Denny (Alan) and Me.

This was my cousin Denny (that's the name he went by then and now he uses his real first name of Alan.  I still can't call him that.  he will always be Denny to me.

My family and his family lived in apartments that were owned by his grandparents who were my Aunt Minnie and Uncle Cecil.  Minnie was my dad's older sister.  She lived just short of her 96th birthday.  I was always very close to them.

I was about 3 and Denny about 6 in this photo (Probably 1952).  We had baby brothers that were born only a few days apart.

The next photo is my dad and his youngest brother.   The date was probably around 1954/1955.  I had a second brother by then.  My uncle died young from complications from Diabetes.  My dad is still alive today at 87 yrs old.  And quite a few pounds heavier. 

Racket-Tailed Roller.

I just finished this for the Weekly Drawing Event on Wetcanvas. It is 9x12 watercolor paper with watercolors, colored pencils, and pen. Image provided by Lucylove. The bird is a Racket-Tailed Roller.

Grandpa and Jacob

Here is a painting I did of a friend's husband and grandson.  The boy just turned 16.  And my friend said her husband doesn't have that much hair now.  lol

On watercolor journaling paper in watercolors, colored pencils, and pen.  About 9x12 inches.

Nothing New

Nothing new going on here.  Not doing any art.  My mom who had surgery is doing better.  It's so hot in Bakersfield this week.  Triple digits all week.  Very uncomfortable.  Just glad there is not much humidity here.   

Catching Up

Well I see that I have been lax.  I even missed posting on my birthday.

On May 21, I turned 65.  I have been waiting for 4 years to turn 65 so that I could gt on Medicare.  I haven't had health insurance since my husband passed away.  As of May 1st, I now have Medicare.  As well as the title of official old lady.  And oh my/yikes I am only 5 years away from 70.  Not sure how I will handle that one.  So far age 35 bothered me the most.  

On my 35th birthday, I felt like I had lost at least half my energy.  And sadly it never came back.  Bill laughed and said it was only one day.  When he turned 35 nine months later, he felt the same.  I think his sister said she cried all day the day she turned 30.  I guess it hits everyone at different ages.

It's funny how most of our lives we are waiting for a certain time to reach us.  As a toddler, we couldn't wait to be a big kid and turn 5.  That seemed like a magical age.  Then we couldn't wait to be teens.  After that 18 and out of school so we could be our own boss.  Then at 21,  we could legally drink.  At about 25 or so , our car insurance stopped being so expensive.  After that I don't remember any time I wanted to be a different age until 65. 

I haven't really been doing any artwork.  I guess I am going thru yet another slump.  That too shall pass.  I just have to wait it out.  

Thru Facebook I reconnected with several ladies I went to school with in another town during part of 6th and all of 7th grade.  One doesn't have a computer but the others connected me to her thru phones.  I had lunch with two of them separately and then last Saturday the same two had lunch with me again.  It was nice to be together and have lunch and get to travel down memory lane.  I had a wonderful time and we plan to make it a monthly habit.  Facebook is wonderful for keeping people in touch and also for getting people reconnected. 

Well thanks to all my followers.  I hope I don't keep you waiting too much.  I will try to post more often and thanks for hanging in there.  At least I hope you are still there.

Duck Duck Finished

Duck, Duck

Here's a new piece I'm working on.  Scrapbooking paper again with colored pencil, graphite, and pen.  Photo courtesy of Photographer Anne Kelly from Facebook and used with permission.  She takes some wonderful photos, and I have used several for my artwork.  The paper is about 8x10 inches.

"Harey" the hare

I did this for the Weekend Drawing Event for Wetcanvas for May 9, 2014.  I picked a photo of a beautiful hare.  This is done on watercolor paper, with watercolor, colored pencil, and pen.  The paper is 9x12 inches.  The paper is in a journal sketchbook like the ones Cathy Johnson uses.

My mom had a cyst removed from her shoulder.  My nephew took her for the procedure and when he dropped her off at home, he needed a break.  I went over and sat with her for a couple hours and started this piece.  I finished it at home tonight.

A Precious Gift From God

I just watched a video that was posted on Facebook.  I cried all the way thru it and still crying.  It was just so touching.  What started it all was FB deleted a photo the mother posted of her newborn who was born without part of his brain/head,  When she reposted it, she was banned from FB. Not sure if the ban was permanent or short term but it shouldn't have been banned at all.

Here is the video.  http://smag31.com/facebook-bans-mother-posting-photos-new-born-son-born-severe-birth-defect/

A Bird With Personality

I believe the photo was provided by Helen Lewry. This is about 4x6 inches in watercolor, pen, and colored pencil.  The photo was offered for use in a Facebook page called Reference Photos for Artists.  I also posted my painting on that page.  

