Making Marks

Adapt - Illustration Friday

This week's theme for Illustration Friday is adapt. In this case, the question is whether these guys can adapt to a new home.

I am frustrated with watercolors, but I am still trying to work with them. Here I used pencil to create the basic drawing, watercolor as a background and then colored pencil on top to add details. I think I may try Copic markers soon.

I'm still working on adding more value and detail to my pieces.

See the rest of my blog here. See the rest of my Illustration Friday drawings here. See my Etsy shop (with illustrations) here.

Goat Infatuation

Apparently it's the baby goat season. I've been seeing little goats on my commute to work. I wonder if they've always been there and I just recently noticed them. In any case, they are so darn cute.

Goats seem to have more personality (goat-lity?) than sheep, and that's one reason they've caught my attention. They do like being in a herd, but it seems more like a loose cluster of animals. They'll come up to the fence when a stranger stops for a photo, too.

I've seen a variety of sizes and types on my drive. Some of them have long, floppy ears that are irresistible.

What has caught your attention recently?

Fortune Friday

Time makes on wise. Ask advice from someone older than you.

Clay House

  A couple of months ago Iwrote about Ann Fleming and trying out ceramics. Just recently we got back together, glazed the piece and fired it. I love the color combination that Ann suggested!

I knew the walls and construction would be a little wobbly since this was my first piece, so I accentuated this with off-kilter windows and the door. I'm happy with how it came out.

Finishing the inside with glaze was important to me, and Ann showed me how to do it. I like how it looks all tidy inside and out.

I've been thinking about houses, house metaphors and common sayings we use about houses. Shelter is core to the human experience, and I guess that's why the theme keeps coming up in my consciousness. Now does this house need some little critters? Hmm.

Cracked - Illustration Friday

This week's theme for Illustration Friday is cracked. In this case, the leather on the chair is starting to crack after much use from the curled-up bunny.

I've been working on adding more value and details to drawings in an attempt to create depth and add some interest. The drawing started as just the two bunnies, and I created a scene around them. I think it worked out pretty well.

See the rest of my blog here. See the rest of my Illustration Friday drawings here. See my Etsy shop (with illustrations) here.

Scooter's Breed

 We splurged and got Scooter's DNA tested to find out what kind of dog he is. I was very excited to hear, but I had to be patient the results took 11 weeks to get! (Side note - the lab was busy testing cow DNA becuase of a recent discovery of a genetic flaw in Angus cows.)

In any case, we were shocked to get the results. We've been thinking that Scooter has at least some Schnauzer in him (mini, or standard), or that maybe he's got some Border Terrier or even Westie. Nope.

The test indicates that (out of the 100 most popular breeds they test for) Scooter's great grandparents were Rottweiler and English Coon Hound. You're kidding! Really? The rest of him will remain a mystery. We love him, and that's all that matters.

Fortune Friday

Your dreams are worth your best efforst to achieve them.

Sewing inspiration

Have you seen the Alabama Stitch Book?  If not,  you are in for a real treat.

Alabama Chanin uses cotton jersey to create amazing clothes and home items. Many of her designs use stencils and applique in stunning and often quite subtle color combinations. She uses heavy weight thread for stitching (hence the image here).

Every time I look at this book and her website, I'm inspired. I started sewing again, but I need to spend more time with it if I want clothes that look anything near Chanin's work.

10 things on my art to-do list

1. Finish up felties by attaching eyes

2. Finish up clay sculptures

3. Paint papers for making collages

4. Draw more every day. Take some ideas from The Little Book of Drawing

5. Learn more about value and shading my drawings

6. Go through my old work and toss what I don't like

7. Update my website and include current work/illustrations

8. Plan an art retreat with a friend. (Sitka is renting space in an open studio format)

9. Work on translating illustrations into collages

10. Continue to clear out the clutter in my workspace. Think about what I really need.

Fortune Friday

You will bring sunshine into someone's life this week.