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."