This was done in a watercolor journal sketchbook that I plan to do just random things that I like.  This is done on the bottom right of the page.  There is still quite a lot of the page that is blank, and I will be filling in more of the page with other artwork.  I'm sure a lot of the artwork will be animals.  I have found several more animals at the Reference site.  I can't wait to paint them.

I have been neglecting my art a bit.  I did finish my ATC trade project.  Now I can hopefully concentrate on some artwork that will make me happy.

Wetcanvas WDE April 25 - Partice Has a Little Lamb

I participated in the Wetcanvas Weekend Drawing Event for April 25, 2014.  Each week a host posts16 photos from which we can choose.  We are supposed to choose one and post whatever we have finished after a 2 hour period.

I picked the sheep.  There were 3 sheep in the photo but I decided to concentrate on the central one.  I liked the way the sheep was looking right at the camera like she was waiting for the photo op to end.

I am still working on the Designer Scrapbooking papers.  I chose this one so that the white would show a little and also it has circles which I hoped would add to the fleece look on the wool.  It probably took me an hour and a half to do and I used colored pencils, graphite, and pens including a white Signo uniball.  The paper is the size it came from the pad which was a 6x6 inch pad.

Wetcanvas ATC Trade Project Finished

I finished all my ATCs for the trade on Wetcanvas.  I'm all caught up with everything for the moment.  The next thing will be the monthly trade for May.  No one has signed up to host yet so we won't know what the theme will be until closer to the first of May. 

Weather here has been warm.  If it gets any hotter, I will have to get my swamp cooler going.  I'm trying to hold off as long as possible to save on my utility bill. 

I spent Easter with my nephew's family and inlaws.   We had a nice time.  Good food and 3 little kids 3-5 yrs old hunting eggs.    As nice as it is to be with family on holidays, it feels so good when I get home.  The older I get, the better I feel at home. 

More Trade ATCs

Artist's Choice

The first of my ATCs from the Wetcanvas trade project has arrived at it's destination.  The theme is Artist's Choice.  Any time you give me a choice of themes, I will usually choose animals.

This is Zeus a Yellow Lab who belongs to Virginia/vmrs from a photo on her Facebook page.  It is done with colored pencils and pens on a Designer Scrapbooking paper.  I love using this paper as it provides a background as well as texture to the animal fur.

Artist and Student ATC Trade

A teacher posted on Facebook that she would like artists to volunteer for a one-on-one trade of an atc with her students.  I agreed.  I did a picture of a dog from a photo by Andy Mathes, a photographer/veterinarian and used with his permission.  

The dog is Bruno.  I did a picture of him when he was just a puppy.  He was a cute little thing that looked so sad.  Her is looking more grown up now.  I love his face and enjoy doing his portrait even if it is so small.  And I so much appreciate Andy Mathes for taking such great photos of his clients.  It is so fun to see his clients from the time they are in for their first puppy shots, thru until they grow up.  And so many breeds of dogs and cats.

This is an ATC (2.5x3.5 inches) and done with colored pencil and ink.

Another ATC for the Trade

I bought this little guy yesterday at Dollartree.  He is a little bobble head.  I thought he was just so cute I had to put him on one of the trade cards I'm doing.  I also got a little angel.  These words are printed on her: " Make your actions inspire others."  I think she will be another trade card even though my plan was to do all animals.  

This is colored pencils and Micron pen on Designer Sketchbooking paper.

New Wetcanvas ATC Trade

 One of the ATC cards I have been doing for the new Wetcanvas Project.  The theme of this trade is "Artist's Choice".  When you give me a choice, expect to get animals.  May very favorite subject. 

 I will do something personal for the trader if possible.  I know a few of them from other trades.  This one will go to a person who loves cats.  I have 6 of the cards finished.  So far I need 14.  Still one more place to fill in the project tho.  The other 5 finished are, a dog, giraffe, cow, bunny, and flamingo.  Working on another dog now. 

 Having a ball and never tire of doing animals..

Last Day for Friday

This video was taken the day we took Friday in the have her put down.  She was having problems with her hips and had a hard time standing or sitting without pain.  This is the last picture of my husband taken before he passed away 3 months later.

Flamingo ATC

 I did this little atc for trading.  It is from a photo by Jean Ogden.  Staedtler pens, colored pencil, on Patterned Designer Scrapbooking paper.

