No Crackers for Polly

Thanks to Carolynes over on Sktchy for the inspirational photo.  I’ve done this dude before in my sketchbook but this time I used acrylic gouache on an envelope.  This one is going out to Michelle in France. 

 

Fence Post Friday

How about that..... another Fence Post Friday has arrived already!  

Totally thrilled that I found this one on my way home yesterday!!  The cloud was threatening but it didn’t rain!! 

Say hello to “Moo”

Back to my mail art.  This envelope is going to Rosa in Argentina.  Painted using acrylic gouache and cheap craft paint. 

Sktchy inspired and the owner of the photo told me she loved my rendition but sadly “Moo” had passed last week.  So happy I could give him new life through art!

Rick the Sktchy muse

Today’s art is inspired by Rick, a very popular muse over on Sktchy.  What a magnificent pose with the foreshortened hand holding the apple. What a challenge! I started the portrait in graphite thinking I would paint it afterwards but then I decided that I like it the way it was and wanted to accentuate the apple and Rick’s  eyes. 

I used Pentel 2B mechanical pencil, watercolour for the apple with 2B black Conte pencil, and Liquitex Basics fluorescent blue paint with white gesso.  

Overall I like my result, here are some changes I would make but I’m done; I’ve spent all the time I could today on art. 

Goo Goo-eyed

Thanks Madelaine from Sktchy for your inspirational photo.  Number five in my mail art project.  This one will be going to Aurelie in France.  I found the text and just had to stick it on too; I just felt that she ought to be saying something.  Acrylic gouache in an envelope. 

Get ‘er Done

Thanks so much to Darel from Sktchy for the inspiration for my fourth mail/envelope art piece.  This one will be going out to Annie, in Quebec Canada; I hope she likes it.  The head scarf made me think of “Rosie the Riveter” (from World War II) and since I’m a bit of a procrastinator I thought my text was appropriate. Acrylic gouache and air brush paint.

Two Seagulls

Here is #3 of my envelope/mail art series. This one is courtesy of the Sktchy app.  I’ve always wondered what birds might say to each other if they could and was happy that I found these seagulls.  I drew and painted the envelope face but left it for a bit until I could dream up a story for the text. In some ways, I think this actually happens to humans: sometimes we just don’t know when we have it so good.  Then surprise.....stuff happens!

I used the new acrylic gouache by Liquitex.  I don’t have a wide range of colours so I supplemented what I have with other acrylic paints.  I love matte paint and the fact that it dries quickly. I just added the paints to the white for a pale colour and black to the sienna colour to darken it.

Selfie envelope art

I’m involved and in a “postal art” project that will be keeping me occupied for the next week or so. I’m taking a class “People Drawing People” and this week it’s all about the process of drawing “selfies”.   I thought I would put them together.

No erasing even though I used my Palamino Blackwing pencils.  Wishing I hadn’t made the one side of my face quite so chubby. Oh well, moving on. 

My matte acrylic spray nozzle is blocked so I found a work around; I got my Gelli plate out and “brayer” on some gel medium, pressed the envelope on to the plate and voila, a lovely thin layer applied over the graphite.  All ready for mailing. 

Fence Post Friday

Holy ....... the weather out there doesn’t look all that grand right now but have a great “May 24” weekend no matter what happens! If your traveling this weekend; be ever so careful! 

I’m so happy everything is “greening up” and the leaves have buds and some have little “parachutes” before they fill out.  Happy Fence Post Friday everyone! 

Love it when I come across a little gem like this!

Bayfield Inlet

Super tired after our weekend away; partially due to the lack of sunshine but mostly because I just didn’t sleep well. 

The boys went fishing the morning we were leaving for home so I walked down the road looking for a sketching opportunity.  The wind was brisk so I was thrilled to find a sheltered spot between two boat houses.  One of them belongs to this cottage across the inlet.  I chose to ignore the second cottage.  

A Canada goose decided to drop in on my scene and I was happy to add him in.  I drew it on site but painted it later as we needed to get back on the highway and head home.

