Writual Blessings

I drew this mandala in my sketchbook yesterday at church. I started with the spiral in the center and kept going.  It was a relaxing way to listen to the sermon and keep my hands busy.  I have been drawing in church for so long now that I don't think I could sit there without doing something.

On Saturday I got my Writual Blessings Deck. These cards are from writing coach Cynthia Morris. They are a deck for writers. They come in a nice organza bag and have delightful illustrations and words of wisdom.

The card use Cynthia's own watercolor illustrations. They are charming and delightful. I think they will be great to use.

Here is another one. They are the size of an iPhone, so they fit nicely into your purse to take to a writing date. You can get your own set here

What Is Urban Sketching

Aa you know I am a big fan of Sketchbook Skool and Urban sketching in general. I found this video yesterday and it really explains what urban sketching is. Some of the sketches I do qualify and some do not. You will find out more by watching. Its a great discussion. Don't let the title fool you, urban sketching doesn't even have to be in an urban setting. It means documenting the world as you find it. I hope you enjoy the discussion between Danny Gregory and Jason Das.

This sketch I created from a postcard so of course it doesn't qualify but its still a fun sketch. It is called Men an tol Madron, Cornwall, England. Cornwall is a place I would love to visit.

Profile Sketching

This is a pic of my friend Misty.  I thought it would be a great photo to work on my profile faces. So I asked Misty for permission to use her photo. She gracefully consented.

This was my first attempt with a grey colored pencil.

This was created with a sepia charcoal pencil. I think its better but I think I'll keep trying. I have been down and out with the stomach flu this past weekend.  So I hope to be back in the swing soon. It's been a nasty flu so I hoping it's over soon.

In My Sketchbook

My hubby took me out for a birthday lunch. I took along my sketchbook to record the event. Johnny Carino's has the best bread and garlic dipping sauce.

Then I had the house salas which was nice and cold and yummy. My entree was the Italian pot roast which wasn't that easy to draw. It sort of looks just like my salad.

Sunday Sketches

This is a little storyboard type sketch about my day yesterday. Posting on Sunday Sketches today.

In My Sketchbook

I finished filling up a sketchbook last week. That is always exciting when that happens. I didn't think I was close but an impromptu trip resulted in a lot of sketches being made in just one day.

I called this an abstract spinning wheel since it was so off on proportions and all but I kind of like the wonkiness of it now.

We made a day trip over to Jackson Wyoming. Its about 90 miles from home. I started to daw what was in front of me as we traveled.  I was surprised that I could draw in a moving car.

We passed a hillside of windmills on the way.  I hesitated to draw them because most of it came from memory when we drove past them. I still think you get the feel of them although they look a little different.

The road changed and now we are on Highway 26 headed straight to Jackson, there was no snow, and lots of green fields.

We stopped at a rest stop and I drew the outhouse while my hubby took Belle for a little walk.

In Alpine we stopped for breakfast, these two guys were chatting away so it was easy to capture them.

This restaurant is called the Yankee Doodles cafe and has more patriotic stuff per square inch than any place I have ever been.

This is my sketch when driving home.  We took what is called the pass, its a scary curvy road on the side of a mountain, my least favorite road to travel on. It's  a shorter route so when its clear we take it.  There had been an avalanche earlier that they were still clearing away. This troad gets closed often in winter.

Express Your Creativity Week 4

Welcome to Express Your Creativity. You can share paintings, sketches, art journal pages, poetry, photography, fiber arts like knitting and weaving, favorite recipes, organizational and decorating ideas, and more. The only requirement is that it is something that you have created in some way. I hope you will join me here and please pass it on. Please make sure to list your posts url and not your blogs url. This makes it easier for any late comers to find your post. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, this is how it works. You type in your name in the first box and the url/link to your post, not your blog address about your creative efforts this week. When you return your name will already be populated, you just need to paste in the new posts link.

I have created a blog button for those participating who might want to post this on your blog. You'll find it on the sidebar to your right.

Here is one of the drawings I created this week.

