and I had a great opportunity to practice my continuous line drawing. It's not exactly continuous, but it is a contour ... I plan to develop it into a painting - maybe tomorrow! That will be painting # 4 in my 100 paintings. Focus - I think I can do this!

Where I'm Headed Now

2010-07-09T22:51:00.002-04:00

I started this painting several years ago, and finally got up the nerve to finish it. I was attempting to be loose like Charles Reid, expressive like Robert Burridge, and I'm not sure what I ended up with :-) I do know that my cast shadow is WAY too dark - I wanted the white to pop, but the cast shadow should be much lighter and should reflect the white from the pitcher. The washes to the right of the pitcher got very murky and muddied. Too much water, then too many layers while the paint was still wet. Does anyone else have this problem?! I just can't seem to lay down the brushstroke and then LEAVE it. I just keep noodling and mushing into the wash which is of course against all known rules of watercolor. Then I get uptight and tired and make an even bigger mess.

Okay, so this is practice - not a failure really - I do like it, but I've got far, far to go and many improvements to make.

I just bought Charles Reid's Watercolor Solutions and I'm also reading through his Pulling Paintings Together, Flowers in Watercolor, and Watercolor Secrets. I'm very interested in learning and practicing the continuous line contour drawings he does. I love the expressiveness of his paintings.

I've come to the conclusion that the top three artists I most admire are Cezanne, Charles Reid, and Robert Burridge. I've also decided that what I most need is more practice with watercolor - sketching and painting.

Right now I want to concentrate more on finished painting. Using the sketchbook to gather ideas and for day-to-day recording what I see and feel and then going to the easel or my large Aquabee and painting in watercolor...and then painting some more...with no anticipated goal except for improvement and enjoyment. I've always had a tendency - a bad habit - of producing a painting I was satisfied with and immediately putting it in a show or selling it. I want to have a stack of paintings completed and be able to go back and see my progress, then maybe choose a few to have in a show or to display for sale. But I want to live with them for a while and just absorb the process and the progress and assess where I'm going next. After tomorrow's efforts I hope I will have more to show you... Maybe I should do the 100 paintings project that some are doing...no...that's too overwhelming - I'll just paint and then paint some more and see what happens. I hate rules. LOL

Happy Fourth of July

2010-07-04T20:13:00.001-04:00

Fireworks last night at the park...

America...One Nation Under God

I made this page in my Handbook Journal - drawn with Pigma Micron Brush pen, colored with watercolor and colored pencils.

This page has many, many layers. I can't seem to just make a drawing in this Handbook Journal. I layer. First I sat outside on the swing and drew a realistic drawing of my zinnias in Design Ebony pencil. Then I added watercolor, and then more watercolor, and then more watercolor, and then colored pencil and more watercolor...then salt, which didn't really react very well... and then white colored pencils to pop out the flower more from the background...then the border with Cool Gray # 20 Prismacolor...and here is the final product. Which amazingly enough, I like.

And lastly here are some pages of just notetaking - seeing things in nature and recording them. The first is in my Handbook Journal and the second is a page in my lined journal. I still have too many journals, but what better problem can one have...? The point is, I'm writing and sketching, and then in my Handbook Journal I'm doing more finished pages with lots of different mediums (by the way, when you're referring to a bunch of different art supplies, do you say "Mediums" or "Media"? I'm feeling a bit confused about this...)

Beach Journaling, Painting, and Other Meanderings

2010-07-02T22:09:00.021-04:00

This was my perch for an entire day. The breeze from the ocean was great and I painted and read and drank tea and ate biscotti. Perfect.

This painting is the result. It's on a 5x7 piece of Winsor & Newton 140lb. CP watercolor paper. I used Inktense pencils and watercolor and then had to have some glitter glue for the roof. The white foam is oil pastel resist. I also used white oil pastel resist for the porch banisters and the window and door frame. I love how this technique works! I'm using cheap oil pastels, which obviously work well, but I would like to invest in the Sennelier brand, just to see if there is a difference.

Now I'm going to try and go in some order with the journal pages in the lined journal. My grocery list once we arrived at the beach on the left side of the page and notes driving down there on the right.

The receipt from our lunch and more driving notes.

A page in my new Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketchbook Size 11x14. Love these huge pages. I think my house window looks very angry - I might work on it later...

Now back to the journal...

Bought this fantastic find, which has been on my wishlist for several months, at Two Sisters Bookery in Wilmington.

Found this too - a new sketchbook - who can resist!?

