Monday, December 31, 2007

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Snowman's Lament


Snowman's Lament

Royal Contemplations


Queen for the day


It has been a month since my last post. Already I can feel myself saying, "See, you can't even keep it up." BUT I shut out that voice quickly. I've been learning to do that, lately, shut off the voice. The one that says you're a failure or lazy or whatever-else-you-can-think-of here.

It's been a stressful month. Family drama, death and work just seem to crowd out that small amount of time that I set out for myself. Responsible of me, I know but still, I wonder if it is irresponsible to ignore me.

I have been sketching in my art journal and already my fingers are itching to start my new one for the year. I went pretentious and got myself a Moleskien. Oh la la! So very artistic of me! My goal is to draw in it as often as I can making it a daily thing for me. Expression is the spice of life and who wants to live out their days with bland food? Not I, said the fly and the flea agrees!

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Chronicle

This is a chronicle of my father-in-law's passing. He died On Sunday morning at 7am after a long battle with cancer. During the time we spent in the hospital, I sketched my heart out. It relieved my anxiety... these are the things I finished, with the last one being a sketched I had started during his dying process when I was alone in the room with him, just sitting quietly drawing. The sketches have no secret meanings, I just did whatever came to mind or at the suggestion of the children that were there.




artjournal_11_24_07_2

artjournal_11_24_07_3

artjournal_11_25_07

artjournal_11_24_07

Thursday, November 22, 2007

mouse girl

I spent my whole day today in the hospital. You see, my father-in-law is dying, so many of our days are spent there with him. I get anxiety around so many people so I draw to sort of keep my mind off of things.


artjournal_11_22_07

Monday, November 19, 2007

Creating without thought

Ever draw something and have it become something else? Yeah, me neither, at least not until now. I was trying to draw different type of hair and instead, it sort of evolved into a shawl. I want to write a little story about her because I feel she needs one but none come to mind.


artjournal_11_18_07


I want to call this one a Lioness because somehow I've made her features turn out to be a bit animal like. Wereanimal, perhaps? Ooo, there is a thought. Hm.


artjournal_11_19_07

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Winter's Kiss


Winter Kiss



So, I've been sick yet again. My husband bought something called Airborne which he swears by when he's feeling a bit under the weather. Of course, being the eternal skeptic, I sneered at his attempts to make me feel better but took the dose anyway. Three doses and one good night sleep later and I hate to admit it, I'm feeling better. Hm... Tell the husband he's right? Oh, I so don't think so. *grins*

So, part of my blah day was spent creating this little 6x8 piece of canvas board. The colors are a bit off, I don't think the scanner liked the beading. :)

Friday, November 16, 2007

I wanna be...

Remember those days where you said, "I wanna be..." and it ended in anything you damn pleased? Don't you wish as adults we exhibited that same free spirit that children display. Uninhibited and bright, with nothing holding them back from what they want.


I wanna be


So, my daughter is feeling better. I sent her off to school today with fingers crossed. I find myself enjoying a few Crayola moments with her. The next time you draw or sketch something in pencil, I recommend you scan it into your computer and then print it out on paper like a coloring book. Bust out some good old-fashion crayons and give your art a kid treatment. It's lots of fun!


I wanna be - color

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Daydreaming

sketch I drew in my art journal last night. My daughter inspries me quite a bit and in the end, I guess my own childhood inspires me as well. I see a lot of myself in my daughter.


Daydreaming - Sketch



So many people who have seen what I have been doing with my art journal have said, "Oh, I can't do that. I'm not creative enough or I just don't have the money to buy the supplies to do it." I was like that too, then I realized, Um, this is for me, who cares what I use? This is a scanned sketched printed out. I then colored it in with crayons. Not fancy shmancy artists crayons... No, crayola crayons. (64 colors, one sweeeet box.


Daydreaming - Color


So, don't be intimidated by the thought of, "Oh man, I can't afford it!" Go do the dollar store and find yourself a journal. Go to the supermarket and get yourself a box of crayons. Make sure you get a pencil, eraser and pencil sharpener. Scissors and some paste are pretty cool too. All these things you can purchase on the cheap (the dollar store is my friend!) or are supplies you already have lying around at home. There really is no excuse, besides your own insecurities.


The end.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Too sick, or not too sick...

Well, she has the beginning stages of pneumonia. Thanks goodness we went to the doctor today. Sketched this while we were waiting for the radiology dept to take us in.

I find she likes watching me draw and it helped her nerves.


Too sick or not too sick...

