Pencil-Paper-Paint

Starting Sketchbook Project Ltd Edition

2012-01-19T14:30:00.003-07:00

Hey peeps! Got my new Sketchbook Project book and revamped it. This is a fabric cover, isn't this the coolest fabric?!! I'm having a hard time getting inspired to sketch in the dead of winter, it took me awhile to think of what my first sketch would be. I have since done a little watercolor wash over these and done 2 more sketches. I'll have to scan them and show you!

Thanks so much for stopping by, now it's your turn, go sketch something!

Sketchbook Project 2012 - finished!!!

2011-12-19T16:16:00.003-07:00

Here's my last spread in my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project 2012! I sketched the wrong book though! I highly recommend Danny Gregory's "Creative License!" That's what really got me sketching and improving so much! One of these days I'll have to post a pic of what my sketching was like before. And of course anything by Cathy "Kate" Johnson! She has several books and is just such an inspiration!

Today in the mail I got my new sketchbook for the Limited Edition so I need to revamp it and get busy!

Thanks for stopping by now go do some art! And I will see if I can find my muse!

2012 Sketchbook Project - finishing up

2011-12-11T13:55:00.005-07:00

See, I have been doing art! Just not doing great at posting about it. Excuse my wonky perspective in the first picture, sometimes that just happens. I only have one more spread to do and this sketchbook is done and will go in the mail after Christmas!!! Woohoo!!!!! Now, what should I do for my last sketch? I already did the last page so I just need to sketch something, anything, the pressure is on!

Well I'll let you know what I come up with! I'm waiting for my next sketchbook to arrive. It would be awesome to have some of my work published in a book!!! If you want to learn more about the sketchbook project click the link to the right or check it out below, you know you want to!!! :D

Thanks for stopping by and have a Merry Christmas if I don't get back on here before then!

the Sketchbook Project Limited Edition

2011-12-07T07:18:00.003-07:00

First off this is not my photo, it belongs to Arthouse Coop. I borrowed it to tell you about the Sketchbook Project Limited Edition! Look at all these sketchbooks!!! I'd love to go there and look through them! I'm just finishing up my Sketchbook Project sketchbook for 2012 and I am so proud of myself!

The Limited Edition is a little different. It will be due in April, 2012, it's limited to 5,000 artists, and all the sketchbooks will be published in a book! Awesome!!!! I was trying to make up my mind if I was going to do it or not and decided to go for it! The worst that will happen is that I won't get it done and I won't be able to participate in the next one. Of course I have a thing about unfinished projects so I will get it done, no matter what!

If you want to find out more check it out:

http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject?utm_source=Art+House+Co-op+List&utm_campaign=1d5f78f3c3-Limited_Edition_launch11_8_2011&utm_medium=email

Thanks for stopping by and now get busy and do some art!

More Sketchbook Project sketches

2011-11-17T09:23:00.004-07:00

These are three more sketches I've done in my Sketchbook Project book. Only six more spreads to go! I'd better hurry it up! It has to be in by the end of January, I think. And I hate putting things off until the last minute! Totally messes up my muse!

I was so honored to have my name and a link to my blog mentioned in their latest newsletter! Now they are doing another project, where they're going to publish all the entrants sketchbooks in a book! How cool! This sketchbook will be due in April, I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it.... we'll see. Part of the reason is that that is during the winter for the most part, and I am really inspired by nature, flowers, bugs etc. I'm not sure what I would draw in a winter sketchbook. Anyway, click on my link to the right and I'm sure it will take you to the new page for more info on the New Sketchbook Project project. :D

Thanks so much for stopping by and leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Some new sketches

2011-10-20T17:11:00.002-06:00

Okay, first up is a new Hydrangea watercolor sketch! I love, love, love hydrangeas!!! They are just the most awesome flower! It's just amazing that they can change color! This just fascinates me! Feed them acidic plant food and they will turn blue! The last small hydrangea I bought died when I planted it, but that's probably because it was in the middle of the horribly hot summer. So I will try it again, and probably put up some wire around it to keep the deer from snacking on it.

Second up is my new chick sketch! I'm learning to draw girls with Suzi Blu! See her button on my side bar. I can draw all kinds of things but not people! When I used to draw them their noses ended up looking like a pig's snout! I think I'm doing much better!!! And Suzi is a ton of fun!

Oh! The hydrangea is in my Sketchbook Project book, so now I only have 9 more spreads to do! I'm anxious to get it done before I get sidetracked and space it out! :D

Thanks so much for stopping by! Now go draw something!

Fall leaves

2011-10-12T15:35:00.002-06:00

Here's a couple of sketches I just finished. The top one is in my Sketchbook Project book, the lower one in my watercolor Moleskine. I think I could sketch fall leaves all day long! Each one is different and they remind me of sunrises, which I never get to see here. I guess I'll have to start getting up really early and driving somewhere where I can see the sun rise. I am really missing Colorado these days...

More Sketchbook Project...

2011-10-01T17:36:00.003-06:00

I know, you thought I forgot all about my Sketchbook Project didn't you? I didn't, just been terribly busy. I did have a chance to sit down and do some pear sketches. The top one is in my personal watercolor moley, the second is in my Sketchbook Project book. I have some mushrooms to show you too, but I'll do that next time!

Now it's your turn - go draw something!

Cidada and Black Eyed Susan

2011-08-14T09:15:00.006-06:00

I forgot to post my very first full spread in my Sketchbook Project - the Black Eyed Susans. So here they are.

My most recent is this sketch of the Cicada that fell out of our oak tree during a recent rainstorm. The wings weren't really that colorful but I decided the poor ugly creature needing something redeeming about it. I'm just glad I didn't have a cup of coffee sitting there when this thing fell, eeeeewwwwwwww! My kids were a little freaked when I brought it into the house to paint, they thought maybe it was still alive. :D

Now I need to find something else to sketch....

Thanks for stopping by! Have an awesome day!

Hibiscus-oops! Rose of Sharon

2011-08-02T16:45:00.006-06:00

For those of you who don't know, we just recently moved from Colorado to Pennsylvania. I'm always making new discoveries here - it's like living in another country! I saw these flowers on a bush and went out to see what they were and was totally amazed that they were Hibiscus! A sweet friend of mine let me know that they are The Rose of Sharon, thank you Patty! I used to have a yellow one in my front window in Colorado! I never would have planted it outside, I don't think it would have survived the cold winters. Keep in mind I lived in the foothills.

