SUNDAY SKETCHES

Tiny little sketches that I'm making into buttons.  I think I'm going to loose my eyesight working on these little things!  I'm SURE there is a way to make the images a regular size and shrink them down to button size but I can't figure it out, right now.  This works.  It's kind of fun working small....takes less time to finish a piece!  Happy Sunday Sketches!!

BUBBLES AND A BIRD

Funny Bird!  This 6x6 inch 100% cotton paper was really inspirational for me.  Sometimes it's the paper that speaks to me.....ha!  This paper was sneaky.

IT'S the worst stuff  I've ever used for watercolor!  It bleeds really bad.  Maybe that's what cotton paper does? You can't tell from these pictures but it was so awful that the five little painting I just HAD to finish (while I'm suppose to be painting large pictures for a gallery) are pretty much scrap.  I was so determined to "make it work" that I kept fixing and fixing and now they are not good.  I'll show off, ya right, more of them next post.

PEN & INK & RED & SPARKLE

Quick pen & ink drawing I did for Tophatter.  The red bird was just right for the bidders.  Can't tell if they liked the glitter.  Still need to do more tests.  I feel like this auction site is a game.  It's so addicting for me!

The photo was awful again.  I knew it would be an issue.  I need to perfect my photography.  I really want a new camera but I don't think that's happening anytime soon.  My little cannon that I dropped in the ocean is still limping along.  Darn it!

SCHOOL PROJECT TREE

The school project tree was fun!  Not sure why....maybe because I knew it would eventually be covered with birds so mistakes weren't as important?

All the black lines are done in sharpie.  I LOVE SHARPIE! Especially on this cold press (bumpy) paper.  The pen didn't dry up and sort of soaked into the paper.

I love these lines that look like mapping elevation lines.

The trick was the sky....what trouble.  My MIL was here to witness the frustration.  LOTS of hard lines, back washes and funny white hard water? lines.  The color I used was quinacridone violet.  Ugh...don't like it.

The trunk was fun.  Lots of rust colors.

All the birdies done by Mr. Jensen's 5th grade class!

They are paper clipped to their names so I wouldn't lose track.

Mr. Jensen is at the top!

Tommy's fat pink bird. Love it!

These were such charming little birds.  Anyone know how to rotate a picture after it's loaded?

Nice brown frame to complete the work.

Everyone did such a great job.  I love that they are all looking the same direction.  Except for one!  Can you find him?

PALM TREES?

Yup!  I guess Tamara means "Palm Tree" in some language.  That's funny!  They aren't as fun and whimsical as I like to work with...not sure how to jazz them up without making them NOT a palm tree anymore.  Even the painting ideas are boring.  We'll see??  I'll keep you posted!

TREE IDEAS

These pen and ink trees are fun to do.  I was inspired by the Bristol paper I found at Micheal's, it was on sale.  Yes, paper inspires me. A sheet of crisp white paper is so full of possibility!

I'm trying to capture some landscape.  Instead of always focusing on a tree I want to develop some of the hills and vegetation in the paintings.  However, I don't care for these clouds.  My new goal now, is to figure out how to "fix" them.  As always, I start out with one idea and then just finish with fixing all the mistakes. Smooth or Hot Press watercolor paper can be tricky (for me) to paint on.  It's so smooth the paint will pool or sit on top of the paper creating odd color variations. The "fix" will start with fighting the smooth surface of this paper and making the color look fresh and effortless.  We will know better....lots of effort!!

More of the pen and ink on Bristol paper.

EGG ART

Who does this?  I always sharpie my hard boiled eggs.  It's useful, I tell myself, because that way family knows which eggs are hard boiled and which aren't.  BUT really I just want to draw something on those perfect white egg-shaped canvasses!

Working on a bunch of new tree paintings.

I'm using a 005 micro pen.

These have a sense of texture and....what's that called when you have a map that shows height and land shape?  Topography I just googled it.  I used to love looking at those maps as a kid.

I was really interested in the depth of the tree with this painting.  I wanted a lot of the branches to overlap.

WHAT'S UP?

This is called "Steampunk" this is one of the painting I was working on for the Moonstruck Chocolate art reception.

The new "Big Balls" painting but it's not finished.  I forgot to get a picture before I hung it in the cafe!

Here it is hanging...with Andy.

Here is the original "Big Balls" now named "Tammy" that's the girl who loves this painting!

I was so busy with this art reception.  I got 25 paintings framed and on display at Moonstruck Chocolate in Beaverton Oregon.  NOW for something completely different.... I am getting the soap done for the Christmas bazaars.  Trendy Soap.com is doing really well so far.  I'm excited about the lotions this year and I'm thinking about adding lip gloss next year.

TREETASTIC

This is my favorite painting so far....

THIS is my favorite painting so far....I realize I need a new camera.  It's getting more and more tricky to get a crisp picture.

Love the owls!

Each new painting is my favorite painting for about 20min. after I'm finished. Then I just want to get rid of it.  I usually love the painting I'm working on but the feeling doesn't last long.  My sis loves her paintings forever.  She is sad to let them go and always feels like she needs to make two of everything so she can keep one for herself.  I'm an odd person.

I have an art reception coming up Friday 5-7 October 7th at Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe in Beaverton.  Very excited and nervous about that! I've never had my painting hang somewhere public.

Here is a better picture of the Owls 18!  I think that's what I will name this painting.

I don't know how these professional bloggers do it?  I don't have time to paint, take pics, upload, then blog about what I'm up too....everyday?  Wow, they sure are impressive to me. :)

THERE'S A BIRDIE IN MY TREE DONE!

I really like how the hills turned out.  The colors seem to blend really well.  I used a base of quinacridone yellow for the trunk which is more brown than I like but that's okay. 

We are going to the beach on Thursday...should be interesting.  This house we are staying in is interesting.  Hard to explain....ummmm  I'll get some pictures. I need to be diplomatic because my MIL is paying for it and she might read this. :) Peg, I would rather go than not but the house is....ummmm interesting.

Sign up for the giveaway!

I will announce the winner of the giveaway on Sunday!

PAINT PARTY FRIDAY & GIVEAWAY!

This painting was done for my Sister Tina!

There is a "SIS" carved into the tree.

Yes, she loves rabbits.

Happy Paint Party Friday!  This week has flown by...lots of soap and paintings done.  I finished up the tomato, more bay rum and sweet pea soaps.  I will get them decorated soon, then I can show some pictures of them. Still wishing I had smell-o-blogging.  Isn't there an app for that?  :)

GIVEAWAY TODAY!

Enter to win: Comment on this post. Feel free to follow me too.

I'll be giving away a little painting and some extra goodies.

Good luck!

LITTLE IS GOOD...RIGHT?

I worked small scale last night. This is a little 4x6 watercolor postcard. FUN!

Step one: Start drawing.

Step two: Get a snack so you have energy to keep drawing.

I used a 0.05 STAEDTLER  pigment liner.

Step 3, 4 & 5: Tape the paper down and spray with water and add color.

Step six: remove tape. Done!