Friends

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."                                                                            Unknown

Seagull Posing

I did this for the Weekend Drawing Event on Wetcanvas. This is another done on designer scrapbooking paper. 6x6 inches. Micron pen, white gel pen, graphite, and colored pencil . Photo provided by Scattykat.

Something New

Lately I have been trying something new.  I have been drawing on Designer Scrapbooking Paper.  I love using this paper.  I can't use water on it so will be using graphite, Micron pen, and colored pencils.

I got the idea from my friend Teresa.  We were in an ATC trade and she made her cards using this paper.  She did little flowers, hearts, etc in Kuretake Sumi Ink 60 and adds a little shiny color with Gelly Roll Gel pens.  The followed that up with some sayings or quotes in fancy lettering.  

I noticed how nice the ink went onto the paper.  No blurred edges.  It just looked like it was part of the paper.  Teresa was kind enough to send some samples of the paper to me.  I haven't tried the Sumi ink yet but the Micron pens, colored pencils, and graphite work perfectly on the paper.

This cat is Tigger.  A client of a Facebook friend, Andy Mathis, veterinarian/photographer.  I used his photo with his permission.  He has a really nice opportunity for great photographs of his clients.  Some of them he has followed from their first shots thru adulthood.   And he has been so gracious letting me use his photos.  He has a FB account under his name, Andy Mathis.  

I bought a few groceries today and many of the vegetables I bought just to use as subjects for drawings.  I plan to try some Mexican onions, possibly broccoli, yellow onion, and some carrots on the scrapbooking paper.  I can't wait to see how those do on the paper.  And it's nice to have a ready-made background and not have to worry about doing one.  And I even like that the pattern on the paper shows a little thru the artwork.  

A Little Cottage in Ireland

I finished my cottage.  The photo was by Anne Kelly.  I met her thru Facebook and she has graciously allowed me to use any of her photos.  I loved this one.  It's about 9x12 inches on Strathmore 140lb watercolor paper from a Visual Journal book.  I used Micron pens, watercolors, and colored pencils.

I was really worried when I started the sketch.  So many little twigs in the trees and such gnarly trees.  The next day I did some refining of the sketch and started to put some watercolor down.  When I got to a certain point, I went to the colored pencils (Albrecht Durer brand watercolor pencils). I used the colored pencils both wet with a waterbrush and dry for texture.   And before, during, and after I added micron when I felt the need.

New Painting

I got permission from photographer Anne Kelly to use a photo of hers.  Here is my start.  It isn't too clear as I took it with my cell phone.

Here is my workspace at the moment. A card table with an  Ott Day Lite, Xacto sharpener, colored pencils, water brushes, etc, Watercolors in the little white box is a field kit I use at home or out plein air, the orange thing underneath is a note paper holder that I have paper towel pieces for use with the watercolors.  And other various things including the prerequisite animal underneath with the trash can. 

Laura Ferlita posted hers and suggested we post ours.  I couldn't figure out how to post it on her blog or where she posted on Facebook so posting mine here.

Bruno

I did a birthday card for a friend yesterday. I used a photo taken by Andy Mathis a veterinarian from Georgia. He is very gracious and let me use his photo of Bruno, one of his clients. I saw this photo quite a while ago when he posted it and loved this little guys face so much. Here is Bruno. Done in watercolors, colored pencils, and micron pen. Thank you Andy and thank you to Bruno's family.

Murray Farms & Stallion Springs

Another of my plein air samples.  The two on the left are from Murray Farms, the ones on the right are from Stallion Springs.

Scavener Hunt #348 Feb 11-19

Scavenger Hunt #348 Feb 11-19

salt
pepper
oil
vinegar
sugar

paper
paint
brush
sharpener
eraser

yellow
red
green
orange
blue

socks
jewelry
bows
sleeve
hem

glass
wood
metal
rock
dirt
fabric

Challenge: Make a still life of each of the different sections. Or one, or two, or.....

Boles Nursery & A Local Photographer's Home

Here are two more pages I have painted from photos I have taken at our plein air outings.  These are from a private home and a plant nursery.  The one of Boles Nursery is watercolors and pens.  The other is just watercolors.  It's nice to have little bits and pieces of the places our group has visited doing plein air.

Happy Birthday Bill

Today would have been my husband's 64th birthday.  Next month will be 4 years since he passed. 

Lion

I did another painting by putting the paint down, then sketched the lion, then added some wc pencil and water.  Then some white charcoal.  It's in the homemade, cover-less sketchbook I made with Arches paper.  The reference is by dominika from the Wetcanvas RIL.  Around 7.5 x 9.5 inches.

