My Bucket List

Truly, I'm not normally a list kind of person other than for groceries.  I have in fact made a travel list that isn't finished for our first winter trip of the new year. 

Bucket list-   I've never done a physical list before let alone a drawing of it!! So....before I "kick it", I thought I would wear my favourite kicks - here I am in my Converse All-Stars, Mary Janes; as I contemplate what should go on the list. 

Then I realized that I have actually mentally crossed some things off already! Cool! 

Watching Storybot videos

So while my grand-daughter and my husband watch videos on the computer, I am posting this on blogger. We will be heading home later today so our grand-daughter wants to spend time with her grand-dad! She doesn't get to watch this when we leave. 

Often I draw her or my hubby as they watch. 

I love her little butterfly wings! 

My hubby doesn't like this drawing that I did if him her. 

This is what we have been doing

Yesterday the family visited the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum).

I loved the tree light up with lights out front. 

We visited the international Wildlife Photography exhibit. Since cameras were not allowed, I drew four photographs that I liked. 

We went across the road to s restaurant for a snack afterwards where I drew my Shock Top glass of beer. I only had time to paint the one page before we had to leave the restaurant. 

I also drew the Buster Brown sign because I had to buy them for my daughter when she was little.  She had such skinny feet for a young child. 

I left some room on the page for journaling. 

I bet you can guess where we are here! What a store! A fun place for little kids and big kids too! Very cool! Yup, it was the Lego Store! 

A good day! 

Christmas Goodies

It's a wrap for Christmas 2015!!! These are some of the treats we found under the tree this year! My hubby gave my daughter and I an Apple Watch. I love my gizmos, don't you??!!! My grand-daughter got two robot friends called Dash and Dot! Happy that I got some art in after our grand-daughter went to bed. It was a fun day but I went directly to bed after creating this page. 

Abstract page

I'm thinking that I'm not done with this page but I'm not sure yet.  It make me think of the shirt I bought for my granddaughter that says, "I love you to the moon and back! 

This has a bunch of different inks dropped on it.  Then added Inktense pencils, Stazon ink pad, acrylic paint, circle magazine cut outs and gum wrapper foil circles. 

What we did yesterday

This page documents how my hubby and I spent our afternoon yesterday! 

Our fish and chips were delicious and so was the chocolate (only one piece each). 

We picked up the poinsettia on our way back from the grocery store. This is the first time that I have ever drawn and painted a poinsettia. I am happy the way it turned out. The hardest part was trying to capture the colour in the reddish green leaf,  the green really really wanted to turn brown, 

Christmas bow

I found a box of recycled Christmas bows with my tree ornaments.  I made them from magazine pages when I was still working night shifts. 

I thought I would like to draw one while we were getting packed up to visit our daughter and family for the weekend. 

I found a 2B pencil in with my paint brushes do I used it. I couldn't find an eraser to use on the highlight but remembered that I made an white eraser stamp a short time ago so used it. 

This simple object took me a lot longer than I originally thought to complete but I am happy with the result! 

Best Jerk Chicken

I love this city, there is so much yummy food to eat here!

We have eaten here before and this place is always busy. The food really is that good!

I loved the print on the wall showing a street dance party! 

My hubby just had to have a Jamican beer called Red Stripe! 

Lego Advent Calendar

Amazing how such a simple toy can be so difficult to draw! This tree is from my grand-daughters Day 10. 

Yummy meal out

Oh my! Just had a most delicious meal with our family on St Clair Ave W, Toronto at La Creole, a Haitian restaurant.  I highly recommend it! Great food, excellent service and lovely decor!!

We had a really good time! 

Christmas luncheon

The art group women met for our Christnas lunch at a restaurant in downtown Barrie Ontario. It is called the Painters Hall because they have paintings on the wall throughout the restaurant.  We were told that our art group could put our art there as well since they change the art frequently! What an amazing opportunity! 

I drew three of the women who were sitting opposite me at the table.  They didn't ask to see my drawing and I'm glad since my sketching was quick.  I didn't get a chance to add Linda's eyes before the meal arrived. 

I just loved the meal! Beef cheek was the tenderest ever over the potatoes with the gravy. 

The meal included dessert so I had the lemon crime brûlée at the bottom.  My friend ordered the chocolate cake!  Delicious!!

Using my time wisely I n the waiting room

I don't get a chance to draw people often so enjoyed spending my time waiting usefully. My Bertha is now ready for snow and salt now that she is sprayed with a rust protectant! 

I am holding strong, I didn't stumble

I have to say that my car needed a clear out and I found a pack of smokes under the drivers seat.  I will have to admit that I will always be a smoker st heart although I stopped August 27th, 2013.  I haven't smoked in the house since my hubby quit in 1999. I hated the packaging so I would plaster stuff in the cardboard to disguise the package. I have stumbled along the way but went cold turkey.  I remember keeping the pack, "just in case" but seemingly, I forgot about it! Funny thing is, the desire to have one hit me the day before yesterday.  Glad I didn't know they were there or I might have stumbled once again. Yup, I always pay my taxes so I added that with the cigarette shell.  I used the filter as a stamp and threw the works out. Done! 

