If--Patterns

Nothing like Chihuahua's in many patterns!

Peacock watercolor

Just finished this small watercolor today, 5" x 7". If I were to paint this illustration again, I'd probably do it on larger watercolor paper.

If--Infinite

My smile is infinite with joy. Mix media collage.

IF-Welcome

This is what my dogs look like when they go to the front door for friends houses...the want to be welcomed inside.

bird in a bird bath

Sometimes looking through magazines an abstract image or color will catch my eye. In this case it was a bird bath. Well you need a bird to enjoy the bird bath.

IF -- Strong

I think I'm strong enough to carry all these tea cups!

Calla Lilly Collage

Last night I was up until 1am working on this watercolor collage. Then today I finally figured out how to add a virtual frame to show case my collage.

I still am dabbling in mixed media paintings. I'm not quite comfortable in using several mediums on a painting, but each time I do a new piece it gets easier.

IF- Magnify

My heart just magnifies with love for you!

Plum trees and monkeys Chinese brush

Yesterday I finally got to go to my monthly Chinese brush class. I haven't been able to attend the last 3 months, so I was happy to go. We did a review of Plum trees and painted monkey's which was the first for me. Also bought two new Chinese brushes...a fine mountain hair brush and a medium mountain hair brush. So it was a good day!!!

IF -- Caution

Taking caution not to drop the lantern!

Hand made art portfolio

I've been looking at art portfolio's to hold some of my art work that I've either finished or in process of completing. Most of the portfolio's I seen are your standard black covers and range in price from $15 to $50. So I thought I try making my own art portfolio in a size that would hold my 9" x 12" pieces.

Basically I cut down 2 pieces of illustration board to the size I wanted my portfolio . Then I picked out some really pretty Japanese hand made paper from Paper-Source. I applied the paper to the front of the illustration board with bookbinding glue. I sandwiched the boards between wax paper and then placed heavy books on top to allow the glue to set and my pieces dry flat. I let the glue set over night. Once the glue has completely dried, I turn over the piece and attach my ribbon on 3 sides. Next I apply board cloth in a matching color with glue and place the piece between wax paper to dry over night. Once the board cloth is dry, I applied 3" strips of board cloth tape to attach the two pieces together and apply inside the middle and the outside middle. Finally I sandwich the completed art portfolio between wax paper and put a ton of books on top and allow the glue to dry.

It might sound like it was labor intensive, but it wasn't. It was just a matter allowing the glue to dry between each steps.

Singing Pig collage

Last year I got to see watercolor artist Gerald Brommer do a demo on collages. I've always have loved his work and style, so I thought I might do a series of farm animals that I'll be colleaguing. I didn't realize how much fun tearing my paper and gluing over my original watercolor and then going back to add deeper values would be. If you've never tried collages...do it! You'll be surprised how fun and freeing the process can be.

Mixed media dog

I thought I'd try something new, using all my art supplies. I started with a 5 x 7 piece of pastel paper. I layered the following items...words rubber stamp using watermark ink, flowers, and then I drew an outline of what was suppose to be a French bull dog. Then I tried my gouache to add color to the dog and flowers. I forgot how opaque gouache can be and really didn't like how flat the color looked, so I went back in with my neocolor crayons dry, then using a wet paint brush to exploded the color. I continued to fine tune the piece until I did all that I could do. Didn't want to spend a lot of time working on this piece. Total time to create about 1 hour.

IF -- wrapped

Life is like presents...all pretty and wrapped in beautiful paper and ribbons.

Yorkie illustration that I'm working on

Here's what I'm currently working on...first draft for illustration that I'm working on for children's book.

The well was dry for a while....

The well was dry for a while. I've been taking the last couple of months to re-charge...dabbling in making cards, going to scrapbook expo's, reading, trying different mediums, going back to my first love of watercolor and working in colored pencil; so yes, I've been creating art. Some good, some bad, some experimentation, a lot not worth showing. I've also have taken an online portrait class and hope to take more.

In October I'm to going to Paris, France for 10 days of fun. Plan to take lots of pictures, do some plein air sketching, visit some of my favorite haunts, and of course go shopping!!!!

I've been toying with the idea of going to art school to study illustration, but not sure if I want to get into debt with hefty tuition...it's not like I need another degree...have plenty of those.

It wasn't until the other day when I was blog surfing I came across a blog called "Virtual Art Date" www.virtualsketchdate.blogspot.com which each month artist band together and sketch from the same reference photo supplied by a participant. As I viewed some of the entries, I got excited about wanting to participate. Not that I'd join, but just attempt to sketch reference photos that interested me. The first reference photo I choose was as Rhododendron bud submitted by Jeanette Jobson. I got out my treasured color pencils and have spent the last day and half working on this drawing. It felt good to draw and just be in the moment of art. So I hope to do more sketches from the site. I find it interesting to see other artists take on the same reference photo.

In the meantime, I was offered an opportunity to illustrate a children's book. I'm looking forward to working on the illustrations. So at the moment I feel happy and content and glad I took a much needed break from blogging...but it's sure good to be back!!

Hydrangia Oil Pastels

Lately I've been wanting to try to paint in an impressionistic style. You'd think it would be rather easy, but it's not. I guess all my years of painting realistic has helped knowing what rules to break and determining different shades of value. I'm practicing small 8 x 8 and eventually will work towards a larger canvas.

Experimenting with neo-crayons

For the past twelve years I've lived with a chronic illness. I have lupus, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue. So I draw or paint when I'm feeling OK. I'm always looking for a way to create when I can't get out of bed. My preferred medium is watercolors, but becomes a little tricky trying to paint sitting up in bed and not spilling water all over the bed. I do use watercolor pencils and neo-crayons using a Aqua-flow brush--it's not a perfect solution, but at least it allows me to be creative.

So today is one of those stay in bed days...I wanted to go for an impressionistic painting, using only 2 complimentary colors...yellow and purple. I used my Neo-crayons on 140 lb watercolor paper. Size 8.5 x 11.

IF - Celebration

A celebration wouldn't be complete without tons of balloons!

Introducing.....Coco

Never take your spouse to the animal shelter because you could end up with a new dog!!!

Right after Xmas, my husband and I took a donation box to the local shelter. At my suggestion I told my husband, let's go see the dogs....Big Mistake!!!! The smell in the kennel was so bad that I turned around and went back to my car. A few minutes later my husband comes back with 2 dog numbers. With tears in his eyes, he said we needed to send some money to extend these dogs lives.

When I called the shelter to make a cash donation they told me that they didn't have the capability to take cash donations, but said I could adopt. One of the dogs was already on hold and also had tags. This little guy was scheduled to be put down the next day.
My husband said we could adopt and he would train,then find him a good home.

Well you know where he found a good home! Yup you guessed it...US...
Coco suffers from separation anxiety, but for the most part he is a sweet little dog and rather smart. He's learned how to use the doggie door; he knows sit, come, and stay; and he's bilingual...Spanish being his second language.

What I learned from this experience is that pound puppies are costly...what should of been $52 to adopt...translated into $500 in vet bills. Needless-to-say, he has wormed his way into our hearts and the biggest surprise is that he favors me instead my husband!!! LOL