Just listen. . .

Sometimes we don't need advice - 

we just need somebody to listen.

Linking to Creative Every Day

Angsty self portrait

"She was suffering from a lack of frivolity." 

                               - Michelle Mathey

This week's theme at Illustration Friday is VANITY.  I ask you - what could be more vain than a quote and self portrait of myself in all my angsty glory? 

Life has been so busy lately that whenever I finally sit for a minute to draw or paint all that seems to come out is cranky stuff.  Today is my day off so I've started it out right by having Chocolate Cherry Cake for breakfast.  Maybe cheerful pics fueled by chocolate will come out of me today. . . only time will tell.

Paint Party Friday and 

Art Journal Every Day

Happy camper?

Are you much of a camper?  I've not done much camping in my life but when my brothers and I were young we camped on a farmer's land.  It was real "roughing it" - no water, electricity, campsites - no nothing.  Just us and nature.  The food was gritty and our faces were dirty but it was fun!  Looking back I'm sure it wasn't so much fun for our moms - looking after wild kids running through the woods, cooking/cleaning in the most primitive of conditions and ALL the work before/after getting ready and then unpacking once we were home.

We've had it easy as adults.  Corey's sister Jen/family live in Seattle and they have all the best camping equipment.  When we've camped with them it has been a blast.  When you are in a forest in the Pacific Northwest and your dinner is toasted bread with Brie, fresh cherries and a glass of wine - and your breakfast is eggs, bacon and a latte made with a tiny propane tank - camping life is good!

BTW - this girl had a too long face - my usual problem - so I chopped her and moved her face closer together - she's like the Frankenstein Camper now.  LOL!

Linking to Art Journal Every Day, 

Paint Party Friday, and

Creative Every Day

She - Painting with my SIL

"She always had that about her, that look of otherness, of eyes that see things much too far, and of thoughts that wander off the end of the world."

                              - Joanne Harris

My SIL Laura came to paint/play this week.  What a blast we had together!  She and my brother have two boys the same age as our boys.

Laura and I get together so the boys could play as often as we can work it out - but things have changed over the years. 

Now that the boys are older we don't have to stand over them supervising anymore. . .

which means the moms get to play!!  

It is so nice to get artsy with the white noise of our boys having fun together.

I do get wistful for my little boys though. . . 

Linking to Art Journal Every Day and

Paint Party Friday

My favorite pens and pencils. . .

Don't you hate it when you grab a marker and it is dry?  AARRGGHH!!  I decided to take a few minutes and toss old pens and thought I'd share my favorites.

1.  V5 Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pen

2.  V7 Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pen  (I bought both of these at TARGET in packs of 3 - waterproof and true black.)

3.  Pilot PERMABALL pen - another waterproof beauty.  This pen had gone out of production until Christy Tomlinson revived its use and now it is available in her online shop - Scarlet Lime.

4.  Pentel Color Brush - like an aqua pen but filled with black ink.  Super for big swaths of inky goodness.

5.  Pentel Graphgear 500 0.5mm pencil

6.  Pentel Graphgear 500 0.7mm pencil

7.  Ticonderoga #2 pencil - it has no eraser and is so old but I love it!!

8.  Papermate Tuff Stuff Eraser Stick (got at Blick - perfect for erasing in small spaces)

9.  Stabilo AQUARELLABLE pencil - Dina Wakley calls this the magic pencil and she is right!

I do own several pricey markers/pencils/pens but these inexpensive tools are my favorites.  I'd love to know your favorite drawing implements - please share!!

Linking to Sunday Sketches

Inky Flowers. . .

There is a rule in decorating that says "every room can use a touch of black".  Black is a color that adds a focal point and a bit of sophistication.   

I agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly.  My black pen collection is definitely in use each time I draw or paint. 

I watercolored some flowers recently and while they were pretty to me - 

after black was added the blooms became so much more vibrant. 

Do you like to add a lot of black too?

Linking to Paint Party Friday and

Art Journal Every Day