Pen, watercolour, acrylic and glitter paint in my Moley! 

I elf'd myself!!!

I spent a wonderful afternoon yesterday sketching with a friend! I wasn't loving my first page so I started another and drew this Christmas cactus!  I realise now that I seldom draw plants or rather green plants. I have to admit that I'm not fond of the greens in my paintbox so I tried to mix up my own from the blues and yellows.  I thought I was doing a fine job of it at the time but by the time I finished the drawing it was pitch black outside. It would seem that the lighting inside isn't so good for mixing paint. What is up with this "daylight saving" nonsense when sunset is before dinner??!!! I loved how we chatted totally oblivious to the time! Regardless of how I feel about my actual drawing and painting, I have a page that commemorates the afternoon that we spent together! 

I belong to some drawing everyday groups through Facebook and yesterday was ELF yourself day, so I finally got it finished this morning.

Not wasting time by waiting

I had to pick my daughter up at the dealership and I had to wait a bit as I was early and she had not finished work. No problem....I pulled out my pocket Moleskine sketchbook.  There wasn't much to look at so I  and drew the hydro pole and wires! 

The view from here

I'm a country bumpkin who is visiting in the big city of Toronto, Ontario. Our daughter and son-in-law are gone to work and our grand-daughter to school. A very grey and rainy day here so I thought I would draw something while my hubby is still sleeping. This is the view from our grand-daughters bedroom window and the alleyway in behind their house. Okay, so it is a tad wonky but I'm happy I finished what I started.   There is just so much brown and grey that I opted to not paint everything....I'm okay with that too. Pen, ink and watercolour in my Moleskine sketchbook.

A Christmas display at the shopping mall

I had a few minutes to spare and the mall Santa Claus was not yet on duty so a sat for 20 minutes and made a drawing in my pocket Moley. Did some more shopping and went for a coffee where I painted my drawing with some colour. I like the drawing much better now.

It is strange to not make any art just about every day. Although this is just a tiny little drawing and certainly not a masterpiece I feel good about it.

I Needle-felted a little birdie

I went  to the Marmalade ladies art meeting on Monday of this week.  We made these little hand felted birdies while at the meeting.  I've decided to give this Chick-a-Dee to my very own chick-a-Dee who will turn 4 years old next Monday! 

 

For sale - fire truck

I had to take Bertha in to the garage in town  to get her snow tires on today. I had some extra time so I stopped to get some snaps and a drawing of this fire truck that is for sale. The drawing is a bit wonky, it is my very first drawing of a fire truck. I had fun my down time waiting for my car flew by! 

I drew this for Every Day in November art group.

The prompt was train so I drew Anju's little Lego engine. 

I can remember a time when I would say that traveling meant I couldn't and wouldn't make art; making art was something I did at home or alone. SBS has slowly changed the relationship I have with my art and with my family and friends. All for the better too; I'm slowly learning how to "get over myself"! 

A few days ago I was visiting a friend and we were invited to dinner at her aunts house.  Aunt Connie is 88 years young and she has so many cool photographs and paintings in her foyer I decided to draw a few. She was happy to tell me about them and she loved that my visit to her house was important enough to be drawn in my sketchbook. 

Here are some of the dilapidated cabins and covered bridges from New Brunswick and Cape Breton (Canada 🍂🍁🍂). I am so happy that I can look at this page and recall my visit and our chat. 

I think I will leave this as it is even though a bit of colour would be fun too! 

Wonky Hip-roof barn

This is what I wrote yesterday.....Enroute home from visiting a friend in Belleville Ontario before she leaves for the sunny south. I used a different route so I stopped on Hwy 14 and Kings Mill Rd to draw this barn. Since my Bertha always stops in Havelock for fuel and a coffee at Tims; I painted my barn I did an hour ago. Got to post and dash now, I still have a few hours before I get home.

It was a very nice drive and I got some great snaps.  This one is for fence post Friday!  Taken on Wallbridge-Loyalist Road just south of Tuckers Corners

My hubby was quite delighted to bring me some rusty things for me to draw and paint. I was happy I could document my rail spike that I picked up on my travels to the east end of the province of Ontario. 

I'm still on the search for colour as the season progresses! 

Jane LaFazio on-line class cont'd

I got some good constructive criticism from Jsne that the area behind some of the seeds was not dark enough. She was right of course. I got lots of nice comments from my classmates on the page and especially the lettering. 

What's in my bag -not my camera bag

I belong to a Flickr group and have taken a snap and posted.  This time I drew what is in my bag!  It was lots of fun! 

Isn't she beautiful?

So happy to get one more card completely finished. 

