Good Morning, Sunshine

Good Morning Sunshine -- for the sketchbook project

She's actually staring out the big sliding windows in our kitchen, into the rising sun. We have a gorgeus mountain view, and it was glowing pink on the snow. Just gorgeous! I'm going paint this one of these days, because the light is amazing. Actually, I did start out trying to paint this for the sketchbook, but you don't want to see it! I totally blew it on the right hand side, and had to rip it out and start over. I thought for time, and safety's sake, I would stick to a pencil drawing.

Mr. Rock Star

Mr. Rock Star for Sketchbook Project

Every little boy wants to be just like his dad. We got some pictures of him "rockin' out" the other day with his dad's guitar. I think he looks like a natural! Oh No!! 

Oh yeah, by the way, my husband is selling one of his gorgeous guitars on ebay right now. It's a PRS Starla, with abalone bird inlays and a Bigsby...I have an ebay link down at the bottom of my blog on the right if anyone's interested...

Sick Day

Sick Day--for Sketchbook Project

My poor little munchkin is home sick today. She's so miserable, with a headache and fever. I hate it when their sick because I hate to see them suffering. But it gives me an opportunity to draw a stationary child which doesn't happen very often. Here, she's watching Night at the Museum 2, and barely cracking a smile at the funny parts...awwww....

Summertime

Summertime for sketchbook project

Oh how I miss sunny, warm days!! I got a little bit nostalgic, looking at some photos from this past summer. The kids loved the hammock. They'd spend so much time in there, swinging and playing together...they always got along if they were in the hammock.

Her Very First Day of School

Her Very First Day of School--for Sketchbook Project

It was her very first day of school, waiting for the bus.  She's clinging to her big brother's hand. 

She's only four, but here we have full time pre-school. I kind of thought four was a bit young for full time and was of a mind to only let her go a few days a week, but she won't stay home! She loves it.

She's Got Talent

She's Got Talent -- for the Sketchbook Project

Whenever I see my children creating, with that intense look of concentration on their face, and their afficionado pose, I'm reminded of Nancy Guzik's gorgeous work," Lucas Painting."

And...it also makes me want to attempt to create something even a fraction as beautiful as she does it! This attempt (well, not even an attempt, really) was for the sketchbook, so it's not great, but one of these days I'm going to do it! 

As for the picture I did, Rhiannon was so cute tonight...instructing me how to color it, and "MOM, you forgot to paint my band-aid!"

                                     

Christmas Morning

"I Got It!" for the Sketchbook Project

Christmas Day! My nephew opening his "BIGGEST" present with my daughter and son watching...they were almost as excited as him...It was also the first time they'd seen him since last year.

I don't care so much whether I get presents for Christmas anymore...this year was small things...eclectic hippy earrings and natural soaps...I like that kind of thing:) But do I ever love just watching the kids! It brings me back to childhood. The excitement and anticipation of Christmas morning. 

Funny, though, how they play with the new toy for five minutes, but they'll play with the box the toy came in for half an hour! LOL!!

Putting the Star on the Tree

The Final Touch -- For the Sketchbook Project

I couldn't resist sketching this photo we took the day we trimmed the tree. Sorry my DH, I didn't do you justice...your face is just at a weird angle, lol! 

Only 12 more pages, and 14 more days left...

Little Drummer Boy

Little Drummer Boy for Sketchbook Project

I'm finally back at it. Something about the looming deadline made it not fun for awhile! What a typical Taurus I am. Tell me I have to do something, and I run the other direction...lol! It's also been pretty hectic with Christmas and parties and all that stuff. I tend to work best under pressure though...14 pictures in 15 days...I think I can do it!

I'm also competing in the Bold Brush Competition this month, with a few of my last paintings. Go to http://canvoo.com/boldbrush/painting/15714 and http://canvoo.com/boldbrush/painting/15707 to show your support by "liking" my paintings on the facebook tab. Thanks!!

Happy New Year!!

The Computer Whiz

The Computer Whiz-for Sketchbook Project

My little angel, drawn from life the other day. She's playing a TreehouseTV game. It has always amazed me that they can pick up the laptop mousepad and all of it's functions so quickly! They're little sponges:)

Another Sketch of the Boy

Jacob's Art--for the Sketchbook Project

Getting there...I'm getting close to the end of the Sketchbook Project...maybe:)

At any rate, the deadline's coming up, isn't it?

Well, I drew this one from life the other morning. He was completely absorbed in drawing dragons I think, and the window light was illuminating his hair and shoulder in a beautiful way. So I drew him, of course!

