I'm Back!

I can't believe that it has been so long since I've been on this blog! But...not looking back with regret, instead looking forward with promise and excitement.

Being involved in Junelle Hallstrom Jacobsen's online classes Junelle's classes have been some of the best things I've ever been involved in. The classes have evolved into a group of some of the most supportive encouraging group of women that I've ever "hung out" with! Some are close to where I live but most of them are across the country and some in other countries!!

This friendship and encouragement has really set me free to go forward in  my own art. I feel real progress and feel that something incredible is just around the corner. I'm so excited to see what that is!!

Here are a couple of projects that I've done last month. I am happy with them :)!

A Donna Downey inspired abstract

                                                   

A page from my Art Journal Junkies group

An up-cycled Starbucks bag done in chalk and pastel

These are just a few. I will be posting more on a regular basis.

San Diego Skyline

one of our assignments in our wild art 2 class was to do a skyline of where we lived, so i choose san diego. i loved the way that junelle hallstrom jacobsen (one of our instructors, www.yesandamen.blogspot.com) did her new york buildings in the mono color, so i knew that i wanted to go with the black and white. my dilemma was that i loved the colors reflecting on the water. so i did half and half! i used crackle paint for the sky, paper pieced the buildings, acrylic-ed the hearts and accents on the buildings and then put watercolor paper for the water and then did wet into wet.

i am pretty happy with the results. i am going to do some on canvas and see if i can get them into some of the shops in san diego :)!

My Wild Hair Girl

Another one of the assignments in my Wild Art 2 class. She was so much fun to make!!

Bless This House

Here is a journal page from Week 2 of Wild Art 2!

A Safe & Brave Home

Here is my finished canvas for one of the projects from week 2 from my online class, Wild Art 2.
I am so loving this class and am going to be so sad when it is over. Guess I will have to go and take Wild Art 1 :)!!

This canvas is a replica of our sweet teacher, Junelle.

http://christytomlinson.typepad.com/christytomlinson/bless-this-mess-workshop-the-art-of-wild-abandonment-2.html

I really like this canvas and may make several more of them for gifts. We could all use the reminder that we are brave, enough and safe (in Christ)!

Awakened Desire To Sketch

I am taking Wild Art 2 with Christy Thomlison & Junelle, at www.christythomlison.typepad.com and Junelle is challenging us with sketching everyday. It was supposed to be sketching our breakfast, but I was out with Fran in a waiting room at a doctor's office. So instead of reading the magazine, I decided to pick an ad and draw what I saw. I am very happy with my results and I have found that it has awakened my love for drawing!! So I will be posting not only my assignments to this class but many more sketches of faces!!

And One For Sofia

Of course I had to make one for g'daughter # 3, Sofia! She is always in cute ponytails and she has dark brown hair. These are so much fun to make!

Gift for Shayla's 5th birthday

Here is a painting that I just completed for g'daugter #2, Shayla's, 5th birthday. I am pretty happy with this! Amber wants one with dark brown hair for Sofia :). When I get home from NoCA I will start on hers.
I am loving mixed media and getting my hands dirty!!

7 Deadly Words - Outside of the Journal Week 2

The title of this painting is 7 Deadly Words. I don't usually do "dark" paintings, but these words seemed to cry out for a grungy canvas. I also had some grunge boards skeletons from Tim Holtz and figured that they fit perfectly. I attached the word "deadly" with 1/2" glue dots so they are raised from the canvas board.

I am actually thinking that I will hang this on the wall in my studio.  I am working very hard to eliminate these words from my talk, so I think having this in front of my face :)!! I will let you know if it works!

This is one from 7.21.2012

Want to live this truth!

Outside The Journal Week 1

My first canvas for Outside The Journal, by Dina Wakley, http://dinastamps.typepad.com/ponderings/2012/08/out-of-the-journal-week-one.html. 

It says, "art is part of the armor for my heart". Mixed media is pretty new to me so I am still trying to find "my style". This back round is from the paper that I wrap my table in. I like the way it turned out.

I can't wait to see how I progress throughout the month!

TAD 5 - journal back cover

here is the back cover of my journal for my watercolor journaling class.

TAD 4 - Watercolor Journal Front Cover

Here is the cover that I painted for my Watercolor Journal class that started today! So glad to be back in class! Tomorrow will be the back cover!

TAD 3 - Door

Here is one of my vicarious travel photos that I get to paint when my watercolor teacher, Barbara Roth (http://www.barbararoth.blogspot.com/) travels around Europe! This is of a door in France...or was it Italy, Barbara? I love that I get to "see" the world in this way!

Here is a tip for everyone...she has several painting trips planned this year...check out her site for details! You would LOVE going with her--she's so much fun!

TAD 2

I did these for my daughter...they were so much fun to paint! She thinks that I should paint more to sell!

They were painted on handmade Punjab paper with Daniel Smith paints. Both shoes have S. Crystals and one has a real feather.

1 Thing A Day

I have joined a new blogging community called 1 Thing A Day. I am hoping that this will keep me painting, drawing, posting every day!

Here is day one. I have called it, Waiting For Spring! Sure wish the colors scanned better than they did. Actually we can't complain about the weather here in Northern CA...it is a beautiful 66 degrees.

It was done on Arches CP 140 and Daniel Smith watercolors.

What A Week! EDM 198, Illustration Friday & Class.

It won't be hard for you to figure out just what kind of two weeks I have been having once you look at the subjects of my drawings...
Here is my take on Noodles:
Then this week's assignment in watercolor class was to choose a favorite color and use it in a painting...so...this is the best BROWN!!!


Illustration Friday's word is Pretend...the outline of the scale didn't show in the scan...but I don't think I need to explain this one, right? Maybe next week will be better. LOL!

EDMs 195 (fork), 196 (rope) & 197 (remote)

Well, here is my attempt at drawing a fork. Don't ask me why I had to choose to do three!! I'm ok with them--especially my moto these days is, "I'm striving for imperfection!" LOL
Pen, watercolor in 140 Cold Press Arches Travel Journal

Here is my childhood jump rope. It was one of my most prized positions. Rope isn't so easy.

Pen, watercolor on 140 Arches, Hot Press

52 buttons -- do we REALLY need all these buttons? This drawing doesn't contain all the buttons.

Pen, watercolor on 140 Arches, Hot Press

EDM #190

Here is my travel palette, Moleskin & Ninja watercolor pin. My palette is filled with Daniel Smith Watercolors--my favorite!

Pen, watercolor on 140 Arches Cold press

EDM 1 and more

I am not as prolific as so many of you on this blog--but I am starting! Here is my EDM #1--one of my shoes. It was fun! I love the list to go from because there are so many things on there that I would never think of drawing, but realize that each one will force me to draw what I actually see not what I think I see.

This is a card that I am sending out to family and friends. I figured that doing cards helps me in many ways--1) getting over the fear of having my work in other's hands, 2) gives me lots of opportunity to practice, practice, practice & 3) keeps me in touch with those I love!

After seeing the Guardian Angel on TheHappyPainter's blog, I realized that I now had a good example to put into the painting that my daughter-in-law has wanted me to paint for my granddaughter. I have changed her position, but used the same technique. I will post the final painting after Christmas.