The first spread is for my sketchbook for The Sketchbook Project - see the button on my sidebar. Then of course I had to do another sketch for my personal sketchbook! And it was such a beautiful and cool morning out I spent several hours doing this! Yesterday it got up to 99 degrees in the shade! Holy cow! With the humidity it's just awful!!! I don't know if I'll ever get used to the humidity here... :)

Anyway, you might want to check into doing the Sketchbook Project, I know several people are doing them - some do mixed media and collage in theirs... I only have 17 more spreads to go! I'm going to try and keep it to sketching but who knows, I may do some collage also. And it doesn't even have to be sent in until the end of January!

Hey thanks for stopping by! If you leave me a comment I can come visit your blog! :D

Sketchbook Project 2012 - the start of something big!

2011-07-26T16:21:00.006-06:00

I was a little disappointed when I received my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project, I guess I expected something more grandiose. I didn't waste any time (even to take a photo of it) taking it apart and binding some hot pressed watercolor paper and making it into a whole new looking book. I kept the main cover, made the spine wider and cut off part of the front, adding a piece of chipboard (thank you Lisa Vollrath for that idea). I also added a piece of elastic to hold it closed, they didn't allow anything to be hanging from it which is too bad... Then I Coptic bound 10 pages of hot pressed watercolor paper, folded in half. I glued fabric to the outside of the book, thought that would stabilize it better and I love this fabric by Robert Kaufman. Then I put it all together and ta-da!!! It has 20 pages, 40 if I do front and back. I'll play that by ear.

I think I will mainly be doing watercolor sketches but I'm not ruling out some mixed media or collage as well, we'll see how it goes.

The theme I chose is "This is a Sketchbook" so that leaves it wide open. I really don't like "themes", they tend to stifle my creativity. :D

More photos to come!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you're keeping cool in this heat.

Just joined the Sketchbook Journal Project 2012!!!

2011-07-15T16:48:00.003-06:00

Woohoo!!!!!!!! I so wanted to do this last year but couldn't cause we were in the middle of selling our house. I saw the link on Anita's blog and popped over and signed up for this year!!! Can't wait to get my book and get started!!! I'm actually going to sketch in mine, I chose the Title - This is a sketchbook. That leaves it pretty open. I hate being pinned down to a theme!

I know a lot of mixed media artists will do collage etc., but I'm going to sketch and do watercolor and colored pencil. Have you signed up yet? I think this will be awesome to have one of my sketchbooks in the Brooklyn Art Library!!! How cool is that? People can check out your sketchbook and look through at the library! Who knows, maybe I'll inspire someone to pick up a pencil and start sketching!!!

Here's a link if you'd like to find out more:

http://arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject/features

Inspired by Kate (Cathy Johnson)

2011-07-15T08:46:00.009-06:00

I just got Kate's (Cathy Johnson's) new book "Artist's Journal Workshop" and I love it!!!! I'm only half way through and I know I'll be re-reading this one forever! And I usually hate reruns but there is so much info and so much inspiration I know I'll be going back to it again and again!!! If you don't have it yet, you need it! If you do have it but haven't started reading - read it! I know I'm being bossy, but you'll be so glad you did!

I have been ignoring all the piles of moving boxes and sketching instead! :D For those of you who don't know - we just moved from Colorado to Pennsylvania in May and yes, I still have tons of boxes to unpack! I have an awful lot of books! I am actually going to have to get rid of some of them, but not any of Kate's!

If the laundry room was bigger, I'd just hide some in there, but we downsized and so stuff has got to go! We'll be having a huge garage sale! Possibly two or three! LOL!

Well that's all for now, time to go look in some more boxes and groan...

New watercolor sketches

2011-07-01T04:24:00.010-06:00

You can tell I was out of practice on sketching! The top two sketches I did a few days ago, the bottom three I did yesterday.

I just got Cathy (Kate) Johnson's new book - Artist's Journal Workshop - and love it!!!!!!! If you're just getting into painting you need this book! And if you've been painting for years you need this book! There's a lot of information on new products, how to use them, what works best, ideas to try and just such an inspiration!!! Thank you Kate for sharing your knowledge with us!

I've been slacking off on my painting and Kate's book gave me the kick in the pants that I needed to get back to it. Now if I can just focus and keep painting... I really do miss it. I used to paint huge watercolor paintings and enter them into shows. I really miss just the painting itself. So I'm thinking of giving up some of my other mixed media and altered art stuff so I'll have room to set up my drafting table again.... We'll see how that goes. I enjoy all of the other art too but I can't do every different kind of art that comes along, even though it is fun! I don't have enough room and it gets expensive! Hmmm, I'll have to think on this for awhile.

Thanks so much for stopping by and Happy 4th of July and have a fun and safe weekend!

A new pen and watercolor sketch

2011-06-14T08:04:00.003-06:00

Oh my gosh! I didn't realize it had been so long since I'd posted on this blog! I didn't fall off the planet, just moved a good distance across it! :D We're still settling in after moving from Colorado to Pennsylvania for a corporate move.

It's so lush and green here! And humid! Colorado has about 11 percent humidity so this is going to take some getting used to. But it is gorgeous! All kinds of new things to experience - we have a ground hog (Philadelphia Phil) and a fox in our yard. New kinds of birds to sketch - Cardinals are awesome!!! So this is my first dark purple columbine that I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of Columbine! I had to do a quick sketch last night before the last few went to seed. I also painted an ACEO (artist card edition original) that it now listed for sale in my Etsy shop:

http://purplepaint.etsy.com/

Hopefully I'll be able to do more sketching here pretty soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by and now it's your turn, go sketch something!

Some recent sketches and trying something new...

2011-03-04T18:54:00.005-07:00

March came in with a beautiful spring day so I just had to get out and do some sketching! This week I went over to Manitou Springs and did some quick sketches. Keep in mind these were really quick and really loose! The one of the buildings I have done large paintings of but of course that takes 30 hours just to draw it up. These are very loose!

