Today's Doodles for Book Festival

Collage 9_15_06

This is one of my favorite creations in a while! I was creating a doodle and messed up writing the quote, so I collaged over it using paper from a Southern Living magazine page - lovely oranges and browns. I decided it needed something, so I found the words to add. I used Inktense pencils to color the foreground tea set and table. I just love this. I'm going to have a hard time parting with it if someone wants it at the Book Festival Saturday.
Does everybody find it hard to sell their work? I know I need to share it, and I certainly need the money, but oh, I don't like parting with it! 

More of the doodles. Can you tell I have some sort of attachment to this three-flower motif?? They just look so very, very happy and playful.

I've been doodling most of this week. These are usually 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 on watercolor or Stonehenge paper and I might frame them or put them in a plastic sleeve with a card stock background, sort of like a very easy mat. Some I've made into notecards. I'm hoping to sell them at a local book festival next weekend. The book theme is perfect for me because I LOVE and collect books and have since I was a little girl. I used to take books from wherever I found them lying around the house (you see I had 3 older sisters and an older brother), and put MY name in them and put them in my collection. Only if it was something I found interesting - like a book of Robert Frost's poetry for instance. I kept that book until just a few years ago when I got a larger volume with all his books in one.

A good book, tea or coffee, and flowers~ my idea of bliss. 

This is my latest "doodle." It's a lovely day; and I'm listening to jazz and painting. The quote says, "Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea? -- how did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea." - Sydney Smith (1771-1845) 

White Pitcher with new Prismacolors

 

I ordered Prismacolors off e-bay -- 95 pencils for only $30.50 including shipping. I didn't need to put that on my credit card since I am in such a mess financially, but I did it and I got them yesterday. Oh my goodness! I have a basket full of color and I'm so inspired. These are a couple of small drawings - the scanner doesn't pick up very well in some areas, but you will at least get the idea.

EDM Challenge 73_Mailbox

I finally completed a recent challenge! Draw a mailbox and write about the most important piece of mail... Uhmmm...

I am like a kid when it comes to mail. I love to see what's waiting for me in the mailbox. My favorite piece of mail recently was Cathy Johnson's CD Drawn from Life, An Artist's Journal. I love to order books or art supplies and then anticipate their arrival. My favorite magazine was The Artist's Sketchbook, but alas, they have ceased to publish it. I also get Country Living and The Artist's Magazine. I receive the InTouch Ministries monthly magazine as well. I am such a child and get so excited about mail, that my 10-year-old daughter Grace (who gets excited about going to the mailbox for me) has taken to hiding my most interesting mail under her shirt (sometimes tricking me to make me think it didn't come), and then surprising me with it when we get inside! LOL She likes watching me jump up and down and occasionally scream when it's something I really like.

Have you noticed that handwritten cards are especially meaningful in comparison to e-mail? I should remember that and send more. One of my favorite pieces of handwritten mail from friends or family was from a former art student of mine who had moved to SWITZERLAND. I got a wonderful letter from her with sketches included! I still have it and treasure it!

 

8/10/06

I continue my studies of zinnias. They are blooming away out in my little garden. The colors are so brilliant. I love their shape and their bright colors. This was drawn first with mechanical pencil then I used Inktense and watercolors. American Journey Poppy Red from Cheap Joe's. This color is wonderful! Mixed it with Indian Yellow for the lightest reds. 

Sunday Morning 8/6/06

This morning's efforts at doodling - the only way I get relief from upper back pain is by standing. So I'm standing at my kitchen counter painting happy doodles. Not a bad deal really.