Page is in my hand bound sketchbook with Strathmore Aquarius II watercolour paper. I’m trying to work on composition and it isn’t easy for me but I’m happy with this just the way it us. 

Bayfield Inlet cottage

On Friday we drove north to meet friends at a cottage in Bayfield Inlet just north of Pointe au Baril. Yesterday, I spent the day (a bit here and a bit there) making this page of the seating area of the cottage called the chalet.  Most of the people who come here come for the fishing. 

It was really hard to paint all this wood, I tried my best.

Bertha gets her summer tires today

No time for art this morning so I took advantage of the down time at the dealership. Thrilled that there was a seat directly opposite three “muses”.  Yup, I had to squish their bodies in the best I could because clearly I made them too large for the page.  If you are wondering I didn’t sit and “plan” the page and it is  good thing because Luanne left soon after I drew her.  

What I learned..... I’m not going to be a woman who will ever wear pale neutrals.  I detest trying to paint that much beige!!

New sketchbooks finished

I’ve been busy making sketchbooks and I thought I would show you my results. 

Four hard bound books with Canson Heritage 140 lb 100% cotton paper and Fabiano Artistico cold press 140 lb 100% cotton paper.  I’m also trying a new (for me) Fabriano 140 lb SOFT press paper that is in between cold and hot! 

The two little mini accordion books are the left overs from cutting the paper with the grain. 

I used the simple pamphlet stitch and I used waxed linen cord from the beading section at Micheals instead of binders thread.  The hard bound books all have art stickers From Redbubble on the front covers so I know which way is up. 

So now I will be ready for sketching!!!

Getting ready for binding

Good morning! Further to yesterday’s post: I’ve added to my pile of books and booklets that need binding.

I took the leftover paper that I cut (or rather I tore) off from the sheets of watercolour paper yesterday. I made them into mini accordion booklets using some gel printed papers.  I had the ribbon waiting just for this intention. Yay, I have no idea where I got these ribbons but I’m finally using them!

Not sure if I’m quite done; I have one more sheet of paper I “could” make into a book.  I won’t get my binding supplies out until I’m sure this is it. 

Making sketchbooks

I’m in the process of making some new sketchbooks.  I realized that I needed some reminding on the important matter of paper.  For me, the issue of paper is one of personal preference and of course economics.  I went into the storage room and pulled out some Fabriano Artistico 140lb 100% cotton and a sheet of Canson Heritage 140lb 100% cotton paper.  Normally I like my cheaper paper for “every day” but I have the paper so I might as well just use it. 

Usually I don’t worry about the grain of the paper with the Strathmore Aquarius II paper I normally use because it isn’t cotton.   In addition, the surface on the front and back are pretty much the same.  I needed to remind myself of these differences with this page.

The Parlour

My sketching buddy, Peggy and I met for lunch yesterday and then headed to our local museum for some sketch time.  

One of the workers stopped by to see our work and told us that they had never had any sketch there before.  It was such a fun way to spend the afternoon!

The room I drew was labelled “The Parlour”!  I can recall when I was a young girl our neighbours had one; I was only ever in it once and that was because we went to pay our respects for a death in their family. 

Thanks for having a great idea Peggy and I hope we can meet up again real soon!! 

The Bird

Further work from Sketchbook Revival, this time withI Iris Fritschi-Cussens.  I have to thank her for the chance to throw paint on the page and see what happens.  I don’t often play with acrylic paint so I used it as a opportunity to again explore this medium. I am saddened by the catastrophic events that are happening here in Ontario (Canada). The horrible flooding that is wiping out people’s homes and businesses north and east of us. It rained and rained here today so our sump pump is working overtime- every 3 minutes like clockwork!  I’m stressing and I have my ear out to make sure it is still doing its job. So far we are still dry and the furnace is still working.

That is how I started my three page spread - black gesso, then there was too much black so I added white gesso before I applied some paint.  I added Payne’s Grey,  Quin Gold, Burnt Sienna and Anthraquinone Blue.  I saw some birds on the page so I drew and painted my subject and collaged him down.  The lyrics were the final touch. I’m happy with my results.