Sparrow on Sunflower

6" x 8" watercolor paper, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen. Aug. 29, 2012.

This is from a photograph I took, of the sparrows getting the seeds off the sunflowers I grew in the front yard. They were small flowers 3-6" across, in clusters, not the giant sunflowers. In the fall, the birds loved to hang on them and get the seeds, sometimes upside down. I got the proportion right compared to the flower, but slipped on the paint on the head, and got it too big, still having trouble with drawing birds. I like the coloration though.

Red Wagon

6" x 8" watercolor paper, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen. Aug. 29, 2012

Another painting from my photograph, taken at a neighbors, the rest of the yard was overgrown, but I liked this one part. I left out all the crap in the photo. I am getting better at mixing a variety of greens with my cheap kids watercolors. I used a white gel pen to write "Radio Flyer."

My original picture, the sketch, and as I started to ink the painting.

Gnome

4" x 8" drawing paper, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen, Aug. 27, 2012

"A neighbors gnome, it is about 8" tall and made of ceramics, so it reflects the gnome on the mushroom. I painted this from a photograph I took. It is made with a mechanical pencil, kids tray of watercolors, the fine point Sharpie marker. I added highlights to the beard with a white gel pen."

Raven on Driftwood

Every Day Matters Challenge #90 - Draw something with wings. 6" x 8" drawing paper, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen. Aug. 27, 2012.

I drew this from a photograph I took on the beach, at the North jetty, Florence, Oregon. I always take dried bread for the seagulls, and throw it to the wind. The ravens would pick it up on a fly through, but the seagulls had to be in the sand. I don't know what he was picking up from the driftwood, but it wasn't my bread. It is always wonderful when I get to spend time at the coast with my husband Charlie. It is so refreshing, the salty breeze, the sound of the waves and the gulls, sinking my toes in the sand and walking along picking up bits of shell and agates. I can't wait to go back." I can see what I did wrong, now that is on the screen and I can compare the two pics. The ravens posture should have been bent down at the shoulder, so his head was lower. I have always had trouble drawing birds, they are not built the way I see them as being, it is my imaginary image of them that is off.

Reading Glasses

Every Day Matters Challenge #11 - Draw your glasses or sunglasses. 6" x 8" drawing paper, pencil sketch, colored pencil, Pigma pen. Aug. 25, 2012

"I have numerous pairs of reading glasses in my sewing room. I drop them in each zip lock bag of take along sewing projects. Along with a little wire needle threader. These two cute plastic glasses, with matching fabric cases, one is blue with black leopard spots, the other multi color pastel tiger stripes. I even have a silver pair with a silver chain to go around my neck like an old lady."

Blue Flower & Text Background

Both - 5" x 8" watercolor paper, collage book pages, watercolor and acrylic paint. Aug. 21, 2012

As a practice piece I decided to use some torn book pages for a layered look, for a painting background. I collaged them with gel medium, on one I added watercolor paints first, then the pages. On the other, the watercolor would not paint over the medium, so I had to use an acrylic wash. I blotted this paint with wadded tissue to texturize the paint, in orange, purple, and light blue. Next I rubber stamped a curly cue design in blue ink, and then painted a blue flower with lacy curly cue leaves. I added a few extra curly cues, along the edge, as more background filler, and highlighted the painting with light blue. The flower has an orange center. The other page is in need of more layers, so it is not yet done.

Rubber Stamps

"I have so many rubber stamps that I have picked up over the years from garage sales. I decided it was time to figure out what I had, and make a stamp of each, as a record. So I could find the stamps when I needed it, I would add the page to the appropriate shoe box. I started out well, all though each box was full to bursting. As I moved stamps around to fit better, I started to put them in other boxes and sort them into groups. Oops! I found another large shoebox. Now some serious resorting was needed, and things got all rearranged. I finally got everything to fit, with different boxes, and box lids for trays. Also a larger box was needed for the alphabets. These are my first prints, but needed to be redone as stamps got moved to different boxes. I realized my small journal pages were not going to be large enough for all the stamps. So I started using 8 1/2" x 11" computer paper. I ended up with 12 full pages, and that doesn't count the alphabets. I scanned them into the computer and enhanced the contrast and make the print darker. Now I have a folder with all the stamps to refer to when I might need one. Some of my favorites are the Lynn Porcella stamps with the face and butterflies. Also the little mouse with the heart that says hello, and the dragon flies."

