Everyday Object

Drawing everyday objects for the Sketchbook Challenge....  this is what I see around my house.

I used tombow markers and water for this.

Art Journal Every Day

Well, not every day, but it would be nice.  I try to do something artistic every day, even if it's something small.

New cover for art journal.. not my usually crazy bright colors

Earth Journal Page--- Evolution of Pages

Earth prompt from In the Sun
Here's the before and after of the evolution of these pages.

Phase ONE

Phase TWO

Pages FINISHED!

Red Configuration on Canvas

"Red Configuration" on Canvas, Watercolor paints and gesso (for the white) on Aquabord canvas, 2011

detail

detail

detail

detail

Linked to Paint Party Friday and Out of the Journal

Fire Journal Page

Prompt from In the Sun

I've decided to try to use up some of my old pictures and scraps.  I have a whole drawer full of pictures I'd like to go through.  It's crazy how we accumulate so much stuff!  Some of the photos were ones I experimented with hand altering using bleach.

Another giveaway I won :)

So, you know how I just told you that I have been super lucky this year winning giveaways?  I opened another box that came which was from artist Kelly Rae Roberts giveaway.  First prize was a plane trip to see her and spend a day working with her in her studio and touring the company where her products are produced.  Well that would have been AWESOME, but I won as a runner-up.  Which is just fabulous also, because I got this cool box of goodies.  It had been sitting on our table by the door for a few days and I didn't open it.  The reason I didn't open it was stupid!  My husband said, "Oh your box of padded mailers that you ordered came in."  So, I left them there, because padded mailers aren't all that exciting.  So I got around to opening it today and lo and behold, I was super excited to see what was inside. 

Girl wall hanging!

This is a canvas wall hanging!

This is a gorgeous sketchbook journal!

A cup that I can take to school with me!

And in case you think I'm being greedy with all this cool swag that I'm winning, I'm also spreading the love and doing giveaways on my other blog, with is a blog for art teachers.  If you are interested, check out Art is Basic. 

Look what I won!

I have been super lucky lately winning giveaways!  You may have noticed that I link some of my artwork to the Inspiration Avenue blog.  They have giveaways there and participants in the challenges are eligible.  I didn't even realize that until I won this month!  I received a lovely jar of inspiration from Imgirl.  These are some pictures of what I received today. Thank you!!

these are my favorites!

WOYWW

my newish watercolor tray that I love.  You need to get a watercolor palette with a lid, then you can save the paints from day to day, no waste.

 What's on your workdesk Wednesday is a round-up of just that.  Every Wednesday, artist post pictures of what sits on their desk. 

Messy area.  Artwork lying all over every surface to dry.

My daughter's work desk.  She is 22 months old.  I love her artwork, maybe I'm biased!  :)  This one she used some of my blue craft paint and then when it dried, she used markers on top of it.   If anyone else has pics of their children's art desks, I'd love to see them too.  Since I'm an elementary art teacher, I'm interested in that sort of thing.

Summer Configuration

Summer Configuration, 12 x 18", watercolor and gesso

Linked to the Butterfly Effect and Inspiration Avenue

and Out of the Journal

Sometimes you have the painting that will never end and it seems like I have had this one sitting on my desk forever (although it's only been a few weeks).  These are the colors of summer for me.

Index Card a Day Challenge

Index Card a Day!

Mosaic Monday

I just opened up a flickr group called "Lettering Love".  You should check out all of the wonderful artwork that people are submitting.  You should also submit some of your own artwork that incorporates letters.  Here is a sampling of what people have been making.  Click on the links below to get the larger images.

1. little yellow house, 2. Some easter drawing, 3. Change the World, 4. block cities, 5. cupcakes are yummy, 6. The Serenity Prayer, 7. Be Happy, 8. Comes a Time Art Journal Page, 9. Name Zentangle Doodle 1 "KAI", 10. WORRYless, 11. Save the best for last, 12. Art Journal Every Day: Remembering Dad, 13. Art Journal Every Day: One Day at a Time, 14. Flower Power, 15. don't forget to love yourself, 16. love, 17. Think Poster, 18. Hope greeting card

Lots of WIP

I've got lots of works in progress going on right now.  Lots of things I'm playing around with.

Painting with spray inks, acrylic paint, collage materials... writing to be added soon.

Watercolor doodling... painting, then erasing because I'm unhappy with it.  ugh!  Hate it when that happens.  Luckily this Ampersand Aquabord I'm using wipes off pretty easily.

Painting doodles.. you can see on the lower right corner where I've been wiping off some paint with water and paper towels. 

Painting that has been sitting on my desk.. not sure where to go with it from here, so it's just sitting there.

Collage that I'm starting.  The photograph on the left is one I took at the botanical gardens here in town.  This is the first stage of painting the background, laying down collage elements.  Paint will be added on top to tie the pieces together.  The goal is for it to look something like this previous collage, which I like a lot.  or something like this one.    The final piece will change a lot from this picture you see here.

an index card sized collage.  It is so satisfying just to throw down a bunch of disparate pieces and glue them together.  My toddler will just sit there and smear glue with the glue stick all over the paper.  There's something fun about smashing pieces together, right?

Here is a sketch from a photograph of an interior.  This will be what I'm working on this week probably.  It's a nice exercise in proportion and perspective and all those lovely "p" skills. 

I will be linking this to the Butterfly Effect, which you should check out.  Those girls are fun, crazy and down to earth! 

Also, you should join my Flickr group, which is called Lettering Love.  Love of all things lettering!
Handwriting, hand lettering, embellished letters, illuminated manuscripts, calligraphy, funky and juicy words!
Art journal pages, greeting cards, diaries, posters and art!!  I've been very excited about lettering and using paint to make words and numbers.  I couldn't find any really good groups on flickr for lettering.  I want to see letters and numbers of all kinds. 

P.S.  I am LOVING this artwork  Yoshie is an artist based in Japan. She loves travel and making illustrations by using scraps of fabric, stitch, acrylic, collage mix on cloth or paper.  Her works are making picturebooks and artwork for advertising, magazines, collaboration goods, and more. she also loves doing art-workshops for kids and adults in many places. 

Rolling Hills Watercolor Painting

This summer I have been taking a once per week watercolor painting class.  For the past several weeks we have been working on rolling hill paintings.  Here is my finished painting.

This fits in to the theme of Forest for the Trees at Inspiration Avenue. 
Also linked to Paint Party Friday and the Butterfly Effect.

WOYWW

What's on your work desk Wednesday?

more watercolor paintings!

New Cards

I have some new cards I finished last night while watching the Bachelorette.  I have an idea to have these made into greeting cards either to sell or just give to people.  I am inspired by bright colors, doodles, patterns and shapes!  If I were to go backpacking in the Himalayas for a year and could only take 3 art supplies I would bring my Sakura Koi travel watercolor set, Black Micron pens, and a Strathmore Visual Journal Sketchpad!  That's all I would need!

Linked to My Mojo Monthly