Thumbelina

Hi! 
I've been away, waiting for the birth of a grandchild!  No posts for over three weeks! BTW, it's a boy!

So, back to art!

My favorite Etsy team, the Blogging Business Artisans, has a challenge every month.  I usually do something for my Etsy shops but this time, I was challenged to do something different.  Something for just me, just for the enjoyment of it!  Fairytale Inspirations was this month's challenge.  Instructions were to "let your imagination roam into the worlds that you dream of and the stories you heard as a child."

So I began thinking of the fairy tales I heard as a child. I decided to paint a picture of one of them.  And, being who I am, a sewer/quilter/embroiderer--"thimble girl",  I chose this pose of Thumbelina, a story by Hans Christian Andersen that he wrote in 1835.  Hope you enjoy it!

I have linked with my team blog here.  Please visit and see what others have done!  Thanks!

In Between

Still working on my techniques in watercolor, in between my book illustrations.  Here's the latest practice painting:

This was done with several color washes upon each other, then waiting in between each for them to dry, finally adding a light sprinkling of salt for a tiny bit of interruption of color.  I am quite please with the outcome!

September Doodlings

(For Sunday, connecting to BlueChairDiary's Sunday Sketches.  Visit there to see other participants.)

Well, September is practically over, Fall is here and I have neglected this blog, I see.  I've been in a sort of funk, just tired I guess.  We've all seen those movie plots about the writer or painter that is struggling under a deadline and is behind and/or lost his muse--that's been me!  I did do another illustration but chose not to share it--it will be a surprise when the book comes out. 

I did do some fun stuff, not related to my book illustrations. 

I took a simple drawing, and tweaked it a bit:

then I painted it---just for the fun of it! 

Hope to have some progress on the book illustrations to show you next week!  Wish me luck!

Icy Stairs

"I wonder why grandma doesn't like the stairs,

Is she scared of them?

I wonder why grandma is slow on the stairs,

Does she think they are slippery?"

(Quote from Grandma Doesn't Like the Stairs children's book by Linda Pruitt)

I have shared my scary page with you in a previous post and now I have finished working on the slippery stairs page. Previously I shared the preliminary sketch of the slippery stairs page in my Sunday Sketches post. (You can find it here.)  I made notes at the bottom of my icy page sketch as to the progression that I wanted to paint the final art.

Working on the page, I wanted it to look more icy and not just snowy.  I found that making it look right was most difficult. I did a practice sky wash with a second wash for the clouds; you can see it in the left top of this next picture.  Then I added the liquid mask, which was a very old product, I think I will need to buy some new masking product.

 Here is how it turned out:

I don't think it turned out like the image I had in my mind.  I was envisioning using a little lavender color in the final work, and the old liquid mask did not erase well,  so I am considering doing it over again. 

Have your say: You think it turned out enough like the sketch?
Linking to BlueChairDiary Sunday Sketches.

Negative Painting

This particular practice painting uses several techniques, which I will not go into detail about, but I did want to tell you about one of them--negative painting.  I have already tried this in a previous exercise and you saw it in a previous post--here--the white leaf. 

Basically you leave a particular item shape white and paint the color around the object.  Here, I have left the farm house, water tank and a couple of other items white--actually white all around the sketch marks.  Then I have painted the background tree cover leaving the house and items white.   Then a little bit of shading is required for the finish. BTW--I am still not pleased with my wet on wet!

P.S. This was also a lesson from Hilary Page's book, Watercolor Right from the Start -- Lesson on One point perspective

P.S.S.  If you are following along, I'm going thru a watercolor crash course for my own review in preparation for illustrating my Grandma Books.  If you are interested in watercolor or children's literature you can begin following the process here!  From there check each newer post to the present.

Wet on Wet

Still practicing wet on wet techniques.  Another lesson from Hilary Page (see a previous post.) This turned out much better, I think.  I wish I would have taken pictures all along the way, but I didn't think of it in time. I first clear water wet the space for a particular color. I then dropped in the color and let it spread at will.  I did this for each separate color.  This left the flowers and leaves undefined. After it was dry , the finish was to define the petals and stems with a dry brush technique.  hmmm  . . . . I wonder if hubby thinks this one is unfinished, since I didn't use a wash on the background???