My Hand

Every Day Matters Challenge #10 - Draw your hand. 6" x 8" drawing paper, mechanical pencil. Aug. 22, 2012

"I decided to start by tracing my hand, as I doubt my drawing skills for something "difficult."Maybe at a later date, I'll try it from scratch, confidence will be a factor. But I did have confidence to fill in the details. Maybe because I have done two hand print in paint, quilted wall hangings and have added the detail with stitching free motion quilting. They turned out well, and so has the sketch, done with mechanical pencil. The tracing gave me proportion and outline, but made my fingers fat, so I thinned them with shadows. My nails were nice, but I added 3 age spots to show the changes to my hand, and I am not wearing my wedding ring, because my knuckles are swollen with arthritis."

Bullock's Bridge, Tyee, Oregon

Every Day Matters Challenge # 83 - Draw a near by body of water, ocean, lake, pond or river. 5" x 7" watercolor pad. Colored pencil, watercolor pencil. Aug. 19, 2012.

"Bullock's Bridge as seen from Tyee landing restaurant deck. A beautiful day, 70' sunny, cool breeze, watching kids and dogs swimming in the Umpqua River. Fish and Chips and Chas had a BLT, extra ice tea, only place on the river from the coast to Crater Lake. The only colored pencil I had that was sharp enough to draw with, was the blue one. I really need to carry a regular pencil and a sharpener. I added a wash of light blue and green watercolor pencil, wet with a Q-tip, when I got home"

Walking Iris

Every Day Matter Challenge #4 - Draw your mug or cup. Aug. 20, 2012 6" x 8" watercolor paper, photo collage, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen.

"Every weekend and some weekdays, my neighbor and I walk her dog Iris. We mostly go to the Dutch Bros. Coffee stand. Iris is so excited she pulls us across the parking lot, to get her doggy treat. A double bone day, is a good day! We go rain or shine, sleet and snow, usually before the heat of the day. Saturday is also the farmers market during the spring and summer, and Iris would cleanup the spilled kernels of the kettle corn booth. Now we can't take the dog to the market, 'cause some people spoil it for all the rest. Everyone knew and loved her too, and she would get lots of petting. But we still go to get coffee and dog biscuits." My first montage of separate items, to make a theme page, and a collage photograph that I took. I think it fits the theme very well, I scanned a copy and made a thank you card for the coffee people, for their wonderful service.----------RIP IRIS --AUGUST 30, 2012 Iris passed away less than 2 weeks after I painted this, they had hung a copy at the coffee stand, and it was so hard to see it in the window. :(

Large Shell, Two Smaller Shells

Both - 5" x 7" watercolor pad, colored pencil, Aug. 15, 2012

"Sea shell from the Tee Pee Tavern. Tracy had set out a tray full of shells on the bar, to decorate for the annual luau. I drew the largest, about 3 1/2" in colored pencil, trying to get the proportion of the spiral, and the mottled texture. The two smaller shells, approx. 2" I drew with a different color pencil.

Malaysian Bag

Every Day Matters Challenge #3 - Draw a purse, wallet or bag. Aug. 17, 2012 6" x 8" watercolor paper, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen, metallic pens.

"Malaysian Bag, embellished with ruched ribbon and metallic gold woven trim. A gift from my friend Vera's trip to see her daughter. The cut glass doorknob at Freemont St. house" I added a metallic pen for detail in the circles and bands across the bag. I really like the way the doorknob came out.

SAS

I have started the Every Day Matters Challenge from Danny Gregory The first one is to draw your shoe. 6" x 8" watercolor paper, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen. Aug. 17, 2012.

I have printed off the list of challenges, there are over 300 to choose from, I'm gonna start at the top of the list and at least get the first page done. Mostly just different objects, ideas, subject matter, things to get you started sketching, a little bit everyday. I can already tell my watercolor techniques are getting better. I am just playing with a cheap set of kids paints from the dollar store, and I am learning to blend the colors to get what I want. "My S.A.S. shoe, Style Freeport, size 6 1/2" W, Navy, well worn leather" My feet are so short, I say my feet are square! So if it looks a little short, it is 'cause the view is foreshortening, and also they just are.

