Art Project Day #31

Art Project  Day #31. Today, my daughter, Amber and I drove around town and found these old dilapidated buildings in a field, down an old country road in Harker Heights, Texas. I really wanted to paint it as my last painting in my January Art Project a Day.

This is a 9 x 12 watercolor on 140 pound Arches paper.

Art Project Day #30

Art Project  Day #30. Today, I made all these mustaches; 77 of them, for my daughter's etsy shop; whiskerworks.com. I mixed two resins together, and poured them into the molds that my daughter made. After they hardened, I took them out, and did it again and again. It is so much more work than I had imagined. These still have to be sanded, but I'll let her do that.

Art Project A Day #29

Art Project A Day #29. I was looking for an apple to paint today, but all I found at my daughter's house was a banana. I paired it with a green and red kitchen towel. The piece is an 8 x 10 watercolor on 140 pound paper.

The next morning, we ate my model, and it was delicious.

Art Project a Day #28

Art Project a Day #28. My son-in-law, Alex was deployed to Afghanistan on day 28, so I photographed his uniform before he left.

Amber was gone all day with him, seeing him off, so I stayed home and painted the uniform. It's on an 8 x 10 gallery wrapped canvas. I am giving it to them.

Art Project a Day #27

Art Project a Day # 27. It's been cold in Texas, so every night, Aex gets a fire going in the fireplace. I thought I'd paint it. So, here it is; an 8 x 10 acrylic painting on a canvas panel.

Art Project a Day #26

Art Project a Day #26. I am in Killeen, TX now, at my daughter, Amber and husband Alex's house. They own a bentwood rocker, which I think is so beautiful.

It is an 8 x 10 drawing on 140 pound Arches watercolor paper, with watercolor pencils. It really deserves to be an acrylic painting, to bring out the warm colors and gloss of the wood. Maybe I will do that on another day, when I have more time. This is a 2 1/2 hour effort.

Art Project a Day #25

Art Project a Day #25. My son-in-law, John, makes fantastic lamps with lots of Goodwill and flea market finds.

This is an 8 x 10 watercolor of three of his creations. They are much cooler in person, and especially at night when turned on.

Art Project a Day #24

Art Project a Day #24. On this Monday, I was able to attend a life drawing session in Austin with my daughter, Kelly. (I wish we had these where I live.) I like to go to them whenever I am in Austin, because it is so reasonable; $5.00 for a 3 hour session.

This model, Hannah, was so good at poses. I have posted one of the series of drawings I did of her that night.

Art Project a Day #23

Art Project a Day # 23. A family friend, Trang Do, had cut some leaf silhouettes of My daughter, Amber and her husband, Alex as a wedding gift. Since then, I have wanted to try it.

My project for January 23rd, is a generic profile with a Bradford Pear Tree leaf. The leaf was brittle, so it cracked, but I definitely know I will do this again with fresh leaves in the future.

Art Project a Day #22

Art Project a Day #22. While living in Italy, my daughter, Kelly, was able to visit Burano Island. She took many photos there. I have painted part of one here. I love the colors. Wouldn't it be great to go there?

It is an 8 x 10 acrylic on canvas board.

Art Project A Day #21

Art Project a Day #21. I am visiting my daughter, Kelly, and son-in-law John in Cedar Creek TX. Kelly studied Art at the Angel's Academy in Florence, Italy. She fell in love with Florentine Calligraphy, and has been working on quite a few paintings with it on the side.

I decided to try my hand at it. This is done with watercolors on 140# paper. It's about 5 x 11 inches.

Art Project a Day #20

Art Project a Day #20. This was a tunnel on Interstate 10 in Mobile AL. I love tunnels, especially when you can see the light at the end of them. ;^P This was done on January 20th, and I tried to post it last night, but couldn't. I'm glad I could get the project on  today, though.

I will be out of cell phone and internet area for the next few days, but will play catch-up later.

Art Project a Day #19

Art Project a Day #19. This day I drove from Foley AL to Killeen TX after lunch with my brother, Dan and Pat. I could see I wouldn't make it before midnight, so I quickly got a magic marker and a sheet of paper to so my project which tells the story of my exhaustion, and desire to hit the hay.

