"Silence your mind. Pick up your pencil and draw."

"Silence your mind.  Pick up your pencil and draw."

                     -  Pinterest

We had such a nice weekend with family in from Mississippi.  No stress - just visiting and catching up with each other.  Those are the best visits aren't they?  While we sat chatting in the living room last night I sketched a girl in ink but since we were visiting so long I tried out some shading with graphite and I'm pretty happy with how she turned out - her eyes are a bit wonky (as always) but my younger son said, "Finally, you made a girl that is pretty."

Brutally honest but I'll take that as a compliment! 

Linking to Creative Monday and

Sunday Sketches

Everything grows you. . .

Took my sketch from last week and made a little mixed media piece with it. . .

Linking to Sunday Sketches and

Creative Every Day

That look of otherness. . .

"She always had that look about her,

that look of otherness,

of eyes that see things much too far,

and of thoughts that wander off the edge of the world."

                                   - Joanna Harris

I wanted to try painting a girl on a black background - had never done that before so I haphazardly taped a rectangle in my art journal and painted it black with matte paint. 

Sketched a face in pencil and then started filling in with flesh paint - lightly though so that the idea of the black would maybe show through a bit.

I really like her at this point and a big part of me wishes I had stopped here - she seemed too "unfinished" at the time though so I went back to my comfort zone of black/white lines and dots. 

Maybe one day I will be brave enough to be looser - I'm always trying to "fix things" with line work instead of just stepping back and letting go a bit.  I still love her though - the blue is my favorite part - quirky and moody at the same time.

Linking to Paint Party Friday,

Friday Sketches and

Art Journal Every Day

Work in progress. . .

A little something that I am working on - still in the beginning phases. . .

Linking to Creative Every Day

Robin Hood

"Would you like to join the Robin Hood Club?", they asked.

"I'd be thrilled", she replied.

In eager anticipation, she dyed her hair green and painted her face to better blend into the forest and to please the Merry Men.

You can imagine her disappointment when she realized that the Robin Hood Homemakers' Club had nothing to do with the forest and everything to do with baking with Robin Hood flour. 

Linking to Paint Party Friday,

Friday Sketches and

Art Journal Every Day

Society6

Have you ever ordered from Society6?  I'm in love with my new mug featuring one of my very own girls!!  Some of my favorite artists have their work available there - including Denthe.  I ordered one of her mugs several months ago (fabulous mug on the left below) and have been very pleased with its quality.  It has been through the dishwasher innumerable times and is in great shape. 

It was a bit of a learning curve to load my own art (the girl is repeated three times around the mug) but I am so happy with the results!  Think I will try loading more girls. . .

Send now. . .

She had no clue that she was so far past her expiration date. . .

Linking to Sunday Sketches and

Creative Every Day

Spoon Mood

Remember those tourist spoons that you could buy in cheesy giftshops?  Sometimes people would have whole collections of them reflecting their eclectic travels around the country.  

Maybe this gal is pondering which spoon to add to her collection or perhaps she is wishing that people would stop bringing them to her as gifts - you make the call. . .

I'll bet you thought that "spoon mood" meant that she needed a snuggle cause she was cold. . .

BTW - there is possibly a small child that got a couple of words wrong on his/her spelling test since I found these two papers on the sidewalk outside at work and felt compelled to swipe them.

Linking to Paint Party Friday,

Friday Sketches and

Art Journal Every Day

Bonfire anniversary. . .

(girl sketched in the car while traveling home)

Just got home from Mississippi where we were celebrating my cousin's 25th wedding anniversary.  Such a great time - no formal party for these two - instead there were ATVs, fireworks, a hayride, bonfire, a few sticks of dynamite exploded, gobs of good food and catching up with family/old friends.  Just about the most perfect way to spend a weekend - ever!

(picture of Caleb by the cabin - wouldn't you love a cabin like this back in your field?)

What made this party even more special is the fact that my cousin and her husband were "set up" by my husband - which makes us all best friends and makes these special times even more special.  I will spare you pictures from the wedding but you can imagine how BIG our hair was in 1989.   All the kids were laughing at our coiffures (even Corey, my husband, had surfer hair - "Duuuuude")

(amazing bonfire cake)

It is good to be home but I sure do hate to think about getting up in the AM and heading in to work.  sigh. . .