Creative Words, Schaefer Pen

For a creative exercise I cut out a bunch of magazine words and phrases, and glued them on two sheets of drawing paper. They are for inspiration, thoughts to ponder, something to laugh about, and get the creative juices flowing. I got a new pen, with ink cartridges, the Schaefer calligraphy pen, I think I am already out of oink in one cartridge? It has a nice flow to it, but can scratch the paper, or not get enough ink out if you don't press hard enough. I also have a hard time with it because my signature is slanted backwards, and it is an awkward way to hold the pen for that. But it writes nicely, I just need to get used to it.

Ewe & Lamb, Ottoman

6" x 8" watercolor paper, mechanical pencil, August 13, 2012

6" x 8" drawing paper, graphite pencils 4B - 6H, Au. 16, 2012

The ewe and lamb were a quick sketch from the cover of the Dharma Trading catalog, there were four lambs but I only drew the two. Animals take a lot of care, proportional and texturally, but I think I did pretty well. I got the wide open eyes expression on the lamb, and the sleepy guarded look on the ewe. I got a set of charcoal sticks, pencils and graphite pencils. "Trying to get a feel for the artists pencils 6B - 6H and the charcoal pencils, soft, medium and hard. I did not like the charcoal pencils, too soft. The harder pencils were nice, still smudged and gave me detail, but they were all very hard to sharpen. The metal sharpener that came with them was awful, but my Mary Kay one was great, a much finer cutting edge. I'm sure I will just need to get used to the softer pencils and not trying to get too much detail from them. Broad strokes, and they'll be great for rubbings." The old ottoman and the oriental rug are in my living room, maybe someday I'll do a bit of the rug in color.

Bunchberry & Hydrangea

6" x 8" drawing paper, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen, Aug. 11, 2012

6" x 8" drawing paper, pencil sketch, colored pencil, Pigma pen, Aug. 12, 2012

The bunchberry drawing is from an old painting book, line drawings for the sketch, I copied it except I put the berries on the left instead of the right. I like the way I painted the white flower, with just a hint of purple, and I hope the leaves look deeply ridged. I am very happy with this drawing, it is one of my favorites so far. The lace cap hydrangea is journaled on the back, and I learned I need thicker paper, like the watercolor paper, because the writing has shadowed through to the front. :( "Hydrangea, need frequent watering or the leaves will wilt, the deer like to eat them, but not the leaves so much. It is not their first choice. The large petals are really "brachs," colored leaves and the real flowers are the small buds in the center. You can change the colors of the flowers by adding acidity and other minerals to the soil. People used to bury tin cans around the bush to make the flowers more blue. Mine are a pinky lavender. Cut back the green stems to the woody growth to keep in shape or it can get quiet large, especially in cooler coastal areas" I drew it from life, sitting on the bench in the shade of our large maple tree. I think I got the perspective well enough, but wished I'd used watercolor pencil for a brighter smoother coloring.

Circles

6" x 8" drawing paper, acrylic paint, painted and stamped, July 26, 2012

The July challenge for sketchbookchallenge.blogspot.com featured circles. All the artists on the site posted various circle themed pages. I played with acrylic paint and ended up with a figure 8 instead, double circles? So then I stamped double concentric circles with the end of a thread spool. It needs something?? Maybe more stamping in teal to balance the little bit at the bottom?

Dried Botanicals

6" x 8" drawing paper, watercolor wash, dried plant materials, Pigma pen. July 20, 2012

"Pressed botanicals that I have had between the pages of a phone book for several years. I don't remember what the purple morning glory type flowers are. The background is watercolor painted, and the items are put on with mat medium and recoated twice. Pencil drawings and watercolor paint, added extra seeds, leaves, flowers and ferns. Then I went over the drawings with black Pigma pen." The little purple flowers are "million bells".

6" x 8" , brown craft paper, dried fern with mat medium, July 20, 2012. I glued the dried fern with mat medium and then could not figure out anything to do with it. Over paint it? Add more pressed flowers? Stamps, drawings, etc...? It might come to me later.

