Skull

5" x 8" sketch pad, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen. Dec. 23, 2012.

Painted from an original photograph, that I took at a neighboring garden.

Rose Hip

5" x 8" pencil sketch, watercolor paints. Dec. 21, 2012.

Painted from my original photograph of a large rose hip. I framed it with the background, so the hip would not be dead center in the painting. I am liking the calligraphy that I am adding to the pictures.

Toast and Jam

Every Day Matters #162 - Draw your breakfast. Pencil sketch, watercolor paints. Dec. 19, 2012.

My breakfast was handmade strawberry-raspberry jam made by a neighbor, with cream cheese on multi-grain toast. The scanner doesn't do very well on light colored paintings, it won't pick up the subtle colors. There is light blue along the whole rim of the paper plate and shadows. The raspberry did not come out very well :( but I like the leaves and vines.

Glass Beads

Every Day Matters #61 - Draw a group of two or more similar things. 5" x 8" sketchbook page, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen. Dec. 15, 2012.

A Christmas gift from a lady in my textile arts group, she is a glass bead maker, and made these and more lovely beads for me.

Snow Window

5" x 8" sketchbook page, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Dec. 16, 2012.

The window is drawn from a stencil, with the wedge top and four panes. I drew the view from my imagination and painted it with watercolors.

Beverly

5" x 7" drawing pad. Mechanical pencil. Dec. 14, 2012.

A friend of ours, Beverly, she is a bartender at the Tavern and I work with her husband, driving bus. She has beautiful white flowing hair.

Stool and Lamp

5" x 7" drawing pad, mechanical pencil. Dec. 14, 2012.

Another drawing at the Tavern, the stool on the counter, with the lamp on it. Little bits and objects live on the stool, and the bartenders, play hide and seek with them, when they are bored.

Convex Mirror

5" x 7" drawing pad. Mechanical pencil. Dec. 13, 2012.

Drawing from my seat on the school bus, of the large round convex mirror on the front corner. It distorts the view a lot, especially the sidewalk, and the side of the bus. I look at this everyday, and it is amazing how much stuff I can see going on outside the bus.

Vintage Car

5" x 7" drawing pad, mechanical pencil. Dec. 4, 2012.

Copied from some clip art in an old issue of Somerset Studio magazine.

White Rabbit

5" x 7" drawing pad, pencil sketch, colored pencil. Dec. 4, 2012.

Copied from a drawing in an old issue of Somerset Studio Magazine. The white rabbit for the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland.

Scoreboard

5" x 7" drawing pad, pencil sketch, colored pencil. Nov. 29, 2012.

The vintage shuffleboard scoreboard at the Tee Pee tavern. It is a very old, well maintained shuffleboard, that gets league play every Tuesday and Saturday, and tournament every Thursday night. They have always taken their shuffleboard very seriously, but have lots of FUN too! Cheering and jeering the other side, laughing and teasing.

Mr. Peanut and Chips

5" x 7" drawing pad, pencil sketch, colored pencil. Nov. 29, 2012.

A vintage plastic Mr. Peanut container, holds bags of peanuts for sale in the tavern, a rack of chips and jerky on the counter next to it.

Bar Glasses

5" x 7" drawing pad, mechanical pencil. Nov. 2012.

A quick sketch at the tavern of the stack of glasses, trying to get some transparency in the drawing.

Indian Maiden

5" x 7" drawing pad, mechanical pencil. Nov. 2012.

Drawn from a wooden carving at the Tee Pee Tavern, an Indian maiden in a smooth blonde wood. I did not get her centered on the page right, and cut off the top of her head, pretend it is an old photograph, where people were always cutting the tops of heads off.

White Whale

6" x 8" watercolor paper, acrylic paint, mono printed on gelatin plate, Schaefer ink pen. Dec. 1, 2012.

I saw the image in the random paint and highlighted it with an ink pen, doodling the corals and the little fishes.

Ocra, Grapes, Bananas & Cucumber

6" x8" watercolor paper, mono printed on gelatin plate, acrylic paints, Schaefer ink pen. Dec. 1, 2012.

Random paint blobs and swishes of acrylic paint, mono printed on a gelatin plate. I saw the image of grapes and bananas and in the randomness and highlighted them with an ink pen, adding leaves and lettering.

Organized Chaos

Every Day Matters #9 - Draw some organized chaos, your workspace, bookcase, etc.. 5" x 8" journal page, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen. Nov. 15, 2012.

I found a stencil that had a set of rectangles, so I traced them onto several pages of my sketchbook. I filled the rectangles with individual items from my work table, so I "organized" the chaos. Not quiet in the spirit of the challenge, but I like the play on words. It was a fun little project.

