Let's Take a Hike

"Let's Take a Hike." From Google Street Maps View. A couple walking next to a road in Maine. Mixed Media. 6x12 inches on crappy watercolor paper.

Birdhouse Village

Here is what I have done today instead of housework. so much more satisfying. Watercolor, pen, colored pencil on watercolor paper. 9x11inches. It is called "Birdhouse Village".

Frankie

This is Frankie and belongs to Lucylove on Wetcanvas. This was done for the Weekly Drawing Event for this week. http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=133
Done in graphite, watercolor, colored pencils, and pen. 5x7 on watercolor paper.

Scavenger Hunt #447

This list is a rerun of #26 I believe.  It was made so that all 26 items could fit into one still life.  It was posted by the lady who started up the scavenger hunts.  Jamie Williams Grossman.  I have put it up at least twice before as I love that I can find all the items and put them into one painting. 

on watercolor paper. First sketched in graphite, then added watercolor base, then inked, then mix of watercolor and colored pencil with more ink.

shelf
vase - purple/green bottom
bottle - purple with cork
pitcher - white with apple on front
fruit - banana
stuffed animal - spotted dog
something yellow - plastic chicken
figure - man in suit
clock
brass giraffe
seashell on lower left shelf
favorite rock behind seashell
books on top
box - white box lower right cubby hole
a tin - tiny altoids tin
bowl - blue under chick
copper object - cut on top of altoid tin
silver object - tiny salt shaker in copper cup
flowerpot - orange pot
flower - poppy pod on bottom
leaves/ greanery - on top in white pot
plate - tiny plate under orange pot
cup - multicolored in top right cubby
musical instrument - plastic trumpet
wooden object - paint brush handle on top
drinking glass - blue on left side.

Bill 1950-2010

6 years ago today my husband Bill passed away. Still miss him even tho I have gotten used to him being gone. Life goes on. I am now cleaning out the garage and trying to purge what hasn't been used in that 6 years.

ACEOs for Sale

These little cards are for sale.  $10 each postage included.  They are 2.5x3.5 inches.  The size of a baseball card.  They are painted with watercolors, colored pencils, and pens on watercolor paper.  There is a Paypal button on the right-hand side of the page.  Just list the item # and subject of the card you want.   The darkness on the lower corners is from the camera. 

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

People of Majorca

People of Majorca from Google Street View for the Virtual Paintout for February.  I found an intersection of two streets and panned around to find several different people to paint.  I find people watching very interesting.  One of my favorite places is Costco, a big box place.  And of course Walmart where you never know what you may see and sometimes even wish you could "unsee". 

Watercolors and Pen & Ink on Strathmore Watercolor book 6x9 inches. 

One day I hope to get a sketchbook and fill it with just "every day people".  Some from Google Street View and some from life around town.  I will even label them so that I can see how different or same people from all over the world are.  I already have several "theme specific" books going that should be finished first but life is short and I don't want to miss out doing something I have a desire to put on paper.

Some of the other books I have in progress are:  one on my husband and our life together, a little book that was supposed to be for the Art House library with the theme envelope, and one for the Bakersfield Art Association here in Bakersfield with pages of artwork from different places we have gone for plein air.

The one of husband may never be finished.  It is a little too close to my heart so I don't work on it without some tears.  The art association one has many more pages to fill and I don't participate very often now because of my health.  The envelope one is barely started.  I didn't finish it one the date it needed to be mailed back so now it is just for me.  I had plans to put different situations with an envelope included.  Like a mail slot in a door with mail falling thru onto the floor.  A prairie dog holding one in his front paws,   A Christmas postcard which said "Wish You were Here" in the subject line,  That one is on cheap paper and can only be graphite of the paper tears.  It's a challenge  just with the paper.  But the finding different ideas for the theme has been lots of fun.

Maybe one day they will all be finished.  After all, the women in my family seem to live a long life.  My paternal grandmother and her daughter, my aunt, lived to ages 95 and 96.  and my dad is now 90.   I'm 66 now so I could potentially live another 30 years.  That seems like a scary thing and a good thing.  So maybe I can get all my little books finished.

Birdhouse with Cardinals

Birdhouse with Cardinals. Photo by Mary Moore and used with permission. Watercolor, pen and ink. 9x13 inches.

Original Art Cards For Sale

I am going to be doing some art cards and offer them for sale.  I will also add a Paypal button on here.  They will also be shown on my Facebook Art Page which I will add to the list on the right.  Each will be listed for $10 each.  All originals. 

February ATC Trade

These are my Feb cards. My pets. The scrub jay is one who adopted me for about a year. He would follow me from front to back yard talking up a storm. He would sit by the window when I went inside and talk thru the screen. I thought he was going to follow me into the house one day. He followed my car into the carport once. He was a great companion and I really miss him. Watercolor, touch of colored pencil, and pen.

