Rapscallion -- the shaggy pony

Rapscallion ~ 6" x 6" graphite on bristol

For sale on Daily Paintworks BID NOW

This is my newest little guy...I'm still on a horse kick. I don't think this one will end for a while. I'm having too much fun. I've named him after the website of the guy that took the picture. I fell in love with his photo, and emailed him for permission to use it. Have a look at his great work here.

I think I'll do a larger color version soon, too. I love the square format. 

While revisiting my past love of horses, I also had an urge to revisit my past love of graphite. 

For years I only drew. I was afraid of color. Afraid I'd be no good, and I spent hours and hours rendering dozens of pictures in pencil. I got quite a few commissions, and sold quite a few pieces, but then I tried painting...and it was so fast! It was like someone gave me wings! And I didn't suck, lol!

So for years, I haven't looked back. Why would I spend hours and hours labouring over something when I could be finished in a few days or hours? 

Well, as part of my artistic "healing" I guess you could call it, I've found solace in the simplicity of the pencil. Not much is needed for materials, you don't have to have a lot of room, and for me I don't have to think much. It's kind of like meditating.

So maybe I'll do some more. Mix it up a bit.

If you're at all curious about why I needed artistic "healing", I've written about it in my newsletter, along with a bit of a review on the book that helped me immensely. You can read it here.

That's it for now, folks. Have a lovely day!

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....

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.

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.

Maui Treasures

Maui Treasures -- sketcbook project

Hmmm...the scan doesn't really do this one justice, but oh well...I took the reference photo for this last winter in Maui. It was the quintessential little boy picture. They were gathering shells and mussels from the lava outcropping at Baby Beach in Paia. We love going to this beach because it's great for kids. The lava creates a natural breakwater, which shelters the little bay from the big waves, and the water is so warm. I'm also using this as a value study for my next painting.

My Little Artist

                                                     My Little Artist -- Sketchbook Project

My little darling Rhiannon, from life this morning after breakfast. As soon as she sees me sketching she jumps up to get her crafty stuff. She has to be creative if I am...I love it:) Except she cut a piece of construction paper into at least a million tiny little pieces today, which I had to clean off the floor...oh well, it's worth watching her enthusiasm, and also, it's a way to get her to sit in one place for a while, if not totally still.

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.

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!