Around the World Blog Hop

         What am I working on? 

I just finished a  Christmas Card Trade on Wetcanvas Forum.  I am now doing some small paintings of a few of my Christmas ornaments

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I don't follow the rules.  I figure that however gets the job done, is the right way.  I  draw in graphite and colored pencils.  I paint watercolors.  I have been primarily self taught.  I have watched many videos, taken many online classes, and used different things to develop my own style.

Why do I create what I do?

I create what I do because I have a yearning inside of me to create some art.  I love animals, particularly dogs, and I find that a lot of my artwork involves animals.  I love doing dog portraits.  I have a need at times to do a "memory" of a person's pet after it has passed.  

How does my creating process work?

My creating has evolved many times over the last probably 10 years.   At the moment, I start my artwork with a drawing that is usually detailed.  I leave the graphite as I like that look.  Then I put my first paint down with watercolor.  I don't do a lot of color mixing.  I use a Koi field kit and a waterbrush and find I llike the colors in that kit.  

Then I go in with colored pencil.  I might go back in with watercolor or graphite at any time during the process.

My style seems to change every so often.  I don't really plan it or even know that it has happened until someone tells me that I have  developed a little difference in my artwork.

I couldn't find another blogger that wanted to participate at this time of the year, so I just suggest you look at any and/or all of the blogs listed on the right.  Some of them are not currently posting but the artwork is well worth the browse.  And if you check out the blogs they have listed on their site, you may not come out of your "blog browsing" stupor for days.  Have fun.  

Catching Up

I finished up the Wetcanvas Christmas Card trade and all of my cards have been received  by their new owners.  I have received several of my cards.  It is so much fun to get Christmas mail.  

The two photos above are from a private Christmas trade I did.

I am thinking of starting a new ATC trade for the new year.  I just have to come up with a theme that interests me and would interest about 20 others.  Considering I have been in over 40 trades on Wetcanvas and probably more than that on Drawspace, a good number of themes have already been done.  Have no fear...I will come up with something.  Then I have the decision of whether I want the troubles that go with a trade hosting duty.  Waiting for sign ups, gathering all the addresses, explaining when some don't follow thru with their obligations, and keeping everyone happy.   But most of my trades have been happy experiences.  And I still do monthly private trades with a few close friends I made om the Drawspace Forum.

I have been neglecting my blog posts lately and hopefully in the new year I will be able to get back to at least weekly posts.  That will be a nice goal for me. 

Another goal I have set starting in January is that I am going to try to do a daily art and writing journal.  I plan to do something every day, not a whole page, but something.  I will be using a 9x12 inch watercolor Sketchbook Journal by Strathmore.  Some days there will be just a small entry, other days I may fill a page.  Some to do lists may make the cut and even some scavenger hunt items.  I need to get back into daily art and hope that this will get me back on track.

My friend Sue will be joining me in this daily journal.  She is having problems with one of her 4-legged babies (surgery) but hopefully she will be able to do her journal justice while her baby recuperates.

If anyone out there needs a goal for 2015, join in.  I will be posting most of my entries on here and probably some on my Facebook page.  

Thank you to all my loyal friends. 

November virtual Paintout

The Virtual Paintout was in Luxembourg this month.  This is done on a 4x6 inch piece of watercolor paper in colored pencil and pen.

Spring Song Sparrow

It has been a long while since I posted.  I haven't been doing any artwork lately.  Instead I have been crocheting, sewing, and knitting Christmas gifts.  I am still not finished but today my wrist is sore.  So I wanted to give it a rest.

I have been yearning to get my hands on a pencil or paint so tonight I grabbed the mechanical pencil and got started on a Spring Song Sparrow. The photo is from Dave Slaughter from Wetcanvas.  It is graphite on the smooth side of watercolor paper from a Strathmore Visual Journal that is 9x12 inches.

 This is a Yellow-Crested Stork from Botswana. Photo by Patrick Hedges on Wetcanvas. When I saw the photo, I just had to draw and paint it.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.  9x12 inches in Strathmore Visual Journal.

Two More Cards---Two to Go

  " Ho Ho Ho"

"Christmas Goose"

Two more finished and two more to go.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.

More Christmas Cards

I have two more of my Christmas Cards for the trade on Wetcanvas.    The top one is titled "Santa's Helper"  and the other one is "Guard Dog".  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.  The Guard dog card has some glitter gel pen on it.