African Violet

I decided to try some watercolor loosely.   I'm usually a detail person. I put down the greens and let dry. Then added some loose ink lines to hint at the leaves. Then added a little watercolor pencil and waterbrush for some shadow. Here is "African Violet". I made a little sketchbook without a cover from some full sheets of Arches paper. It is about 5.5 x 7.5 inches and held together by metal rings.

The Virtual Paintout - Cape Cod

Here is my art for The Virtual Paintout done in graphite. 

"Let's Play Ball"

The January ATC trade is themed "Anything Goes". I was ready to do some animals but a lot of people are not comfortable doing animals. I decided to make this trade so that each person could do his/her own theme. We have traders from 9rs-70+ yrs and I wanted to be sure each person could participate and feel comfortable with the theme. I was also ready for some graphite art but that will have to wait for another trade. Here is one of the ATCs that I made for that trade...but I can't part with it. I love dogs and Golden Retrievers especially . I will hold onto this one and make another one for the trade. I gave each person the choice of telling me their favorite animal or their pet and I would do those. But I only found out what 2 traders like. One I already knew. So I did two for specific traders and will do one more, but the others will just have to take whatever animals I decide to do. I have a meerkat, lion, cougar, puppy, and 2 giraffe photos printed off so far. Really enjoying putting pencil and cp to animals again.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Teens Being Teens

Here is my painting for the Virtual Paintout for December from Google street map of Venice, Italy. Done in colored pencicl.

Portrait of Melissa

Here is my portrait of Melissa for the Annual Christmas Portrait Swap in the Portraiture forum at Wetcanvas. It is about 8x10 and fits into am 11x14 mat and frame. Done with a little colored pencils, fine line pen, and possibly a little watercolor. Can't remember for sure about the watercolor. I will be mailing it the first of next week.

Penny WIP

Here is my Yellow Lab Penny. This is done in my Till Death Do Us Part sketchbook journal. I took her photo this morning and liked it. She usually tucks her ears behind and it looks like she has no ears. I liked the perspective that I took the photo and the ears that are showing. Colored Pencil and fine line pen.

From My New & Gently Used Sketchbook Journal

Portrait Swap and a New Page in New and Gently Used Sketchbook

I did the portrait swap in Wetcanvas Portraiture forum. Here is the portrait I did of Melissa. About 9x12 inches on watercolor paper with watercolor and colored pencil.

And this is the one I did from a little bust of an eagle that I bought at Dollartree in colored pencil.

Wetcanvas Trades

I am participating in two projects on Wetcanvas. One is an annual Christmas card trade. There are 20 people in this trade and we are required to send a Christmas card to each of the other people in the project. In this trade, we are allowed to do just one original cad and have copies made for the giving. Or we can do several or originals for everyone. I chose to do 19 original cards. This is my second time to participate. One of the trades I made all originals and the other, I made one and did copies. I finished my 19 cards today. Now I am waiting for the addresses so I can mail the cards. The second project is the annual portrait trade. I have done this project for about 5 years now. I have had 2 females and 2 males. This year I got a female. She is a pretty blond. I find that I do bbetter with the males. Both of the other females had sorter hair. This one has long hair. That will be my challenge. I haven't started my portrait for the trade yet but will soon. I wanted to finish all my Christmas cards first. Now that those are finished, I can hopefully concentrate on the portrait now. My trade partner has started my portrait. She's doing a really good job. She is using pastels and I will be using colored pencil and watercolor. Hopefully with her permission, I will be able to post both photos and both portraits on here after they are finished.

Several New Pieces from my Journal

I have done several new pieces in my journal. Now looking thru all my photos looking for more to use in the sketchbook Journal.

For several years, we attended an annual baarbecue of some friends of ours who lived in the mountains on a cattle ranch. They have retired now so no more barbecues. This one was taken probably from the one the year before Bill passed away. Jerry sitting with him, passed away the week before Bill. Jerry had cancer.

This is Friday. We had to have her put down on December 31, 2009 just 3 months before Bill passed. She was one of our fur babies.

This was from a photo I took in the 1970s when we lived in Mapleton, Oregon. Bill was a log truck driver and he loved it. It was his dream job.

Bill in the Sketchbook Journal

I just finished this one in my "Till Death To Us Part" sketchbook journal. Colored pencil. I'm not finished with the page but not sure what else I will put on the page. I like the way this one turned out. You can see the pain in his face from his bad back and his overworked heart. He was still working a very hard job that just wore him out each day working too many hours. He had a heart attack on his way home from work one night around 9:30 but before he left work, he washed his diesel truck and got it ready for the next day.