Linking to Sunday Sketches and

Creative Every Day

funny feeling. . .

Linking to Sunday Sketches and

Creative Every Day

Jellied Chicken Salad

Can't say that I've ever drawn a chicken before but I ran across these old recipe cards that I had stashed away in a drawer and couldn't resist.  How unappetizing does Jellied Chicken Salad sound - about as disgusting as it looks, huh?  Don't you love the snazzy strips of pimiento to dress it up? 

I remember mom putting celery and carrots in fruit jello when we were kids but, thank heavens, she stopped before the jellied main course!!  My favorite part is the claim that it would be "perfect for a hot summer evening!" 

I have a few more 1971 recipe cards stashed away - who knows what amazing treat I will reveal next!!

Linking to Art Journal Every Day,

Friday Sketches,

Creative Every Day and

Paint Party Friday

4 doodled flowers

Started with a watercolor background - 

If you are going to paint one you might as well paint four, right?

Doodled some inky flowers - I dig how neutral they are but I know that look isn't a favorite for everyone.

Which one is your favorite?

Linking to Creative Every Day and

Sunday Sketches

Cardboard girl. . .

The other day I watched "Face Mask with Pam Carriker" - shortly thereafter we had Chinese takeout for dinner and at the bottom of the bag was a piece of cardboard that was just begging to be painted on. . .I only used three colors of paint for this girl - white, black and flesh.  Some stamping with my handcarved chevron stamp and white pen journaling added the final touches.  Followed Pam's suggestion to let the penned guidelines show through the paint - cool look, huh?

It is SO cold here now!!  I knew that it was going to turn cold but 31 degrees always seems so much colder in November than it does in March - am I right??  BRRRRR!!

Linking to Art Journal Every Day, 

Art Every Day Month and

Paint Party Friday

trunk full of loot

Sketched this flower in the car and watercolored once I got home.  The part that is my favorite is the old book quote - 

"Therefore, that trunk full of possible loot could hardly have belonged to Jack."

Cutouts from old books are a treasure trove of nuggets that can add invaluable and unexpected personality to the pages in your art journals.  Have you tried adding cutouts from old books to your art?

Linking to Sunday Sketches and

Creative Every Day

Papercut Frida

So last night at about 10:30 I got an idea - 

One of those ideas that just had to be worked on right then and there!  So with my trusty Cincinnati Art Museum cup at my side I freehand cut out some facial features.  When I dropped the eyebrows on the counter it reminded me of Frida Kahlo. 

This morning I worked on refining the features somewhat.  LOVE how the nose turned out.  I doubt that anyone ever seeing that shape would think nose unless it was accompanied with the other parts of the face. 

Started working on a coffee stain that was already in my journal. . . 

She's wonky but she was handcut with no pattern or any type or rhyme or reason so I'm pretty pleased with how she turned out - although those eyes are more than a little crazy!! 

Doesn't everyone keep their brushes in a Spiderman cup?  You can tell that I am the mom of boys! 

Linking to Paint Party Friday and

Art Journal Every Day

S Hook girl

Yesterday we headed up to Vincennes, IN and attended the Muster on the Wabash which reenacts the encampments of the War of 1812.  Love the dedication of the reenactors - they actually camped onsite for the weekend (which turned really cold) with no modern day comforts with the exception only of a couple of toilets - no showers.  We learned so much from the many history buffs that were quick to share their information - we watched people craft and reenact battle scenes and enjoyed some period food.  I even got to play with the Blacksmith's tools.  I made the S-Hook pictured (with help of course) - You can tell I had fun during the twisting part since there are so many wonky twists.  That was the easiest part of the process.  I got to wear his leather apron and use all the tools but his hammer - "Nobody uses my hammer but me."  I sketched the girl during our drive up.

Linking to Sunday Sketches and

Creative Every Day

Painting in Public

While this doodled/watercolored flower may not be a showstopper it is certainly a milestone for me.  Why?  Because it was painted in public - in the cafe at Barnes & Noble!

My friend Kim has no fear (Instagram - @artfullyvintage).  She's got her bag packed and is ready to create anywhere the mood strikes.  I was wigging out from the word go about drawing in public.  I simply would never have had the confidence to attempt such a feat without her prompting. 

Plus she brings me presents - great friend, huh??

Linking to Sketchbook Sunday and

Creative Every Day