Doodle Number 2

I see a bird in this one.

Blossoms

A wind storm blew down a small bunch of plum blossoms and left them on the sidewalk for me to pick up.  I couldn't resist bringing them inside to draw.

I learned a new hand, Weaver Writing, at the Westcoast Calligraphy Society the other evening.  I tried it out here with a pencil because this drawing paper won't take pen and ink.  But you can do a "pressure and release" technique with a pencil that resembles the thick and thins of letters done with a pointed pen.

Leave Space for God to Work

I'm a bit of a control freak.  When I'm not in control I get anxious.  But in order for miracles to happen, you have to leave space for God to work.  Of course I could just go with the theory that God is always working through us and he made me to like control.  But on the rare occasion when I do leave space, usually something wonderful happens.

Recently, at sunset, I looked up from the chore I was so focused on and saw a flock of Canada Geese flying in perfect formation over the house.  I had to capture the moment.

This is a page in my new Capturing the Moment Journal.  I love the heavy watercolor paper.

First Doodle

Lots of people are doodling these days.  Here's the first doodle I've ever done.

Seriously.  I've never doodled before.  Other people doodle during meetings, telephone calls and lectures, apparently.  I've always concentrated on what the speaker is saying.  I'm not sure what else to say, what this says about me, so I'll leave it at that. LOL

The Glass is Half Full

Fall in Love With The Process...

...and the rest will come. (Eric Thomas).

Thanks to Susan Raihala at Questioning My Intelligence for the inspiration.

Do Small Things With Great Love

The quote by John Muir inspired this journal page.  It was fun to get out the Pan Pastels again.  

And yes, that is my ancient cell phone. 

A Quick Tag

This quick tag was done with gelatos and watercolor sprays, stencils and gouache.  It was inspired by Julie Balzer's recent series on stencils.

Spring - the Season of Singing

Spring is my favorite season.  Here in Vancouver, the cherry and plum blossoms are bursting forth on the streets.  Every day I go out I see something new - yesterday it was camellias and forsythia.

Let the singing begin!

The Lenten Rose

The Lenten Rose is one of the first spring flowers (other than bulbs) to bloom, and therefore, is one of my favorites.  I've been seeing this one during my walks through the neighborhood and recently I made a special trip back with my sketchbook to capture it before it is finished.  I added the pencil crayons later. 

Quick Sketches

This is a series of quick sketches I did last week.  The most complex took 5 minutes; some were done in less than a minute - the amount of time a scene stayed on the television.

A Mad Men Scene

Our Espresso Machine

Oh, the power of a line!

Playing with Gelatos

Mezzetta Peppers

Sometimes the grocery shopping is so colourful I just can't resist drawing it!

Pencil Crayon

Spring

This is another of the ATC's I watercolored with Tombow markers.

Peace

There is nothing like watching the birds in the backyard to slow the rattling brain and bring peace.  At this time of year I mostly watch out of the window in the kitchen.

Watercolour

More Inspiration Than Perspiration

Thomas Edison said that "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent inspiration."

  I know that I spend way too much time looking at art blogs and way too little time actually making art.  Maybe naming this on a journal page will help to cure me!

Spring is Coming to Vancouver

It is pouring with rain today, but it was warm and sunny last week when I took these!

Capturing the Moment

I started a new journal last week, inspired by a very talented calligraphy artist, Laura Erikson, who presented her journals and journallng ideas in a presentation at the Westcoast Calligraphy Society in February.  

I bought a new Strathmore Watercolor Journal, and I must say that I absolutely love the 140 lb. paper.  I confess that I'm usually quite parsimonious when buying art supplies, believing somehow that I'm not worthy of the best quality supplies.  This new journal just might cure that!

Watercolor Painting with Tombow Markers

I painted these Artist Trading Cards with Tombow markers, using a variety of watercolor techniques.  Sometimes I applied the marker onto the watercolor paper and then added water to move the color, and sometimes I scribbled the marker onto a paper palette so that I could pick up the color and apply it with a brush.  

Mostly I don't see the point of substituting markers for actual watercolors, but I do like how bright and vivid the colors are.  I don't have many Tombows, but chose the Jelly Bean set when I wanted to experiment with them because the set contains bright colors (like hot pink and lime green) that I don't have in my watercolor tube paints.  So, I just may use them to mix and match with my watercolor paints and pencils.