More birds

Here are some birds I drew a couple of years ago when I was on an ATC kick.

EDM 125 - Draw a bird

Ah now, here is a subject that is near and dear to my heart! I am a lover of nature and all birds....yes, even those pesky blackbirds that empty the birdfeeder in a matter of minutes! The cardinals are always the most welcome to my feeder and add a splash of color to the dull browns and blacks of the cowbirds, sparrows, doves, and blackbirds.

EDM Challenge - Yellow

This is a cast iron mechanical bank that is in our collection of banks. It is one of my favorites. You put the coin in the dog's mouth, press a button on the side of the base and a spring makes the dog jump "through the hoop" and the coin goes into the slot at the top of the barrel. It is one of the very few things in this house that is yellow! Our colors are mainly burgundy, forest green and cream.

Portraits I have done

I keep a hardbound sketchbook just for portraits and these are my favorites - all done for my own enjoyment. I'm not sure what order the picture will post, but one is Me as a little girl; my handsome DH, and DH as a boy and his Grandmother.

The first page was inspired by the book "CreateYour Own Artist's Journal" by Erin O'Toole. The book is borrowed from the library and now it is a MUST HAVE! She had alot of illustrations using Gouache on Nideggan paper and I really like the look! I meant to look for some Nideggan paper when I was at the art store in Columbus this morning. DRAT! I forgot! The tan color of the paper makes the drawing look a bit vintage...

My vacation is over, except for the weekend, and I really can't say I got much done except for these pages. I sat and browsed through lots of books I brought home from the library, scrubbed the deck out back and lounged there in the afternoons. Sooooo relaxing! It's amazing how many different birds I observed just in our back yard! A little wren came and perched on one of the birdhouses I had sitting on a corner of the deck...sat there and scolded me. Too bad I didn't have my sketchbook, but I will sketch the birdhouse this weekend (hopefully) and add a wren by looking at my birding book.

Every Day Matters (EDM) Bell Challenge

This is my 1st challenge for the Yahoo group, EDM. I am not at all pleased with the finished piece because I overworked it. Watercolors just don't suit me, I guess. I ended up going over the watercolors with colored pencils after it dried, and then I still wasn't satisfied and added the white acrylic highlights. Guess I need to find a good beginners book for watercolors! Anyone have a good one to recommend? To be honest, I am surprised I was able to hold a paint brush this evening. My afternoon was spent on my hands and knees scrubbing our wooden front porch of all the mildew that has accumulated over the past year. What a chore, but it looks so nice and clean! My DH even noticed it when he came home! Watch! Tomorrow my hand probably be cramping and won't be able to hold a pen!

Lazy Sunday afternoon

Trying to do one piece of art each day isn't easy. I went out to sit on the deck this afternoon, taking my journal and set of drawing pencils with me. I thought I would sit and sketch the barn which is less than 50 feet from our deck, only to find that the large tree totally hid the "good" view of the barn. So, since this tree and wagon wheel was within my sight, that is what I attempted to draw, with not so good results. It turned out rather dark, but that is because I originally intended it to be just a pencil sketch. Then I thought, I'll just add a little color to the leaves, and the next thing I knew I was adding color after color of pencils and then acrylics. I never know when to stop!!

The sketch of Maggie was a quick one that I did while watching her watching the hummingbirds EARLY yesterday morning. I'm getting rather lazy on the journaling part and taking up more space for my drawings. Guess my next journal needs to be a bit bigger!