Asiatic Lilies in pencil, pen and ink

While sorting through things I came across this in a scrapbook from a few years ago. I started with the pen and ink drawing and then drew the same flowers in colored pencil to frame it on the page. It was so much fun that I made a second page for the next drawing and a photo of the project. It never occurred to me at the time that I may want those drawings for something someday. They're firmly glued in with other work stuck to the back sides of them. Oh well, If I want drawings of Asiatic lilies I guess I'd better go, buy some and find out if I can still draw...keep checking here and I'll post it if I do any.

What Goes Around...

I finished painting these horses last year so imagine my surprise today to discover I'd actually owned a similar one over 50 years ago. It's funny what we don't remember, but we do...

Old Drawings and new ways of looking at them

I came across these old drawings while sorting through things today and thought I'd better at least scan them in case I ever loose track of them again. They're all from the 1980's and 90's. I'd framed some of them once but there doesn't seem to be much of a market for my drawings so they've been pulled out again and dropped into some scrapbook pages until I find anyone interested in them. I hate to think how long they'll be there but they're safe and at least for now that's good enough.

Variations on a theme

Yes, I'm STILL painting Christmas cards and sticking with this one basic design while I focus on teaching myself to add more dimension and shape the leaves and petals with shading. It's easy for me in pencils or acrylics but not really something I've gotten used to in watercolors yet. Having a LOT of cards to make will give the the opportunity to practice, practice, practice until I get tired of this design and ready to move on to something else. I'm wishing I had the live flowers to work on because I find that really helpful. It also explains why you see the best floral drawings from me during gardening season. Happy Holidays Everyone! (if you're one of the folks on my list you'll be getting one of these soon)

An assortment of Painting Projects

I was trying to decide whether to change the dark background on the teapot painting but both of the people I asked about it this morning thought it should be left alone so I moved on to the painting I wanted to start of the Iris in my yard this summer. There had been several different paintings on this canvas before so there are a few texture "issues" to work aroound but if the lower left corner is any indication, I think it's off to a pretty good start. I took a short break from the acrylics around lunchtime and did this small watercolor on the corner of an envelope so I can get back to making a few nice Christmas cards for folks. Wow! no wonder I'm tired...but happy...and I  invited even more people to join our painting morning so it was a good day all around. 

Inspiration, hope and a fresh start

What has that got to do with creativity...as it turns out EVERYTHING! I have a solar powered crystal in my window, when it gets enough sun it begins to spin and fills the room with rainbows and I find it really keeps my spirits up because even though sunny days are rare this time of year you really appreciate the ones you get and it's really hard to be cranky in a room full of rainbows.
We quit working on the studio last year because finances have been scary and we're not sure we'll be able to stay here let alone get any work done on the place. That hasn't changed but my attitude has. There was recently some interest in filming me at my studio...you know, the one I don't quite have yet and it got me to thinking that whether it's really finished or not it's warm, safe and dry and that's so much more than a lot of people in the world can hope for so the least I can do is clean it up enough to get my knitting machine in there and start making all the hats, mittens and slippers I can to bring a little warmth to everyone I can while I've got the chance and the place to do it.
Most of my painting is happening at the dining room table and down at the senior citizens center so I think I can spare the space for it until I run out of yarn then of course it will be on to the next project that I've got materials or someone has a need for.

A couple scraps of fabric end up as holders for gift cards

I guess I could have called this post "saving money is my bag". a friend enclosed these 2 bits of fabric in a recent package and it worked out so well because I'd been wondering what to put some gift cards in this Christmas. They were just the right colors so I folded and cut them until the pieces were small enough. A few straight pins and a bit of sewing was all it took to slide one bag in another, turn in the ends and finish with a bit of embroidery and of course the best part about that is having the embroidery floss given to me by another friend. Lots of positive energy in theis project and a perfect way to use up some odds and ends.

A Brush with the Holidays

I grabbed the watercolors and got a start on my Holiday Cards. My technique needs some work but by the time I get enough made for my family and friends it should be more than enough practice for this year. I keep trying to get people to do cards when they start painting. Everyone loves mail and appreciates the effort no matter what the quality of the work it adds a smile to the day for all of us.