Blue Moon

5" x 8" journal page, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, gold metallic marker. Nov. 15, 2012.

A watercolor painting of a molded blue glass wine bottle, from Bridgeview Winery, in Cave Junction, Oregon. I don't know if the wine was any good, I got the bottle at a garage sale. My kitchen is all blue and white with a little yellow, and I collect blue glass.

Crocus

Every Day Matters #59 - Draw a sign of spring. Pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen. Nov. 8, 2012.

As autumn continues, and we have our first really cold days ahead of us, I needed to create a sign of spring. Painted from my original photograph, these two crocus in my yard are the first to bloom in late January, early February. I have two large bunches that have spread from 6 tiny bulbs that I planted years ago. I eagerly look forward to them every year. It is time to get the first garden catalogs in the mail to drool over.

The Pear

5" x 8" journal page, watercolor paints. Nov. 6, 2012.

"The Pear" seams to be an object most people use for a basic practice subject, more shapely than an apple, different color options and tastier when you are done. I took several still life photos last year, with a pear or two, on a vintage quilt from the 1920's. I thought it added a little extra color. I am happy with the results, although it was hard to do the fold in the quilt below the pear.

Reclineing Indian

5" x 7" drawing pad, mechanical pencil. Nov. 2, 2012.

Drawn from a 2 foot statue/sculpture above the bar at the Tee Pee Tavern. I was looking up at it for the perspective, and it was hard to see the detail. WOW, this is my one hundredth post! That didn't take long. Thank you everyone for looking at my art drawings and paintings.

Hawk

Every Day Matters #125 - draw a bird. Mechanical pencil, colored pencil. Nov. 3, 2012.

I was leery of doing this original photograph, it looked too complicated and finely detailed. I started with the eye and beak and got the proportion right, then added the feather areas. It really came to life when I decided I could smudge the pencil to create the gray tone, and give contrast to the white feathers around his face. There is one small yellow feather on his cheek, and rust on his shoulder. "Photograph taken at the Cascade Raptor Center, Eugene, Oregon. We visited last year with friends, and it was a great place. They rescue, rehab, and release raptors, eagles, hawks, osprey, owls and falcons. They also have birds too injured to release. You walk through a quiet woodland trails, the they have huge aviaries for individual birds. It is a peaceful place to be.

Rope

Every Day Matters #989 - Free Choice. 5" x 8" journal page. Mechanical pencil. Nov. 2, 2012.

From my original photograph, of a heavy sailing rope wrapped around a pylon. Mechanical pencil gave lots of detail and fine lines to the texture. I liked it so far, and got bored with it, so I stopped at this point.

Practice Trees

5" x 8" journal page, watercolor paints. Oct. 2012.

Just Practicing more trees, on the left side of the page.

Melissa's Purse

5" x 7" Drawing pad, mechanical pencil. Nov. 1, 2012.

This is my co-worker Melissa's purse while we were sitting in McDonald's. I would have added the tessellated "T" pattern from the fabric, but she got up and left too soon.

The Bicycling Guitarist

5" x 7" drawing pad, pencil sketch, colored pencils. Oct. 31, 2012.

We went out Halloween evening to hear a neighbor play guitar at a little local deli/coffee shop. He write his own stuff and is a good guitarist. They were working on doing a video, so we heard one song three times ?$#? while they filmed it differently. It was fun to go out and support someone who you know. He got his name because he rides around town on his bicycle and plays guitar while he rides.

Trophy

Every Day Matters # 71 - Draw a trophy. 5" x 7" Drawing pad, pencil sketch, colored pencils. Oct. 30, 2012.

I drew this at the local McDonald's, it is a baseball trophy for one of the teams they sponsor. It is sitting on a glass shelf and I am looking at it,up through the glass. The pillars are a sparkly purple/blue reflective material, and the rest is gold platting on a wooden base. I could have centered it on the page better.

Baseball Players

Every Day Matters #71 - Draw something representing your favorite sport. 5" x 7" drawing pad, pencil sketch, colored pencil. Oct. 29, 2012.

I drew this, copying from a painting at the local McDonald's restaurant, the McD's is decorated with a sports theme. It is a painting from the famous artists who does sports with quick loose paint strokes. I can't think of his name. The colored pencil did a good job of showing his loose painting techniques.

Urban Nature Walk

Every Day Matters #63 - Take a nature walk and sketch what you find. 5" x 8" journal page, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen. Oct. 29, 2012.

I picked up several things on my morning walk, around the neighborhood, and down passed the warehouses. A common yellow thistle found in vacant lots and along the road, most of them had turned to puff, but a few were still budding. I'll have to collect a leaf, so I can ID them, maybe it's a dandelion variety? I also have to ID the pretty yellow wildflower, again most had gone to seed, and when I picked the flowers I noticed how distinct the seed balls are, so I painted them too. The oak acorns are from the big city meridian, between Commercial street, and the birch twig is from my yard. I had fun doing this one, it was quick and simple, but I really paid attention to the details on the items.

