Sunday, April 23, 2006

EDM Challenge 63

I really did not have to go much farther than our yard to find these natural wonders. I'm fascinated by the fountain grass with its hundreds of little hairs as it sways in the breeze. The morning glory that grows on our fence is almost indestructible. The seed pod from the Liquidambar is innocent looking enough but don't step on one in your bare feet or you will never forget it. In the fall through winter hundreds of them litter our sidewalk. They also crunch when I run over them with the car. I almost wonder if they could destroy the tires.

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Rainbow Gal

This was a fun journal page. I just read Karen Michel's new book "The Complete Guide to Altered Imagery". I had to try one of her techniques. Here I used a magazine image, gesso over it, and gel pens and water soluble crayons. I also tweaked it a bit with computer software.

The Pedicure

One of the most luxurious experiences for me is the pedicure. I get to sit in one of those great spa chairs that massages my back while some cute little manicurist (whom I cannot understand) pampers me, rubbing my lower legs with oil and painting my toenails. Remember all problems in life are resolved by wearing big gold earrings and red toenails. At least that's what I read somewhere.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Asian Ladies

I had some ephemera left from the oriental wall hanging, so decided to use in my journal.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Orchidolas

The orchidolas were a gift for Easter from my darling husband. I had to draw at least one stem, so I incorporated into my journal art. My art journals are my first love. At least until I learn to draw better. I am registering for a drawing class for summer. Meantime, I will just keep drawing.

Monday, April 17, 2006

Lotus Bowl Contour

For my EDM Challenge 62, I used a different medium and drew this with sepia pen and white pencil on colored paper. You can view below.

EDM #62


My first attempt at sepia pen and white pencil. Did not turn out as I expected but I'll try some more. I need to work more on hatching and cross hatching.

Candlestick with prisms

In my March archives I have a sketch of this candlestick. This time I sketched from a closer view and different angle. My intention was to draw only the bobeche with prisms, but then I kept on going and drew the candlestick again. You can see where my hand did not "mind" my eyes.

Friday, April 14, 2006

The Cosmos

Here I was playing with various mediums -- dimensional paints, acrylics, tissue paper, rubber stamps.

Summer Pleasures

Here I was experimenting with colors, so no images on the left. I'm addicted to metallics, so I use a lot of gold and silver.

Happy Girl

A couple of my girls.

The Big Day

This was done just prior to my wedding day two years ago. We had the wedding in our back yard in April when the garden was beginning to wake up. It was a beautiful day, and the champagne didn't hurt either.

Oriental Wall Hanging

I get a monthly project from my local fun art store called The Art Bar. They send the neatest papers and accessories. I think I will give this one to my girlfriend who loves all things oriental

Face Puzzles

I love using faces in my art, I don't know what happened to this guy on the left but he looks like he is in a world of hurt.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Scented Geranium

I drew my scented geranium with my micron pen. It's so detailed, my hand actually started shaking after trying to get all the fine leaves and stems. I then decided to color it. However, it is delicate and there is not much color to it. The green is a rather gray green. I used watercolor pencils and the watercolor brush. See the colored one below.

Scented Geranium Colored

I decided to color my scented geranium. It's so delicate, and it's such a treat. The ground is waking up, warming up and spring has begun here in Southern California. I love my garden. This year we had new grass put in the back yard; did a major clean up. So I anxiously await the various plants blooming at their time. We have our first two Double Delight roses. I think the first bloom on roses is always the most beautiful.

Thursday, April 06, 2006

EDM #61 2 drawings


This drawing on the left took me about 10 minutes. I did it with my Micron pen. The pencil drawing took me about an hour. Lots of erasing and working on shadows. I think Danny has the right idea for beginners.... work with a pen and if you don't like the line, make another one next to it. I just get too involved with pencil, and I work too hard to make it "perfect". I had more fun drawing the ink drawing.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

EDM #60 - Car

We love our MINI - After all the work I did on drawing it, I did not have the courage to even try to color it. We bought this car two years ago, and it's always the car we take when we go somewhere. It's like having a pet. I call her "MITI MINI"

EDM #58 Hat

I did this challenge after reading Kate's (Cathy Johnson's) book on sketching and drawing. So this time the folds look a wee bit better than the dish towel. I need a little more bravado and courage to draw and shade darker. But overall, I like it.

EDM Challenge 40 - Something Draped

This was my first attempt at drawing folds. As it says on the sketch, I would not recognize what this was if I did not know that is a dish towel.

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Week 59 - Sign of Spring

This little orchid sits in my windowsill to greet me every morning. I think it is just about spent. It lost a bloom at the top. I wish I were better at getting them to rebloom. It takes forever, but when they do, the blooms last for several months.and then used water.