I am in TX now, visiting my daughter, Amber and her husband, Alex. I have wireless now for a few minutes, so I catching-up on my postings.

Tomorrow, I'l be in Cedar Creek with no wireless or even cell phone, so I will be playing catch-up on another day later on.

Art Project a Day #18

Art Project a Day #18. This is the project for January 18th. My brother, Dan, and sister-in-law, Pat took me to see the shoreline. A fog had rolled in and there wasn't much to see, but we saw some people they knew, who were eating at the Hangout Restaurant. This sign was a the building, made out of licence tags. It is in Gulfshores AL. We thought it was really neat, and Pat suggested I paint it that night, while we watched Biggest Loser in Foley, AL.

I am in TX now, visiting my daughter, Amber and her husband, Alex. I have wireless now for a few minutes, so I may be able to catch-up on my postings. Tomorrow, I'l be in Cedar Creek with no wireless or even cell phone, so I will be playing catch-up on another day later on..

Art Project a Day #17

Art Project a Day #17. This was from yesterday, but I had no internnt connection. My brother and sister-in-law drove into town today to the library, so I could post yesterday's project. Tomorrow's will probably be delayed, too.

This is a fragrance or aromatic wick and candle tray. I just did this as we watched Kathy Bates newest TV show.

I took some awesome shots on the road yesterday, but my camera battery died, so I couldn't do those....maybe later.

Art Project a Day #16

Art Project a Day #16. Today was a really busy, fun day. After church, I attended a high tea in Lake Placid, at the Caldium Arts and Crafts Co-op. I made a paper mache teapot hat, which I wore. It was goofy, but well received. Each person got to take home her tea cup and saucer, which was hand-painted by the china painter group at the co-op. I wouldn't mind trying that some day.

This is my cup and saucer, which I painted to commemorate the day. It's a 4 x 5.5 inch watercolor on 140 pound Arches watercolor paper.

Art Project a Day #15

Art Project a Day #15. My daughter, Kelly, and her husband, John, have a Koi pond on their property in Texas. I took several photos when I was there, and this is my first attempt to watercolor one of them. In the original photo, I liked the reflection of the trees in the pond.

This is an 8 x 10 inch watercolor on 140 pound Arches watercolor paper.

Art Project a Day #14

Art Project a Day #14. I did this 7 x 9 inch watercolor of a courtyard in San Antonio TX, near the Alamo. It is done on 140 pound watercolor paper.

Art Project A Day #13

Art Project A Day #13. My daughter Amber is celebrating the 1st anniversary of her mustache/lips on sticks online  business today. So, I did this still life of some of her creations.

This is an 8 x 10 inch drawing on Arches 140 pound watercolor paper, with watercolor paints.

Check out Amber's mustaches at http://www.whiskerworks.com/ .

Art Project A Day #12

When I returned to college in 2004, I took every Art class I could at our local SFCC. The Art teacher, Cathy Futral, is awesome. Some of my classmates created pen and ink dot drawings. I thought that some day I would attempt it myself, and today was the day. I don't feel it's the best example of this style, but it was fun.

This 8 x 11 inch 140 pound Arches watercolor paper was cropped to 7.5 x 9 inches in this photograph. I drew the subject jars first, and then filled in the shapes with dots, using a fine point Sharpie. I learned much, but can see that there is more I should have done. I will do this again.

Art Project A Day #11

I got a late start today, but when I saw a sweet little girl in an old newspaper I still haven't read, I decided she would be my subject. I love her innocence. It's not a portrait, so I doubt her Mom would recognize her.

This is a 6 x 7 inch watercolor on 140 weight paper.

Art Project A Day #10

When I was in grade school, I had a best friend named Jane. We spent hours drawing together; at my house, or sitting on a stone wall surrounding a beautiful oak tree in her front yard. I looked for her on the internet for years, and this year, I found two of her children on Facebook.

Thirty years ago, she signed her artwork with the name Bleuej. Her children told me that she passed away about 17 years ago. So, this 10 x 12 inch watercolor is done in honor of her birthday today, and I call it "Remembering Bleuej".

