So much shopping ....

and so little time. I got alot of gift cards this year! Yea!! However, since the weather is cooperating I am not shopping, but working on the studio.

We got alot done yesterday. All the to donate stuff out, swept the floor, laid down the "dumpster" rug... yes, we got a wonderful like new, 8x12, rug out of the dumpster where I work, shelves moved around, and more stuff tossed out.

Today, after a brief, at least I hope it will be brief, bout of food poisoning we will be sorting out books and getting them set up in bookcases.

I need a tattoo to remind me not to eat Chinese food, it doesn't like me....ever!

Photos later today!!! Of course, I again failed to take before photos.

To One and All

Black & White Swap

This is the first in a series of "The Jesters" that I am doing to sell on eBay. This one however was for the Swap done in October. Mine was sent to an Artist in Brazil.

The jester, itself, is a print of my original drawing. Each jester will be hand colored or hand painted then glued to an original background. Each different in it's own way.

No two alike.

It's sure been a long week

I made it to work everyday, but Tuesday. I was just plain worn out from all the walking , with a walker, that is hard work I tell you. Plus I pulled a muscle or whatever in the middle of my back on my third trip to the Ladies Room, 4 floors down, as the building management chose to tear up and redo our 5th floor one, 2 weeks before we moved to our new building. Jerks!!! Anyway, I ended up having to use the wheelchair to get back and forth to the Ladies Room and walker walked everywhere else for the rest of the week.

On Tuesday afternoon I created 2 more ACEO's...

This one was for "theme week" What I am afraid of"

I am really not afraid of spiders, well, those fast brown ones I don't like. I am really afraid of rodents... rats, mice... EEeeeeCKKK!!! But I am so afraid of them I can't draw them either. Can we say phobia?

I didn't get it listed on eBay though. By the time I finished it and the other my daughter was home.... dinner, a chat, and a pain pill left me ready for a evening nap.

Right, those pain pills knock me out. SO I didn't wake up until minutes before the cut off time for posting "Theme week" ACEO's and it takes me forever to post a listing. Hopefully, I will be faster today when I list this one.

Isn't he the cutest thing! This one will be hard to part with. I really like scarecrows.

If you want to keep an eye on my eBay listings here is the link.

We moved in to our new building Friday. It is awesome. Today, I am going to go buy a few small art supplies to keep there in my drawer so I don't have to lug things in and out everyday.

Yes, I am fortunate to work at a place where I can draw/color while I wait for calls. This is where I "color" all my stamped greeting cards and Christmas cards. Now, I plan on doing ACEO's there as well. Except for any watercoloring. I think that is where the boss would draw the line.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Where Have I Been????

Spending a whole lot of time in the Doctor's Office. I am now happily recovering from knee surgery, not a replacement.

I did alot of sketching in a small spiral notebook. On a forum somewhere, probably on yahoo I stated that I had not used a lined notebook before and didn't know if I would like to sketch with all those lines. Well since I was spending so much time in waitng rooms and only had a lined notebook and a ink pen. I thought what the heck...



As always click on photos to enlarge.

Here is a close up of the Doc's Office... didn't matter which side of the hall you are on the office stays the same, just switched/flipped, as in a mirror image... right down to the soap dispensers.




I have also been lurking in eBay in the ACEO group. Art Cards, Editions, and Originals... I have bought 3 now and I am addicted.

I am listing my first one today.



http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7358582176

It is only 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches. Check it out and check out all the other artists that do these incredible mini pieces. Search for ACEO.

Looking forward to getting back to participating in Illo Friday, EDM, and Studio Friday. I have missed y'all.

Mother and Child #1

a series of Mother and Child inspired doodles

Mother and Child #3

A series of Mother and Child inspired doodles

Wisdom

n. accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment...




The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.
William Shakespeare
"As You Like It", Act 5 scene 1

Submission for Illustration Friday
8/11/05
sketchbook and colored pencil

Empty

Submission for Illustration Friday



8/05/05 Empty
medium: paper and colored pencil

Ever have one of those days? A day full of empty?

Sketchbooks

Submission for Studio Friday



I draw, doodle, sketch, glue cut-outs from magazines, doodle, and draw some more.

I doodle when I don't have anything exactly in mind to draw. I have been quite pleased with a couple of them.

I even convince co-workers to doodle when they comment on my "art". The sketchbook page on the right was doodled by Diana, who said "Oh I can't do those. I am not that creative" ... she doodled, I colored them in. I think the fish came out quite well.

I am a firm believer that if you just DO it, you will be amazed at what you can DO.

Every child is an artist. It's when we grow up that we forget that.