This bottom painting is inspired by a workshop I'm taking online, Strathmore is putting it on for free and Pam Carriker is one of the teachers. I'm having a lot of fun with this loose style. And surprisingly I'm having fun using acrylics! Usually they dry too fast to suit my needs, but they're fun to play with!

Thanks for stopping by! Now it's your turn! Go do some art! :D

Mona

2011-02-23T21:03:00.003-07:00

I'll be the first to admit, I'm not very good at drawing people, but I was so inspired tonight by Pam Carriker's

http://pamcarriker.com/

sketch of Mona I just had to try it! It doesn't look exactly like her but it does have some resemblance!!! For me that is something! Pam just came out with a new book, Art at the Speed of Life and she has several short video tutorials on her blog. She's very good at mixed media collage and she is teaching a free workshop through Stratmore, she has a link on her blog. The one I just signed up for is using your previous artwork in your collages, my previous artwork is packed so I have to make some new artwork... Anyway, hop over and check out her blog and her tutorials!

Thanks so much for stopping by, have an art filled day!

Urban Sketching - Guiseppe's Depot

2011-01-15T12:26:00.003-07:00

Finally warmed up enough the other day that I got to go out and do some sketching on location! I chose to do a quick sketch of the tower of Giuseppe's Depot in Colorado Springs. Another 13 spreads and I'll be done with my first reloaded book! I played with my water brush and I love it!!! So much fun to use!

As you know, we're trying to sell our house so we can relocate to right outside Philly. I wonder if the house won't sell until I finish this reloaded sketch book? This was originally supposed to be paintings of just Colorado Springs.... jeesh! Talk about superstitious! LOL!

Thanks for stopping by! Now it's your turn - go sketch something! :D

My first sketch of 2011 and I just had to do it!

2011-01-11T09:54:00.004-07:00

Some of you may remember this chocolate frog from a few years ago - these came out when the second Harry Potter book came out, I think. I got one of these for my brother-in-law and kept one for myself. It's such a fun little frog to draw! He's been living in my freezer for years ~ but since we're moving I just couldn't let him melt! And I must say, he tasted really good even after all those years in the freezer! :D

It feels good to be sketching again!

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm back!!!!!!!!!

2011-01-11T08:46:00.003-07:00

I've decided to continue to post on this blog after all ~ I know, make up my mind already! LOL!

These are some roses I sketched before Thanksgiving, I didn't quite finish the one on the left, but I kind of like it that way... I was interrupted by the real estate company calling for a showing, yes we're still trying to sell our house, the economy is terrible! Once we do sell we'll be moving to Downingtown or West Chester Pennsylvania, just outside Philly. Lots of new stuff to draw!

I've gotten out of practice on my drawing and I'm hoping to get back to it! I'd love to set up my drafting table and do a real painting, but part of it is packed - the story of my life these last several months...

Thanks for stopping by!

Paintings and sketches will now be on my other blog...

2010-12-11T11:36:00.003-07:00

It's just too time consuming to post my drawings and paintings on this blog, and all my other artwork on my other blog, so from now on, I'll be posting all my artwork: drawing, painting, sewing, quilting, mixed media, rubber stamping, etc. on my other blog:

http://purplepaintsmuse.blogspot.com/

Come on over and see what I'm up too! :D

And more fall leaves...

2010-11-21T16:45:00.004-07:00

After raking up another 4 huge black lawn bags full of pine needles I had time to do a quick sketch of some maple leaves that I found. Maple leaves are just gorgeous!!! I hope I did them justice! This sketch is in my reloaded vintage book.

If you'd like to read more pop over to my other blog:

http://purplepaintsmuse.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by and have an artful day!

A short visit from my muse...

2010-10-26T19:32:00.002-06:00

Had a short visit from my muse tonight and did this watercolor sketch. My muse hasn't been around much lately. What with having to clean and declutter and always keep the house clean in case we have a showing....

Maybe I'll be able to do some more sketches tomorrow....

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

Painting at Garden of the Gods

2010-09-29T19:01:00.003-06:00

I finally had a chance to get out and do some sketching!!! We've been packing and decluttering and getting the house ready to sell. That is done so now I have some time to go sketching. It was such a gorgeous day I headed straight to Garden of the Gods. It was 82 degrees and windy, with a clear blue sky. Just beautiful!!!

Excuse my writing, my hand keeps going numb, I've had carpal tunnel for years but have refused surgery, I was worried it would affect my painting and drawing...

Had to take an art break!!!

2010-08-20T08:00:00.003-06:00

Are you sick of Stargazer lily sketches yet? LOL! I just realized this morning that I titled this a day lily when it's really a Stargazer. I am tired!!! I have been de-cluttering and cleaning and purging since last Friday and I'm ready to do some art. Unfortunately the house isn't quite where it should be so...... I did have to take an art break though, I was getting close to exploding or imploding! I get so grouchy if I don't do art!!!

The movers are coming to do a walk through today and the Realtor comes on Monday, I have more dust bunnies to chase! I'm thinking maybe I should shave the dog! She sheds so much! Valentine is a Golden Retriever and no I wouldn't really shave her. We did have her clipped and her hair thinned out at the beginning of the summer but it's grown back.... ANYWAY, back to work I go.

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day and go sketch something! :D

Big news and be careful what you wish for!

2010-08-11T11:05:00.002-06:00

Unless you follow my other blog you won't know that I was wishing I was a gypsy! Well I meant one of the 7 gypsies! Be careful what you wish for! We are back to being corporate gypsies!!! Yes that's right! We're being transferred from Colorado to Pennsylvania! We'll be right outside Philly! We became gypsies back 1992 when we transferred with a company to Indiana, then on to Ohio in 1996 and then back to Colorado in 1997.

I'm excited and anxious! I'm going to miss Colorado terribly, painting in Garden of the Gods, and the mountains, and most of my family is out here, so that will be hard! There is a lot of history in Philadelphia and who knows, maybe I'll even be able to sketch the liberty bell on location! And I'm sure there are all kinds of other cool things to discover out there!!! The growing season is longer and you can grow all kinds of things that you can't grow here, like hydrangeas and blueberries and who knows what all!

So if I'm a little scarce it's because I am cleaning and going through every drawer and closet getting rid of lots of stuff and getting ready to have a huge moving sale! The fabric and books and all art supplies are going!!! I don't care if we have to get rid of the furniture!!!