And the title page documenting where I purchased and when.

I made a little arrangement from the flowers out back and we had a "party" grilling steaks outside one evening. So much fun!

I will continue later - right now I'm frustrated with trying to post all this and ready for bed! So happy to be home!! HOME!
There is no place like home...no place like home...

Off to the Beach!

2010-06-26T09:15:00.000-04:00

And we're on our way in about 45 minutes! A week at the beach - bliss! Thank you all so much for your comments on my "remarkable discovery". I am amazed how much we artists have in common. It's a comfort to me to know that we all think so much alike about things. I and my lined writing journal will have lots to share when we get back I hope! Until then... have a great last week in June everyone!

A Remarkable Discovery

2010-06-24T14:59:00.000-04:00

I have made what, for me, is a remarkable discovery. Simple, yet remarkable. I’ve been studying Cathy Johnson’s CD “Drawn from Life – An Artist’s Journal”. She talks about how consolidating her journal into one book where she keeps lists, both grocery and to-do, sketches, notes, thoughts about her day, like a diary – everything all in one place. Well for years (as long as I can remember) I have had a writing journal, a sketchbook, and I would make lists wherever I could find a piece of paper and then they’d end up in my purse and I’d throw them away after they were completed. I write quotes and Scripture verses on index cards and they are all over my house. I keep a separate written journal for sermon notes that I take to church with me. So you can imagine the books and books of this and that taking over my house.

I’ve tried to make lists in my “sketchbooks” and use them for writing and everything, but I can’t do it. Sometimes I get something in my head and I write pages and pages and pages until I get it resolved. Sometimes a Scripture will strike me and I write pages and pages on it. I could not and still cannot write in a “sketchbook”. It just doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t have lines and the paper is too heavy and expensive feeling for something as simple as writing. I also can’t seem to freely sketch and make messy sketchy notes in a sketchbook – what with all the books on journaling and the whole idea of making a journal page with collage elements and mixed media, etc. I can’t bring myself to do a gesture drawing on a page. I can’t seem to do a page without adding color. If it’s in a sketchbook I feel like it has to be a piece of art worthy of sharing with the world. Then I do my “Heart Songs” on the 5x7 pieces of Stonehenge or watercolor paper that I carry around, always wondering if they are true “art”, or just doodles since they come from my imagination. It has really become overwhelming and quite ridiculous. The more I look at other people’s work and read the more overwhelmed, disjointed, and inadequate I feel.

Then I read how Cathy (Kate) Johnson keeps everything in one book and how her life feels whole because of that change. I can’t figure out how to go about doing this. “No. I can’t give up my writing journal,” I tell myself, “because there are days when I write many pages.” So I had given up the idea and told myself I had to have several books for each activity.

Yesterday after writing in my writing journal about this “dilemma”, I went to lunch and I was so tired from all the thinking and pondering I’ve been doing about what to take to the beach – which sketchbook, what art supplies, which books, etc. – that I was sick of the whole mess. I didn’t even want to pull out my art supplies and sketchbook at lunch. I sat in the park in the car under a shade tree.

I pulled out my writing journal deciding I only had the energy to write. I pulled out a sanguine Faber Castell Pitt Pen and I began to write.

Then I looked over at a couple sitting under the picnic shelter. I thought about the book by Charles Reid, Pulling Your Paintings Together, and how he draws the contour like a dot-to-dot. I began to draw the people.

They were, as you can see from the photo, very rough little drawings, but I was totally relaxed doing them and it was just in my writing journal so it didn’t matter…

I did another page of their different poses; then I saw a groundskeeper and began to draw him too. I filled up a page. I drew the pine tree. It wasn’t great, but I kept working – it was, after all, just in my writing journal. I kept working and then it began to dawn on me…

I was free – I was sketching! I was drawing! I was writing! I was making myself notes in the margin! I was relaxed and having fun! I wasn’t trying to make a good page!

I had never thought of it. I was thinking of it all backwards. I was trying to make my sketchbook combine with my writing, when instead, I should have been combining my writing with my sketching. I can do all of what I do in the lined pages of my inexpensive writing journal. I just couldn’t write in my sketchbook – so there you go! I would make my writing journal also my sketchbook.

Suddenly I realized what I’d been struggling to achieve had been achieved without my even realizing what was happening!!!