This is a page in my Strathmore toned tan sketchbook.  First I drew the basket, I didn't get the shape quite right but its still a good representation of the basket I was looking at.  I used sepia Faber-Castel pitt artist pens. Then I added the Owl feather.  Its is the most special feather I have.  It was found in mb backyard the year I had cancer. The great horned owls in my yard were a part of my healing and truly gave me a wonderful gift.  I use it often on altars and just like looking at it because on one hand it is beautiful and the other it is so meaningful to me. I started out with the sepia pens again and then turned to colored pencil.  I love the way it looks on the tan paper.

Kate

Sketching On Toned Paper

I have been looking at these for some time. When Michaels had a buy 1 get 1 free deal last week I knew it was an offer I couldn't refuse.

This is my first drawing in the toned grey one, I think the camera does not want to make it look grey though. I used Prismacolor colored pencils. I really enjoyed making this. From layering several pinks and reds to get the paint color to recreating the wood of the brushes. I think I may have fallen in love with colored pencil again.

Sunday Sketches - A Hare

I felt the need to be sketching again.  I am so out of practice. This little hare needed to come play today.  Posting to Sunday sketches today.  You can check out other sketches over here.

Journaling This Week

A middle of the night journal page, full of journaling, then gesso, spray ink, gelli prints and other things leading to multiple layers.

More layers and imagery.

I drew this guy in my sketchbook while waiting for an oil change. I think my owl's are getting better and that pleases me greatly.  I want to paint an owl on my drum and I think I can do that now.  I just need to decide what medium to use.  I have been thinking of using a faber-castell pitt pen in Sepia or using brown ink and a brush. I don't know if one will work better than the other, or if I should do it in pencil first.  I have some decisions to make. Its a project for the new year.

Kate

Returning To Sketching

I have been missing making art in my sketchbook so I grabbed it and did some church drawings. The woman is from a magazine image. I was going to just leave this page with pen and ink but then remembered that a little color can always make a drawing come to life. I used cheap watercolors to add the color in this piece.

I drew this from a photograph. I am using a new pen and oh I love this pen.  Its a soft Fudenosuke Brush Pen by Tombow. You can get them at jetpens.com At only 2.50 this pen is a steal. If you want a fine line you use it as normal, you want to get a thicker line you just use more pressure.  Its like having a fine liner and a brush pen in one.

This I drew in church from life. I used pen and then watercolor pencils and a waterbrush. I put the quilt and wall hanging in last. I was not sure how it would work but I was glad I tried it because it looks good.  Art is all about taking risks, sometimes we are willing and other times fear takes a hold. Each time that I find myself being a little bit bolder, it gets a little easier. Sometimes we need to take small steps to reach big goals.

Kate

Drawing With a Ballpoint Pen

In Sketchbook Skool this week the class was with Andrea Joseph.  She is amazing, you can check out her work here.She does some amazing work with a ballpoint pen.  This was my first attempt. I drew things on my desk that were black.  It was the only ballpoint pen I could find.  I prefer gel pens so digging up a ballpoint was a little difficult. I found it easier to draw with than I thought I would.

The I found a red pen, so I drew some red pens on an index card.

Our next assignment was to draw a collection of things.  Here I chose some buttons.  I used a fountain pen for this one, basically because I didn't have any blue pens to use.

Our last assignment was to do some lettering.  We started with basic writing and then embellished some of the surfaces of the letters.  It was pretty easy and I think it makes my handwriting look a little more special.


Kate

Experimenting With A New Pencil

In my continuing quest to draw my characters I did this drawing.  I found in my stash some Koh I Noor Gioconda pencils in two shades of sepia. I thought they might be fun to use. They feel a little like charcoal on the paper, but they don't blend like charcoal does.   They did give a different look but they don't erase so as a result my drawing is not at all what i intended. I wanted a fierce warrior but I think he is a little too fierce looking.  I think I will try again in pencil or charcoal.

