Cups, Cups, & More Cups

 I have a collection of things (lots and lots of things) I have purchased from various places like Goodwill. I use these things to make still life compositions for drawing/painting. In this collection are about 10-12 cups. No rhyme or reason as to why I bought them. If they caught my eye, I bought them. A couple of years ago, I painted two of my cups for a group show for Bakersfield Art Association. It was to be hung in a coffee shop so cups of coffee were prevalent. I decided I want to hang this piece in my kitchen. I decided I want four small "cup" pieces to hang with the first one. Here is the original "Coffee With Cream" with the four new pieces. The original piece is probably 12x16 inches. The new ones are 5x7 inches. I'm not sure if they will be framed as 5x7 or 8x10.

Private ATC Trade

My friend T and I are doing a private trade.  For April it was "Something From a Farm" and for May, "Flowers".  I used a photo from the   WDE on Wetcanvas for the lamb and a photo posted to Wetcanvas by T for the Black-Eyed Cone Flower.

Scavenger Hunt #401

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 1 off the wall - mini dog cross stitch picture that was hanging on the wall
2 energy - battery
3 fluffy - duck
4 black and white - cow salt shaker
5 part of a shoe - my husband's bronzed baby shoe
6 well used - green colored pencil
7 knot - knotted string
8 bell - red and white bell
9 shoestring - black shoestring hanging on the duck
10 magnet - with cow on it
11 something used to do a repair - eraser on top of the battery
12 a beginning and an end - book

Watercolor, colored pencils, and pen in a 9x12 inch visual journal by Strathmore.

Every Day in April

I'm doing an April Challenge of doing a piece of art every day of April.  I'm posting them in an album on my Facebook page.  There is usually one in May and I will be doing that one too.

This one is Day 9 - something from my yard.  Geraniums.  I have lots of them and they bloom all year where I live.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pen in Visual Journal Watercolor Sketchbook.

Landscapes for the Postcard Trade on Wetcanvas

There is a new trade on Wetcanvas called "Wish You Were Here".  Postcard sized pieces of original artwork done showing landscapes around the area where you live.  I did a few from my yard and the rest were from photos I have taken when my plein air group goes out. 

The first one is from a trip we made to the mountains which is about 45 minutes from my house.  These mail boxes are about half way there.

The second one is from a cattle ranch in those same mountains.  My friends Ron and Shari lived and worked on this ranch and my art group was able to go there for a painting session twice.  No more trips there tho as my friends retired and moved.

The third one is a metal sculpture of some Mexican musicians from a statuary place called Majestic Palms.  They have some larger trees, lots of pots, metal sculpture, and statues.  And a koi pond with a small bridge going across the pond.  Many, many, many huge koi fish in the pond. 

These are all 4x6 inches on watercolor paper with watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.

Cat #21.

Here is cat #21.  From a photo by Daiseyree from Wetcanvas.  I love this pose and really enjoyed doing this one.  I did change the colors from the original photo.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pen.  About 3 x 5 inches.

Cat #20

 This is my cat #20.  Graphite and a touch of colored pencil and pen.  It's about 3x5 inches on watercolor paper.  Photo is by Veterinarian Andy Mathes from Facebook and used with his permission.

30 Cats Day 9

Here is Cat for Day 9.  I'm behind but will catch up.  Graphite on this one.  Photo by MelWilemon from Wetcanvas RIL.

30 Cats in 30 Days

I'm doing a challenge on Facebook started by Valri Ary and Mary Moore.  there are several other artists doing it also.  I have finished 6 days so far.  Here is Day 6.  Photo posted on the WDE at Wetcanvas by Noula.  3.5 x 5.5 inches on watercolor paper.  Watercolor, colored pencils, and pens.

Here are the first 5:

Slacking

Andy for Bigs/Sue.

 

Samson for vmrs/Virginia.

Dave the Cat for oldrockchick/Lin.

I have been sorely slackening.  I have been sick, I have been going to the doctor.  I am having cataract surgery one my first eye in Feb. so I have been a little on edge.  I know it is a simple surgery and only takes about 20 minutes actual time by the doctor, but IT'S MY EYE!

Sorry for not blogging more but with so much on my mind, it's hard to keep up with everything.

I started a new project in the Wetcanvas Forum.  It is titled Animals.  We have a full project of 16 participants.  I will be doing the pets of anyone who has them.  Anyone else can tell me what their favorite animal is and I will try to do those.

So far I have finished 3 and mailed them.  One has been received.  One cat and 2 dogs.  12 more to go.  I have a few more pets to do but not everyone has one.  

 

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.