Buffalo Rug made from fleece.

Some New Sketches

I haven't been on my blog, lately. It seems like there are so many other things to participate in on the Internet, that I have been drawn away. Here are a few of my latest sketches and doodles. I have been taking an online sketching class with Jane LaFazio. She's a wonderful teacher and artist. I also am inspired by the work of Stephanie Corfee who does an amazing range of work: doodling, caricatures of children, pattern and design in acrylic and watercolor. 

I have to limit myself to working first on my own art and peeking at other's work later.

I'll plan on another post soon! I have more to share.

Now, back to art.

I hope you like what you see.

Delightful Doodling

Lately, I have been doodling a lot. It's relaxing and fun. There's another element about this that I have discovered. The act of doodling stimulates the brain in a big way. Whether I choose to try a Zentangle or do a free-form doodle of flowers, faces, colors and contrasts I find that my mind feels great!

What's hard to understand is that others don't bother to try it. Admittedly, I never did, not until I gave my self permission to start playing. Sometimes, the results are random and abstract.

Other results surprise and amaze me!

Many can be left unfinished.

 The nice thing is that I can always go back and do more, add details and sparkle.

Thank you for looking :)

Leave a comment!

Bloglovin

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Will all of my favorite blogs become inaccessible? I hope not, but just in case, I'm trying out Bloglovin. This seems like a lot of trouble, but my blogs are so worth following :). I really enjoy them so much.

Sources of Inspiration

This is an adapted Zentangle inspired by the book, Yoga for the Brain by Sandy Steen Bartholomew .
I revised the design and added color to some of it. It was a relaxing way to wake up my creativity.

 The other picture here was inspired by a tutorial from Dion Dior. My tablet is not allowing me to scroll to the photo. I made little notes around my art to remember some of the steps she gave.

These pretty petunias are a Mother's Day gift from my love.
He knows how much I like hanging plants on our porch.
Isn't the color beautiful? Summer is going to be lovely :)

I finally went to my computer to finish this post. For whatever reason, I couldn't finish on my tablet. I find that rather frustrating. The fact that I could begin to post from there is a step up.

A Self Portrait

This morning I was struggling with my usual frustrations: making breakfast, walking the dogs, sketching a picture, working on a painting, sweeping the floor, etc. Because I'm a morning person, and I did not sleep well last night, I did not know what to sketch. After some serious thought, I decided to sketch myself  :). 

 Of course, I am much younger looking here, but what the heck.

 I thought I would share my sketch with my blog friends.

Have a nice spring day!

Some Watercolor

 Recently,  I have gone back to using some traditional watercolor to create a couple of  paintings.

Here are the results.

I just finished the Daisies and Oxalis today.

The second painting, Building A Sandcastle,  was done a few weeks ago.

I feel like there is so much more to learn about capturing details in a painting/

I don't want to overwork the paint, so I stopped before I damaged the images.

Sleeping Beauty

Over the weekend, my daughter and her oldest and best friend went to the Boston Opera House to see Sleeping Beauty. It was a fun experience. There were many little girls in the audience dressed up in their tutus and tiaras watching the performance. Of course, I wanted to reminisce about the show, so I did a little sketch.

My Latest

Lately, I have been sketching a lot. I must say that on every post, but it's true! I sketch every day, almost. The problem is finding the opportunity to scan and post some of my efforts. That can be so frustrating. I have decided to put effort into putting myself first more often. This will be a work in progress. It's hard to undo old habits...very hard. 

I'll also have to plan more posts with other recent sketches.

With this sketch, I have created a new character and I hope to explore some fun things for her and her friends. She doesn't have a name, yet. I love her personality already. 

A Work In Progress

Here's a new piece that I'm working on using watercolor paints. The picture quality is not great. I took it with my phone. When I finish, I'll scan it for a better looking image.
Even though I haven't been posting, I participate in
Art Every Day Month.
I met Leah a few years ago at a sweet workshop 
that she hosted. It was, for me, such an enlightening and enjoyable event. Thank you again, Leah for that glimpse into your process.
This painting is inspired by some art that I found online by Gustav Klimt. It's amazing how the work of others can inspire new ideas and foster creativity in ourselves.

Twinks

Last week I decided to try Twinkling H2Os, a product that I have admired for quite a while. 

I had hesitated to order any, because of the wait and shipping costs. Well, I'm so glad that I have moved past that stumbling block. Soon, a new workshop starts at LuminArt for Silks Acrylic Glaze, taught by Dion Dior. Both Silks and Twinkling H2Os have intense colors and added mica along with other minerals. 

This whole experience has become a stimulus for my latest creative block. That is an exciting and uplifting development.

I hope to reorganize my blog soon. I really don't want to start over on a new blog, but I have to so something to make this process work better.