Drawing My Characters Part 2

I have mentioned the novel I am working on many times, now I am starting to add some art to keep me connected to the story.  My main character communicates telepathically with a wolf. I have been wanting to try drawing one. I hadn't been successful up to this point.  I found a great picture online and thought I would give it a go. This is on mixed media paper using prismacolor colored pencils. This could be way darker than it is and I will continue to work on it.  Colored pencils is all about layering the colors and it takes a long time.

Posting for Paint Party Friday Check them out here.

A Little River Time

I saw this book at my friend Jolene's house and knew I had to have it.  Combining zentangle like drawings and mandalas, its perfect for me.  There is some good instructions on creating patterns, designing mandalas and even a complex labyrinth.  I can't wait to try some of the techniques in here.

I needed some river therapy on Monday so I headed out for a walk on the Snake River. If I lived on the coast I'd be on the ocean but since I am not I settled for the river.  There is something about water that feeds my soul.

It was very cold out, so I bundled up and enjoyed being out in nature.  It was just what I needed.




Yesterday this little guy hit one our windows and was stunned.  So I picked him up.

I went into the house for my phone to take a few close up pictures. I could feel his little heart beat away. He was still a little out of it and not scared.

Back outside I tried to put him on a branch.  He could cling but then fell over.  Then I found a bush to put him under, hoping he'd be safe from cats.  He ended up flying away after a little bit of recovery time.

I had to head out to a Dr. appointment. while in the waiting room, I drew the pictures on my phone and created a nice little page. Being an artist is pretty cool when you can record events like this.

Kate

It's NaNoWriMo Time

Its that time of year again.

This year I am going to be a Nano-Rebel. Which means you don't follow the rules. Sometimes that means you are working on non=fiction, or working on a story you've already started, or any other reason you can come up with.  I am going to continue working on my story of Caitlin the Celtic Archer.

My local group always has a theme.  This year its pirates. Here are my home made pirate fingerless gloves. aka an old pair of socks.

Here is a little drawing of my kitty Boromir. With all the writing and such going on in Novemeber I will be posting less, maybe 3 times a week instead of 5 or 6.

Drawing Animals - Its a Process

This weeks class in sketchbook skool is about drawing animals. I'm learning from the amazing Roz Stendall. We start by doing contour drawings of toys. They don't move on you.

First I tried this wolf stuffed animal, alas it looks like a bear.  It all a learning process, so you just turn the page and do something else.

These are some of a stoneware turtle.

I thought it would be easier with no fur but not so much.

Then I tried Belle and when I got this far, Dave walked in the door so of course Belle got up. Decided I would head to zoo this week and attempt some drawing there. Practice, practice, practice is what it takes. So I will keep at it.  I'll post zoo pictures later this week.

Finding My Way Back To Making Art

I slowly am getting back to normal. Coming back from an overseas trip involves lots of adjustments.First getting used to a very different world again, catching up on sleep and discovering that you have a million things to do.  I was gone 23 days so I have a lot of catch up to do. I really missed my studio but haven't managed to spend too much time there yet.  Too many things pulling me away.

After seeing this book on another blog, I felt like it would be fun to have. It doesn't tell you how to draw a tree but does have some nice examples along with a lot of other items from nature.

So far I tried out some mushroom and one of the trees.  I think it will be fun to play with in the remaining pages of my small moleskine.

This is a face I did on my trip, I was taking the ferry back to Ireland.  I needed something to pass the time.

Then I did this one as a response to my friend Claire, who had asked if I ever did women with short hair. Here is one just for you Claire.

This is an art journal page, my first in a long time.  I am delighted how it turned out since it was really ugly in the beginning.  Just reinforces the idea to keep at it, you don't know where the page might take you.

SKETCHBOOK SKOOL

I decided to sign up for sketchbook skool at the last minute.  I love Danny Gregory's work and all the other artists who taught in semester one.  I am so glad they offered it again. Sketching is something that I really want to improve upon so this class seemed perfect.  Its called Beginnings.

This is my first page.  we were to draw someting that had meaning for us.  Its an excellent class and you can still sign up.