She flew off to heaven, and we'll see her again

Art Project A Day #9

Art Project A Day #9

Today because I'm in it, all I could think of is pain. It starts in one spot and radiates out.

So, this acrylic painting on an 8 x 10 canvas board, is called Pain.

Art Project A Day #8

Art Project A Day #8.

I made this 10 x 14 watercolor pencil drawing of a Native American Mandala.  We bought this one in South Dakota when we traveled there many years ago.

Art Project A Day #7



 Art Project A Day #7. Today, I decided to do a watercolor called friendship. These two girls are sisters, but also friends. They are my daughters, Amber and Danielle.

It measures 11 x 15 inches. I have cropped it to 10 x 12 inches.

I am just learning to use watercolors, so I think I bit off more than I could chew by trying to do people. But, I am still happy with it in some ways.

Art Project A Day #6

Art Project A Day #6. On Thursdays, I paint with my friend, Vivian. Today I was inspired by a group of three hyacinth bulb plants she had in a glass jar.

This is an 8 x 10 acrylic painting on a canvas board. I find that I really like glass or anything that can be seen through, and that reflects light.

Art Project A Day #5

Art Project A Day #5. I have loved seeing Goat's Beards at the side of the road while traveling. They look like huge dandelions, which have gone to seed. I had fun drawing this one, however I did not really capture it's true beauty. It also needs more contrast, but I am done for today, so it is done, too. I intend to do it again, maybe when I see another one in person. That's really the best way to get a true rendition of a subject.

I did this with drawing paper, number 2 pencil, and a blending stump. I did much of the drawing with the eracer, at the end when it was too dark.

Art Project A Day #4

Art Project A Day #4. I had a headache today, so I poured a mug of tea with lemon. Looking around for something to paint, I decided on the the mug and lemon. I had it sitting on my laptop, so that caused a major reflection.

I have added a second photo that I shot of the real mug and lemon with the painting. I think it's funny that the painting with the reflection also was reflected in my laptop.

I probably shouldn't have chozen a Seurat design. That pointalism didn't help my headache any. I see that it is a little lopsided, too (I DO own a ruler, so you'd think I would use it once in awhile. lol.). It is also very messy, but it's late, and there's no time to start over.

This is a 6 x 7 inch watercolor on 140 pound Arches paper.

Art Project A Day #3

When I looked outside this morning, I saw a gloomy day, so I decided to paint something from memory thet would cheer me up. I began painting a sunrise, but then it looked a little like the colors in a sunset, so I am calling it "Sunrise-Sunset" and you can decide for yourself which you prefer. Where I live in Florida, I can either drive 2 hours east to the ocean for a gorgeous sunrise, or drive 2 hours west to the Gulf of Mexico to see a fabulous sunset. Of course, we have both beautiful sunrises and sunsets in Sebring, but not over quite that wide an expanse of water.

This is an acrylic painting on an 8 x 10 canvas board. I have never used them before, but my friend, Vivian, gave me some for my recent birthday, as another option for my project.

One thing this project has shown me is that I need a new camera. The colors in the artwork look so much better in person. Or maybe it's because the gloomy day has very little natural light.

Art Project A Day #2

Art Project A Day #2. On 1-2-11, I got home late from church and lunch afterward. I decided to do a quick drawing of these eggs in a glass bowl, and then I just added this strawberry. It was just going to be black and white, but the strawberry kept saying, "color me!", so I did.

It is a drawing on 140 pound watercolor paper, with a number 2 pencil, and the color is from MONGOL water color pencils, in red, purple, yellow, and green.

This measures 9 x 9 inches, but can be matted with a 5 x 7 mat; either landscape OR portrait style. It has been photographed in a mat portrait style.

Art Project A Day #1

Art Project A Day #1. This was done on 1-1-11. These are the flowers I received for my birthday from my daughter, Amber and her husband, Alex. Let's hear it for the longevity of mums and daisies. It's been 10 days since my birthday.

It is a watercolor measuring 11 x 14 inches on 140# Arches paper.