Next Illustration

It's time for Sunday Sketches over at BlueChairDiary and today I am submitting my next illustration sketch of my slippery stairs page for my Grandma Book.  I am working on an image of stairs with snow and may even do another sketch with ice, although I am not sure I want to try an icy one.  Not sure how to handle that! 

Anyway, here's my first sketch.  I think I want to work on the perspective a bit in my second attempt. Here's hoping it turns out well!

Practice for Autumn

 

Studying watercolor techniques this week: Review

These two little paintings are an exercise from the book Watercolor Right from the Start by Hilary Page. 

 This was lesson two on Understanding the Color Wheel. I really wasn't that interested in the color wheel discussion, mostly the technique of wet on wet.  Although my finish pieces are not exactly like the authors, I did learn a thing or two.  My pieces turned out with water marks more than I would have liked, instead of a blending of the colors in soft lines. I had the most trouble with the purple background.  Although I like the finished product on the right, my hubby liked the one on the left.  He was not used to the concept of the white space.  He's a kind of "Love the finished product" kinda guy, and felt that one was unfinished.  I think the one on the left looks "muddy" because of an allover wash that I used and didn't like, whereas the one on the right has more contrast and is different.  I like different!

Love to hear your opinion, especially since this is just practice!

Process Document and Final Product

I have worked on the scary stairs page until I was satisfied that I have the image that I wanted.  I started work on the final watercolor using a 140 pound acid free 11 by 15 inch watercolor paper. 

With all the previous practice pages, I had developed a sequence that I wanted to use on the final piece.  It went something like this:

First step: Sketching

Next, use a water resist medium for all the white areas of teeth and stairs

3.  Then do a wash for the stairs

4.  Do the lion wash

5.  Paint in the stair railings

6.  Paint the lines of the stairs

7.  Remove the resist medium

Then, the final details of the lion face and stair details.  Of course there were periods of rest between some of the steps for surface drying. 
(You may not be interesed in my sequence of process, but it's here for my documentation and future use.)

Here's how it turned out:

I'm not sure this is my best rendering of this subject but it is done now and I will have to stick with it.  It turned out a bit light, but the entire book illustrations are on the light side, so it is OK. 

Now, onto the next illustration!

Sunday Sketches - Figures

I have been getting back to a children's book that I wrote some years ago, letting it sit unfinished when I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  I'm doing fine now, seven years later, and now I am  finishing up all the illustrations for it.  (You can catch up on the process in my previous week's posts.) 

Some illustrations have come easier than others--I find that I am not very good with human figures, so I have been practicing!  Here are a couple of pages from my sketch book diary.

Thanks for taking a look!

I have linked up with Sunday Sketches over at BlueChairDiary.  It's fun to see what everyone else is working on! I hope you will visit.

Thought scape???

I’m working on some particularly difficult illustration ideas today.   One is for the ‘Scary Stairs’ page. With today’s exercise, I remember, now, why I left this project for so long.  I was not confident that I could complete the required illustrations. As I remember, I had not been pleased with a couple of the prototypes and how they were turning out. I had finished most of the ideas on a story board and actually completed the art for five of them in their finished watercolor form. Where I ran into a creative snag was on the more imaginary pieces.  It’s one thing to recreate an actual scene, but another to artistically record an imagined thought or dream.    I had been stumped. 

Three ideas for the Scary Stairs page

So today’s images are of the process from my first ideas of this page and on to the finished idea for it.  The final watercolor is not done.  I will try to give you a preview later on.  For now, you’ll get the idea of the process . . . . 



Sketch, trial wash, and prototype sample



Final sketch with Frisket to preserve white spaces



This last picture was kinda fun, since the window light was shinning off the wash.  Just added it for fun! Not showing the final painting--wait for the book!

What are you up to lately?



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!)

New Adventure!

