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i thought i would switch gears today and try to add some lettering to some of these illustrations that i've been creating.  for this piece i used watercolor, micron pens and gouache for the lettering. i always have fun with art pieces like this!

slippers, part deux

i just love it when i'm truly surprised by something...like how much i've been enjoying drawing these slippers. i think that i'll continue to use the pencil (versus ink or watercolor) because i really do love the results.  my only regret is that my scanner doesn't pick up on all of the subtleties in the shading...i'll have to work on that.

slippers

this is another pencil drawing that will go in the book that i'm making. i've been trying to work on my shading...it's very therapeutic and i love to hear the pencil scratching on the paper! my next step is to start incorporating some ink into my drawings. i feel like this is a slow process, and i'm flip-flopping around as i'm trying to "find my groove". with me, it's all about baby steps.

decisions, decisions

well, i decided to go ahead and draw another basket and finish it with watercolors. i'm still not sure if i prefer the pencil drawing or the one with color. unfortunately, my scanner doesn't pick up yellow tones very well, so the original looks much better than this image (these colors are making it look a little too cartoony). maybe i'll put it up for a vote at friday's drawing class. in the meantime, i'm going to start thinking about some book/page layouts for all of my little sketches...

woven basket

i'm in the process of making a "design file" book that will include drawings of furniture and accessories for the home. this basket was drawn in pencil...i'm not sure whether or not to add watercolor, or just call it finished. i think that i'll wait until tomorrow to make that decision!

praise

it has been a long time since i've used my pentel colorbrush...when i picked it up today, it was like catching up with an old friend. i really enjoy using it because it always feels like "play time".  

key to success

thank you, stephanie, for showing me how to draw.  you are an awesome teacher and i wish i could tell you just how much your insight and encouragement has meant to me! 

happy art

i was in the mood to do something really fun today and this is the result...happy art. it definitely exposes the pollyanna side of my world, but it's a lot cheaper than therapy.

start today

today was about giving myself permission...to take a small piece of paste paper and do some lettering without stressing over the layout or whether or not the letters are perfect (which they aren't!).  seems like a simple thing to do, but i found it challenging.  and a year from now, i'd like to be able to say that today i took a big step out of my comfort zone.  

little watercolors

    i made this book last year using a technique taught by donna downey.

it holds all of my "little watercolor experiments" that i create on scrap pieces of paper. the spine is made of an accordion fold, so i can add to it as i continue to create.

house book

tomorrow, we are signing papers that will make it official...we're building a house! i am so excited! i'm going to try to stay organized, so i made this book to keep all of those little bits of paper and paint swatches in order. i used ziploc bags instead of paper for the pages...i wouldn't want anything important to escape!

putting the fun back in functional

i have been looking for something that i can use to store my necklaces. i didn't have much luck finding anything in the stores, so i decided that i could make something. during a trip to michaels, i found an unfinished mirror, some small cup hooks and, on my way out of the store, the crown caught my eye. i couldn't wait to get home and start painting. plus, i realized that not only was this going to be functional, but every time i look in the mirror, i look like i'm wearing a crown! it's the little things in life that i get so excited about...

this is the day....

i did this piece several years ago and it's still one of my favorites. i used batik fabrics and then hand quilted it and finished by sewing beads onto the middle section. i applied the lettering to the fabric by scanning it and then running the fabric through my printer (very carefully!). the finished size is 9"x 6.5".  

hello world!

thank you, martha, for encouraging me to start this blog...a digital journal of growth and progress in my world of art. i look forward to this crusade...armed, of course, with a bar of chocolate and a bag of potato chips.