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.