Trick or Treat!

I hope everyone has a great weekend. Lots going on here in Jacksonville with the GA- FLA game and Halloween too. Should be spooktacular!

PS-- Go Gators!

Writing in a Circle

I actually haven't written in a circle in a long time because usually it doesn't work out and I am too lazy to write it over and over to make it fit. Somehow this one just happen to fit since it was only two words and I could see that one word was about half of the circle. Yes, I would have been very bummed out had it not fit. Sometimes I just throw caution to the wind. This is actually a book cover that I am making for my Westwind graph pad calligraphy practice sheets. I have come to the conclusion... if I don't know what to do with it or how to file it... make a book out of it! So that's what I am doing with this. The cover is scrapbook paper and I used a calligraphy marker for the lettering.

This is Italic Calligraphy (which by the way is starting November 2nd!) Another shameless plug!

What have I been up to these last few days?

Well, since I can't stick to one thing for very long (but I do eventually revisit usually) I have been making some things for my Etsy shop for Christmas. I don't have the Christmas items up yet but I do have some of the pendants up.

And also I have always loved headbands--even when I was a child I used to wear all colors of headbands but they weren't cute back then. As I mentioned in a previous post I have bad hair days sometimes but when you put one of these rag bands in--no more bad hair---cute hair! Yes, you do look like a Bohemian flower child but---hey what's worse, Bohemian flower child or---bad hair? Bad hair gets my vote!


I also doodle in the "closet of creation" at home. (look below) I love these Westwind graph pads. They are part of my supply list for Italic Calligraphy that starts November 2nd (shameless plug!) I like to watch my TV programs (I am a TV junkie) but I am very particular about my shows. Durning a commercial I run to the closet and add a doodle. It's good exercise too--running to the closet and I do a 1 or so minute doodle or some quick lettering. As you know, I am addicted to the doodle---I call it POWER doodling! POWER TO THE DOODLE!! It's cathartic.

And as you see I am also taking Monica Zuniga's online class, "Drawing Faces" with Pencil which I love. I love drawing eyes. And I love a pencil. It is about my favorite art tool.

Monica is good!


DOODLE POWER!!!

Look who is getting two teefies!!

Baby Marc!

He scratched his face when he had an allergic reaction to formula.

All better now! November 1 will be his 6 month birthday.

Cutie-patootie!

I am inspired...

I am inspired today. I was reading a post from Lesley Riley's blog last night and I really was inspired by Janice Lowry. Some of you probably know who she was but I was so inspired by her sweet smile, her fascinating assemblages and all of her JOURNALS that are now in the Smithsonian! Makes me wish I was better at journaling and especially starting long ago as she did. (Not aspiring to be in the Smithsonian I might add, but how cool is that?) Well, there's always today. And actually I do have many art journals and when I think back to some of my happiest art times I always think of when I was assembling those journals and adding a page a day--no matter what it was. And here are just a few in process. The cute red on the left is my good buddy, Lori's. So, I think I will purpose myself to do this one a day thing and even try to make myself write down how I am feeling today. HUMMM...but having that being preserved for all time---not so sure about that. I think I need to write in code or pig-latin. Nope---- pig latin can be cracked. Well, we'll see...

Here is the post about Janice Lowry.

Copics Class

Well, I finally had my first Copics class and I must say that I learned so much. I was basically doing it pretty much right but the instructor gave us some great tips as to the nature of the marker and what it would do--and not do, how to refill and change the nibs. You never throw them away. That's why they are expensive. It truly is an investment and I am loving them more and more as I use them. They will never take the place of my beloved watercolors (love them, always!) but this is such a great and portable way to colors things. I might join the Copics club on Thursdays and the instructor teaches us more intricate and detailed ways of blending and shading. I feel that it is a great way to learn about colors, blending, shading and values.

And I have treated myself to something special. When I get it I will show you! I have a birthday coming up so---that's a very good excuse to purchase this thing. Can you Copics folks guess what it is??? I bet you can!

Red Door Friday Happenings

I heard some loud commotion coming down the street in front of the Red Door and low and behold it was a parade! Lee High School homecoming--all coming down the street. It must have been the whole school coming down the street in some capacity or other. I grabbed my camera as quick as I could but missed filming the ROTC which were the most impressive. I loved seeing the homecoming court sitting on the cars and waving like the queen.