Mixed Media Collage

Both - 5.5" x 8" brown craft paper, mixed media collage, magazine papers, dyed cheesecloth and paper towels. July 20, 2012

Both of these were made as background for future projects, I don't know if they are done or not. They both are made with a base of cut magazine strips, collaged to brown paper bag, with gel medium, one warm colors - orange, rust, gold, the other shades of blue. I added torn strips of dyed paper towel in random places, with gel medium, on the warm colors I added pieces of hand dyed cheesecloth in yellow & orange, more gel medium. On the blue piece I thought for a long time, then decided to try a new white gel pen to add highlights and detail, and it became a stormy sea, with lightening, and blowing clouds and highlighted the waves of one magazine print. I titled it "Squall." They are both nice color studies, with a little texture thrown in. Done Yet?

Sugar, Creamer and Lamp

5" x 7" drawing paper, pencil sketch with Pigma pen. July 19, 2012

Sitting in the Tee Pee Tavern, bored, going to do some sketching, I start with the table lamp, it has nice curves, and details. I add the sugar, creamer and stacked coffee cups for balance, even though they were on opposite ends of the bar from the lamp. Just a quickie.

Autumn Trees

5.5" x 8" brown craft paper, watercolor paints, Pigma pen, July 18, 2012

I was just playing with the watercolor paints, spreading brown and orange paint on brown craft paper, trying to be abstract, and create washes of color. I put a few printed circles of orange on, because the monthly challenge for sketchbook challenge was "Circles." Then I remembered, that I thought it looked like trees on the right with vertical streaks in it, and the autumn colors on the left could also work into trees. So I started to free hand sketch some trees, foliage, ground details, until I had a workable landscape going, it was completely unplanned. I used Pigma pens to ink the drawing, out of my imagination.

Oriental Poppies

6" x 8" drawing paper, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen. July 19, 2012

An original design from my imagination of Oriental Poppies and a seed pod. I have drawn them many times for my art quilts, so I did not need a picture for reference. Pencil sketch, watercolor paints, and Pigma pen. I am definitely getting better with the watercolors, I am still using the cheap kids paints. :) I added the colored background this time, in a soft gray purple wash, I like it better than the plain white paper. The colors are much brighter in real life, than I am seeing on the computer monitor. Maybe I need to bump up the color in Photoshop a bit for the internet.

Blue Poppies

6" x 8" watercolor paper, watercolor paints and Pigma pen. July 18, 2012

After watching Susan Schewee on TV doing some water color, painting some blue poppies, I again thought "I can do that!" Famous last words, NOT, it was much harder than it looked, she makes it look so simple, just do this and that, yea! right! Of coarse it did not help that I was using a cheap kids watercolor tray from the dollar store, and a random brush. I have a lot to learn! Shading the poppies was difficult, but I liked the way that the little leaves, just happened. I still did not like what I had done, until several weeks later, when I added the Pigma pen, like my other sketches. It added extra dimension to the flowers, and detail to the foreground. They still look nothing like hers! I am learning to mix different shades of green from the cheap watercolors.

Green & Purple Prints

Both - 6" x 8" brown craft paper, mixed media. July 18, 2012

The green piece is done with a base of collaged magazine strips in green colors. I originally started to draw some doodles in black Sharpie marker, but I did not like it, so I over painted in green acrylic paints with white streaks, some of the doodles show through. The purple did not have a magazine under layer, just purple paint on brown paper. Then each was stamped with a foam stamp and white acrylic paint to make the patterning. The green one was highlighted with a white gel pen. I don't know if I am done with them or not, or will over paint them again.

Gaillardia

6" x 8", watercolor paper, pencil sketch, watercolor paints, Pigma pen, July 17, 2012

I love sketching flowers, it is also my favorite subject for photography, home grown, gardens, wildflowers, bouquets, it doesn't matter, any flower will do. I saw this on the sketchbookchallenge.blogspot.com the colors and detail appealed to me, and I thought "I can do this." So I went off to sketch it, I drew it from memory, not looking at the other drawing. I sketched first in pencil, then added the watercolor paints from a kids cheap set from the dollar store. Then I added the Pigma pen detail. I am very happy with the color blending, and the turquoise border really adds to it. I am slowly getting better with the watercolor paints.

