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"

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"

Bandon Lighthouse and Seagulls

5 3/4" x 8" brown paper, collaged seagulls, over pencil sketch, water color pencils, wetted, May 6, 2012

"I was looking for some birds to add to my "Gelli" printed "Birch Trees" I traced the pattern onto release paper from Wonder Under, instead of throwing the patterns away, I glue sticked them to this page. I sketched a few more seagulls, then added the lighthouse. I love this lighthouse, it is so easy to get to and walk around, with a wonderful beach to the North, that has agates and fossilized sea shells. We used to take Taffy, our Golden Retriever/Border Collie to "Bullard's Beach" she loved the sand and the wind, but once she tasted the salt water, she wanted nothing to do with it. I have made a quilt of the lighthouse with hand painted sky fabric, and the view from the South Jetty, with pilings in front of it" PS. The lighthouse is on the North side of the Coquille river, across from the South jetty.

Tyee Mountains

8" x 6" pencil sketch, watercolor pencil, Pigma pen .05

"My imaginary view of Tyee Mountain, across the Umpqua River and Callapooia Creek, during my spring drive on my school bus. A pencil sketch, colored with watercolor pencil and washed over with a wet Q-tip, and inked over with a Pigma pen. I love driving the rural areas in the spring, lots of wildflowers, camas, wild iris, dogwood and buttercups. New lambs frisky and fluffy, soon there will be baby horses too, already two baby llamas. Today would have been my Mom's birthday, I miss being able to show her my artwork, it was guaranteed approval, positive feedback and unconditional love. We used to work on projects together, macrame, candles, quilting and gardening. Love you Mom, Happy Birthday! Amy XXOO"

Color Charts

The Artist's Journal Workshop suggested that you make a color chart of any new materials that you have. So I decided to try the watercolor pencils, and colored pencils that I was using. Do you really know all the 99 colors in a box of crayons?? What are the differences in the 4 different tans? This sounded worthwhile, so I gave it a try, I found that the blues and green varieties were very different, and it was good to know how they differed. The water color pencil, I left an area as is, and did part of the color section with a wet Q-tip, so I could see how it looked wet also. I think in the future I will do ALL the crayola crayons, and maybe my Tsukineco inks, acrylic paints, and watercolor paints too.

Our Home

8" x 6" pencil sketch, watercolor pencil, washed over with Q-tip, Pigma .05 pen 4-30-12

"Our home in Roseburg, Oregon. We have been here for 20 years, and will be celebrating our 25th anniversary this month. Charlie built the copper pipe arch over the cobblestone entry. A neighbor built the river rock wall many years ago. I have added cobblestone paths through the garden. When we first moved I planted the "magnolia stellata" on the left, it has beautiful white blossoms in the spring, with many long delicate petals, that curve up. Big ferns and rhododendrons are in large pots on either side of the benches in front of the windows. I have many varieties of iris planted throughout the garden, and have added a terraced garden down the slope on the right side. I love to sit and read under the maple tree."