And it's fun. It sure helps the day at work go faster that's for sure.

The sketchbook with the field and bugs is full.

The one standing up is one that I am doing my collage stuff in and I am now using it for Illustration Friday, too.

For the collages I paste interesting images cut from old magazines, well some aren't to old, I have been known to come close to snatching a current magazine from a co-worker when I see something that I just have to have for a collage. They humor me quite well.

The cut-outs serve as inspiration for me to draw something to go with them.

Somewhere packed away I have many other sketchbooks from years gone by. Eventually as I fix up my studio area and unpack all those boxes I will find my old "friends" again.

Sketchbook Pages

pages from my collage sketchbook

I like to cut and paste interesting images in the pages then come back later and sketch in drawings to go with the cut-outs.

The Horse on the left wanted to be a giraffe, with a long tongue flicking out to get the offered bunch of whatever, alas he became a horse, almost an anime looking horse.

Who knows tomorrow he could become a unicorn.

Aging

Submission for Illustration Friday: Aging
7/29/05

*(added this note 8/05/05 due to comment: Academie Sketchbook, Crayola Colored Pencils, Prang Watercolor wash as background... I wouldn't have the slightest idea how to use computer/illustrator :) (I'm a single mom. I buy lots of my supplies during back to school sales... this week is a big sale week here!!! Yea!!! )

I originally thought about doing strawberries because I had just thrown out about 1/2 a carton. Such a waste of goodness.

Bananas were easier to do than fuzzy strawberries.

I am sad to say I also have had more than one banana age to ooze liquid.

I really need to freeze them when they get too ripe so that I can thaw them and make banana bread.

Now if I can just convince my daughter to do that as well.

Where does the time go?

We are still busy working on the studio. I haven't had much time to do any Illo Fridays. I have had the ideas, just no time.

I have been cutting out images from magazines to do compositions for cards for my mother, who had knee replacement surgery.

I love doing collages anyway. It is relaxing and sure makes the time go faster at work. I am always amazed when someone comments on how talented or how good a collage looks.

I mean it's just cutting and pasting. Everyone can do that.



Just do it. Try it. It's only old magazines. Supplies consist of scissors and a glue stick. Card Stock, if you like or just glue cut-outs on top of old cards. Recycle.
Let your inner child, artist out. Have fun.

Well, no wonder

Apparently I am not the only one having trouble with this particular template.

I finally had time to see if I could reload it or get a different blogger template.

And the one I had been using wasn't even a choice anymore.

So this looks much better.

Been to busy to draw a thing. I have been working on a stamped cross-stitch sampler while at work but, since July 1st I have been working on the garage to studio/game room conversion.



Painting is almost finished. Most of the floor is stained.

Can't wait to get all my various art/craft supplies in one place instead of all over the house and packed away in boxes.

Template Test

okay so is this working???? Now????

IF:Black and White

Okay, something is screwy with my blog today... Sorry you had to scroll down to see illo. If perhaps you didn't have to scroll down, please leave in comments what browser and screen setting you are using. Thanks



I had originally thought of drawing an escaped prisoner, black and white striped, prison garb caught in the guard's spotlight, against the prison wall with barbed wire on top...

but this is what I sketched in a hurry while working at "my day job" yesterday and then was too darn tired to post it last night.

Hopefully, I will make it in time to post for this illo, Black and White, ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY subject for 6/17/05.

IF:Summer

Submission for Illustration Friday: Summer
8/10/05

I didn't have time to do "digital" from last week and with my mom and aunt here I wouldn't have had time to do this week's "Summer" if I wouldn't have already had a summer type sketch done already.

As I drove home yesterday the farmers were harvesting the wheat fields already and the corn field across the road from the farm will be ready next month.

I have been in Texas 25 years and my "farm clock" is still off from the growing and harvest schedule of growing up in Iowa.

It always seems to soon!!

IF: Envy

Submission for Illustration Friday: Envy
5/27/05

This is by no means a "self portrait". My legs are not that skinny.

Cleaning house

but I would rather be finishing my submission for Illustration Friday. It's all drawn. Just need to finish the coloring.

Stumbled in to a fun blog... she does a weekend meet and greet. Snagged this meme as well, three daily things.

1. This weekend I have already
2. This weekend I plan to
3. This weekend I have no intention of

My answers....

1. This weekend I have already planted flowers in the rain
2. This weekend I plan to give my dobie a bath.
3. This weekend I have no intention of eating liver and onions.

Well, back to the laundry room.

Manipulated Doodle

I fanagled the heart. Otherwise it was all subconsious doodle.



Madonna and Child