Leftover Christmas Balls

 I called this one "Leftover Christmas Balls".  I didn't want to include the piece that holds the hook .   Cardstock with colored pencils.

Christmas Cactus Waiting for Blooms

This is the second one I finished today.  The first one was done on the paper upside down.  And no way could I use it the way it would open.  So trash that one.  This one started out different too.  It was supposed to be the left side as the bottom.  But the fold was on that side.  So now the stems start on the top instead of on the left.  At least I was able to save this one.   Watercolor paper with watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.

Christmas Ccard Exchange

I joined a Christmas Card Exchange on Wetcanvas.  There are 13 participants so I will have 12 cards to do and mail.  Not everyone will make all original cards, but I will.  Some will make one or two original and have copies printed for mailing.  Since I have the time and it keeps me doing something, I like to make mine each original.

I have 3 finished and one more started.  All are on watercolor paper, with watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.

Day 30 - House for Rent

Day 30 - House for Rent.  3 from my birdhouse collection.   Watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.

Day 29 - Bonnie

Day 29 - Bonnie.  Photo by Nina Joslin Little and used with permission.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pen. 

Day 28 - Roid

Day 28 - Roid.  Roid is a hairless cat who owns Facebook person Jean Ogden.  Photo is hers and used with permission.  Roid is usually entwined with a dog named Louie on a couch.   Done with watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.

Day 27 - My Friday (Fry)

Day 27 - My Friday (Fry).  Red Golden Retriever who passed Jan 31, 2009.  Watercolor, colored pencils, and pens.  She was my special girl.

Day 26 - Eagle

Day  26 - Eagle.  Photo by vmrs on Wetcanvas.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.  I almost trashed this one several times.  It's way overworked.

Day 25 - Coco

Day 25 - Coco.  She was born this last week at the county fair.  Photo by Jerri Garcia and used with permission.  The mother of this baby was a dairy cow who was the 4H project of Jerri's daughter.  The calf will be a 2-year project for her.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.

Day 24 - Great Dane

Day 24 - Great Dane.  Photo by Crias of Wetcanvas.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.

RIP Bubbles

Over a year ago, I met a new friend thru my dog groomer.  I donated a pet portrait to a dock dog association and this lady won.  She had me do a portrait of her horse.

A few days ago her female dog Bubbles passed away.  I decided to give her a portrait of Bubbles   It's hard to lose a pet that you love as much as you would your own child.  Mine are my children.  They live in the house and sleep with me.  So it has been my pleasure to give a memory to Melissa of her Bubbles.

Day 23 - Cat

Day 23 - Cat.  Photo by Rockhead from Wetcanvas RIL.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.

Day 22 - Scavenger Hunt #376 Items

Day 22 - Scavenger Hunt Items.  Hunt #376.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.  Nice to paint and have it count for two different challenges.

Day 21 - Goose

 Day 21 - A goose from a local park.  Watercolos, colored pencils, pens.  My photo.

Day 20 - Dog With a Bone

Day 20 - Dog With a Bone.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.  Photo is of Stella by jlparis at Wetcanvas.

Day 19 - A Tangle

Day 19- A Tangle.  I was painting most of the day so needed something easy tonight. Done with a Stadtler Fineline Black pen.

Day 19 - Owl

Day 18 - Owl.  I bought this little ceramic owl today at the 99 cent store.  I will give it to my mom as she collects owls.    Sorry about the photo.  Taken with my phone.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.

Day 17 - My Handbag/Purse

Day 17 - My handbag/purse.  I needed something for the Scavenger Hunt #375.  On the list was leather so I decided to do my purse.  Watercolors, colored pencil, and pens.  With this one I do double duty for the hunt and 30 paintings in 30 days.

Day 16 - Lion

Day 16 - Lion.  Photo by chia on Wetcanvas.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pens. 

Davy 15 - Boxer

Day 15 - a boxer.  Photo by Crias on Wetcanvas.  Waterolors, colored pencils, and pens.  I enjoyed doing this one. 

Day 14 - Barn

A barn from a photo on Wetcanvas by Tdot.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pen.  I have made it almost half way.  Good.  But I am getting tired. Lol.  And I had 3 ATC cards to do for September.  I couldn't sleep last night so I got those finished and can mail tomorrow.