Scavenger Hunt #438

 I did get 24 of the 26 items for the latest Scavenger Hunt. I did them from first on the list to the last in a row.

Watercolor on a double page of a Strathmore watercolor book 6x9 inches.

 A closer view.

Scavenger Hunt #437

Ok. Since I missed posting the hunt list, I figure I should at least do some sketching. You know me...I like to do a still life with many of the items. 9x12 inch watercolor paper. Watercolors and pen.
#1 salt shaker - red box with purple bow (recent purchase)
#2 pepper shaker - small cow
#3 glass - purple jar
#4 sharpener - red in front of fabric cow
#5 fabric - cow
#6 blue cup
#7 red radish butter spreader
#8 green pea pod butter spreader
#9 orange - tomato butter spreader
#10 yellow corn butter spreader butter spreaders were also recent purchase
#11 sleeve on man with hat
#12 hem on man with suit (both men recent purchase...all purchased at Goodwill store)
#13 wooden bird house
#14 metal - weight that was used on a postage scale at a post office
#15 brush standing in cup
#16 eraser - standing next to the brush

Google Street People

I have been saving pictures of people on the Google street view travels.  I have been drawing and painting various people in a long watercolor book.  These people were all found on streets in Scotland.

 

The Virtual Paintout for December

This month the Virtual Paintout is in Ecuador.  I found 3 interesting photos and did two of them.  The first one is a building and done in Uniball pen.. It is about 5x7 inches on sketchbook paper.

The second one is two ladies standing with umbrellas chatting.  It is done in colored pencil,  about 5x7, and again on sketchbook paper.

I did one painting last month and just barely finished and emailed it before the end of the month.  It didn't get added as I forgot to send the picture file and by the time I realized it, the month was over.  

I'm allowed to do one more and may get another done in the next two days.

Update

My mom finally got to go home.  I will still need to help out but at least both my parents are in the same house now.  Mom is doing pretty good.  She is in a wheelchair but able to get into the kitchen and around in the living room.  

I got some more bad news though today.  I have Shingles in my eye.  Who knew you could get them there.  I will be taking meds and eye drops again.  I guess my antibodies just got way too depleted while I was caring and going back and forth between my parents.  Hopefully we caught it before anything major happens to my eye.

Update on Mom

My mom had to go back for surgery to have a wound vac put on her surgery area.  She will have that removed on the 24th.  Then I have no idea when she will get to go home.    May still have a long haul to get thru.  My nephew has a cold now (I had one for a week). and can't go around them so I have dad here with me tonight.  We are up right now and he's talking up a storm.  

We went to bed way too early and have been up twice tonight.  As it's only just after midnight, we may be up a few more times.  

I did finish my Christmas cards for the Christmas card exchange on Wetcanvas.    The cards are in the envelopes and addressed with stamps.  Ready to go. 

Mom and Dad

I have not posted much as I have been busy with my parents.  

My mom fell at home and had to have hip surgery.  She is now in rehab across town.  Dad has some dementia and is home across town in another direction.  So between sitting with dad and visiting mom, my days are pretty full and exhausting.

When Mom goes home, I will have to be with them both for quite a while until mom can manage by herself.  Looking forward to the time when I can be home with my Penny and Dizzy.  I'm sure they are ready for that too.  Locked in the house all day is pretty boring for them.

Scavenger Hunt #422

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 #1 shelf
#2 hat
#3 napkin holder
#4 napkin
#5 chain hanging on napkin holder
#6 knife and fork
#7 nail clippers
#8 something that finishes - glass nail file
#9 from hobby other than art - crochet hook
#10 miniature tin sauce pan
#11 from this season - pumpkin candle
#12 salt and pepper shakers
#13 patterned fabric on the teddy bear
#14 light fitting
#15 condiment - packet of soy sauce
#16 saw
I used the Steven Reddy technique. First a pencil drawing, then thick ink outline and erase pencil. watered down black ink for first of 3 part grisaille shading, Then second shading with watered ink. Final ink is still watered down but darker for just the darkest areas. Then watercolor that is not really bright but muted. Add hatching sparingly. Go back over the dark outlines, then use white gel pen to add some highlights and to outline some areas around items to make them come forward. I took his class on Craftsy and have watched it several times. Well worth the time and money. Ink, Watercolor, on watercolor paper. 9x12 inches.

My Dizzy

This is my miniature schnauzer Dizzy.  She is white but this piece makes her look salt and pepper.  The original photo is dark also.  This is done in graphite and colored pencils on 9x13 watercolor paper. 

I have done several line-type sketches of Dizzy but have never taken the time to do one that is detailed.  All that hair is scary. 

Trying a Different Style

I took some classes on Craftsy and have been trying some different styles.  These are all done on tan suede mat board with colored pencils.  The mat board came from a framer and they were leftover pieces.  I really like the way these turned out and I have really enjoyed trying what I learned on the classes.  It has also been fun to get back to using only colored pencils.