A Page From My Sketchbook

Unless you're really good, and really fast, I don't see how you can draw a dog from life...that is, when they're awake.  So, since I'm neither really good nor fast, I sketch our dogs when they're ASLEEP.  Lovely, still models!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Christmas is about more than our winter decorations, and fun family gatherings.  It's the celebration of the birth of the Savior of all mankind.  The coming of Jesus changed everything.

"For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."  (Colossians 1:13,14)

Beautiful.

God becoming man is something I don't think I'll ever fully understand while I'm still alive on this earth.  But even though I can't quite wrap my brain around it, I am THANKFUL.  Speechless sometimes, and thankful.

Experimenting

...with color!

This drawing pretty much consumed my day.  Which is no big deal, considering that there's a good 12" of snow, with more falling.  We're not going anywhere!

I drew the inked lines first, and then decided to play around with color.  I have this lovely set of fine point markers that I used to fill in between the black lines.  I can't decide if I like it or not.  It's definitely vibrant!

This bird feeder was made for us by our friend, Jim.  The top tier holds water, and the bottom two hold seed.  Only the small birds can fit, which is the point.  The grosbeaks and the stellar jays are bird seed HOGS, so this keeps them away.  To be perfectly honest, though...I can't really handle the thought of the grosbeaks and stellar jays going HUNGRY...besides the fact that they're absolutely STUNNING to look at!....so we have a standard feeder that they can fit into!

...and a little redemption?!

I know, I know.  I wasn't going to do anything to the snowflakes.  I was sick of the snowflakes.  I thought there was  no hope for the snowflakes.

I guess I was wrong, because this is MUCH better!  Still in-accurate in the science world, but much easier to look at!

Failure!

This is a failure on so many levels!

I started out to draw snowflakes, but then realized that I don't know the snowflake law.  I think they can only have a certain number of points.  So I'm pretty sure my snowflakes are all wrong. 

Then, I didn't use a straight-edge of any sort, so my lines are certainly less than accurate. 

Then, I didn't realize how much the blue would over-power the purple. 

Then I discovered half-way into the blue that the pen was less than desirable.  The little tip had pushed up into the body of the  pen too much, and it required me to hold the pen absolutely upright to get any ink out of it.  Which gave me significant hand cramps.  Which led to me LONGING to just FINISH THIS ALREADY!  So the blue lines are less than straight, and less than uniform, and generally sloppy.

It has occurred to me that I could possibly save this drawing by going in and darkening up the purple lines.  But I'm really, really, really sick of snowflakes right now.  And that has nothing to do with the weather!

So there you have it!  Happy winter, anyways!

Water Lilies

Over a year ago I was blessed with a trip to North Carolina with my sis and my mom.  We visited family there, and they took us to their botanical gardens which is where I got the reference pic for these pieces.  Water lilies don't exactly thrive in the mountains of Colorado!

I did the colored pencil sketch this past February, and was only mildly pleased.  This past week I resurrected the reference picture and attempted to paint it.  It's pretty doggone rough, but I'm hoping I've learned SOMETHING.  Like the fact that water is REALLY HARD to paint.  Really.  Hard.

Last night I "doodled" the ink drawing.  It was by far the most fun to do, although I ended up with a hand cramp by the time I was done!

Warm and Cozy

Those of you who know me know that I sort of have orangutan arms.  Getting sleeves long enough (and keeping them long enough after multiple washes!) requires some effort.  So, of course, my definition of warm and cozy includes having my cuffs come down past my wrists!

I started this in the middle of a 2-hour meeting and finished it at home in front of a wonderful fire in the wood-burning stove.  I have a friend who chews me out for drawing in my moleskine, saying that I can never mat and frame this!  But I suppose the truth is that I draw these for the value it gives to my spirit, not for selling. 

Leopold

I'm pretty sure this guy's name is Leopold.  He just looks like a Leopold to me.  He lives at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.  I drew this last night while watching a presidential debate.  Clearly I needed a healthy distraction!  I guess this is what a giraffe might look like if giraffes got tattoos!

Stormy Highway

I painted this 2 years ago.  Don't you just love a stormy sky?  The blues completely alter, turning into something almost midnight looking, and then the bright spots really, really stand out.  Yellow is stunning against a dark blue or purple!  I'm not sure how I did it, but I love how the stripes on the highway stand out.  I think this road might belong in Kansas.

Christmas Gifts

How do you decide which print to give to someone for Christmas?  I have a whole stash, and as I thumbed through it trying to pick one it dawned on me...sometimes I don't really KNOW my friends.  Isn't that pathetic?!  There are those beautiful times when I'm really paying attention, and THEN I KNOW.  But in the waxing and waning of life, it's easy to NOT pay attention.  So, when gift time rolls around, I find myself bereft of ideas!

I hope they like it!

Paper Murphy

I found this on my desk the other day.  I think Murphy was bored!! Self-portrait, perhaps?

Christmas Lights

I painted this yesterday.  My hubby asked me, "Why did you paint a light bulb?"  (you can imagine the tone of voice here).

My answer?

1.  Because I wanted to see if I could.
2.  Because it's my response to "christmas run amock".
3.  Because I was playing around with a new kind of paint.
4.  All of the above.

You choose!

Coffee Cup Rings

I  painted this a long time ago.  Mostly I was just playing with watercolors, but by the time I was finished it was a poignant picture (to me) of how our lives touch each other.

We get together.  Maybe over coffee.  And we talk and laugh.  We share stories, and speak courage.  And our coffee cups leave a ring behind on the table.  Just like we leave a mark on each others lives.  Sometimes our stories blend, making a whole new color.  Sometimes brilliant spots stand out.  It can be a little bit messy, but always beautiful.  All orchestrated and mixed by the loving sovereignty of God.  He is the consummate artist.

A Little Perspective

 

Every once in awhile we need to slow down life and realize some fundamental truths. This quote is from the book of Job.  It's God speaking.  It reminds me of something important:

 

Who I am.

And WHO GOD IS.

And what it took to bring us together.

I am small.  And God is not.