And the last shots are of my neighbors, Sara and Duncan, with their Halloween "message" display. They are wonderful neighbors and I love their "green" attitude and their wonderfully eclectic house. What a great little artsy neighborhood this is!

Just doodlin'....

Sometimes it just time for a doodle! I love stamps by Paula Best and these are similar to hers but hers are way cuter. But it's fun to lay these little fun things out. I had the intention of laying in copic color in the letters. I think that would be cute, fun and a no brainer. Sometimes no brainers are a good thing. So tomorrow what will I do--paint some grafitti maybe? Well, that's about the only thing I haven't done yet!

Bad hair day???

I seem to be having more and more of these---bad hair days,. I think actually it's just because I don't feel like cranking up the hot iron. So this is my solution. My friend, Cindy, showed me how to make these darling roses out of strips of fabric so I decided to put them on a headband that I covered. It's batik fabric already cut in strips that I bought at the quilt show. I think I will make some more. Cute! And makes a bad hair day...well, not so bad!

Vegetales

I took some pictures and did a line drawing in Photoshop of some fall vegetables I bought at Publix because I just love the colors and the interesting shapes. But...I was blown away as to how expensive these individual pieces of vegetables were! And really, are we suppose to eat these things? I almost put it back as I was checking out. Well, anyway, it was good practice for my Copics and I guess I'll pay $8 for a good time. And it was a good time coloring this in. The pecans are from my tree outside the studio. Bucky loves the nuts and hides them in his jaws when he comes in because he knows I will take them away from him. He gets the shells all over the floor. He and his squirrel buddies are in cahoots.

Inside you...

Sometimes I just feel like combining some calligraphy with a background using a little digi-power. I feel powerful!

That's a lot of red on that door!

Yes, the porch is red too on my little red door art studio. I drew this in our drawing class and I have painted it in watercolors but I thought I would try it with Copics. I am finding lots of things to practice coloring. I even bought some coloring books just to practice. As you see, I am going Copic Crazy. I will have official Copics class this week and I am sure I will find out great information, tips and techniques. I love color and these Copics never disappoint! If you missed the tour you can click here.

Fall Sisters

This was a drawing I did quite some time ago for an online class in portraits. As I have mentioned before I am pulling out drawings that I have done and coloring them with Copic markers. Faces are a new challenge but I think I have the right colors in Copics now. I would love to do a faces class with Monica Zuniga---but when you look at her blog she has a spooky face there. It's a great spooky face but if you look at her header you will see the beautiful faces she draws. Maybe I will do that soon. I think I am getting into the face thing again.

Hey, it's fall here---70 degrees and sunny. Cooler weather finally---beautiful! I hope you all are having a wonderful fall Day!!

Pumpkin and Gourd thingy

Today was drawing class and we drew pumpkins and these warty gourd things. The warty gourd thing is not my favorite but I like the little pumpkin better. Then I used the Copics to color in. The warts were hard to draw because they had a shadow and a highlight and well---it was hard to draw those warts and make it look right. But it's all for practice and everything I draw makes me a better--draw--er. Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Looks like we just might get a little bit of cooler weather here. I'm ready for some fall weather.

More Copics

I printed off more of my drawings from drawing class and colored it with Copics. As I recall drawing that candle stick was difficult and such a simple looking object. I do much better with organic shapes rather than angles and lines. But that is my weakness in drawing so I guess I need to do more if it. Drawing is hard---hard in a sense that I don't want to push through it when I start it. Sometimes the push pays off but sometimes it doesn't.

I am looking forward to my Copics class next week. Even though I think I have about figured them out I am sure I will learn some good info and tips.

Copic Rattle

This is one of those 11:00 PM ditties. I forgot to buy a card for a baby shower so that means--make one yourself. I did get some new pink Copics yesterday so I decided to draw something baby-ish and use them. Still working on the blending thing. But as Copics do--it bled through to the inside. I keep forgetting that. Oh well, it guess it needs an insert anyway. That will make it more finished looking. So, if I am true to Art du Jour---then this is the Art du Jour for today!

