EDM Challenge 97 - Christmas Gift

I've been looking at these teapots for some time. My dh knew I wanted one, so he gave it to me for Christmas. That's why it's special. I can sure tell I have not done any drawing for a couple weeks. I tried this with ink pen and the proportions were so off! Even this one is a bit wonky but it is what it is. Life has been hectic the past couple weeks. I did my annual cookie baking with the grands. They love to color the royal icing and paint the cookies. Very messy but lots of fun. I'm grateful that all the family was able to be together. We had a wonderful Christmas. I have already put away all my Christmas decorations. I feel so good! Yeah!! I did it because we're having some work done on the house and wanted all the extraneous stuff out of the way.

Wonky Eggs

This is my fun version of EDM Challenge 93.

For a Friend

I was inspired by SARK's work. I'm always attracted to vivid colors, but in addition, I love her whimsy and casual attitude toward her art. She has a great gift for writing as well. If we all lived by her principles, we would nap a lot and not worry about anything. I own several of her books and a set of her inspirational cards. If you have not seen her work click on the link in my sidebar.

Christmas Card Challenge

This is my Christmas card - I make my cards every year. This year I decided on something very simple because it becomes such a production-type project with so many to make. The dots are red glitter glue with platinum glitter glue for the star. I used a harlequin stamp on the green background paper. My wish for all is a peaceful, abundant holiday and lots of wonderful art for the group!!!

EDM #93 Eggs and Carton

Here's my egg carton. I also did a casual fun rendition which I will post later. I found it very interesting just getting lost in all the little hills and valleys -- forgetting I was drawing an "egg carton". This one is pencil on a lined journal page.

Metal Study

This is another in my series of studies after viewing Jerry Yarnell's classes on T.V. Both the mailbox and the apples were about making round or rounded objects appear three dimensional. This study was also about making an item look like metal. I've played around with acrylics on canvas paper, but I've been far too intimidated to put anything on an actualy stretched canvas. I had one painted canvas I did at a local art store class (which I hated). I decided to paint a background over it and do my studies on it. So both the apples and mailbox are on one canvas. That's one nice thing about acrylics -- if you don't like what you did, you simply paint over it and start over.

Apples

I'm really happy with these apples. I learned so much from my T.V. art teacher Jerry Yarnell -- my husband tells me these classes are probably 20 years old LOL I don't care -- I figure the principles are still the same. I get them on the BYU channel on Saturday. I record them and then I can go back and watch as many times as I like.

Paper Bag 2

I took Teri's challenge and again drew a paper bag. The first one I did in the summer is truly better. The values are better. It actually looks like a paper bag. If you did not know, you might think this was a blanket or clothing. What did not work for me here was improper planning, so the bag went off the page. I haven't got the "edge" thing down. I still feel like I have to draw the edge. It might have been easier if I shaded the paper first. But in the end drawing seems very tedious to me. I love seeing other people's drawings and I marvel at their ability to make a drawing that looks like a photo. I would swear Felicity's drawings are photos. She's just fooling us . I just have more fun with the sketching. I wonder if anyone else feels the same way.

EDM #92 Paper Bag

I drew this paper bag in the art class I took this summer. It is done with a Conte pencil.

Stripes 2

I must have been crazy to try this one. I felt like I was in a maze. After a while, I lost my way, but finally I did find my way out. I know each zebra has a different stripe pattern, not unlike our finger print, and that fact was proven to me as I sketched these. I decided to add some juicy watercolor after I finished. So I posted both here.

Stripes 1

2530 Wilshire Blvd.

Waiting for Jeff, I was sitting on a park bench in front of an Irish pub on Wilshire in Santa Monica. Since I always need practice on perspective, I drew a couple buildings. The scans are a bit lacking since the paper in this journal is cheap and thin. I drew them back to back and then added the watercolor later. It bled through.

Wilshire Blvd

Greeting Cards

Some Greeting Cards I made to have on hand. The way I entered the art world was through rubber stamps. I knew I could not draw, but I liked color and anything creative. I was going to save so much money on greeting cards!!! Well, a few years have passed and all I have done is spend mucho dineros on greeting cards. This did, however, get me involved in art, eventually leading to paper collages, acrylic painting, dabbling in watercolors and finally learning to sketch. So I justify spending all that money because it has placed me on a learning curve. Everyday is new and exciting. There's always a new technique. Reading Danny Gregory's book "Creative License" and joining a couple Yahoo Groups expanded my world. Then I, who am so not technical, had to actually put together a blog. I did not really know what a blog was. I thought it was for people who just wanted to write their thoughts. They are obviously for that purpose as well as various other purposes.

