Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Weaver Writing with Brushes

Having tried Weaver Writing with felt tip brush pens I couldn't resist taking the paint brush for a spin:


Gouache
#4 Brush


Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Learn to Paint From Your Imagination

These pages were inspired by Joanie Springer's art tip: Learn to Paint From Your Imagination.  Following her suggestion, I got my bird book out on Saturday and painted these quick birds.


Then, having repeated the basic shapes a few times, I closed the bird book and painted these from my imagination:


Now I can paint birds any time I want to!  Thanks, Joanie, for the great tip!

Monday, April 28, 2014

Lettering with Felt Tip Brush Markers



At the Westcoast Calligraphy Society April meeting, we were treated to a demonstration of brush lettering using felt tip markers.  I've always wanted to learn brush lettering, and I've borrowed a few books from the library about it.  However, most of the lettering I've seen done with brushes seems to be based on the Italic hand, and I've never been happy with my attempts.  (Italic and I don't seem to get along.)

I was thrilled to learn from our talented instructor to think of the brush as another pen tool and to try different kinds of lettering with it.  So, of course, I tried Weaver Writing, my new favorite BF.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Cards With Weaver Writing

I made this card for a friend who is being ordained as a United Church minister next month.


Stamp by Heart and Soul

The second card is for my brother-in-law and his new wife.  They were married in Japan recently, and we had dinner at their house last week.  They brought me some lovely paper from Japan and I couldn't resist playing with it immediately.


I'm thrilled to be using calligraphy on my cards finally.  It took awhile before I found an alphabet I can do well enough to be pleased with - Weaver Writing!  This hand also feels like me - not too formal, kind of fun, but not too cutesy.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Drawing Figures in Watercolour



Inspired by Ms. Moss over at Dispatch From LA, I followed the link she provided to this Youtube video "Tips for Painting Figures in Landscapes".   They are easy and fun and I think they'll be useful for my art journal pages.  My landscapes often seem boring to me and figures just might provide the needed vitality to the picture.



Thursday, April 24, 2014

Capturing the Moment



This is another page in my Capturing the Moment journal.  Laura was right - the more moments I capture the more I notice... and the more blessed I feel.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Calligraphy Meeting Fun and Cherry Blossoms




This is another page in my Capturing the Moment Journal.  The journal is, as the title suggests, a place to capture special moments that I want to remember.  

The calligraphy on the left is "Weaver Writing", taught by Wendy at the March Westcoast Calligraphy Society meeting.  And on the right, a canopy of cherry blossoms created with a hand carved stamp.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

On Doodling and Mark Making


I'm still not sure I "get" the doodling thing, but I grabbed my Unification Journal and paint pens the other day while I was chatting with my sister on Skype, and made some marks.  Now THIS I get.  What's in a name, anyway?

Monday, April 21, 2014

A Beautiful Hour Sketching at the Park

April continues to be busy, but I managed a bike ride up to QE Park last week for some quick sketches.





Sunday, April 13, 2014

Last Week's Sketches

I didn't manage much drawing last week - just a couple of sketches of my antique stapler:



But it's enough to link up to Friday Sketches!

Friday, April 11, 2014

Mourning a Great Man - for His Friendship


Image from www.CBC.CA

As Canada mourns the death of a great man, Jim Flahrety, two tributes stand out for me.  These tributes describe Jim Flahrety as a great friend, even as he is being lauded for his great service to Canada in his recent and long tenure as Finance Minister.  I hope that these tributes will touch your heart as they have mine:  Rex Murphy on the National, and Father Raymond J. de Souza in the National Post.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Draw Your Awesome Year



Each month in her on-line course, Draw Your Awesome Year, Joanne Sharpe helps us to design a page for recording our daily highlights. Due to a sudden splurge of volunteer commitments, this is all I find time to do in my journal most days.  It is a good thing that this forces me to crack the journal otherwise my creative life would be restricted to problem solving committee activities!



Sunday, April 6, 2014

Friends



I'm enjoying doing the Weaver Writing.  It is pretty easy to do, which is a good thing given my impatience.  I might just have to face the fact that I like quick, easy and simple.  

I realize as I look at this that I forgot to credit the author of these lyrics - Gloria Sklerov.  The angel stamp is by Magenta.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Doodles 3 and 4



I've been so busy lately that I've had no time to blog and little time to create.  That's life!

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Who Is She?



I'm not sure where this one is going.  The background is acrylic; I did the drawing with a Stabilo pencil and added some gelato to lighten the skin.