Practice Makes Perfect!

"Practice makes perfect", my mommie used to tell me!  So since I am not as accomplished as I would like to be as an illustrator, I practice how I will draw a particular page.  I suppose professional illustrators do this too :)  First, I sketch the idea:

Then I try out some color:

I add a few more details.

And finally work out the page.  (Just a snippet of it, of course!)

Grandma just doesn't like the stairs!

Practice Pieces

(Ongoing series on the Grandma Books)

The box I pulled from the closet had some practice pieces for the first book in the series.

The book is called, Grandma Doesn't Like the Stairs!  My granddaughter, Taylor, had asked me one time when I was visiting her house, why I was slow on the stairs in her house.  I guess she was used to everyone in her family running up and down the stairs.  It gave me an idea for a book and then a series of "Grandma Books".  (I should be an expert on that subject, since I have so many grandchildren!!!! You can look at my profile--About Me tab--for a peek at my family life! )  This first book is obviously dedicated to Taylor! She is now 13 years old and in junior high school.

Thanks Taylor!

The Journey Begins . . .

Yesterday's post showed some pictures of my watercolor paint roll up--Yes, Sarah, I made the roll-up some years ago. I have always loved watercolor, I guess since I was in the sixth grade!  I remember sitting at my desk with my paper and brush, those small paints pots, and little water jars--one for clean water rinsing and one for cleaning my brush.



I always liked art.  My parents spent money for art supplies, over the years seems like, every Christmas. When I got to junior high school we had to pick an elective, and don't ya know that I always picked art. I even had a few art classes in high school.  Other than those classes, I am a self taught artist and I consider myself a sort of "grandma Moses".  Why?  Because my style is a bit more juvenile than others.  But that is OK, art is art!

Art books I found in my closet

When I pulled out my old children's book project from the closet, I found quite a few books on watercolor. I will need to brush up on some techniques before starting my next book page.  More practice pieces are needed so  I'll do a few and see you tomorrow! 

 (Kathleen, I might need some help!)

From a Low Angle

Photo Challenge Day 12

I had to get on the floor to get these shots, and wouldn't you know, I guess I breathed in something foreign and had an asthma attack!  Sheech!

Have a favorite?

Participating in a June photo challenge hosted by Chantelle of FatMumSlim. Prompts are given for each day and participants do a photograph to post to any of  several possible places.  I have chosen to post to this blog.  You can check out other participant's photos either on her blog or on twitter at #photoadayjune on Twitter.

A Tendering in the Storm

I found this Linky party that involves BOOKS!  I love to read, and to write, so I decided to participate.
You grab any book--ANY book--and turn to page 56.  Then share a sentence or two that grabs you. 

After you read mine, please go to Freda's Voice and read a few of the other participants entries!  This ought to be fun!!!

"Just before dawn, twenty-five Indians drove a dozen oxen and neat cows into our camp.  They were animals we'd lost, and we were grateful to see them.  The natives brought fresh meat, too, and berries.  We made ready, my girls and I, to serve the men and their families with them.  My girls were eleven years, eight years, and six years old then, but they all knew how food was the servant of the heart."

I like this passage, because it shows acceptance of other cultures to the point of being a servant to them.  Also, I like it because it models mentorship--A mother mentoring her daughters.  Both of these principles seem to be lost to our generation, at times, with so much disagreement, and fighting over principles while vilifying others!   It's shameful and we would do well to learn kinder and gentler ways!

This excerpt is from A Tendering in the Storm by Jane Kirkpatrick.  It is book three in a series that starts with A Clearing in the Wild.  The books are based on the true story of a woman who was part of the Aurora Colony that settled here in Oregon.  The middle book is called A Mending at the Edge.  I love these historical novels, a fictionalized story of Emma Wagner Giesy.  I have visited the museum at Aurora and have even shown several of my quilts at their annual quilt show.

If you enjoy historical fiction, you might like to read this series!