Fishing for leeches

Fishing for Leeches -- Sketchbook Project

This is from a photo of my kids at the lake this summer. My husband has a band, and he was hired to play for a wedding near Tatlayoko Lake, at a ranch way out in the middle of the wilderness...Bracewell's Lodge. We were given this rustic cabin on a leech abundant lake to stay in...no electricity or running water, with mice running over us in the middle of the night...but it was still a blast. The kids had so much fun, and instead of being grossed out by leeches, they were fascinated by them...so much so that they were obsessed with catching them, which is what they were doing in this picture. 

Goodnight Sweetheart...

Goodnight Sweetheart for Sketchbook Project

The boy...I couldn't resist this one. There was still a lot of light coming through the window so I shut off the flash. The photo is blurry, but it captures the wonderful, soft window light.

I love my boy!

Once Upon a Time

  Once Upon a Time -- for Sketchbook Project

Wow, I can't believe it's been almost a week since I last posted. That's not like me. Well, my life just got silly busy. I'm catering for the road crew that's repairing the damage after the flood, and I'm working on a large painting, and I'm designing my necklace/pendants for the Etsy shop. I didn't manage to get into the craft fair this year. I was too busy cooking for hungry pavers.

But, here are my munchkins, again:) Jacob is reading his sister a bedtime story.

Maybe I'll just dedicate the rest of this sketchbook to them. The only crappy thing is that I have to send it away!  I spent a bit of extra time on this one. I'm trying to sketch using painterly concepts, and I think this would make a great painting if I could just force myself to stay simple. I tend to get caught up in the details, and try to finish backgrounds, and I want to break myself of that habit and stay painterly. I'm really happy with this one. I wish I could keep it.

Cup of Tea?

Cup of Tea?  for the sketchbook project

I found an old family photo album the other day while digging around in a box for an art book. This is a picture of ME, age six, and my dog, Max. He was so funny...every time my parents would aim the camera, he would race to be in the picture, and pose perfectly.

These Boots are Made for Walking

These Boots...for sketchbook project

My little girls' boots. I want some! I'll be sad when she grows out of them. They are so cute, and just my style...lol! I sat these in front of me on the coffee table last night and drew them while I watched t.v. Needless to say, I don't remember what I was watching, or what happened.

The Boy--My Little Couch Potato

My Little Couch Potato -- for the Sketchbook Project

Here's Jacob...I know...my kids again, but there's a reason I picked Boys and Girls for my Sketchbook Project title...I have one of each, so I figured there would be lots of inspiration to "draw" from:) 

My son is not the typical 7 year old. He loves math, won't sign out anything but science and craft books from the library, and he loves reality T.V. No cartoons for him, except the movie kind. Ever since he was about 3, his favorite shows have been the extreme sports channel, America's Funniest Home Videos, and the National Geographic Channel. Today he was watching Austin Stevens Adventures in the Great Bear Rain Forest...where we live. We see grizzlies all the time. Before the flood, there were days where we were almost late for the bus in the morning, because we had to wait for the bear to leave before we could.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

                                          We're Going on a Bear Hunt...sketchbook project

I've been busy doing other things for the last few days and feeling a bit guilty about not posting...I'm making some jewelry for the local arts and crafts fair...I'll post some pics later. But I thought I'd better sketch today, so this is what my "crunched for time" effort turned out today...in between business emails, pizza making and such:)  The reference photo was from Amanda Cook Photography, she's a great children's photographer. Thanks Amanda! I was feeling too lazy and time challenged to sift through my own extensive photo library, and much to non-focused to sketch from life. Lol! One of those days...anyways...this image so reminded me of We're Going on a Bear Hunt, a book from Micheal Rosen, which was one of my kids' favorites. So I added the text in Photoshop...(YUP, i'm SUPER lazy today!), and thought I'd add a touch of pink, while i was at it.

Dora's Dinosaur Rescue

Dora's Dinosaur Rescue for Sketchbook Project

I decided to try to have a little fun with a still life today. I'm trying to read "The Artist's Way" right now, because, aside from the sketchbook thing, I'm feeling a little creatively blocked. I don't really know which direction to take my art, now that the show season is over, and I've done this big, serious, exhausting commission. I feel like I tend to take myself and my art a little too seriously anyways. I probably just need to marinate for a while, but I still feel driven to paint, I just don't know what or how...At any rate, the Artist's Way talks about nourishing your Inner Child...so I brought out the toys:) And since the theme for this sketchbook is Girls and Boys, I grabbed some girl toys and some boy toys. This tense standoff is what ensued, lol!

Spent!

New sketch for Sketchbook Project and Illustration Friday "Spent"

Another sketch of my beautiful daughter, sleeping. I got the saying off of http://elegantwordart.blogspot.com.

Thank You!

I don't have a lot to say tonight. I'm pretty "spent", myself...:) Woke up too early, fighting the flu...yuck...but I'll try to get something done for tomorrow. I have a lot of pages in this sketchbook to go before January!