Another postcard for the swap completed! Meet Beauty, she is Australorp hen from Australia that I found on the Sktchy app. Loved her portrait so much I was inspired to create this card. Vintage paper, distressed magazine page, acrylic paint, pens and ink drawing with watercolour. 

 

Milkweed Pods

EDiO 19 - Bloom.  I live in rural central Ontario so there isn't much blooming here except for these seed pods.  It is nice to see though since they are the Monarch butterfly most favourite food!  I left the plant for an hour or two and when I got back some of the seeds had "ejected" themselves from the pod. I added a "bubble" to document the change. So it seems that wind isn't required for that but to fling the seed around so it will land on the ground and germinate. 

I submitted this as my class work for the Jane Lafazio sketching from life on-line course.

Milkweed

I am finally well enough to go for a long walk. Still have the cough but not too bad

International Postcard Swap

For some this game will be a blast from the past; for others it will be completely new. The  idea of this game didn't pop into my head until I had everything glued down on the paper.  I thought, "What now?" Okay, I need to write some words. But what should I say?!!?  Poof! It came to me. 

I have joined an international postcard art swap and this is going to be one that I will mail out to a yet unknown recipient. (There is still time to join if you are interested!)

I have been reading Austin Klein's blog after I received his notebook in the mail, The Steal Like An Artist JOURNAL!  Most of us already carry our sketchbooks everywhere but this one is different!  I am enjoying it very much!  In addition I enjoyed watching the presentation he gave to Google.  

This is the way that I am "Stealing Like an Artist".... I happened upon Andrea Joseph's blog ages ago and was thrilled that she was an artist instructor in the Sketchbook Skool Seeing class. I have stolen from her and I hope I "made it my own" with the help of some collaged mixed media.  

I have "stolen" from other artists that I love and hope to do more; all the while changing the art up and putting my own spin on it! 

Just thought I would share! 

Everyday in October

I tried to do Inktober but haven't been able to keep up especially with this cough and cold. But here are some drawings that I did in my Stillman & Birn Gamma sketchbook.

This is the prop from the Bombardier Q400 plane that we flew in with Porter airlines!  I actually drew it on the 8th but have never posted it anywhere.  I used my grand-daughters Crayola marker for the yellow.

this acorn was sittin on my daughters kitchen table so I drew it! 

Street view sketch in my Moleskine

I can't believe that our holiday in the Big Apple is over! This will be my last time sitting at this Starbucks and gazing over this street view. 

Yeah, there is more detail that I could add but I'm calling it done. 

So long New York, it was a great time!

I haven't read the book but I did order the work book for "Steal Like an Artist".  I stole this technique from Felix Scheinberger's book Urban Watercolour.   I am quite excited because he will be teaching a segment in the next Sketchbook Skool (dot) com class that is due to start in January. 

I took a snap and I really should go in and add more detail especially on the days that I just don't feel like doing much art.  I might help me out of the slump.  I'll see....later.

Ancient art reproductions

We spent the whole afternoon yesterday at the museum seeing all kinds of cool ancient art. This photo isn't in that class but this is just as important. This is a tempera painting on paper that researchers did 1920's to 1940's before there was colour photography. They were created using the exact colour and they were made to scale of the pictures on tombs. There importance is heightened since much of what they depict and is housed in this museum is no longer visible due to damage by pollution  etc

Drawing the right with the left

as you can see I drew this for the Facebook group Everyday in September.  It was quite difficult to draw with my left - I need more practice - so I painted it with my right.

Fork in the Road

Sat in a "no parking zone" to draw this at the "Five Points" in downtown Barrie, Ontario.  The restaurant in the centre is the closest thing that Barrie has to a "flat iron" building. 

It was quite the challenge and I can see that I have been "somewhat" successful.  at least I was able to complete it, paint and all before I left for home. 

Monarch and Tea Bag Art #2

Really love this raindrop that I drew with Derwent Inktense Pencil for Everyday in September.

I found the image on Google when I queried rain drop images.

I just love tea bag art and need to do more on this substrate!

Tea bag art and our Finial

This past Wednesday, I meet up with my sketching buddy and we had a lovely lunch at The Blue Willow Rea Room in Gravenhurst.

 I think Martie was a bit surprised when I emptied the large folded tea bag out on my plate and placed it in my napkin to dry and stowed it in my purse. 

We are getting a new metal roof on our old house (circa 1892) and the roofers took down what was left of the finial on the one gable. The ornament has been damaged, eaten away by the exposure to the harsh elements over the many years that it has been on the roof. I wanted to draw and document it! 

I have also seen lots of interesting tea bag art and wanted to test it out for myself. I tore off a piece of the flip-over for this. I was very surprised at how lovely it was to draw and paint on. I am definitely going to be using the tea bags I have saved; however, I am actually a coffee drinker! 

Pilot Metropolitan fine nib pen and Payne's Grey watercolour in my Moleskine sketchbook.