I'm so thankful for the Internet and for all of you, my blog buddies! You'll be the only people I know out there besides my family! So thank you and stay tuned for more!

New sketches

2010-08-07T07:41:00.005-06:00

These are all sketches from last week, they're done in my reloaded vintage book.

Manitou Springs is the most awesome little town, lots of little Victorian shops and small to large Victorian houses, there's even a castle! I used to live over there when I was single. It's just west of Colorado Springs, and the Springs just merges into Manitou. If you're ever out here you really should visit Manitou! I went to the arcade to draw the pink elephant. I would have sketched more but tourist season is in full swing and it's hard to get around, maybe I'll try it later in the fall, they close for the winter. They have a penny arcade with antique games in it and there are some that would be so cool to sketch! One that I can remember is a gypsy fortune teller...

Next I went to Garden of the Gods. I thought I'd try a looser sketch this time. I had fun with this, letting the paint just run...

And some Stargazer Lilies I just planted last fall bloomed so I've been sketching them!

I'll have to think of some other cool things that I want to sketch here in the Springs.

Thanks so much for stopping by, now it's your turn, go draw something! :D

Lots of sketches!

2010-08-02T08:24:00.009-06:00

And you thought I was slacking! :D These are some of my recent sketches that I've been doing while I work, it's been really slow. I bought this mini mannequin to alter but I'm having so much fun sketching it!!!

And my day lily finally popped open so I had to do several sketches of that before it's gone. I can't believe it's already August!!! Although, I am looking forward to the temps cooling down!!! It has been a very hot summer here in our part of Colorado, and we're wimps! We're not used to it! :D

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

New huge reloaded vintage book

2010-08-01T06:48:00.008-06:00

First of all let me just say, what was I thinking?!!!! I guess I thought if a small reloaded watercolor sketchbook is great then a HUGE one would be even better!!! LOL! It has around 20 signatures, each signature has two folded pages. I used 140 lb paper. Needless to say, it will take awhile to finish this one. I'm still working on my first one, which I'm trying to fill with scenes of Colorado, although I did sneak in a Stargazer lily last night...

I'll try and post more photos of finished sketches in the next few days.

Thanks for stopping by, now it's your turn, go sketch something! :D

I'm on a mission!

2010-07-27T19:51:00.003-06:00

I'm on a mission to fill up my new reloaded vintage book with sketches! So this morning when I was cleaning house my muse told me to get outside and do a sketch of my back garden before fall is here and I miss it completely! We have this old wishing well and I've planted flowers around it. The Echinacea is blooming like crazy this year! See the small evergreen tree? My son and I found it years ago when it was no more than an inch high. We've been babying it, and when we moved to this house I had to dig it up and bring it over. It's now about 3' to 4' high!

I know my perspective is off on this, but it was hot! That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it! :D

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Garden sketch

2010-07-26T10:22:00.003-06:00

The other night I took my reloaded vintage watercolor book out and sat on the front porch and sketched part of my garden. A hummingbird flew up and was eating from the torch lillies while I was painting. I didn't get him sketched, they just move too fast! Unfortunately I didn't have my camera so I couldn't even get a photo of him! Hopefully I'll remember the camera next time!

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

I bound and reloaded an old book!

2010-07-21T17:30:00.008-06:00

I am so jazzed!!!! I learned to bind and reload an old book with watercolor paper!!! I've been seeing artists doing it but never thought to Google it, thanks Kate!

So this is my first reloaded old book and my first two sketches in it!!! My thread might be a little loose but it does lay flat so that works for me! I definitely could have added another signature or two, live and learn...

A big thank you to Paper and Threads over at:
http://www.paperandthreads.com/2008/03/recycling_an_old_book_as_a_wat.php

and Trumpetvine Travels over at:
http://www.trumpetvine.com/sketchblog/moleskine-reloaded/

And to Kate Johnson for telling me I could find it on line. :D

Coincidence???

2010-07-10T21:08:00.004-06:00

Is there really such a thing as coincidence? I'm a little blown away right now. Last night I got the urge to visit some of my favorite sketching blogs and decided to post a couple of photos of sketches I've done in the last year, hoping to do more sketching and posting on this blog. Thank you Teena for the blogversary wishes. I totally didn't even know it was my blogversary!!! I had to go look and sure enough, today, July 10th, was my blogversary! Now how bizarre is that?!

And thank you Anita, John and Margaret for always being an inspiration!

I'm still here!

2010-07-09T21:43:00.004-06:00

Hi all! I know, I've been missing again! I have still been sketching, just doing other art too and working.... I've been doing lots of other art! I'm just finishing up taking an altered book workshop that has been a blast!

Anyway, I popped around to several of my favorite sketching blogs, John's, Anita Davies, and Margaret's, they're all listed on my sidebar. I'll try to post more often on this blog, not making any promises, but I'll try.

I just finished (June 13) a sketchbook that I started way back in August, 2009! So I thought I'd share a sketch and Zentangle spread I did. I need to get the whole sketchbook scanned and share it with you.

Thanks for putting up with my scattered-ness! :D

A new sketch

2010-02-08T09:38:00.002-07:00

This is my daughter's wooden hand, that doesn't sound right! LOL! She doesn't have wooden hands or even one, she draws people and got this mannequin hand. She's decided she no longer needs it so I've taken off with it and will probably alter it some how... Anyway, I had a chance to do this while working one day, although I haven't had much chance to sketch, it's been really busy. I just got some sketches scanned and cropped so will try to post some more often.

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!!!

I like this one...

2010-01-07T17:02:00.002-07:00

I really like this pen sketch. It was a really fast sketch of my hand and the Zentangle took longer than the hand sketch. I did this while I was working. I had to put my hand down several times due to phone calls coming in, but I think it turned out pretty good for how fast I did it.

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

I'm baaack!

2010-01-06T08:06:00.003-07:00

I've missed you!!!! I've been on a quilting and fabric kick for awhile but now that I'm back to working more I have some time to sketch more between calls. And of course it's that time of the year, the holidays are over and I am ready for spring!!!! Not that spring is coming anytime soon - today we're supposed to drop down into the 20s with a possibility of 1" of snow. We haven't had any big snows yet, they keep going further north to Denver.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Come on over to my other blog...

