Friendship, a sheltering tree

A couple of years ago, my dear friend Kristi Steiner and her husband Bill moved just a few miles from me.  Kristi is one of the most talented artists I have ever known, and so generous in spirit.  This is one of her latest, luscious creations.

  I was lucky enough to be invited to Kristi's lovely studio, in her beloved Wren Cottage last week for some delightful "art play". We only spent a few hours together, but feeling Kristi's creative energy so inspired me to get back to my art table.  Seeing her beautiful work gave me the impetus to pick up my art journal, full of white pages... and begin filling it with sketches and washes of color.

I always have to "name" my working art journals. It makes it seem more like a "real" book, and helps me keep a commitment to my work.   I decided to call this journal "My Heart's Song".  I sketched and watercolored my little bird on my favorite-in-all-the-world paper--Fabriano Artistico hot press watercolor paper.  The paper takes the watercolor like nothing I've ever used before... just luscious! I then cut out my little bird and branch, and applied him to the first page of my sketchbook.

For days, we have been wedged in with the "gloomies", making it so dark in the house for painting. But today the warmth and sunshine have returned, bringing rays of light beaming into my little art space.... Ahhhhhhh.....

Trying my hand at doodling, I used a piece of fabric as the inspiration for my sketches.  I did change the color palette, but had fun with my Derwent Inktense pencils, copics and watercolors.

I decided I could take small steps... starting small...and then growing...

I have been focused too, on gratitude for the many blessings in my life.  Friendships are some of life's greatest joys.  I have been blessed with some of the best friends on the planet.  

I hope you'll spend some moments today counting your blessings, too.  It makes life so much more worthwhile.  Enjoy the sun today, if you are lucky enough to see it.

Lessons from my pansies

On this gloomy January Saturday, I decided to get out my watercolors and sketchbook... Playing at my art table always brightens my spirit and helps add balance in my life.  My art is often a spiritual experience for me.  Those quiet moments of introspection help ground me... help me know where I am on this journey... and help me know how grateful I am for my abundance.

Even though our winter here in the foothills has been relatively mild, we still have had some very cold nights.  The only plants in my yard that make it through the frigid times are the winter kale and my beloved pansies.  I wanted to bring their rich, velvety textures into my art studio to sketch on this Saturday afternoon. So I plucked three lovely specimens...

I wanted to do a watercolor sketch and write about these delightful flowers.  I do adore the soft, ethereal look of watercolor... although it is a difficult medium to master... it is such a favorite of mine.

As I wrote today, I thought of the strength of these resilient flowers.  It is so amazing that they can withstand the cold weather, when almost no others can...  During the coldest of days, the little blossoms  bow their little heads... but just as soon as the warmer, sunnier times arrive, they will hold their heads high... reveling in their renewed energy.  I want to be like that... When difficult days come, I want to hunker down and then come back stronger than ever...  Isn't it wonderful that we can learn so many lessons from nature???

Copic love

I have owned a handful of COPIC markers for quite a while. Being a total "art product junkie", I read about them on some of my favorite blogs, so of course I had to have a few.  I have all kinds of other crayons, pastels, pencils and such.  I love using all of them for different purposes.

I was a bit "put off" by the fact that the COPIC markers are a bit pricey... that was until I found out more about their quality and value. I have just completed a fabulous class with Teresa McFayden... the COLOR AS A VERB e-course.

As I have progressed through the e-course, I just had to have a "few" more....

So my collection is expanding...

This little container is pretty full... soooooooo I have ordered a new case... 

one that can "expand" as my collection grows... More about that to come...

Copicmarkers.com has a great blank chart for coloring in all those colors as new ones are acquired...

http://www.copicmarker.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/COPIC_BlankHandColorChart_2012.pdf

As you can tell, I've been busy coloring in my chart, 

and putting together the little swatchbook Teresa helped us make.

I was able to take some of the fun from this color class and combine it with the techniques we are learning in the LETTER WHIMSY e-course.  The two classes go well together and have given me some inspiration to "play" in my art journal... the first of 2012.  Here is a page I completed yesterday.

I adore home and love this quote from Emily Dickinson.

The "home" stamp at the bottom of the page is one from Donna Downey.  

I just love how whimsical it is!!!

Another page I did had some watercolor backgrounds, 

which changed the look of the Copic colors just a bit. 

 It adds interest to see some of the watercolors peeking through, 

 but it can make it a bit tricky to work with...

I "learn" something with every page...

some good and some not so good...

I guess that's why it's called a "working journal"...

Hopefully my marker storage system arrives tomorrow...

so there will be more fun in my little studio...

My art play helps my heart stay light...

keeping the January doldrums away from my door.

Let's go have a steaming cup of coffee.

Yummmmmm......

Time for some "LETTER WHIMSY"

My first online art journal e-course

 was with the delightful Teresa McFayden.

At the time, I had not nurtured

 my creative spirit in quite some time,

due to work constraints and family issues.

I remember my dear friend Kristi 

telling me about WRITE PLACE WRITE TIME.

I knew I wanted to follow those

 nudgings of my heart.

The magic summer that Teresa rolled out that class,

I was totally smitten with her work and style.

Teresa is one talented artist, 

and I love it 

when she shares a new opportunity with us.

Teresa and I have never met in person,

but we have emailed back and forth many times.

She is such a warm and supportive person.

Today was the beginning day for her newest E-ZINE

 LETTER WHIMSY.

I have my little practice book put together,

ready to go...

I'm such a "product junkie"...

This class will give me an opportunity

to learn better uses for some of these great

pens and markers that have been hiding

 in a drawer in my art space...

Such a darling little quilted bag

made by

another talented artist and friend...

Mama Crow...

xxoo

If you would love some lettering fun,

take a peek here.

Happy lettering!!!

Sketching in the new year...

With the arrival of a new year,

 I felt the strongest desire to take some fun new online classes.

The first one I signed up for was Alisa Burke's SKETCHBOOK DELIGHT.

Sketching daily is an excellent creative activity...

the perfect way to "stretch" artistically, 

as I have never found drawing to be my strong suit.

I do want to step away from so much 

computer time and really "live" in the simple,

 yet wonderful moments of every day life.

The simplest things in life are indeed

 the most meaningful.

Sketching does not require a lot of expensive materials...

 but they are some of my favorites...

wonderful watercolors...

DERWENT INKTENSE pencils... these are fabulous...

Once they are dry, the results are permanent...

and other media can easily be applied on top.

I decided to sketch and watercolor the winter kale 

in the flowerbed under my bay window.

I hope you are finding time

for some creative and enjoyable pursuits

during these days of winter.

Gabe and Buttons are both enjoying their winter days...

Welcome 2012!!!

Welcome 2012...

I adore my new day planner that 

dearest Tonya gave to me...

A beautiful "blank canvas"... 

I love it!!!

It seems like yesterday that we were anticipating

 the new millennium...

and here we are in 2012...

Time seems to fly for me these days...

what about for you???

I have so much to be thankful for in 2011...

and I have such hope for this shiny new year.

I'm still working on this chunky "life book"...

tabbed and bulging at the seams!!!

I bet I'll have many rich experiences to share moving forward...

I know one thing... 

I want this year to be the best ever...

I want to FLY!!!

Thanks to dearest Ille, I have this wonderful inspiration for 2012.

Happy, happy new year!!!