Thursday, February 27, 2014

The cure for boredom. . .

"The cure for boredom is curiosity.  There is no cure for curiosity."
                         - Dorothy Parker

Nearing the end of the 29 Faces challenge - It always feels good to accomplish a goal.  Each time I've done the challenge I've felt like I would be more than ready to be done at the end of the month but instead I find that my desire to draw is 
more keen than even before.  The more you do the more you want to do, right?  So many techniques to try and to many artists whose style I'd like to test drive.  
Thanks again to Ayala Art for sponsoring such a fun challenge!! 
Linking to Paint Party Friday and

Check out 29 Faces at Ayala Art!!

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

29 Faces - Inspired by Dina Wakley

"Be happy with what you have while working for what you want."
                  - Helen Keller

A Dina Wakley inspired face. . .
Check out 29 Faces at Ayala Art!!

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Redacted poetry girl -

after the arrival part
chosen,
urgent for home and family
while sleeping
the all important subject - their future

She looks disappointed that her redacted poem isn't deeper and more in touch with her inner self, but considering the book we are using is A Romance of the Oregon Trail - we will consider it a success.
Have you ever attempted redactive poetry?
Check out 29 Faces at Ayala Art!!

Monday, February 24, 2014

Catching Up - Part two

I'm finally caught up - 24 faces completed - only 5 more to go. 
I wish I had a story connected with these girls but how about a funny story about my niece, Hannah? 
She and I were talking the other day and I tucked her hair behind her ears.
HANNAH (while untucking hair) - "I don't like it when you do that."
ME - I'm so sorry, Hannah.
HANNAH - "I'm allergic to it."
Kids make me laugh - 

Check out 29 Faces at Ayala Art!!

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Catching up. . .

Time for a bit of catching up - painted these girls on leaf prints
I was trying to copy the style of Julie Fei-Fan Balzer - her use of stencils, handwriting,
allowing background layers to show through in the faces,
and handmade stamps.  While Julie's art is definitely more colorful, I was working on catching the spirit of her loose free style that I so much admire.

Check out 29 Faces at Ayala Art!!

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Watercolor girl -

Only time for a quick watercolor today - 
Linking to Sunday Sketches

Check out 29 Faces at Ayala Art!!

Thursday, February 20, 2014

The serious girl. . .

"She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails."
                      -Elizabeth Edwards

This girl is based on a magazine picture.
Magazine girl was more glamorous but this lady seems to be a stoic, strong young woman - 
ready to face whatever life throws her way with dignity and inner strength.
Linking to Paint Party Friday and


Check out 29 Faces at Ayala Art!!

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Pastels -

Ended up having to take a hiatus the past couple of days - too busy working to get to play - WWAAHHH!  Not pretty when a child throws a tantrum - even uglier when a middle-aged woman does! 
I seem to have a perpetual problem of drawing eyes too high up on the face - I do it nearly every time - maybe I should decide that it is stylistic choice for me - "my signature look" - mostly though it just bugs me - I never seem to realize how high the eyes are until I am finished.

Check out 29 Faces at Ayala Art!!

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Yarn Doodling

My  mother is an artist with yarn - she can knit and crochet with equal skill.  As long as I can remember she was always working with yarn.  Many, many people have been gifted with gorgeous afghans, delicate baby dresses, cableknit sweaters, etc.  Carpal tunnel surgery on both wrists have slowed the "afghan machine" somewhat but she still can crank out the handknitted washclothes in every color and stitch imaginable.
I have gobs of them and use them everyday!  Mom taught me to crochet when I was small and I will admit that it always makes me feel womanly to work at something with my hands.  Anyhoo, the one thing that I made that mom never did was potholders.  That's because I rarely had the patience to finish big projects -  while mom has literally made hundreds of afghans I only have made two.  
Mom has a drawer that has lots and lots of my handmade potholders and while some were definitely saved because her daughter made them many of them have been in daily use for over 30 years and are in fine shape.  Handmade items definitely last better than storebought!  I've gone through so many oven mitts/potholders over the years and when I am at mom's house I always say that I need to make some for me but never get around to it.
I had a hankering to play with yarn the other night so I decided to just make a plain potholder with maybe a "m" on it.  Many of my old handmade potholders were in afghan stitch that are cross-stitched with geometric designs and fruit/flowers.  Did you know that afghan stitch is called Tunisian Crochet now?  Fancy. . . 
I got a wild hair and thought it would be more "me" if I attempted to stitch a girl onto it - so I grabbed some red yarn and just went for it - no real plan and no pattern at all.  Just free stitching.  LOVE how it turned out.  Now if I would only commit to making about 3 more I'd be in good shape!
I still put the "m" on the back though.
Linking to Sunday Sketches

Check out 29 Faces at Ayala Art!!

Saturday, February 15, 2014

29 Faces - Fox

This is one of those pics that looked better in my head than in reality. . . 
My Wisconsin grandmother had foxes in her yard when I was a kid.  She would excitedly call us to the window to point out the mother and her kits when they would make an appearance at the edge of the yard.   
We would come and visit from our home in Kentucky and go whooping and jumping all around in that yard and I know that Grandma probably worried that the foxes wouldn't come back because of her wild grandchildren scaring them away. 
Foxes are smart creatures though and always reappeared once we left and things quieted down.  I miss that yard - lots of great memories there. 

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Friday, February 14, 2014

My Super Hero

ME - "Look!  It's my first super hero. . ."
CONNOR - "You can't call her a super hero."
ME - "Why not?"
CONNOR - "She's not super." 
Put in my place by a 17 year old boy - apparently dressing a girl in a tight body suit with rays surrounding her head doesn't make one a super hero despite what I think.

Check out 29 Faces at Ayala Art!!