2009-11-22T12:25:00.001-07:00

I'm taking a break from posting sketches so come on over to my other blog and see what I'm up to:

http://purplepaintsmuse.blogspot.com/

New watercolor sketch

2009-11-07T09:42:00.003-07:00

I've gotten out of practice sketching, trying to do better at that... I did this pear study last night. Just a quick study, although I can see the pears need shading, they look flat. I've been working on my other art, collage, quilting etc and have not been keeping up on my sketching. It's hard to do it all!

If you'd like to see what else I've been up to check out my other blog:

http://purplepaintsmuse.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by, have an awesome weekend!

Tree trimming sketch

2009-11-01T16:03:00.003-07:00

I did this sketch awhile back, in September. I had to go out and trim some of the trees and thought I'd take a break and do a quick sketch. My neighbor thought that was a little odd but oh well! I need to get back into sketching, I've gotten away from it a bit.

I'm still doing art, if you'd like to see what else I do check out my other blog:

http://purplepaintsmuse.blogspot.com/

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Hubby's hand surgery

2009-10-26T16:26:00.004-06:00

Keep in mind, I'm not good at drawing people... I was so glad I took my sketchbook with us the day hubby went in for surgery on his hand. It was outpatient and wasn't supposed to take that long but we ended up being there almost all day. I did this spread, and another 3-4 while we were there. If I hadn't had my sketchbook I would have been bored to death!!!

Anyway, his surgery went well and he's almost healed up...

I've been doing art, honest...

2009-10-21T08:08:00.003-06:00

My bad!!! I have been doing art, just not a lot of posting... I haven't been doing as much but I am still sketching, honest! I've been working and studying for work, and quilting... Anyway, I'm back!

I am thinking about merging this blog with my other one, it takes a lot of time to keep up two blogs... I'll let you know if I do. I have several sketches to scan but wanted to get something on my blog, I think this is the longest I've gone without blogging! I feel so guilty!

Anyway, sorry that it's been so long and thanks for coming by, have an awesome day!

Zentangled garden

2009-08-27T07:40:00.002-06:00

This is one of the last spreads in the journal I just completed. I need to get busy and get out and sketch some real flowers! Fall is in the air and has been for awhile ~ which means an end to the flowers to sketch outside... I like fall, the leaves change and we have gorgeous sunrises, I'm not too thrilled about winter though.

2009-08-25T06:03:00.002-06:00

This was a sketch I started of some flowers around the yard and never finished. So when I was finishing up my moleskine I decided to do some Zentangled flowers. I love the gradation of color that Margaret does over at http://waterblossoms.blogspot.com/ so I thought I'd try some different colors.

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Another moleskine finished!

2009-08-24T06:51:00.003-06:00

I just finished another moleskine last week! I've been busy but not doing too much sketching in the past week. I've been working on a crazy quilt piece, if you'd like to see it it's on my other blog:

http://purplepaintsmuse.blogspot.com/

I ran with hubby out to take his car to the dealership and didn't take my sketchbook! Of course we were there a lot longer than we thought we would be. I've been doing really good at taking it with me everywhere but forgot this one time...

Hope you have a great week!

Another twinchie sketch

2009-08-16T16:42:00.002-06:00

This is another page of two inch square sketches. I went a little Zentangle crazy on the bottom. :D These are fun to do, trying draw this small....

It's feeling like fall today - it's 70 and you can definitely feel fall in the air! I have some iris I need to move and a couple of small trees to move too... I wonder when the aspen will start changing ~ might be a little early this year.

Hope you all have an awesome Monday!

Making zuchinni bread...

2009-08-15T11:43:00.002-06:00

I just finished making two more loaves and some muffins of zuchinni bread. I'm having a bumper crop of zuchinni this year. Not any spaghetti squash yet, we'll see, it may have gotten planted too late. I've had about 6 cucumbers... not too good but better than last year. How do you like my "food processor?" LOL! I do have one but this little grater is so much easier to use and clean...
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Another big Zentangle

2009-08-11T06:27:00.003-06:00

This is another full spread Zentangle in my Moleskine so it measures about 8" x 10". I learned to Zentangle from Rick and Maria, the creators and masters of Zentangle:

http://zentangle.com

You can get their kit with a mini CD on the different patterns, plus a pen, and 50 tiles! They're constantly coming up with new tangles, so check it out if you're interested...

We had hail last night, I'm so glad I had brought in my Stargazer Lilly the other day. I need to get a few sketches while it's looking good, it smells really good!

Hope you have a wonderful day and thanks so much for stopping by!

Hidden pictures

2009-08-08T08:10:00.002-06:00

On a recent trip to the dentist's office I was so bored drawing the same old thing there, they had these Highlights magazines, I've always loved the hidden picture challenge! I decided to draw the cover of the magazine instead. When my kids were little I ordered this magazine for them just so I could do the hidden picture page, of course you can't circle them when you find them, it spoils it for everyone else... :D

Hope you have a great weekend!

Painting for sell on Etsy

2009-08-07T08:51:00.002-06:00

I am really enjoying painting and sketching my trumpet vine flowers this year! I just added this ACEO (art card edition original) to my Etsy shop for sale for under $10. This measures 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" and is signed and dated by yours truly... Excuse the blatant plug here:

http://purplepaint.etsy.com/

These are so cool to paint. The yellow and red bleed together, that's what got me hooked on watercolor in the first place, the way it can bleed and mix - very cool!

Now I need to get off the computer and do some art! Have a great day and hope you have time to do something creative.

Another weird plant

2009-08-04T07:23:00.003-06:00

I told you, I love weird plants. I'll just let you read my journal entry about it... Still cracks me up when I remember the look on hubby's face when I wanted to buy it... I totally messed up on the pot but this was drawn in ink so no erasing possible.

Have a great day and try to squeeze in a quick sketch!

A new Zentangle

2009-08-03T08:15:00.003-06:00

I finished shading this Zentangle last night. These are a lot of fun to do when you're sitting in the doctor's office and you've already sketched everything in the place. I have several new sketches, I finally took a few minutes and scanned them all. I'm thinking I should have shaded a little heavier on this one...

Hope you have a great day and find a little time to sketch!

Wishing well...

