Ribbit!

I needed some structure so I painted from a photo. I find it funny that I tend to go back to painting realism after painting from imagination. I get comfort from knowing what the outcome will look like, or its approximation.

Tree Frog on 8 x 10 Strathmore 500 140 lb cold press paper. Believe it or not, the watercolors are from a Prang set.

Imaginary Fish

I haven't posted much in the last week because I haven't really worked on anything post worthy. I did a quick watercolor sketch last week at the park while my boys played at the playground. I keep a small journal in my purse for those occasions where I'm sitting idle waiting. I also worked on some doodle patterns in my sketchbook just to get my creative juices flowing. None of those seem worthy of blog space. I did work on this fish over a few days. I used my samples of Daniel Smith watercolors from the 66 dot sample I got. I used all the iridescent colors but it isn't showing up well in the photograph. I ended up losing some of the scale details when I washed over it with another color so I added watercolor pencil to put the detail back in. I like her bright fuchsia lips.

I'm still undecided about Daniel Smith watercolors. I know that lots of people love them. The tiny dot samples are so small that I can't really load my brush to give a good opinion. So far, I love M. Graham watercolors best. They are really juicy and vibrant.

This is 5 x 7 rough Fabriano 140 lb cold press paper. Daniel Smith watercolors and Raffine watercolor pencils.

It's a Special Day

It's my baby's birthday today. He is 6 years old. He brings so much love, laughter and fun to our lives. I am so grateful that I am here to witness his growth, feel his love and laugh at his antics. I say that because shortly after I gave birth to him, things went horribly wrong and I nearly left this world just as he entered it. His Birth Day marks a bittersweet time for me. Sweet that he is here, bitter in the painful memories it brings back. Today, I celebrate all the joy that he is. I am so proud to be his mama.

More Poppies

Sorry, I can't help myself. They are so fun to do. I particularly like the bottom one best. I think I may frame it.

Painting Along With...

The Poppy Spree. I mentioned a little while ago about a free online workshop that I found through The Dirty Footprints Studio. Studio Margot puts up videos each week so that you can follow along and watch her in action painting poppies.

I love the abstract way the poppies turn out. They are loose and fresh. Here's my play with them. I'll probably do more because they are so much fun.

Pumpkin season

Fall is my absolute favorite season. When I lived in Vermont, this time of year was spectacular with the all the changing of the leaves. The reds, golds and oranges were something to see. We always went apple picking after the first frost. The apples are supposedly sweeter then. We can't do that here in Texas. But I still love this time of year. The weather is awesome. The highs are in the mid-70's instead of the sweltering 100's. Fall marks the beginning of the holiday season for us. My youngest has a birthday, Halloween is fun, Thanksgiving and then the winter holidays.

We needed to buy a pumpkin for the kindergarten class for a project. I love carving a pumpkin and roasting the seeds. I have the same conversation every year with my husband that goes like this:

Me: "We need to get a pumpkin."
Him: "No, we don't. It's too messy."
Me: "I like roasting the seeds."
Him: "I will buy you pumpkin seeds."
Me: "No, it's not the same."
Him: "Why? Pumpkin seeds are pumpkin seeds."
Me: "I like to season them my way."
Him: "Hmphf"
Me: "This looks like a good one!"

Every year, the same thing. It's pretty comical. I season them with salt, pepper, granulated garlic and paprika and I like them well done.

This is a sketch of the pumpkin that's going to school. It was the closest one to me to sketch.

Eggplant

I picked up this beauty last week and painted it the other day. It's now sitting in the fridge waiting to be cooked. I need to get on it because it's not looking as pretty as this watercolor painting anymore. This was an easy, fast painting. I think I went a little overboard with the splashing but was having too much fun in the moment to care.

Signal Station

Yesterday, I took the day for myself. I headed down to Mayfield Park with the intention of walking around the grounds and sketching different things. My first stop was to this old signal station. Now this was the first time that I'd actually gone on a sketching trip. I found a good spot on a low stone wall, set up my supplies and began sketching. I have never really sketched any structures before so this was new to me. Apparently I must be the slowest sketcher in the world because this took me 4 hours. I never got to explore and sketch anything else in the park. I find this extremely funny. I had illusions of grandeur thinking I was going to have pages of sketches on this trip. Boy, was I wrong!

It was a blissful 4 hours. The weather was perfect. There are free roaming peacocks in this park. They aren't shy and come right up to you. I enjoyed watching them. Too bad I didn't get a chance to sketch any of them. I would have had the opportunity because they stay nearby and don't seem to be bothered or afraid of people. Next time!

I left the park and picked up my daughter and we went out for lunch together. All in all it was a great day.

Balance

I'm finally done with the second installment of Total Alignment. I should've taken photos along the way for you to see the transformation this page took. It's completely different from how it originally started out. For me, balance is about keeping all the balls in the air and still having a piece of me left over. I struggle at times and lose myself in all my other 'jobs'...wife, mother, housekeeper, grocery shopper, meal planner, kids taxi driver, etc.

The odd thing is, this is the first time in probably 8 years that I really have time to myself for extended amounts of time. My youngest is in school now and I have closed down my business. Yet, I seem to be 'busy' and never have enough time. Before I know it, it's time to pick up my youngest two from school.

It's important for me to have my own purpose besides the ones listed above. I will be actively trying to balance things better so that I feel more fulfilled. Having a proverbial full cup makes me a happier person all around.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, I'm heading out on a sketching expedition to Mayfield Park to fill my cup.

Can't Get Enough Poppies

I don't know why I'm drawn to poppies so much. My favorite color is red, but still. I can't seem to get enough of them. This morning while looking at my blog roll to read all the new posts, I stopped over at Connie's Dirty Footprints Studio blog and lo and behold, she has a post about an artist doing a free poppies workshop! You know that I will be following along with that! Check it out if you have a poppy obsession too!

This 'thing' with poppies is longstanding. When I was an avid quilter about 8 to 10 years ago, I bought a pattern to make a huge (3 ft by 4 ft) poppy wall hanging. I never got around to making it but I think I will soon. I just have to find it since I packed up all my quilting stuff when I started making monsters. Since I'm no longer making monsters, the urge to make art quilts might come back to me. I certainly sew a heck of a lot faster now than I did back then.

Crazy Apples

I realized that I haven't posted to the blog in a week. It's not that I haven't been creating. It's that I haven't been completing. I'm in the midst of doing the second exercise of Total Alignment that has to do with balance. My page has taken many forms in the last week and when I think I'm done, I end up adding more. It will be done soon, I think. I guess that's the beauty of painting Fearless...you don't know until you're in the thick of it how it's going to turn out or when it's done! I'm having fun though and I guess that's all that really matters.

I painted these crazy apples right before I had to pick up my boys from school today. It's not my usual tight and tidy style but I had fun with it. Maybe that Fearless painting is rubbing off.

This is 5 x 7 on Strathmore 500 140lb cold press paper. M. Graham watercolors, Pentel Brush pen, micron pen and watersoluble pencil.