A little stuffed wiener dog that my mom made years ago.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pen

Day 12 - Living With Dogs

Day 12.  Spot in my lviing room that is over run with dog beds and toys.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.

Flamengo - Day 11

Day 11 is a Flamingo.  Photo by Trimoon of Wetcanvs.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pen

Retriever Day 10

I started this with watercolor and for some reason it wasn't working.  I had to tear the  page out.  The paint seemed to have specks in it.  Here it is in graphite with just a touch of color on the eyes.

Flower - Day 9

Photograph by stalksthedawn of Wetcanvas.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pens

Taking a Stroll

I took this photo at the local park.  Two geese and a duck were taking a walk on a sidewalk.    When my plein air group paints at this park, we always have a few of the geese and ducks to cheer us on.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pen. 

Dad (or an old seafarer) - Day 7

This started out to be my dad.  It has some similarities but just not him.  It looks more like an old seafaring man.  I don't dislike it but not what I started out for.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pens

Scavenger Hunt - Day 6

These were done for two challenges.  First the Scavenger Hunt on Wetcans and second for the 30 paintings in 30 days.  These were done in colored pencil and pen.

Bird Houses - Sept 5

For the 30 paintings in 30 Days.  these are a few of my birdhouse collection and a couple made up.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pens. 

Reddish Egret - Sept 4

This is for the 30 Paintings in 30 Days.  It is a Reddish Egret.  Photo by Sandy Scott from Paint My Photo.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pen.  I overworked it but overall I'm happy with it.  Always happy when I don't have to toss it.  And the photo is terrible taken with my phone.

Hunter - Sept 3

Watercolor, colored pencil, and pen for the 30 paintings in 30 days.  The photo was from Paint my Photo and submitted for use by Sandy Scott.

Rooster - Sept 2

Watercolor, colored pencil,  & pen.  For the 30 paintings for 30 days and also the WDE on Wetcanvas for this week.  Photo provided by Justjean. 

Sept 1st, 2014

Watercolor, colored pencil, and pen.  Sorry the photo isn't better.  I took it with my camera.

30 Paintings in 30 Days

I have joined a new challenge   It is to do 30 paintings in 30 days for the month of Sept.  I hope I can keep up but not going to stress about it.  The ones I complete will be a bonus and keep me actively doing artwork.  

I have been looking and thinking about a challenge for a month.  I thought of doing a body part or multiple body parts.  I even considered a self portrait a day.  But I just wasn't up to those.  I have already done those before.   They suggest picking a theme but I may leave that open and just do whatever comes up for mine each day.

I have a 7 x 7 inch Stillman & Birn  Beta Series watercolor sketchbook and I am going to use that for this challenge.  It has 25 pages so with just five of them will have something on both sides.  And it is just the right size.  Not too small and not too large.

If you want to join in, here is the link: http://30paintingsin30days.weebly.com/

Iris & Lily

These were done for the WDE for 8-22-14.  Eye/Ai was the host this week.  These are her beautiful daughters.  I have known Ai since before Iris was born and I think she is 6 or 7 years now.

I did these with colored pencils and a touch of pen on Strathmore Toned Tan paper in a 5.5 x .5 sketchbook.

Teddy

Just a little 4x6 inch piece of artwork in watercolor, colored pencils, and pens

Bonnie (of Bonnie & Clyde)

A Facebook friend has a raccoon named Baby that was born in her yard.  And now it has 2 cubs she named Bonnie and Clyde.  The mother even comes inside her house and sleeps on the bed with her and her dogs.  She comes in thru the doggie door.   She follows along behind the dogs when they are all in the yard walking.  She seems very tame.  

The friend takes lots of photos of the raccoons and I saw one that I fell in love with.  I asked for permission to use it for a painting.  This is the progress I have made.  I am now working on the dirt behind the coon.  It's dark brown with white bits on it.  Also starting to work on the animal. 

Wooden

I browsed the Weekend Drawing Event images for this week and I saved 5.   This is the one I ended up doing. I thought I had ruined it a couple times . Don't like the dark graphite I got on the side of the face but covered it in cp before I realized I didn't want it there. But I've messed with it too much. It started out fairly small but I cropped it to ATC size. Watercolor paper, watercolor, cp, and pen. About an hour or so but done in short pieces of time with stops in between when I thought it was a goner.