Zinnia

Perhaps I have a one-track creative mind lately, but I cannot get enough of these zinnias.
This is in my moleskine with Pigma Micron 08 pen and Prismacolor colored pencils.

Bliss 2

I didn't like the dark turquoise table, so I put white gouache over it and then used Prismacolor pencils to warm it up.

August 23, 2008 - Bliss!

The only thing I could think of to call this one is "Bliss!" I mean a cup of coffee, a stack of art books, and bright colors, dots even. Does life get any better than this?

Zinnnia sketches in gouache

These are sketches I managed to do today while being very busy at the office. I couldn't resist using my new gouache and painting these zinnias. I picked these from my garden and brought them to work where I can look at them all day. Of course, the only problem with that is I cannot resist the urge to paint them. They are absolutely luscious. All the glorious colors.
I've mixed the gouache colors with transparent watercolor and there is also Inktense pencils and regular Prismacolors in there.

We've been busy today 8-17-08

My daughter Grace did these awesome collages on masonite panel this afternoon - our time together was well-spent and happy! As you can see, she loves dogs. The little corgi in the bottom left corner is ours - Peanut. The photo beside that of the black puppies are our too - our half-Goldens, Sam and Zoey. The top right corner is Grace with either Sam or Zoey. They're both much, much larger now!

This is my creation for the day, in addition to the black-eyed susan below. This one is another of my coffee filter collages. This was done on an 8 x 10 masonite panel. My favorite part is the tulip in the upper left corner. This whole thing just evolved as I went. I had no idea what I was going to do when I began putting on the pieces of watercolor-dyed coffee filter. That's what is so exciting about this! So much fun!!

Sketch of the Day 8-17-08

I used gouache and watercolor for this black-eyed susie - Daddy grew this in his flower bed and I did the sketch from a photo today.

Doodle

This started as a small doodle and evolved into a totally different color and a whole page. I've used pen, gouache, watercolor, and colored pencil in this.

Still Life Photos

These are photos that I hope to use for paintings - vegetables from the farmer's market and zinnias from my yard. The background is a dishtowel hanging from inside my cabinets (now that's creativity - tee-hee).

More Gouache 8-15-08

My first attempt with Gouache

Prismacolor pencil sketch with gouache. I purchased the gouache on clearance at A. C. Moore last night - so exciting! I'd been looking on-line and wanting to order for several weeks, maybe months! This is Daler-Rowney Designer Gouache and it was half price!

8-14-08

The lamp on my desk at work. Pigma Micron 08 pen and colored pencil in Moleskine

Coffee Cup

My coffee cup - Faber Castell brush pen. Quick sketch. I have committed to a drawing a day, but I'm not doing so well. Onward! Today's a new day.

An AWARD - for me!!!

I received the Brilliant Weblog award from Deb at http://fromthemountainsofvirginia.blogspot.com/!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am honored!

August 6, 2008

Vegetables from the Farmer's Market; Zinnias from my yard! Summer at its finest!

Old house-lunchtime sketch 2

Another view of the old house from lunchtime last week. This is a 2-page spread in my Aquabee. Used a violet Prismacolor pencil and watercolor.

August 5, 2008

This is all about flowers and COLOR! Color - that's why I love zinnias so much; they are shouting and bursting with color and life!

"Flowers are a proud assertion...that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world." Emerson

'Tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes! - Wordsworth

"I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers." - Claude Monet

Zinnia!

I picked some zinnias from my yard and took them to work with me so I could enjoy them. I was able to do a little drawing of one of them yesterday afternoon. This is Pigma Micron ink and then Prismacolor pencil. OOOOOH I had fun doing this! The note at the top is the colors of another zinnia. I love these flowers! They just shout with color.

My new goal is to do a small sketch, drawing, or painting every day - doesn't have to be elaborate, but I want to observe something and draw it every day. We'll see how it goes...