I love what you're wearing....

Timing is everything especially in Alaska's winter.  The sun peeks up only briefly.  I have discovered that no matter how hard I plan you can't always greet the sun as it rising over the mountains.  Because I have to tell you, being there when that first beam of light reaches over the mountains is AMAZING.

Today Ginzee and I headed to a favorite trail with me on my bike while she trotted along side.  Busy in my head with list and ideas I wasn't really paying attention to my surroundings.  When I arrived at the trail head and looked up there was a sun, ocean and snow all waiting to greet me.  Wow, what a gift.

This sketch is on a tinted drawing paper.  I took a 01 pen for the back layer of bushes, a 05 for the closer bushes.  I added in snow with a Posca pen and some color to the sun and ocean using oil pastels.  It's a simple sketch but will always be a great reminder of a sunny, winter day.

Nothin' but a Hound dog

This is Ginzee, my treeing walker coonhound.  She is a great dog for Alaska despite her southern roots.  She makes for a perfect playmate, always up for a run, hike, bike or ski.  Imagine my surprise during my evening shower to see her staring at me from the soap rack!

You never know where inspiration is going to strike so you need to be ready!  I grabbed my camera and used this shape for the above drawing.

I used a ink pencil to draw Ginzee.  It draws like a normal pencil but when you add water the pencil line becomes blue ink.  I thought it might be more interesting than just black.  A light watercolor wash on the background, a little shading with a graphite pencil and there her adorable face appeared.

Keep your eyes open!  Is that just a crumbled piece of paper or a spaceship waiting to be discovered?

Hoot-Hoot

I love owls.  Hearing their call echo through the woods on a crisp snowy night is always a thrill.  They are hidden creatures.  I have seen my share but I never tire of it and am always happy to hear them talking at night.  It's like a little beacon that all is right with Alaska.

This painting was done with a loose watercolor wash.  I went back over the outline with colored pencil and a pencil.  The beak, eyes, feet and branch were done with a black ink watercolor brush pen.  I took a yellow colored pencil to add in the eye color.  The background was done with a branch stencil, dapper and grey ink.  I wanted the woods there without overshadowing the owl.

Here is to have hoots in your winter evenings!

Feeling surreal

I love surrealism.  I saw a fantastic show once at the Chicago Art Institute featuring Rene Magritte.  He is most known for his painting of a man with a bowler hat standing with an apple obscuring his face.  I decided.....gulp.....I am going to do a show trying my hand at surrealism.  

Surrealism movement began in the 1920s.  Think of Dali and the melting clocks.  It is defined as illogical scenes that allow the unconscious mind to express itself.  It features unexpected pairings, an element of surprise, things that make you go, "Hmmmmm."

This is a canvas panel with a magazine picture collage adhered with a gel medium.  I did a light acrylic wash over the pictures.  I drew the face and traced it onto the panel.  Taking a blue Posca pen and a template I added the circles.  Using acrylic paint and a pencil I added in some features.  I added a few more circles with a white Posca pen.

This is a fun technique.  It was a good warm up for what is to come!

Let it SNOW!

AHHHH winter.  Love it, everything about it.  I don't complain about the cold or the darkness.  I love the peaceful energy and the silence the snow brings.  And I LOVE to ski!!  Today my dog and I had a great time after a nice, fresh snowfall.  I decided to document the moment in my sketch book.

I took a brayer and laid down some acrylic blue.  I took a stencil and with my palette knife added a few dots here and there to add some interest and texture to the background.  I used my palette knife again to make some nice fluffy snow.  Once that dried,I made a template for the sun and trees and painted them in. (Tearing a template from heavy stock paper keeps things a little looser as you can see in the trees.  The sun was a circle template). I sketched the skier on a piece of paper and then traced it onto the scene.  I under painted the skier with a burnt sienna and grey and then added in the top colors.  A little pencil shadow under the skis and I called this sketch of the day done!

You might be wondering where the dog is in this scene? Well, as much as I love skiing, my hound has the same love for chasing rabbits.  She always seems to keep track of me so we have an agreement.  Fortunately for the rabbits, she isn't very good at catching them!

Nighttime in Paris

Ahhh Paris.  If you have never been there, it really is worth all the hype.  I recently went into a local fabric store and made a purchase.  The design on the bag gave me this idea.  I didn't have a lot of time but I am really making an effort to draw everyday. It's the only way to get better, right?  

The background is a watercolor wash.  I drew the woman and then traced her coat and boots onto a patterned paper.  Also, the lighted windows and street lamp are cut paper. They are glued on with just a simple glue stick.  I did a light, rough drawing of a building and cafe and then I outlined it all with an ink brush. 

I know, it makes me want to go to Paris too!  And does anyone know where I could buy those boots?

The Perfect Cup

I love tea.  Getting it just right, taking that first delicious sip is a little slice of heaven.  If I were a mad scientist with the skill of physics and other science 'stuff' I would figure out how to steep it perfectly every time! 

This sketch of Xavier making his perfect cup was done using a gear template.  On a heavy stock paper, I used an ink pad and a dopper to create the design.  I went back through with pencil to add a little texture.  The tea cup is also cut out from a heavy stock paper.  A little watercolor wash was added to the background.  Xavier himself is a pencil drawing with marker.

Now I am off to make a yummy cup of tea!

The Beauty of Italy

I promised my friends an art party.  Just a small group of good conversation, art and of course, snacks!  I wanted a project that everyone could do and be proud of the results.  At the same time I didn't want it to be SO cookie cutter that they couldn't stretch their own creative wings.  This is done with acrylic paint and a little colored pencil in the outlines.  You can follow the photos below to see how you too can create this painting.

First cover your panel with yellow paint.  Easy brush strokes leaving a little of the white showing thru.  While that dries use a heavy  stock paper and tear out shapes for your sun, trees, flowers and hills.  

Add blue to your sky.  Taking your torn paper template, paint a brown outline for the sun, hill and trees.

Now start coloring it all in. When your hill is dry, use the flower template to place a brown background where your flowers will go. Add in the flower petals.  When all is dry, take your colored pencil and make the tree base, also add little marks to bring it all together.  Happy creating!