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February’s sketchbook Challenge theme is opposites. I did a couple of sketches, one is of butterflies, who would of guessed. I did a black swallowtail, a painted lady, a couple of made up, not true monarchs. The small butterflies are on 2.5″ x 3.5″ watercolor paper, about artist trading card size. All four are done in watercolor and black felt tip pen. I’m going with the fact that butterflies have wings on the opposite sides of their bodies. The second one I did is the red cardinal, the contrast of this bright red cardinal and the neutral winter landscape are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Also included an image of my February create a calender page. For February I did pansies, once again in graphite a 5B and a blending stump. As always, thanks for looking and I hope you enjoy what I’ve shared.

Gracie

I have three dogs, Sigh my Wiemar; Berney and Gracie my two Yorkies, I absolutely love, love, love them. Dogs are just precious, these three love me unconditionally, they hang out with me in my office and my studio, just wanting to be where I am. They provide so much comfort and understanding, without so much as a single word. These three are so highly prized in my life; here is a sketch of Sigh and one of Berney, I did both a few years back in watercolors and last night I did a little sketch of Gracie as she laid in my lap. I really need some help on my lettering, but drawing her in the position she was in, was hard, but I had a great time trying to get it right. I used graphite, colored pencils and felt tips on her sketch.

Sign

Sketchbook Cover

Highly Prized

We got the January Sketchbook Challenge Theme the first week of January, it is “Highly Prized”. So many people have uploaded to Flickr some wonderfully creative ideas for the theme. I did a graphite of some of the “Highly Prized” things in my life. These include my Family-represented by my new grandson Finley, my faith, my beliefs, nature and God’s glorious creations and so much more. I will do more sketches as the month goes along, as well as creating some paintings from these sketches. I have already started sketching a painting I will do inspired by the zinnia and butterfly on my January sketch. I’ve also included a photo of the front cover of my new sketchbook, I used some archival scrapbook paper, and painted the red daisy and the butterfly with acrylics. I love the way the paper print comes through the paint on the flower and the butterfly.

I know it has been a while since I last blogged, but what can I say, I have been busy loving my new grand-baby! I am trying to get back into the groove, so I’m working on my business plan for next year, setting goals, and determining things I will participate in. I found this great site http://sketchbookchallenge.blogspot.com/ , this site is the jumping off point for a group of artists initiating a sketchbook challenge for themselves and anyone else that wants to join in.  You can follow along with select artists as they fill their sketchbooks based on a monthly theme that will be announced on the first of each month.

Sign Sketch in watercolor

Art Journal

Each month they will announce a new theme on the blog site above and throughout the month they will be showing you images from their sketchbooks and talking about the intention and inspiration behind them.  Along the way they will be sharing tips, techniques and tutorials. I will be joining in and posting my sketchbook creations here on my blog spot. Sketchbooks, art journals, whatever you want to call them, are such a great way to put your creative thoughts and ideas down for future inspiration or just to have a place to try out new things, no rules or constraints. I have several sketchbooks and art journals that I have been working out of over the years. I must admit I have been known to sketch on graph paper, post it notes, envelopes that happen to be in front of me when I am on the phone, or whatever is available at the time. I am working on keeping a sketch book handy so that all my ideas, thoughts, etc. are in at least two or three places, instead of scattered everywhere. One of my goals for the coming new year is to be more creative, hopefully to  do something creative everyday; my sketchbook-journal will enable me to carry that goal through the entire year. I would love anyone, that would like to free themselves up to becoming more creative, to join me. Here is a short video of my sketchbooks and the beginning of a new creative journey, come along with me through the year, there is no telling what we will discover.