2009-08-02T15:52:00.003-06:00

Here's a quick sketch I did of my wishing well. I kind of messed up the top of the wishing well, oh well, good practice. Last year I did a sketch with a watercolor wash of the same view but I had a clematis hanging over the well. Well, this spring a mole or vole took care of that and ate the roots off the plant! I didn't really like it anyway. I'm thinking about putting a trumpet vine in it's place...

Hope you have a great day and try to squeeze in a sketch or two...

Grain elevator

2009-07-26T07:34:00.001-06:00

On a recent trip to Kansas to visit my mom, I did this really quick sketch of an old grain elevator. I think this took about 5 minutes. It was really hot out!

Have a great Sunday!

Torch Lillies

2009-07-24T07:39:00.003-06:00

I sat out on the front porch and drew these the other morning. I wanted to capture them before they were gone for another year. It was actually a little chilly - only 56. The temps are already dropping in the high country, wonder if we'll have an early fall? And I could have sworn I've heard El Nino mentioned - maybe a snowy winter. That would be good! Especially after almost no snow last winter... Yes, I'm into weather, I guess I come by it naturally, my dad was a farmer and rancher until I was 5 or so and then he went to work for the State Department and was always watching the weather... I find it fascinating!

2009-07-22T07:29:00.002-06:00

This is a sketch I did recently. Whenever I run out of things to sketch I do my hands or my feet. I guess I should practice self portraits... Summer is flying by and I can hear the weeds growing!!! Every time I go out it seems like there is a whole new crop of them!!!

Hope you have a fabulous weedless week! :D

An Iris

2009-07-15T07:27:00.002-06:00

This is one of the irises from my yard. I wanted to sketch one of each variety but didn't get that done while they were blooming. I'm finding that I like drawing from life much better than from photos, your eyes can see so much more than a camera can... And I also notice now that I forgot to color the stem - oh well, use your imagination. :D

Have a great day and take a few minutes to do a quick sketch.

Blogversary giveaway!!!!

2009-07-13T11:59:00.009-06:00

Okay, I'm finally ready!!! For my Blogversary giveaway I will be drawing one name next Monday, July 20th to see who wins both of these ATCs! All you have to do is leave a comment on THIS POST with your email address (example - purplepaint45 at yahoo dot com) and I will pick one of you!!!! If I can't get a hold of you I will have to pick someone else... Good luck! And thank you so much for all your support and encouragement! It's so nice to be back sketching, posting on this blog has helped me keep it up.

Thank you all for your comments!!! I did this the old fashioned way, wrote everyone's name down and cut them out and put them in a box and drew one name from the box and the winner is Nancy!!! Congrats!

It's my blogversary today!!!

2009-07-10T06:06:00.003-06:00

I have been blogging for several years on my other blog, but last year I decided to get back into drawing and sketching and I started a blog just for that. Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement! I'll be doing a giveaway... not sure what it will be yet... so stay tuned.

My blogversary is tomorrow!!!

2009-07-09T07:38:00.003-06:00

My blogversary is tomorrow! And I won't be here! BUT, I do plan on doing a giveaway! Not for this particular piece of artwork but for one especially for this occasion. I'll post more next week.

Battle of the weeds...

2009-07-09T07:33:00.002-06:00

Every year I have a battle of the weeds. Well, I start out with good intentions... I don't like to use chemicals in the back yard because of the dog and the veggie garden so I try battling them by hand. Of course after pulling several huge black trash bags full, I give up... There is just too much art to do to spend all my time outside pulling weeds! Think of all the drawing, sewing, beading, soldering etc. I could be doing instead!!!!

Fake flowers

2009-07-05T18:13:00.002-06:00

I don;'t usually draw fake flowers but I was waiting for a Doctors appointment back in May and got there really early so I was drawing everything in the office. Although during the winter I may just find some fake flowers and draw them, that is if they look realistic...

I have a blogversary coming up! Stay tuned - I plan to have a giveaway...

My favorite plant store is going out of business

2009-07-04T09:09:00.005-06:00

I recently popped into my favorite plant store and found out they were going out of business, what a bummer! This place was awesome! A perfect place to go in the winter when you're ready for spring - those of you that know me know this would be all winter long! You can read my journaling to learn more about the place - it was magical! If I had seen fairies there I don't think it would have surprised me! They would have been peeking around the plant pots and fluttering around the waterfall and pond.

And while I was there for one of my last visits I talked Stephen into selling me a clipping off this rare Dendrobium (probably misspelled) orchid. It's awesome! The leaves are like velvet and a very, dark green, almost black with red lines. It's gorgeous! He said it's very rare - I went online and looked through tons of photos of orchids but never ran across anything like this one.

Happy Fourth of July!!!!

Rose sketches

2009-06-28T08:33:00.002-06:00

These are some sketches I did the other night. I have a couple of miniature rose bushes in my front garden and I picked one of the roses and put it in a tiny antique jar that I found ages ago. I think I need to color some of the sketches in, it looks really blah with just black and white...

Mini paintings

2009-06-27T08:37:00.004-06:00

Here are some miniature little paintings that I did last night. I haven't decided if I'm going to trade these or not. I might put them in my Etsy shop for sale. But we won't get into the discussion if you can sell ATCs or ACEOs (Art Card Edition Original)....

I had every intention of getting up and going out to weed the yard - the weeds are taking over! - this morning, then got sidetracked painting some more little mini roses, and then visited an artist friends gallery and now I'm ready to paint and sketch!!! Maybe I'll pull weeds for awhile and then do some sketching and painting...

Paintings of Garden of the Gods, Colorado

2009-06-24T11:55:00.006-06:00

I just got back from Garden of the Gods. I never get tired of that place! It's so gorgeous there! I painted these 3 ATCs/ACEOs, they turned out better than the larger sketches I did! I have discovered I cannot paint when I am hot, and hot it was!

Look what I got from Margaret!

2009-06-23T07:25:00.003-06:00

I just got this gorgeous hand drawn and painted ATC from Margaret Storer-Roche yesterday! Plus a gorgeous card of her work, and her awesome business card, she even decorated the envelope! I have traded ATCs for years and years but I don't think I've ever traded fine art ATCs. This is my first and a beauty!!! I'll have to get with the program and make some more for trade! I am definitely going to have to get one of those trading card frames at Michael's to put all these in!