Front Entry Way

Every Day Matters #50 - Draw your home's entry way. 5" x 8" journal page, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen. Oct. 31, 2012.

"The front of our house has a blue door, and all the soffets and window trim is blue. My husband puts the flag up every National holiday. I have pansies and primroses in the planter, and a Rhodie to the right, on the left are ferns in the shady alcove. The number is very clear, so the pizza guy can find us. My husband sits in the chair and watches the world go by and pets the neighbor's cats, Poppy and Lily. They are still kittens and we have co-adopted them with our neighbor, because both our dogs have passed away recently. I hope the entry is inviting, there is a cobblestone path to the porch, leading up from the street, with a copper arch over it, that my husband made."

Viking Helmet

Every Day Matters #58 - Draw a hat, cap or other headgear. 5" x 8" journal page, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen. Oct. 29, 2012.

"Charlie's Halloween Viking Helmet, a plastic hat from the Halloween store, on his 6' 4" height, it really made him tall and impressive."

Goose Crossing

Every Day Matters #86 - Draw a traffic sign. 8" x 10" double journal page. Pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen. Oct. 27, 2012.

I have photos of the signs, at the South Jetty at Bandon, Oregon, there is a little pond on the left, and housing on the right. I think the people feed the ducks and geese in their yards. There are lots of seagulls also. This was kind of bland before the ink, it perked it up a lot and added detail.

Bandon Street Lamp

Every Day Matters #81 - Draw a street light. 5" x 8" journal page. Pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen. Oct. 23, 2012.

"A beautiful light on the waterfront of "Old Town" Bandon, Oregon. The boardwalk has been fixed up with new walkways, railings, artwork and benches. They even have a glassed in wind shelter. The silhouette is of the Coquille River Lighthouse." I need to get a new white gel pen, the write "Bandon by the Sea" on the banner, my original gel pen ran out of ink quickly. The sky really made this picture, I'm so glad I've been practicing skies from the watercolor book I got a while ago.

Christmas Lamp Post

5" x 8" journal page, pencil sketch, watercolor paints. Oct. 25, 2012.

"My original photograph of our lamp post at Christmas time, in the snow. I love the look of the few inches of snow we get most years. I'm glad that it's not more. We never had snow in California and I have no experience driving in it. I've had several bad experiences with it in my school bus. But we have had lots of fun, with the neighbor kids, having snowball fights."

Day Lily

5" x 8" journal page, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen. Oct. 21, 2012.

Drawn from an embroidery design book, and painted with watercolor. I was tired of painting "objects" from the EDM list.

Mailboxes

Every Day Matters #73 - Draw your mailbox. 5" x 8" journal page, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen. Oct. 20, 2012.

"This is not mine, but drawn from a photograph I took. I loved the graphic numbers, 1-2-3-4 and the faded turquoise post. The most important piece of mail that I got was my school bus medical certificate that allowed me to go back to work. I was off of work for over two months, while I adjusted to starting insulin. It was getting close to the wire, or I would loose my job of 20 years. I recieved it the afternoon before the last day of school. I jumped up and down waving the papers around at the mailbox, when one of my co-workers drove by in her school bus. The sense of relief was enormous."

Metallic Bowl

Every Day Matters #32 - Draw something metallic. 5" x 8" journal page, pencil sketch, watercolor paints. Oct. 20, 2012.

I am trying to finish the first 50 items on the Every Day Matters list. I have a small stainless steel bowl on my table for water, when I watercolor paint. I used a grey wash of paints to draw the bowl. It is a very simply composition.

Beach Girl

5" x 8" journal page, Pigma pen, watercolor paints. Oct. 21, 2012.

A quick sketch in pen, so out of proportion a little bit, and I messed up her profile too. I added a quick wash of watercolor paints also. It is from my original photograph taken at Bastendorf Beach, of a little girl in a turquoise jumper. I am using this image in my Beach scene quilt also.

Pooh and Pumpkin

5" x 7" drawing pad, mechanical pencil. Oct. 25, 2012.

Drawn at the Tee Pee tavern, a 12" tall ceramic decoration of Winnie the Pooh, in a pumpkin. It is orange with a red t-shirt, but I don't think I'll color him. He is just too cute.

Taps

5" x 7" drawing pad, mechanical pencil. Oct. 25, 2012.

Drawn at the Tee Pee Tavern, with a mechanical pencil, the color notes are at the top. I'm trying to decide if I want to add watercolor or not.