Hello All,

I signed up for a Strathmore Online Workshop with Stephen Cefalo as the instructor.  His instructions are very clear and helpful.  This first drawing is of Skip, their Viking model.  It's not totally terrible, but I can do better.  Next time.

I got a little carried away with the wrinkle between his eyebrows.  And the Viking hat doesn't seem to be sitting on his head.

These 2 pictures are of a young lady who is special to me.  The first one I drew from a photo prior to watching Stephen's video, lesson 2. The second one is from the same photo after watching the video.

There was a flash glare on the photo so it was hard to pick out shadow detail.

This month's sketchbook challenge is the moon and stars so I started drawing a moon goddess today.  For some reason she's wearing a bikini and standing with her hands on her hips.  The hands are way to small. And the rib cage, what was I thinking!?  I don't think the bikini is going to stay.

Hope you're all having fun pursuing creativity.

November Sketchbook Challenge - Moon and Stars

Hello All,

We're on to a new month, can't believe it's November already.  I'm loving the theme this month, Moon and Stars.  Just happen to have 2 painting I've done that fit this theme.

Moonrise

Man in the Moon

Moonrise is acrylic on canvas and Man in the Moon is on MDF.  The landscapes I paint are purely from my imagination.  

I'm not too happy with the photo of Man in the Moon.  It's much nicer in person.  The bottom right corner is blue and purple.  The flowers are moon flowers.  They are like morning glories only they bloom at night. Someday I want to grow some.  The fun thing about this painting is that it started out completely different.  I didn't like it so I reworked it.  It's much better now.

Before the end of the month I'll be posting some moon and stars that are current.

What are you inspired to create?  I'm linking up with The Sketchbook Challenge (http://sketchbookchallenge.blogspot.com/).  Check them out.

Hello All,

This week I've been working on a hair ornament with the Paperclay.  As frequently happens, I have decided to do something else with it.  I really like boxes, so my current thought is that I use it to adorn the top of a box I make out of Paperclay.  I once made a heart shaped box out of layers of paper grocery bags glued together and then crackle painted, pink with black on top. I decoupaged a butterfly on the top. Even though it was a bit misshaped I really liked it.

My hair ornament started with a design on 1/4" graph paper which I traced onto tracing paper with a pencil.  I rolled out my Paperclay and rubbed the design onto it.  Then I used my paring knife to cut it out. After a day and a half  I was tired of waiting for it to dry so I baked it on a wire rack in a 250 degree oven for 20 minutes.  When it cooled off I coated it with gesso twice.

While it was drying I had time to think about what I wanted to do next.  I painted it dioxazine purple.  Then I decided I wanted to gold leaf it.  I used my gel medium and let it dry 15 minutes.  The gold leaf didn't stick.  So I coated it again and only waited 5 minutes.  I still didn't stick.  Finally I rooted through my supplies and found the proper adhesive.  Now it is gold.

 The adhesive has 24 hour working time. It's still tacky so I'm waiting to brush off the loose gold leaf. Time to think about the next step.  I'm always pondering in the back of my mind what I want to do.  If I make my box square I can decorate around the top.  Using the graph paper will make it easy to draft a pattern for a square box.  Might be the way to go.

I've also been working on a scarf I started knitting last year.  Yes, I am that slow.  I put it away when the weather got warm.  Knitting to me is a warm, cozy winter kind of thing.

It's a seed stitch which is knit one, purl one every row.  I find that when I can't sleep and get up to knit, I make mistakes and have to rip it out.  I've done that 3 times this week.  So now I'm training myself to look at each row before I start the next row so I can catch my mistakes quickly.  Awareness is the key along with focus.

Hope you're all having fun creating beauty!

Hello All,

I've finished my Art Bead Scene October challenge piece.  There were a few setbacks that had to be worked through.

The paperclay art beads were the easiest part.  After they dried  I painted them with watercolor.  I thought it would sink into the paperclay but it didn't.  Maybe it would have if I had painted them when they were still moist.  Or I could try acrylic paint.  Next time.

After checking out this tutorial by Nicole Ringgold, http://www.liveinart.org/2012/06/braided-bead-necklace-diy.html,  I bought some waxed Irish linen cord with the plan to string my seed beads on it.  That didn't work as the cord was too big for the holes in my seed beads.  I ended up just making a braid with the intention of using it for some other project.

Then I tried a peyote stitch for the cord, but it kept twisting so I used my matte black seed beads to make a herringbone tube.  After about 6 inches I decided it was a bit bulky, but I used it for the branch and used seed beads to attach the owl and the gingko leaves.   I decided to use the braided piece creating a loop on one end for the button closure.  I attached some carnelian beads to the other end.

I'm pretty happy with the finished necklace.













What do you think?  The paperclay was lots of fun to use and I'll definitely use it again.

Hope you're having fun creating.

Hello All,

I've been working on my beads for the Art Bead Scene October challenge.  I sketched the owl  in the size I wanted to make the bead.  Then I decided that the bead should be balanced.  I changed the wings so they are both open.

Scops Owl for Art Bead Scene October Challenge

Susan Owenby (http://theboredzombie.com/) posted a blog about using paperclay to make a witch's hat.  She inspired me to use paperclay to make my art beads.  I loved it.  It's very easy to use.  I took my tracing of the owl and traced the lines in pencil on the back of the paper.  Then I put the tracing on the paperclay and rubbed it.   Perfect resolution.  I used a small knife to cut and smooth the paperclay.  I freehand cut the gingko leaves and shaped the crescent moon.

Paperclay beads for ABS October Challenge

Hope you're all having fun!

Hello All,

Here's another sketch of a Scops Owl for The Sketchbook Challenge Animal Companions, http://sketchbookchallenge.blogspot.com/.   I'm practicing the owl for the October Art Bead Scene Challenge, http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/.  This month's challenge is based on Ohara Koson's woodblock print, Owl on Gingko Branch.  My plan is to use paperclay to make art beads of the owl and gingko leaves. 

Scops Owl for Sketchbook Challenge Animal Companions

I hope you'll go to the Sketchbook Challenge to look at the other animal companions and the Art Bead Scene to see the beautiful jewelry inspired by Ohara Koson's woodblock print.  Are you inspired to join in the fun?

Hello All,

I'm back from visiting my daughter who just had her first baby.  He's adorable.  They don't want his name on the interment but did give permission to post a picture.  So here is Q, born 9/30/13, 7 lbs. 9 oz, 19 3/4".

Isn't he adorable!
And he looks good on the quilt I made him.

Enjoy your families and do something create.