Umpqua Indians

Both - 5" x 7" watercolor paper, pencil sketch with Pigma pen, July 1 & 5, 2012

Sitting in the Tee Pee Tavern, getting out my sketchbook of water color paper, trying to find something to draw. The Umpqua Indian Beef Jerky sign caught my attention. Their logo is an Indian head with one feather, and a bone bead choker. In an oval with UMPQUA INDIAN BEEF JERKY written around it. I sketched with pencil then went over it with Pigma pen. It is ok for a quick sketch, and sitting far away from the object, so detail was difficult to see. The Indian maiden looking over the cliff, was on another day, it is a vintage print in a small oval frame, also hard to see because of the distance behind the bar and the small size. I worked longer on this one, trying to get the detail right. Pencil sketch with Pigma pen. In old watercolor the picture is quiet enchanting, in pen and ink, not so much, but it was a fun challenge.

Photonia

5" x 7" watercolor pad. Pigma pen and colored pencils. June 28, 2012

It was hard to get the shiny leaves, to show the smoothness, and lack of veining. The new spring leaves have a lot of red in them, turning green as they age. The opposite of changing fall colors. The whole group of leaves grew off of one main stem. Blending colored pencils to create the varying colors was a challenge.

Raven Sunset

6" x 8" brown craft paper, magazine collage, stencil, acrylic paint. July 1, 2012

I collaged a set of warm color strips cut from a magazine, reds, oranges, and gold, mostly solid colors, with gel medium. I made it mostly to use as a background for future art work. I decided to stencil a tree branch pattern in black acrylic paint, and add the raven magazine cutout. With acrylic paint I added the sun, and dry brushed contour lines around it.

Undersea & Asteroids

4.5" x 6" watercolor pad, watercolor pencil & Pigma pen. June 26, 2012

4.5" x 6" watercolor pad, Crayola crayons. June 26, 2012

Just playing with color, using watercolor pencils, sketching and adding water with a wet Q-tip. Trying to blend the pencil colors before wetting them. I ended up sketching an underwater scene, I have made quiet a few with art quilted wall hangings. The other piece was just a color blend with Crayola crayons, making abstract marks. It began to look like a galaxy seen through asteroids. So I increased the detail to bring out that design decision, and added the black zigzag for contrast. I titled it "Galaxy IV"

Sapling & Rootbeer Glass

5" x 6.5" watercolor paper, pencil sketch, colored pencil & Pigma pen, 6-18-2012

5" x 6.5" watercolor paper, pencil sketch, colored pencil, Pigma pen, 6-20-2012

The sapling was drawn sitting on my school bus, waiting for the kids to get out, there was a small sapling, with new spring leaves, delicately swaying in the breeze. I liked it's uncomplicated form and delicate branches. "Sitting in the Tee Pee Tavern nursing a root beer, as the ice slowly melts. Bored 'cause Charlie has gone outside to smoke. I pulled out my watercolor pad and a pencil. I liked the way the light reflected on the bar, shinning through the glass, and the edge of foam on the root beer. Glass reflections, transparency and light take a lot of thought when drawing, and hard to achieve with a pencil. A bit of yellow colored pencil tried to pick up the little glints of light and I added root beer brown to give contrast to the ice cubes. Now I'm not so bored after all.

Sunset Mixed Media

5.5" x 8" brown paper, photo, collaged painted paper towels, rubber stamps, Pigma pen, June 4, 2012

An original digital sunset photograph, cut vertically and glued to brown paper, collaged with torn painted paper towel with gel medium. Rubber stamped with nature landscape stamps, touched up with Pigma pen. I tried to add another coat of gel medium but the stamp ink blurred and disappeared." I tried to match the torn towels to the photograph colors.

Zentangle Mouse

5" x 7" watercolor paper, pencil sketch, colored pencil & Pigma pen, May 2012

"I found a blog called "the Quilted Rat" she had a drawing similar to this one, as her mascot. The technique of filing in space with patterned doodles is called "Zentangles" or something like that. I really liked trying to come up with the patterning and textures to fill in the space. Mine is very quilt pattern oriented. It would make a fun quilt, bright colors & challenging. It is a great way to spend time doodling."