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

No Fear

I did this after my daughter woke up (for the umpteenth time) Each time with a new excuse, the most recent one of a monster in the closet. (No monsters were harmed in the making of this journal entry.)

No Fear

Monday, November 12, 2007

Untitled - Work in progress 2


Just an update on this small 5x7 stretched canvas piece I'm working on. Still no name, I guess it will hit me eventually.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Work in Progress


Okay, so the muse guardian piece is still sitting in a corner looking lonely until I get that... thing that inspires me to finish it. Instead, I've been working on a smaller piece (5x7 stretched canvas) which is less intimidating.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

*cough, hack, wheeze*

The whole day was spent napping and running around to doctor's offices in order to take care of the little one. If I could take her illness onto myself and allow her to live free of that burden, I would.

I used my scanner to do a progress pic of The Muse Guardian canvas piece. The colors a bit off but there you have it.



I am letting it sit for a day or two while I recuperate, giving my brain time to sort of breathe and concentrate on something else before I go back to it. I need to find some sea glass and shells. I wonder if my dollar store has that? Hm.



I started sketching my next piece, I think I'm going to name it, "Gitanita" which would translate roughly to, "Little Gypsy." Sort of feeling out where I want to go with her as well but I should go back to my art journal and do something that is quick and freeing in terms of my hands and ideas.

Thinking of buying some new inspiring books and perhaps invest in some liquid acrylics. They are expensive though, so that might have to wait.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Sick


I'm working on the Guardian of the Muse piece. My camera is at work so I can't do 'progress' pictures. Maybe next time. It's been an interesting experiment, as I think the graphite piece has a bit of character and emotion that is sort of missing from the colored piece. Anyone else have that problem and how do you over come it?

I see a lot of talented women and I find that I learn something from each individual style. I like that it is all mixed media and yet the look and feel is a different as saying apples versus oranges. I love it when they give videos or articles about their creative process and technique as it just helps me a long with mine.

I'm sick, sick, sick today. My throat is killing me, my body is achy and my ears are stuffed up. I'm praying it will go away soon. I can't afford to miss anymore work days.

Edit: Crap, my daughter is sick as well, this is not going to bode well for the two us of. BLECH.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

The Muse Guardian

I believe this is going to be my first canvas piece.


The Muse Guardian


I sketched it out, I think I'm going to use the scan to print it out on card stock.

Thought Process


Unruly Thoughts

Spread Out

Sunday, November 4, 2007

The first step


fairy dance


I have a good friend, he is in his 50's and is one of those lovely eccentric artists that cannot help but inspire you. I was showing him my art journal (which is also an altered book) and he was very positive and encouraging about it. He insists I need to pus some of this on canvas. I was hesitant at first but my husband chimed in with his own admonition that I should at least try. What is the harm in trying?

I sketched this about a week ago. I stare at it, knowing it needs to be made into a canvas piece but something stops me from doing it. My own insecurities I suppose. I do my journal but that is for me, it's personal and it doesn't matter if it is good or not. Canvas though, canvas is a different story. To put it to canvas is an intention to put it out there for the world to see, feel and in the end judge.

So I sit and I wait and I doubt. I really need to take my friends advice, more importantly, I need to take my husband's advice. "What is the harm in trying?

I'm still asking myself that question.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Sari 2


Sari 2



So, I have this wonderful friend who insists that I need to take a few of my journal entries and put them to canvas. She really loved the Sari piece and wanted me to do something similar but with a darker skin tone for her apartment. I was flattered but warned her that truly I am no artist and that might prove to be a challenge.

Last night I tried my hand at a dark skin tone and behold... I failed, miserably. If anyone wants to give me some pointers, go at it.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Vlog, WHAT?



Movie maker magic. I can already hear my husband's hand slapping against his brow.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

The road not taken


The road not taken

Professional Doodler

Some people say, "Wow that's really good!" and I say "Naw, it's just doodling." A professional doodler is less intimidating than saying artist. Artist gives the impression I think I have talent.


Professional Doodler

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Mermaid

This one got my daughter making mermaids all over the place. :) Watercolor and marker.




Wednesday, October 3, 2007

ATC - Childhood Companions Series

I've begun creating Artist Trading Cards (or ATC) on a whim after reading up about them on the net. What I love about them is that I can enjoy doing them with my daughter (Nana). They are small enough that you can complete one in a reasonable amount of time and they work well with the attention span of a 6 year old.

Here is a series I did, completely inspired by Nana who told me I should do drawings of her stuffed animals. Watercolor, pencil, marker on 80 lb card stock.


Childhood Companion Series 2 Childhood Companion Series 1 Childhood Companion Series 3