So now I am off to lunch with my good buddy, Lori. We always have such a good time lunchin'! She is actually my art therapist too. She's good at that. We ouuu... and ahhhh... over each other's art and I get to see those wonderful handmade journals she makes in person!

Copic Fruit

I really am loving using these Copic markers. I think that if you have some watercolor knowledge it helps somewhat although I catch myself trying to blot it with my finger but to no avail---because it's a marker! The top picture is a photograph I took and turned it into a line drawing and then used the markers. The bottom two are sketches from my drawing class. I am planning to venture into coloring my girls with the Copics. I think I have all the face colors now. I have found that Carpe Diem Art Supplies are the lowest price I have seen so far for Copics.

Registration is up now!

Just wanted to announce that registration is in full swing over at Creative Workshops. Calligra-fun students get a discounted rate. If you have ever had any desire to pick up that calligraphy pen again or if you have never even tried it, this is the online class for you. It is a beginning class that will take you through step by step to become a calligrapher and give you the foundation to go on to other calligraphy hands. Come join us!

Ars artis gratis

This is a background on a 5x7 canvas board with Studio paints, punchanella, and stamps...and the stamp says..."art for art's sake." I think that creating these types of quickie backgrounds is one of the most fun things that I create. I have gotten to the point, at least for the most part, to create these backgrounds intuitively and not think too much but just let each color and shape dictate the next. One things that helps too---my safety net---GESSO!!!

Doodling some Pumpkins

Just a little doodling in Greenville while the baby was sleeping. I wish I had brought my Copics but there were a few key colors of Zigs and I bought a graph pad at CVS while getting Butt Paste for the baby. I am not being crude, Butt Paste is one the the best baby diaper rash inventions ever invented! I painted a few more things too that maybe I will blog. They are in my daughter's camera so when she sends them on I will blog them. Doesn't really seem like fall here in Jacksonville where it was 85 degrees but the weather in Greenville, SC, yesterday before we left was like heaven--68 degrees and sunny with clear mountains in the distance---beautiful.

Italic Calligraphy Online Class-Starts Nov 2nd

ALMOST READY!!! If you are interested, Gail at Creative Workshops will have registration open soon.

As hard as this class was to organize and teach, it was a complete joy to work intensely with my pens and practice my skills so I could bring to those of you who might be interested in learning calligraphy a good foundation so you can start a successful calligraphic journey. I have developed a step by step approach which will give you the foundation for you to be a good calligrapher. The rest is up to you! It is something that you can do the rest of you life, it never goes out of style and it goes with any style that comes around a goes around. It will make you happy and others happy. What can be better than that?

Copic Girl

Still playing around with my Copics. I have been putting off drawing and coloring a face because well---I guess I was just chicken-- but I decided to draw one. At some point I am determined to learn how to draw hair better. I have watched Youtubes but when I start to do it I can't remember what they did---and what colors they used. And I don't have those colors--ahhh the colors---will it ever end? I hope I can take my Copics to the poor house. I smoothed the shadow

on her neck in PS.

Coping with Copics

I have found that Copic markers are good therapy. Anytime I am stressed, or feel like my coping skills are dwindling which has been certainly the case lately then I bring out the Copics. So the motto for the day is,"Copics for Coping!" That must be why they are so expensive! Well now, that explains it all.

A purple Daisy Day

Well, ya know sometimes how life sometimes overwhelms and things crash in and stress is rampant? Well, that calls for a Purple Daisy day. It just makes me happy. Have a wonderful and blessed Sunday everyone.

AND, thanks so much for all of your comments on my blog givaway the other day! That was a happy thing too! I will do that again before Christmas. Love and hugs to all you BFFBFs. :)

Art Opening Last Night

Last night was the art opening of the "From the Studio Of..." show at the Women's Center here in Jacksonville. It was very exciting to see my art up on the wall along with all the other wonderful art. There were so many different styles from great Jacksonville artists and I feel very privileged to be apart of it. AND...I sold this piece! It's always nice to sell one---even though you feel like you are selling a part of yourself.

Have a wonderful weekend everybody!!!

AND THE WINNER IS......

Mamabugs, you are the winner!!!! Please contact me with your email so Gail from Creative Workshops can send you the Calligra-fun workshop!!! Yea!! Congratulations!!!