Happy Father's Day and panning for gold

2009-06-21T08:13:00.003-06:00

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! Yesterday, Frank and I headed up to the mountains. This is my feeble attempt at a map, it's not to scale and the mountains look really childlike compared to the real thing... but it's just a map. I'll have to practice more...

I am a weather fanatic, I usually always watch the weather! Well, this time I didn't and we were planning on heading to the mountains to go panning.... Needless to say, in the future I will always watch the weather... We got up to cloudy skies and threats of rain but headed out anyway. I love to go panning. No, I've never found a big nugget, or even a small one. A microscopic one yes... I don't pan to get rich, I just enjoy the hunt, and it's good exercise. The hiking and lifting rock, try it sometime... Anyway I got in a few hours of panning before it started to sprinkle. We decided we'd better pack it in, and we did just in time. As soon as we got on the highway it started pouring!!! And it poured for the entire 2 1/2 hour drive back to the Springs!!! But we had fun and it was so nice to get out of the city!!!! You get so caught up in the routine, it's so nice to break it! We'll have to head up to the mountains more often!

A couple of ATCs

2009-06-16T10:53:00.004-06:00

These are a couple of ATCs I just did this past weekend. I wanted to do some more and some fabric ones but I didn't have time. These are fun and fairly quick to do.

Garden of the Gods, Colorado- another sketch/painting

2009-06-12T18:43:00.003-06:00

After a disappointing early morning treasure hunt (garage sale-ing) I decided to grab my watercolor sketch book and head down the road to Garden of the Gods. It's very busy this time of the year with all the tourists, but they're nice and we have to share our beautiful places. It was a beautiful sunny day, which was really nice after all the cloudy weather we've been having! I really need to get out and do more sketching while it's nice!

Lilacs sketch

2009-06-06T15:38:00.003-06:00

The lilacs bloomed beautifully this year! One of my bushes was just loaded! I brought in a couple of sprigs and put them in a huge ball jar I have. Back when I was doing just painting I would do a watercolor still life with lilacs every year. You really have to draw fast to capture them before they wilt. They usually only last one day. They smell so wonderful! I really wish they could bloom all summer! One of these days maybe I'll post some photos of my paintings...

Another Shopping sketch

2009-06-03T06:29:00.002-06:00

Back in May when I took my daughter's shopping again I found some interesting things to draw. I loved the pig with wings! This was right about the time the swine flu news came out so maybe unconsciously I was thinking about that, or maybe the fact that I need to go on a diet...

I'm behind on posting!

2009-06-02T06:18:00.003-06:00

I'm behind on posting! I started the next Moleskine before I finished the last, so here is one of the first sketches in the new Moleskine. My sweet husband brought home these gorgeous orchids for me on Mother's Day ~ notice that it has two stalks blooming! How cool is that?!!!

Another Moleskine finished!

2009-06-02T05:30:00.003-06:00

I finished another Moleskine in May. I think this is the 4th one I've finished. I like to spray all the colored pencil sketches with Pym II, it's a protective sealant.

I've been so busy recently with my son graduating that I haven't had time to sketch daily, but I always try to do some kind of art of everyday, even if it's collage or cardmaking or quilting arts etc...

Might be time for a beer

2009-05-27T06:32:00.003-06:00

I rarely drink anymore. Occasionally though a nice cold beer just hits the spot. I might have one of these tonight, my son is graduating from high school!!!! I am so proud of him I could just explode!!!!

You know it's funny, at the time you don't think graduation is that big of a deal but when you're a parent it takes on a whole new meaning!

More Twinchies

2009-05-26T06:41:00.003-06:00

Here's another twinchie page - each square is 2". I didn't come up with the name, someone in the collage world did after everyone started doing inchies... These are fun to do although sometimes each little square takes as long as a full page spread... There are a couple of stamps up in the left corner that I picked up at a yard sale, they're all metal so I'm assuming they're very old. The Chiquita stickers in the bottom right corner are the actual thing, I'm not that good at drawing - yet. :D

8" x 10" Zentangle

2009-05-23T06:59:00.002-06:00

Here's another large Zentangle that I recently did. These are a lot of fun to do when you're just not feeling very creative or can't think of anything to draw.

I'm trying to do better at posting daily or at least more often, we'll see how that goes...

Happy Memorial weekend! Hope you have a safe one!

Funky succulents

2009-05-22T06:10:00.002-06:00

Like I said, I like all kinds of "different" houseplants. I love these two and lithops ~ living stones ~ although I don't have any lithops right now. I drew these while I was chomping at the bit to get my garden planted.

Pitcher plant sketch

2009-05-21T08:09:00.002-06:00

I sketched this back in April. It's one of my "weird" plants. I love weird plants! I need to repot this or cut it off and start a new one...

Life has been busy! End of the year and one of our kids is graduating from high school this year! Woohoo!!!!!!!! So I need to get busy and clean the house, not one of my favorite things to do. It's so much more fun to just do art and ignore the housework... ah well. Who knows, maybe I'll sketch another vacuum! LOL!

If I don't post again before this weekend, have a safe and relaxing Memorial weekend!!!

The garden is planted!

2009-05-13T17:21:00.003-06:00

This is a recent sketch I did of a fake hydrangea I have and my hand holding a paper. I just noticed how weird my hand looks...

I've finally planted all the seeds in my garden!!! I planted spaghetti squash, patty pan squash, zucchini, cucumbers, 2 watermelon seeds (they never seem to work for me), some leeks and lettuce. I have a really small garden so I just squeeze it all in...

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T08:09:00.002-06:00

For all you mom's out there, Happy Mother's Day! Here's hoping you have a relaxing day and get to art all day!

Pieces of April sketch

2009-05-08T07:28:00.002-06:00

This is a collage I drew one day while working, not a very busy day... Anyway, while I was drawing this up I thought of that song back in the 70s or 80s ~ Pieces of April ~ remember that? I'm not sure if it was by Three Dog Night or Chicago or maybe some other band. I'm going to have to go check my albums, yes I still have them and yes they still sound better than tapes or CDs.

Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak sketch

2009-05-06T20:03:00.002-06:00

After running for groceries and a few other errands I grabbed my stuff and went to the Garden of the Gods and sketched this from an overlook. It was a very bright and warm day and I actually got sunburned on one arm! I don't know if it was the brightness of the sun on the blank page that caused me to color this darker or what... But it was nice to get out and do some sketching.

