Bumble Bee Whimsy

Sometimes you can learn a lot from copying.  I made every effort to copy a painting by Anthony Morrow.  I really like his work.  I didn't exactly duplicate it here but I had fun trying.  

Everyday Matters Challenge #1 ~ a shoe

Everyday Matters is a community of artists who encourage each other to expand their creativity.  One way they do this is by suggesting a list of challenges to draw.  Number 1 is, "Draw a shoe."  Sometimes you just need a nudge to be creative.

Mama and babies

A second attempt at this one!  I tried it again, using a color photo, sitting with my Monday night painting ladies.

I drew and painted this from a black and white photo, sitting in the car, with my little travel paint set.

Great Egret

Arti Gras 2011

My first time going to Arti Gras....  and I loved it.  I painted this at a tent where they were giving instructions to a group of about 30 people at a time.  It was done with acrylic paint in about 20 minutes.

Chickadee

I love little finches!

A New Journal for 2011

 

A brand new art journal!  It small, just the way I like AND it's made out of watercolor paper.  I would encourage anyone that likes to doodle or draw or paint, but thinks they aren't good enough, to get a small blank book and play in it with pens and pencils and paint.  It's a safe, no rules, no perfection needed, sort of place to experiment. 

Pink Flamingoes

Tulip

Looking at the Rockies

An amazing God created this

This is a beautiful and usual flower. They are rather common around South Florida but taking the time to draw and paint one made me appreciate them so much more. I looked it up on wikipedia and found this little bit of interesting information.

"They are pollinated by sunbirds, which use the spathe as a perch when visiting the flowers; the weight of the bird on the spathe opens it to release the pollen onto the bird's feet, which is then deposited on the next flower it visits."

Pretty cool, eh?

Yes, they are blue.

Acrylic paint is so fun! Whenever the "one shot at it" pressure of watercolor gets to you, get out the acrylics and just paint until you're happy. Blue buffalo grazing in a yellow field make me happy.

Cherries

This was a fun little exercise in trying to get "round" with shading and leaving some white for reflection.

Little Thatch Island Cottage

Wouldn't this be a nice place to go on a honeymoon?!!

Watercolor class #2... I really enjoy going to class, and I like the teacher, and I like watching her paint. [but] We painted this picture using a black and gray reference photo, and not a very clear copy at that. The teacher demonstrated how she would paint it but she used paints that we don't have on our palette. In a perfect world, this would be different! :)

first day...

I walked into my first watercolor class with my bag of supplies... brand new paints and brushes, and 3 hours later I walked out of the class with this. I'm giving myself permission to be happy with it.

The instructor was sitting at one end of the room and she remained in that chair for pretty much the entire 3 hour class. She called the class up to her desk and demonstrated a few steps. We crowded around, looked on, upside down, and then went back to our desks to "give it a shot". I'm giving myself permission to be "okay" with this.

We are supposed to "finish it" at home. Ummm..... how?

Will You Marry Me?

This was the very first time I participated in an online challenge and sent a picture of my painting in.

Prince Charming

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

I tried to copy another artist work here. I will try to find the name and update this post.

Style-eye

Take a Load Off

Last week I went to the library to spend a little time looking at art books. I found some great ones that show beautiful examples of drawing the human form. As you might expect, they are drawings of nudes. Now, our library has a rather large reading area with lots of comfortable chairs. It probably seats about 20, spaced out with tables and lamps. I was there, and one other person... about 10 feet away. In comes a nice older gentleman... he grabs a magazine and where do you suppose he sits? Yep... right smack dab next to me! I don't usually mind people in "my bubble" but I did feel a little awkward "studying" nudes with grandpa looking over my shoulder!

I drew this man with pencil, from a photo taken by Karin Jurick. Karin is the creator of an artists' challenge website called, Different Strokes from Different Folks. Every couple of weeks, she posts a photograph and challenges "folks" to paint or draw from it. The idea is to motivate you to try new things. The artists send their drawings or paintings by email to Karin and she posts them. It is absolutely amazing to see all the ways one picture is interpreted. To see the refernce photo and everyone's submissions, click here: Different Strokes

Who Remembers Commander Mark?

Back in the 80's, PBS carried a show called, "The Secret City," hosted by a fabulously energetic, and extremely gifted artist/art teacher, Mark Kistler. He was Commander Mark!! He drew these great, whimsical, alien cities while he taught the basics of drawing. Lucky for me, I had two little boys that liked watching "Secret City." Now, fast forward with me, and here I am, ready to draw and paint. I've dusted off an art journal/sketchbook that I bought in 2000 (and only used a dozen pages). Also collecting dust on the shelf is a drawing book by Mark Kistler from 1988. It's called, Draw Squad, and it's 30 drawing lessons... just like the ones from "Secret City."

Here's my Lesson One...

Let the fun begin!

I thought I would invite "Mahi" and "Bankie" to help me with my art bloggity debut. They symbolize a new adventure for me. I've given myself "permission" to take the time to paint, to make art, to learn as I go, and most importantly, to thoroughly enjoy the process. I found some great fish pictures on the Florida Fish and Wildlife website and decided to try painting a few. Fun, fun, fun!

I'm looking for, asking for, lots and lots of critiquing. All tips, hints, pointers, tricks, etc. are welcome!