Birds of Paradise

I sketched this from a photo I took recently at the Los Angeles Zoo. The background is filled with beautiful bamboo, but I decided I wanted the birds to be the focal point without distraction. Birds of Paradise are one of my favorites -- I really like their structure and color.

Kiana

My 12 year old (soon to be 13) grand. She is so beautiful, I think she looks just like me! Well.....the eyes, maybe.

Lotus

Lotus hammin' it up for the camera!

EDM 87 Lunch

This may look like my apples have the measles but it's really cinnamon. I ate the grapes before I could draw them. Oh well, another time.

Crazy 8

I was playing around with watercolor. After I finished with the watercolor, I decided it needed decorating. I used various gel pens, markers, stamps and even tried sewing zig zag stitches on it. I think this would be a great look on fabric.

Fashionista Angels

I'm so far behind in my journal work. Between reading art technique books, time on the computer in groups, fabric work, etc. there just isn't enough time for everything I want to do. I did manage to get some journal pages done. Journal art is my first love, and I don't want to let it lapse while I'm trying to learn to sketch. There are just so many good artists out there with such innovative ideas, I always think I have to try them.

EDM #89 - Buttons

The sun is not out so I wanted something happy for this challenge. I'm still in my whimsical mode. I find buttons multi-functional in my art. I like to use them in my journals and hanging from my journals. They are great in conjunction with all sorts of beads which I have gleaned from old jewelry. I also use them on collages. So, here are my happy buttons.

Enlightenment

I have put off my journal art while practicing my drawing/sketching. I had a blank page here so I decided to draw on it. I have never been a collector, but if I were, it would be Buddhas! I love the serenity on his face. No matter how crazy my day is, I can look at him and feel instant peace.

Healthy Eating

I can't remember where I found this image, but it spoke to me the moment I saw it. It's such a cornucopia of wonderful foods from land and sea. Plus, let's not forget the old cappucino! I also love the vivid primary colors.

Fall Harvest

I'm feeling playful today. I like this style so much, it's difficult to be disciplined and work on my serious drawing. Who knows? This may be how I end up drawing. These gourds are so pretty. I love fall season with pumpkins and gourds, leaves on the ground and a brisk feel to the air. This week-end we set the clocks back to regular time. So Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are almost here. I just try to concentrate on being grateful for each new day. Each day is a day to play with my art...no more 8 to 5 for me. The gym is usually first thing in the morning with yoga three days per week and step aerobics two or three days. Fun begins whenever I finish the errands and gym.

EDM #81

This should have been easier than the "garden lamp" which had far more detail but it's these odd angles that challenge me. I was finally satisfied with the bottom drawing.

EDM #81 Well Sort Of

I saw this garden lamp after the street light and decided to try it. I'm much happier with this sketch. And it seems more complicated because of all the detail. I think the streetlight was more difficult because I was looking up at it from an angle.

Old Glory - EDM #88

I thought this was going to be so easy. It was not easy even though it's only a sketch. My eyes kept getting crossed with all the stripes and I knew I couldn't take artistic license -- there had to be the correct number of stripes so I had to get it right. Just goes to show that sometimes the object we think is going to be difficult is not so difficult. Yet the one we think of as "easy" is not so easy. I like my "breezy" version below better. Which one do you like?

Something Breezy - EDM #88

This is my "breezy" version of Old Glory. I think I like this one better. It was fast and fun! It's rather child-like and free.

EDM #25

I'm trying to learn shadows and shading. I think this will suffice for my EDM #25 that I never did. I like the reflections in the glass. Nothing like a nice glass of Shiraz with dinner!

Calla Leaves

I liked Janey's style so much I had to do something with those Prismacolor markers that were sitting in my supply cabinet. I love the idea of the simple lined drawing and casual colored markers. This is so fun to do and takes no time. Somedays I'm all about time. You can see Janey's work at janeysjourney.com. I think she is a master at this style. I also used Prismacolor pencils on the Mexican glass vase.