I wrote in my journal: “Finally, Cathy (Kate), I get it!! Good grief… I’m a writer and an artist; I’m a list-maker, a note-taker. Why in the world do I have to carry around so many books and supplies!…I’ll make my grocery lists here. Write down random thoughts and things I need to remember. Quotes from books and Scripture verses, anything I want to write! I can also draw anything and everything I see! I can doodle and dawdle and noodle and dabble! And do it all right here in YOU, sweet Journal!”

So now I know what I’m taking to the beach – my sweet journal and some pens, pencils and watercolor crayons. Then I’ll also take my new 11x14 Aquabee sketchbook for back at the beach house when I want to paint with my watercolors and gouache and explore those sketches further! How perfect! How freeing!

Seems also quite elementary, but I had to EXPERIENCE it before I understood it!

Nothing Like Something New!

2010-06-23T11:14:00.000-04:00

The beginning of summer, a new sketchbook, a new pen - and voila you get the pages above!

Spot o' Tea anyone

2010-06-22T15:13:00.001-04:00

Same image - I used carbon paper to transfer it onto another piece of Stonehenge paper. Then I used Prismacolor Markers, watercolors, and colored pencils to color it.

Heart Songs

2010-06-22T10:07:00.001-04:00

Okay, Timaree, with your permission, I'm launching my HeART Songs! Above is the card I designed to put with the basket of "HeART Songs". I'm taking them to a local coffee shop today at lunch to display them for sale. This name is perfect - because I've continually said that they make my heart sing! Thank you so much Timaree for coming up with the perfect name for them! No longer "doodles" they have risen to the level of "HeART Songs!"

Revised New Little Illustration

2010-06-21T21:33:00.002-04:00

Here is the revised, finished version of the illustration in the previous post. Our ladies' Bible Study group at church visited a church member at the nursing home tonight and I gave her this to cheer her. She had a nasty fall and broke her hip, arm, and elbow. Hopefully, prayerfully she'll soon be well!

A New Little Illustration

2010-06-21T13:15:00.001-04:00

I am excited about a pending trip to the beach. I've been perusing Cathy Johnson's CD "Drawn from Life - An Artist's Journal" - it was published in 2006 and contains so many of her sketches. I have packed a small kit for my watercolors and sketching pleasure while at the beach, and I hope to come back with a journal to share! We leave this coming Saturday. (I'm already packed, I'm so excited!)

I did this little illustration this morning. I used Pigma Micron and Prismacolor Markers and colored pencils to color it. I love it! I think it might need a blue watercolor background - or cobalt violet. What do you think?

BOOKS! Bibliophilia or is that Mania!

2010-06-18T21:58:00.002-04:00

Books, books, and more books; never enough books!
This is only a portion of the books on my one little skinny table next to my favorite spot on the loveseat. It is piled with books on ever inch - including some in a large basket on the corner that I left out of this sketch. They're also stacked as high as possible on the bottom. This is in addition to an overflowing large bookshelf, several chairs, tables, and the floor. Books are everywhere! Bliss!

Sketches from my Weekend

2010-06-13T19:28:00.002-04:00

Sharpie Pen and Watersoluble Graphite in Handbook Journal

Simplicity...
Subtle shading and sensuous lines - I love the curves of this pitcher and cup. I found the cup at a consignment shop and it's one of those "oooohhhh" moments when you know you HAVE to have it.

To Be or Not to Be - a Doodle

2010-06-11T22:43:00.000-04:00

Not journal pages, but 5 x 7 doodles. I once was told by a fellow artist that when I called my art "doodles" that it cheapened them. I have struggled since with what to call these little 5 x 7 pieces of art, because to me they are just that - "doodles". They are done with total ease and abandon and I am simply playing on paper - doodling if you will. I do these at work during a break, a phone call, or maybe at lunch in the car at the park. Cheap or not, art or not - they are simply my doodles. And they make my heart sing!

An Attempt at Continuous Line - a Sad Attempt

2010-06-10T19:13:00.001-04:00

Freebird left a comment on my last journal page post asking "Could I make a bad journal page?" Well here it is, folks! I was tired today and not really in the mood to do a "good" journal page; I was also very inspired by Jennifer Edwards' very beautiful and lyrical continuous line drawings. I decided to attempt my own. With a pen I don't like. While I'm tired and in a rather blah mood. Not a good idea. But I decided to post it so that I could say, yes, Timaree, I have done a bad journal page LOL!

Picnic Pictures

2010-06-10T09:48:00.002-04:00

Painted glass and china - I used Liquitex Glossies and then oven set the paint. The picnic turned out well in spite of rain.