This and that....

I try to create art everyday.  Some days are better than others.  I know what I'm good at, which is watercolors, but I like to challenge myself and learn new techniques, which can cause me to get side-tracked for a  bit.  My latest interest has been doodling.  Who'd think that there is a whole new world out there of doodling called Zentangle. I recently started an online Zentangle class which is being taught on a yahoo group called Artist of the round table.   So I've been spending a lot of time doing Zentangles.  With Zentangles you can even take your drawing to the next level by adding color.  I've even come across quite a few utube videos on the subject.

The kat of hearts

  More for the sketchbook project...

The dog of hearts

 I've been down with walking pneumonia, so creating art at the moment has not been a priority.  I need to get back to doing my drawings for my sketchbook project  "It's raining dogs and cats."   This is my take on the subject.

Eye glass umbrella

It's always nice to see where you're going when it rains.

This is what rain looks like???

Rain drops can come in many different varieties!!!!!

Ducks even question things about the rain

It's been fun trying to think of illustrations for The sketchbook project...everything doesn't have to be just about cats and dogs!

Picasso Dogs

How about cats raining on dogs???

Picasso Cat

Have you ever heard of dogs actually raining on cats????

The sketchbook project --Even dogs can use a umbrella

Here is my first entry in my sketchbook.  Even dogs can use a umbrella when it rains!!

Bella

Last night I came home from a rather long weekend in Canada, attending the memorial for my father-in-law that died last year.   My beloved "Bella" had passed away in her sleep yesterday afternoon...Bella was 11 years old.  She wasn't my first Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, but she was my most faithful and obedient dog that I've ever had.  She would follow me all over the house and was my constant companion.  Bella had a stage 5.5 heart murmur and her death was not unexpected.  She had been living on borrowed time for the past year and a half, but this last week her symptoms seemed to increase.  My sister Linda was kind enough to come and dog/house sit while we were away. 

Bella is the reason that lead me back to drawing and painting.  It was because of her beauty, that I knew I wanted to capture her on canvas.  She will be missed, but she is now in heaven with her sisters Chloe and Maggie finally at peace.

Sketchbook Project......It's raining dogs and cats

I decided to join the Sketchbook Project -- 2011.  I received my sketchbook while I was on vacation, so I'm rather excited to start.  The theme I choose was, It's raining dogs and cats.   The sketchbook is a plain moleskin (5.5 x 8.5) with a red-wine cover.   The project is open to interpretation...meaning I can use any medium, change the paper inside the sketchbook, or add paper to the sketchbook as long as I leave the bar code on the back cover.  Since the paper is so thin and really doesn't take wet medium, I decided to pre-cut 140lb watercolor 4.75 x 8.25.

Front over

Welcome page

Back cover with bar code and my official library card.

Picasso Dogs

I've been playing catch up on my two online classes that I'm taking. Today I worked on Picasso Dogs from the Drawing Lab book by Carla Sonheim. I really got into doing theses dogs. Carla's book really speaks to me on so many levels. I've been trying new techniques that I would of never thought to do.

Basically you start with an eye, then you turn your paper 90 degrees and draw another eye, but bigger. Next turn the paper 90 degrees and draw a nose. Turn paper 90 degrees and draw a tail. Finally connect the elements together and you have yourself a funky dog!.

IF-- Double

Sometimes it's nice to see double....

Blue, Red, and Yellow

Another exercise from Drawing Lab. Basically painting random colors using blue, red, and yellow. After the watercolor paint has dried, studying the canvas to see if I could pick out an image. In this case I saw an elephant. I then went back in and attempted to add some values. Fun exercise.

IF -- Breakfast

Suzie starts off her mornings with a nice cup of coco and a stack of pancakes!

Cavalier in acrylic

I've been taking an online Drawing Lab class and this was a painting that I did using 5 x 7 canvas. I first applied Golden molding paste which I mixed up with blue acrylic paint allowing it to dry overnight. Then I did a line drawing of my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel face over the blue surface. Next I started with the eyes and just worked my way around the face. The nice thing about using acrylic paint is that it dries fast, so I didn't have a lot of down time.

Narcissus

This Narcissus was all white, with hints of yellow. Trying to save the white, but giving the buds depth was a little tricky. I used my Copic and Tombow markers.

Poppy -- Orientale

This drawing was done using my Copic and Tombow markers. I love the way I can blend with just a water brush, giving the effect of a watercolor painting.

Magnolia

I've really been enjoying playing with my Copic and Tombow markers. This is another example of what one can do with markers. I used paper designed for markers, but watercolor paper works too.

Owl

Over on Carla Sonheim http://www.carlasonheim.wordpress.com/ , last week gave an assignment of drawing this owl that she made from fabric. This is my take on the guy. I used watercolor paper 140lbs, and my Tombow, Copic, Sharpie markers to render him. I think he came out kinda of cute.