Faces

More face practice, but I spent a little more time and drew rather than sketched. It's fun to start with the prominent features and then draw the head shape around them. I have always started with the head and then "inserted" the features. These I did from pictures in a magazine. I had more time.

Face Sketches

I've been practicing faces (here just quick sketches) to get a feel for proportion and features. I did these while watching tv last night. That forced me to have to work quickly.

"Please Park Pretty"

The EDM challenge was to draw a street sign. But I decided to take artistic license and draw parking signs in front of this rental shop on Captiva Island in Florida. My hubby and I spent our honeymoon there in May of 2004. You will need to clicck on it to enlarge so you can see the signs. We loved the quaintness of the area. All the cottages are painted in marvelous pastel colors and many are so funky. This store rents all kinds of water sports equipment and bicycles and motorscooters. We have so many fond memories of this trip.

Local store #2

I sat across the street having lunch at a sidewalk cafe and drew this with pencil. The extra "dots" are from ink that bled through the page.

EDM Challenge - local store

This restaurant just opened down the street. It is a chain but I love the exterior elevation and the colors they use. So I sat in the parking lot and drew it. Haven't eaten there yet, but maybe soon.

Prism drawing

I did the prism drawing as an exercise and then doodled on the rest of the page. Some days I'm more productive than others. I was short on time this day and just wanted to put pen to paper. It's easy to get distracted and not get any art done.

View of Backyard

This is one of my first watercolor attempts. I have a beautiful backyard and enjoy viewing it so much from our living area. Half the reason we bought the house is the huge California Pepper tree. The tree guy says it is at least 55 years old. Now for those of you who do not live in the area I live in in Southern California, that might sound like nothing. You may have lots of trees that old and older. But here, it's not the norm unless it's a palm tree. The backyard is somewhat overgrown and it's that time to prune the tree and cut things back. Our winter season is so mild that things would just keep growing. They do better if they have a little rest. The days are getting so short. I can feel fall weather almost here. My favorite calendar day is December 21 because that is the shortest day and I know that from then on days will get longer and spring and summer are on their way. I guess I'm a warm weather person. I don't like winter even though we don't really have a real winter here. It's just sort of gloomy and grey.

Second self-portrait

My second self portrait. The eyes are a bit large. But that is me -- all eyes and no lips. In school everyone called me "cow eyes". I debated whether to add all the lines and the jowls, but what the heck, it's me. I really should do a fun self portrait - more cartoonish.

Big Sack - back

I finally finished the "Big Sack" from Traci Bautista's new book. I actually blame her for my purchase of a sewing machine. After taking a class from her and watching her make her freeform flowers, I just had to get one. So, it's fair to say I've only been using a machine for a few months. Fortunately, I have a friend who is an excellent seamstress who has helped me with this project. I'm really quite proud of it. This pic and the one below show front and back and then following pic is the inside pocket. TaDa!!!!

Big Sack front

Big Sack - Inside Pocket

I actually decided to line the bag (though Traci did not go into details in her book about that). And at the last minute I found this remnant in the fabric store to use for a pocket.

A friend throws pottery. and this was a gift to me. I think it is beautiful in its zen-like simplicity. I have had it over 30 years. I don't really like a lot of knick knacks, but this holds a place of prominence along with the ruby cut-glass vase in my bookcase.

Mike challenged me to draw his gargoyle "Dido". It was also my father's birthday. So I dedicated my art for the day to his memory. I love you, Dad.

One Minute Sketches

I'm starting to do one minute sketches -- when I don't have the time. I know I have to make the time, but some days are just a little crazy. I figure I can at least do a couple minutes.....simply a matter of discipline.

Ruby Decanter

This should be called the leaning tower ruby decanter. I was trying to capture the reflections and there were so many.....

More Perspective Practice

This is a bit better, but the triangle glass is off. Practice, practice, practice.....

Building Perspective Practice

I need a lot more practice on perspective. I understand the "vanishing point" intellectually, but getting it correct on paper is a different thing. So I just continue on telling myself that I will eventually get it. I can see that the top of the building is not right which throws off the rest of the sketch.

EDM Challenge 79 too

And then there are greyhound ears..... They are soft as velvet