Memories of Summer 2010 at First Lake

Trying to capture the reflections on the water has been the biggest challenge so far. The difference in these images was because I shot a photo first and then stuck the actual painting into the scanner attempting to get a more detailed view of the brushstrokes and knife work while deciding what I should do with it next.

Unframed and in progress...again!

I like the changes to the base of the flower pot but think I need to put something up in the foreground again. Any suggestions?

A few tulips in pencil

One of the gals that used to stop into our painting group hasn't been well so I drew her some tulips on a card and envelope, I'd been working on a tulip painting last time she stopped in.. I will take the card and envelope along tomorrow so a few of her friends can sign it and send it on it's way to put a smile in her mailbox.

My week so far

Work continues on that landscape,trying to capture that amazing time of day when the colors in the sky sparkle and skip across the water.I'm working from a photo I took this summer because everything changes too fast when you try to paint it live in the moment. I just don't paint fast enough for most impressionist and plein air styles. Anyway, I took a break from that to have some fun with this little watercolor set for a friend. The colors were much more intense when I finished but I forgot to shoot another picture on the way to the mailbox.

Tulip Painting

Well, this is how it's looking so far. I'm going to show it to my friends at painting group before I decide whether or not to keep working on it and what to do with it when I finish so let me know what you think too.Thanks!

Things to do on a snowy afternoon

I was working on a project idea for painting group based loosley on  watercolor instructions from a book and photos from my garden. It amused me to be thinking about tulips as winter sets in here.

Changing Seasons in Watercolor

We haven't had our first snowfall yet but in this part of the country it won't be long now so working on this card and envelope set this morning put me in the mood for a cup of hot cider and the scent of cinnamon in the air. I'm happy to report that the teapot painting (a few posts back) sold today as well as the last daffodil and the maple leaf card and envelope so I've got big hopes as I post this card set for sale too. Wish me luck! It's too bad that by the time someone wanted to buy daffodil drawings there was only one left yet I don't regret giving most of them away. It's just nice to know they were appreciated and that we're all looking forward to next years garden.

Progress, or lack of it on the lake painting

I'm moving the shoreline higher and in the process of adding more water to the area where it used to be. If it looks rough it's because it is. The rocks I'd painted on the distant shore had been done with knives and left the panel a bit lumpy so I actually tried scraping a bit of the excess paint off. I'll get back to working on it sometime in the next day or two and will post pictures as soon as I get them.

Fall Leaves in Watercolor

Here's a card and envelope I painted a couple of hours ago. It's my first attempt with this subject so I'm looking forward to a bit of practice in this area as I make a few cards for favorite family members and friends between now and Thanksgiving. Yes, I'll put up pictures of those as well.

Sundays at the Lake

Well, I guess I'm back where I started with this one. I'm trying to decide if I've ruined the sky or not but I'm pleased with the added dimension on the rocks and think raising the distant shoreline will be an improvement as soon as I put the trees back in. There's still a long way to go with this one so you can follow the work, make suggestions and help me decide when it's finished. Who knows, one of you may even buy it someday so speak up and have a say in how it turns out.

Outgoing Mail

The drawings you see here were each done on the lower left hand corner of letters I mailed today. I think the red one turned out the best. I did that one from a photo I took in my garden over the summer. The yellow one probably looks pathetic because I did it from one of the last surviving flowers in the front yard and it was in pretty rough shape.
I just LOVE that big set of pencils!!! I've got them in a bunch of beautiful glasses and vases on the dining room table so they're as much of a pleasure to look at as they are to use. I hope that passion, joy and energy shows in my work from time to time so people can enjoy it as much as I do.

Moving on

I showed this painting to a couple of gals yesterday and as I was answering questions about it the thought occurred to me that I'd better start writing down the stories behind some of these paintings.
After a decade or so this painting finally has a name. I'm calling it "Moving On" because it tells the story of the chaos and upset of leaving my first house after 22 years and how I got through it to the peace and quiet of the garden in my second house (shown through the window at the center of the painting). I worked on this painting on and off for several years from the late 1990's until 2007.
I'm very fond of it for a number of reasons but have no room for it so will be selling it as soon as a suitable buyer (and offer) can be found.