Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Channelling Georgia O'Keefe


My friend Janice inspired me to do a "Georgia O'Keefe - like" study of a bougainvillea bush.  Here's the photo that it was based on:


Janice is in Palm Springs where they also have bougainvilleas.  This is her interpretation, as posted on her blog here:


I liked hers so much I did another:


It really needs to be cropped, of course, to be more like Georgia.  Maybe something like:


I might have to try another.  Oh dear, the sun must be getting to me.






Saturday, November 26, 2016

Another Drawing of a Ginger Blossom


There are so many different flowers here, but not all are native to Hawaii and I want to identify them as I draw them if possible.  Non-native plants are a bit harder to identify - you can't just type "Hawaii" into Google and find them easily LOL.

Drawing in the shade on the lanai is easier than walking around in the hot sun too, so I did another study of the ginger, a little bigger this time.  Drawing the ginger is a little like drawing a pinecone - the overlapping flower blossoms require attention and time.  I'm a bit too much of a "speed drawer" to do a good job, but hey, I'm on vacation, right?  

Friday, November 25, 2016

Aloha!


I'm enjoying a winter break in Maui, absorbing sun, soft air, and even more birdsong than we have at home in Vancouver.  I'm also enjoying all of the flowers, as you can see here in a sketchbook spread.

There is nothing like travel to make you appreciate God's glory!  We stay in a condominium known for its lush gardens; this hibiscus and this ginger are on our lanai (the Hawaiian word for patio).





Saturday, November 19, 2016

Silly Scraps Saturday


I took a page from Stamping Mathilda's playbook and made these bookmarks while all the scraps from the recent Christmas cards were still on my desk.  That worked out well - all the color matching was done!

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Joy to the World!


The Lord is come.  And it is time to make some Christmas cards!


Image by Karen Stopler

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Where Does Inspiration Come From?


Every so often I ponder the vast subject of inspiration.  Sometimes it eludes me, sometimes it hits me like a ton of bricks.  Maybe it is only me, the perceiver and receiver, who varies from day to day.  Maybe some days I'm just sleeping.

Almost fifteen years ago, when I was just beginning my art journey, I took two courses through our local school board.  They were both taught by the same woman, who I just realized recently, has played a profound role in my life.

I was recently  privileged to take another course from Carolynn, and to get another glimpse into her amazing journals.  I made this birthday card for her using the technique that I learned in her Word Art class.

As I was pondering what to make for Carolynn, I realized what a significant inspiration she has been to me.  Not only did I return to calligraphy ten years after taking that first Funky Letters course, but the art of the journal has become my main focus.

One of Carolynn's journals that I recently saw was a travel journal from Maui.  It brought back the lushness and atmosphere of Hawaii so powerfully, that I am returning there soon after a four year absence.  Now that's inspiration!!

Who was a profound inspiration to you?  If you can, I encourage you to tell them.  They deserve to know.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Too Much Rain


9" x 12"

There was just too much rain in Vancouver during October.  This isn't a great sketch, but give me 5 minutes and some watercolors and a trip downtown in the rain, and this is what you get.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Abstract Fungus


6" x 6"
Gelato on Gessoed Scrapbook Paper


Inspired by this photo:



Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Permission to Play


Coincident with my desire to get messy with paint, I found Carolyn Dube's free mixed media workshop, "A Permission to Play".  The premise seemed to answer my desire - I was looking simply for permission to play!  I'm still in the middle of it, and look forward every three days to the release of the next video.

One of her recurring themes is to free your creativity by using art materials which aren't precious.  At the beginning of the series, she leads you through making an art journal out of an old cardboard box.  I didn't follow the instructions (I think that's allowed if we're giving ourselves permission to play), but instead starting using pages of scrapbook paper.  Why was that?

Towards the end of October, I was noodling around on StampingMathilda's blog and found a post about using up her scrapbook paper.  I'm not sure where she got with this plan, but I gessoed a few pages of scrapbook paper with the plan to make a new journal.  The binding of the journal never happened, and Carolyn Dube works on unbound pages in her workshop.  So, eager to play, rather than make another journal, I grabbed what was closest - gessoed scrapbook paper.  Will it ever get bound?  Who cares - I've given myself permission to just play!

Monday, November 7, 2016

The Mushrooms (and the Gelatos) are Back!


After all the Inktober drawing, I'm ready for some sloppy fun!  So, out came the gelatos.  


6" x 6"
Gelatos and Stabilo Pencil on Gessoed Scrapbook Paper

For a description of the process, see this post.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Reflections on Inktober - Part 2


Elegant Writer and Inktense Blocks

By the last few days of Inktober, I was feeling small and tight, from all the drawing and calligraphy.  I began throwing paint and gesso around, and joined an on-line class called "Permission to Play".  

One of the last prompts was "surprise", and I was ready to be surprised, so I got out the Elegant Writer for some flowers.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Reflections on Inktober - Part 1

I don't usually follow prompts, but one of the things I liked best about Inktober was the creative challenge to make something interesting out of a prompt:


Big


Slow


Box