Sunshine!!!!

2009-04-29T05:55:00.003-06:00

We've had a couple of days of clouds, some rain and snow - thank you Lord! We needed that! Today is supposed to be 75 and I assume sunny! Then we have another front coming in tomorrow. Possibly more moisture, which we desperately need! Hope you all have a beautiful day!

And more Calla lillies

2009-04-27T20:51:00.003-06:00

I had to do it, I had to get some of the white Calla lillies. Like I said I've never seen the plant for sale, maybe I wasn't paying attention but I think these are so cool! They last a long time too! I'll have to do some more studying and see about putting them in the garden for the summer and then repotting them in the fall and maybe cutting some new tubers off for new plants...

Calla Lillies

2009-04-24T07:18:00.002-06:00

I have always loved houseplants and I love the flowering kind so when I saw these advertised at a local store I had hubby run get some. When he called and said they had purple I was so surprised! And of course that's the one's I had him get. Now to see if I can keep it alive and get it to re-flower next year..

hmmmm

2009-04-22T08:06:00.003-06:00

This is a little magnifying lens that I've been having to use lately to read all the small print in Dan Gregory's books. One of the bad things about getting older (did I really say that?~ I may be getting older but I refuse to give up the childlike awe of looking at life and all that is in it!) is the change in eyesight. When I bead or make jewelry I wear one of those magnifying visors. I could probably get away with just drug store magnifying glasses if I didn't have a stigmatism that seems to be getting a lot worse lately. I never really noticed it until this past winter when I looked at the moon without my glasses and it was oval - I knew that was not right! Then I'd look through my glasses and it was round, then I understood what this stigmatism thing is all about. Oh well, as long as I can see with glasses I'm good to go.

Another landscape

2009-04-21T06:51:00.002-06:00

I don't really do too many landscapes, they intimidate me. But I love sketching in the Garden of the Gods. The Indians believed this was a sacred and magical place, I agree. It really is beautiful here.

A surprise visitor!

2009-04-20T06:02:00.002-06:00

Last Tuesday we had a surprise visitor in our yard ~ a bear! Now we've heard of other people in the neighborhood having been visited by them or seen them but we had not. When hubby went to put the trash out it had knocked over the big tote and pulled trash out. Hubby picked all that up and left for work. I was thinking it was just a raccoon. Then I let our golden retriever out... The bear had drug a bag of trash over to a corner of the yard and was chowing down. Of course our dog had to go over and bark and bark at it. She got within 1 yard of it and I was just worried about her getting attacked so I went after her, trying to get her to back off (later realizing how stupid that was). Luckily the bear was small and not large, possibly an older cub. The bear climbed up on the fence and when our dog would still not stop barking it left, later to be seen and photographed in another yard... I was too busy trying to save the dog to even think of getting a photo. I had to google a picture to draw a bear to commemorate the occasion.

Do you know what kind of houseplant this is?

2009-04-17T18:49:00.003-06:00

I bought this little plant yesterday. I have no idea what it is, anyone know? The people at the plant store didn't know either. I have looked through my most trusted plant book and can't find it. Any ideas???

And more flowers seeds!

2009-04-16T05:41:00.004-06:00

I bought some more seed packets to sketch. I'm going to have a lot of planting to do after May 10! Of course I'm going to need to find a place to plant all the seeds too. I guess I'll just squeeze them in where I can. :D

More flower seed packets

2009-04-13T20:21:00.003-06:00

I love drawing flower seed packets! They're so bright and cheerful and I'm chomping at the bit to get planting! Only about 4 more weeks! I have never gotten poppies to grow, maybe I'll try them again. Can't wait to play in the dirt again and plant my veggie garden!!!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T07:25:00.003-06:00

Happy Easter!

I worked on this spread for several days while working. I made a note that I hoped we got rain all weekend ~ well almost! Yesterday we had several snow showers and this morning it is a rain/ice mix. This was a lot of fun to do and the flowers really make the whole thing! I'm ready to plant seeds! Only about a month to go...

Well where have I been?!!!

2009-04-07T18:29:00.004-06:00

I've been lost in the ozone! Actually I'm not really sure where the time went! I did work in my art room all weekend, cleaning and rearranging furniture.... This is a sketch I just finished tonight. Hopefully I'll get back to posting more regularly....

A new sketch...

2009-03-28T07:42:00.002-06:00

Well this is the first time I have ever gotten an orchid to bloom again! So I just had to do a sketch of it.

I've been getting sidetracked by other art projects and haven't been doing as much sketching/drawing as I'd like. If you'd like to see what else I'm up to check out my other blog:

http://purplepaintsmuse.blogspot.com/

I've just recently started beading on fabric plus I do all kinds of other stuff....

Another huge Zentangle

2009-03-24T21:52:00.003-06:00

Here's another huge (8" x 10") Zentangle. This is a full spread in my moleskine. I did this last week when I couldn't think of anything to draw...

New at this...

2009-03-19T05:56:00.002-06:00

Here is a self portrait I did a few weeks ago. Keep in mind that I'm terrible at drawing people and I don't think this looks exactly like me. This is probably only the 2nd self portrait I've tried. Faces are really hard to draw, or at least to get them to actually look like the person, everything has to be just right. I'll have to try this again and see how I do.... My daughter thought it made me look too young, my hubby thought it was really good...

Spring!!!

2009-03-18T06:26:00.003-06:00

I did this sketch the other day while working. It was a gorgeous 70 degrees and hard to not just take the day off! I decided to draw some seed packets as I'm chomping at the bit to do some planting, but not until after May 10. You never know, we could have a spring blizzard. We could use the moisture...

Key sketch

2009-03-17T05:51:00.001-06:00

I did these quick sketches of different angels of the same key one day while I was working. The one to the left of the lock looks really weird, it was a weird angle and very hard to see...

Huge Zentangle

2009-03-15T06:40:00.003-06:00

I can't believe I haven't posted for a whole week!!! So much for trying to post daily... It's been a busy week. I've been working and studying for work. I did this full spread Zentangle for 4 days while I worked, 4 mornings anyway. Hopefully I'll finish my studying this week and be able to get back to more art! Have a great week!