Toad in a Boat

Happy Paint Party Friday!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 03:00:35 +0000

At least, I’m happy, because I finally have a painting to show! Just a quickie giraffe in pastel. I couldn’t resist his funny face. I was happy with it until I sprayed it to keep it from smearing. I obviously didn’t use the same product I used to use on pastels because this one ruined it. It made all the colors go gray like a gray mist was sprayed on it. And that was one very light coat! I added some more dark, over the top of it, to the eyes because it was the worst there. I really need to go over the whole thing with more pastel to bring the color back up, but I probably won’t since he wasn’t for framing. I’ll let him sit around a few days and see if I feel inclined to work on it some more. Oh, the product I used was Krylon UV Protectant varnish, matte, from the fine art section. And it was pricey! If you have some and haven’t used it, don’t until you try it on something that isn’t important! I’m very happy to be back at Paint Party Friday this week!

Owls, paper and fabric

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:20:16 +0000

Let’s just forget about the fact that I was supposed to be participating in Sketch every day in May, since I’d already forgotten and haven’t been sketching, and focus on what I’ve been stitching, instead. I’ve been hand stitching these little owls in the evenings. I’ve done 4 so far but gave one to a special friend to keep her company. I drew up a pattern, which I’ll share here when I’ve had time to add some instructions to it. I’m thinking I may make a few more and hang them from a ribbon, as a banner. These little guys inspired a journal page today, too. It’s been too quiet around here. What have all of you been working on? I want to see!

Sketch every day in May

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:30:56 +0000

Are you joining in Sketch every day in May? I don’t know if I’ll get them all done, but I plan to do what I can. There’s a list of what to sketch each day. #1 is a landscape and #2 is something that represents a new year’s resolution of yours (mine is to paint more). Here’s my first 2. I’ll probably scan and upload a few at a time, rather than one every day, because that part of it takes so long.

Look what I won!

admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:48:43 +0000

I won this cute little round box from Denise over at Voie de Vie. The tulip print it is covered with is her own art work. The inside is covered in more assorted goodness, including a vintage crochet ad. Very appropriate because I am a hooker. I’ve mentioned that, yes? I also knit. As you can see, I’m storing my weekly receipts in the box, to be put in my budget program each week. Only I missed last week so I am behind! I just noticed that the color of the box matches the color on the head of my little vintage doggie that holds my highlighters. Love it!

A Faux Tin Sunday Sketch

admin — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:31:30 +0000

Finally, I had time to participate in Sunday Sketches again! I’ve missed it. This may not look like a sketch, but it started with one. I sketched some loose flowers onto a piece of cardboard, traced the lines with Aleene’s tacky glue, used gluestick to cover the cardboard with aluminum foil, and added details. Then a light coat of black shoe polish and a gentle rubbing. The complete tutorial, with some excellent examples done by kids, can be found at Make it a Wonderful Life. They mention that you shouldn’t use corrugated cardboard because the lines would show but I wanted to try it and that was all I had. I think I’ll try to find some smooth cardboard and make a series of 3, similar but different, to hang in my living room. ! I actually drew 2 and had planned to glue them both up at once, since they need to dry overnight, but the gluing was hard on my carpal tunnel so I just did the one. There are some thin lines etched into the background with a blunt tool but you’ll have to click for the enlargement to see them. They don’t show in the small photo. I really like the look. What do you think?

Still here!

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 02:16:10 +0000

And I’m showing today’s sloppy little journal page, just to prove it! I don’t like the finished page all that much but it served as stress relief at the end of the day and I felt much better after doing it. I’m not sure why it seems like I have no spare time lately. Someone just keeps filling it all up with stuff that needs doing! I got my nest charms from the Charmsters swap this weekend and they really are wonderful. I’ll try to get a photo of them all together soon, so I can show them off. What have all of you been up to?

So Very Unusual

admin — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 17:57:53 +0000

Why yes, I did spend my morning painting faces on eggplant. And one eggplant bum, too, because there’s always at least one in any crowd who has to act up. When I originally tore this photo of eggplant out of the magazine or junk mail it came it, it was because I loved the deep purples and plums. But when I came across it again today, it immediately looked like a crowd of little people in funny hats. What could I do but give them faces and let them be what they were meant to be? Then I dug through the little box of clipped text I keep on my desk and found what seemed like appropriate words for them. I hope you spend your day doing something equally enjoyable.

“everything was so very unusual on this day”

Playing in my journal

admin — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:08:11 +0000

A bit of doodling, a smudge of pencil, a splash of paint and a line or two of ink. Just what I needed today.

Nest Charms

admin — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:37:51 +0000

So, long time no post, huh? Life got a little hectic! I finished up the 18 Nest charms for the swap I am in. Below is a photo of how they are packaged, except they are also in plastic sleeves and I added the stategic blurring of personal info for internet purposes. The envelope graphic is from http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com.

Charcoal for Paint Party Friday

admin — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:38:08 +0000

Posting a bit early for PPF, since I”ll be gone most of Friday. This is charcoal, so I hope it counts for the paint party! It is 11″x15″ and was done as an assignment because I’d never choose to do anything this large in charcoal. Messy messy messy! I am really rather relieved to be finished with it.