I am currently in the process of changing my focus for creativity.  For the last few years, I have been concentrating on my Etsy businesses of hand crafted jewelry and hand sewn products and not my art or writing.  Oh, I have had two blogs to keep my hand in writing practice and I have participated in Blue Chair Diary's Sunday Sketches but mostly this blog has been an 'on again, off again' project as far as any writing is concerned--not consistent nor concentrated.   My other blog  has been my focus, including my Etsy businesses, my BBA team, my handcrafted business friends and acquaintances.

Since recently re-thinking my outlay of time in regard to blogging and writing, I have decided to take August thru October to rest from my other endeavours and return to my writing and illustration in this blog.  I will concentrate on a couple of writing projects that were left on a back burner in my brain.  One project is actually a part of this blog, called Abby's story.  There is a tab on my home page to find this project.  But, alas, it is unfinished.  Another project is a children's book series that I started about eight years ago.  Then my breast cancer tragedy struck, my life changed a bit, and I just let my book writing plans go.

So if you are up for it, I will pull out one of these latent projects and take it up again.  I hope you will go on this journey with me to see if I can complete it. I will try to post about three times per week plus posting on Sunday's with my illustration progress on Sunday Sketches.  Your participation with me may be the boost that I need to keep plugging along toward the finish line. 

And, just as a taste of the future, these pictures show what I pulled out of a closet of that old project.  (I will explain in subsequent posts.)



Some old practice pieces

What have you dreamed about completing?

Join me, won't you? 



Christie!

Photo Challenge Day 30: A Friend!

Christie is one of my favorite friends and supporters!  She is the buyer for my wholesale gig and a wonderful Christian friend!  Love her!



Christie and hubby at a downtown Portland charity walk



Friend being a friend!

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.

Just a peek!

Photo Challenge Day 27: Bathroom

Lots of earrings and a few necklaces handy

Cleaned it just for you!

Participaing 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.

You never know who is looking

Photo Challenge Day 22 : From a High Angle



Honey, did you get the car washed?

Participaing 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.

Looking for Ducks!

Photo Challenge Day 20: Favorite photo I've ever taken

I believe this is my favorite.  I just love this shot of my grandson, Padraic, and my hubby.  Every time I see it I smile.

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.

From our streets

Photo Challenge Day 16:  Out and about



Mt Hood close-up from it's base



Waiting for Tomatoes

Photo Challenge Day 15: Yellow

Participaing 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 Favorite Possession

Photo Challenge Day 14:  Time



When one of my sons was a young teen, he purchased this clock for me for Christmas.  He spent a lot of his hard earned money at a little clock shop that was probably overpriced.  He knew that I liked mahogany wood and he knew I had always wanted a mantle clock. It meant so much to me and still does.  I no longer have a mantle in my home, but this little clock now sits on my the little table in my entry hall. 

Mine and His

Photo Challenge Day 13: Art



Mine hanging in my entry hall



Grandsons' self portrait

Participaing 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.

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.

Photo Challenge Weekend

The weekend was a busy one, so I waited until today to post the last few days of my photo challenge!  Here we go!

Photo Challenge Day 9: Your View of Today



Beauty breeds beauty!

Photo Challenge Day 10: Best Bit of Your Weekend



Seeing my Granddaughters together!



Photo Challenge Day 11: Door



Every door must have a hinge!



 See Ya Tomorrow!

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.

Days 6 and 8

I'm a little late with Day 6 of the photo challenge.  On the sixth our lovely grand daughter, Courtney,
graduated High School and it was a full day. Here she is with her brother and sister and her "extra sister"  (foreign Exchange Student, Katrine, from Denmark).  (Sorry the picture is so bad--My camera setting was just not right for the evening.) Of course this activity fulfills the day's photo challenge which was "Hat"!

Photo Challenge Day 6:  Hat



P.S. Court is in the top row, third from the right



Photo Challenge Day 8:    6 O'Clock

(This is what I see, if I open my eyes, at 6 AM! Light just peeking in around my window shade.)

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.