Inspiration Avenue Challenge

Inspiration Avenue's challenge this week has been Fairies. I decided to join in, because I figured - "Here's something I can do." After some agonizing days with no results, finally, today I was able to complete a painting using watercolors. It was frustrating to have nothing to show all week for my efforts. I'm so glad that this little one emerged from my brush.

She's inspired by a bookmark I have from the Boston Ballet advertising Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream.

Illustration Friday - Lonely

This little watercolor was done for the Illustration Friday prompt this week. Many times I don't get a chance to play with the prompt, so I'm really glad I made the effort this week. My girl is waiting patiently for a friend to come along to play. It's early enough, so she decided to sit on the big branch of her tree until she hears her friend come up the road.

Be Ready

I'm posting an illustration of my grandson. Right now, it's still a little sketchy. I hope to enhance it without destroying the likeness. 

I was inspired to try some boy "type" of pictures because there are so many drawings and cards for girls. 
Let me know what you think, friends. I want to explore some color and backgrounds to add to the sketch.

My Garden Fairy

Here is the Garden Fairy that I sketched a few weeks ago. Sorry it has taken so long to post her, little problems keep popping up like stumbling blocks. I tried to use instagram with my iPad, and could not upload the picture to my blog. There was no way to transfer the image using iPad. I photographed the image with my camera and cropped it. That seems to be the best way to post pictures that are too big to scan. 

The image below is from my sketchbook. I started thinking of some 

fun doodles with positive messages.

I think it would be fun to do more of these

to give as gifts or make into note cards.

I'm always getting these grand ideas, and then 

moving on.

I'm not sure what that's all about.

I do love to draw and paint.

I am having a lot of fun learning 

new skills.

This is the last page in a 60 page sketch book.

I sketch something every day.

Thank you for visiting my blog. 

Please comment, if you wish.

I love to hear from visitors.

xoxox

Janet

Some Sketches

I spent some time today

working on a new sketch in my art journal. 

This fairy is the result. 

I wish the details were a little darker.

It's difficult to see her, I think.

I would love to paint her in either watercolor

or acrylic.

Maybe I'll start that tomorrow.

I also created a background with some 

swirly doodles.

I might add some more designs to it and 

use it for a collage.

I could save it for later to use in a 

painting.

Doodling Along

Lately, I have been doing a lot of sketching. Some of them are okay, and a lot of them are explorations of different techniques.

I have a story started in my head and I have done a bit of brainstorming for the characters. 

This girl is part of my brainstorming process. I want to "bring her to life," so I have created an image of her...

I may make her a little younger and my inspiration came from 

Traci Bautista. 

I watched her Collage demonstrations on the Strathmore free video course. I am so impressed with Strathmore papers and these free workshops are fun, fun, fun.

After visiting her blog, recently, I became inspired by 

Stephanie Corfee's style.

She  has published a book, Creative Doodling and Beyond, explaining some of her techniques. 

I have been exploring some doodles while I'm waiting for my order from Amazon. 

This is my latest doodle creation. 

                                                                           

As you can see, both of these are works in progress. I guess you 

know that I'll continue to doodle in the next few days.

                                                                                                             

These are two pictures that I have produced in a workshop with the lovely Jane Davenport. Her videos are fun to watch and she is so-o-o inspiring. I just love when I get a chance to try something a little different to move along on my art journey. Thank you Jane!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone :)!

Wishes, Hopes and Dreams

Here is my latest WIP

He eyes need more intensity and there are some details

I want to include at the bottom of the work.

This is mainly watercolor, but I used some acrylic in the 

dress and background and some watercolor pencil for details.

She will be a gift for a friend once it's finished. 

This is the completed piece.
She looks really sweet. I'd like to imagine that there
are sweet angels who collect and 
care for wishes, hopes and dreams.

October and November Sketches

Sweet Angel

I have been busy, busy. Unfortunately, there hasn't been time to paint. There is time to sketch on many days. Early mornings are best if I can capture the time. It's already 10:34 and I have been up since 6:30! I just got to scan some recent sketches that I am pleased with. I want to paint a gift for a good friend who is retiring soon. She likes angels, so I hope to paint this "Sweet Angel" for her.

Round Design Pattern

Little Witch 

Vined Pumpkin

Round Design Pattern is something I dreamed up because I love circular design. It could use some texture and color.










This "Little Witch" is inspired by an antique card that I found in a box at Barnes and Noble in October. I wanted to create my own version of this.

In Paint Works Magazine, October, 2011, there are always some inspiring designs to produce in painted media.  This is my version of Robin Mani's "Pumpkin Swirls Plate".  I liked this idea so much, that I went on to paint the design in several combined media