Lunchtime sketch

I couldn't wait to get home and post this. This is an old abandoned house across from the park where I paint each day at lunch. I spruced it up a bit in my sketch. I used a limited palette of Ultramarine, Burnt Sienna, Lemon Yellow, Sap Green, Cerulean, and Quin. Rose. It's not so much "limited" as it is toned down from my usual BRIGHT palette. I'm enjoying using the more earth colors, or nature colors lately. I guess it's the summer landscapes. I drew the sketch first in Design Ebony pencil. I like the effect.

There is just no feeling quite like producing a quick, but fairly successful sketch during lunch time. Makes me feel like I've really accomplished something at the end of the day. I would like to make a sketch like this on location every day, just for the pure joy of it! I always sit in my car and sketch at the park usually. My car has served as my 2nd studio for quite a few years now. I have a system in place that is very comfortable. If I ever buy a new car, I'll be lost!

Because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:16

I had this hymn on my mind this day. Didn't write the date down, but I did this at lunch one day last week.
The rest of this verse:
"Make friends with God's children; Help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek."
Written in 1882 by William Longstaff

Technically speaking, the words were painted with my new Escoda # 8 kolinsky sable brush from Cheap Joe's Art Supply. I love how this makes a point and holds so water - you can make such beautiful calligraphic marks!

All to the Glory of God!

"To lift up the hands in prayer gives God glory, but a man with a dungfork in his hand, a woman with a slop-pail, give him glory too. He is so great that all things give him glory if you mean they should. So then, my brethren, live." - Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)

I love this! So then, my brethren, live! Oh that MY art would bring God glory!

Stack of Books

Here stand my books, line upon line
They reach the roof, and row by row,
They speak of faded tastes of mine,
And things I did, but do not, know.
***
The watches of the night reveal
The books that never can be mine!
***
One gift the fairies gave me: (three
They commonly bestowed of yore)
The love of books, the golden key
That opens the enchanted door.
***
When others fail him, the wise man looks
To the sure companionship of books.
***
I'd leave all the hurry, the noise, and
the fray,
For a house full of books, and a garden of flowers.

--Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

Lunch painting

I did this watercolor from a photo today during my lunch break. The eyes got way too dark and my nephew gained about 5 years and 30 pounds. But I still decided to post it because I so enjoyed working on it. I will just say it isn't my nephew, but a young boy with a watermelon. What says summer like a young boy in a tank top enjoying watermelon!

My Daddy

My favorite sketch in this journal - completed tonight while Grace was at swim team practice. I sat in the car and had an hour to paint! This is my daddy feeding his chickens. I took a photo on Father's Day and did this watercolor from that photo. The original is much better than the scan, but I had to share this, because it is so filled with meaning for me. This is my daddy in his truest light. This is him doing what he does. A slice of life. Daddy turned the riding lawn mower over on him today in the pasture. Scared me to death thinking about how bad it could have been, but thank God, he only received bruises and scrapes, and a sprain or two. Could have been terrible. But at 69 years of age, and in very poor health, he continues to work and take care of his animals. This IS Daddy. Oh how I love that man!

Deuteronomy 33:26,27

There is no one like You, my God... You, Eternal God, are my refuge and underneath me are your everlasting arms. Deut 33:26, 27

I used gold acrylic paint for the background and once that dried, I painted the tulips in Derwent Inktense. It's awesome how the Inktense work over acrylic paint! And they don't lift off like watercolors, or regular watercolor pencils. A Sakura Glaze pen finished off the page with text. These are facing pages in the Aquabee journal.

That first cup of coffee

That first cup of coffee... How great it is! This is a drawing I did with Prismacolor markers and colored pencils Then I added collage elements and white gell pen. - in my Aquabee.

"After the coffee things ain't so bad." - Henry Herbert Knibbs

And coffee from a lime green pot and cup - well that's like icing on the cake!

Good Morning

A journal page from my Aquabee sketchbook. The quote is a page from a Mary Engelbreit calendar - "When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." - Marcus Aurelius.
I used Caran d'Ache Neocolor II crayons and my Niji waterbrush; a Prismacolor Marker for the outlines.

Looking at this page makes me feel alive and happy! Like a good cup of coffee...