Envelope Art

I’m getting mail art together before the end of the year.  I used acrylic gouache on this envelope art that is going to Marina in Athens, Greece.  This is how I feel about this past year! 

Selfie Sunday

Selfie Sunday- Obvious to all that it has been a “meh” kind of year, so I thought grey scale is appropriate for my last selfie portrait for 2020. The year started out great, my husband and I had a lovely 10 day winter vacation in Rio de Janeiro.  Four days after our return, my husband took ill and was on a ventilator for 8 days and in the hospital for 20 (not COVID related). That took care of the month of February.  He convalesced at our daughters house and when we returned home in March, we were in lockdown.  We have seen our family twice this year, once in March and once in August.  Since it is actually grey scale outside the window today, there is another good reason for the grey (besides it matches the opposite page). 

I used black matte craft paint and white gesso.  I used my Pentel pocket brush pen for the drawing and forgot to let it dry so there a bit of smudging.  In the end, I decided that I just had to add a bit of colour.  

Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve to everyone and Happy Holidays!!  Best wishes to all during this season! Stay safe, stay well! We can’t spend Christmas together with our family this year so we had to purchase our own bottle of rum cream.  We will be toasting each other over zoom later this afternoon.

Our son-in-law is originally from Guyana (formerly British Guiana 1814 - 1966) South America.  Happily we can buy rum from Guyana here in Ontario Canada, this year they had a rum cream on the shelf.  Luckily we were able to pick up a bottle in town before the 28 day lockdown starts on Boxing Day. 

Moonlight trees

I watched a demo on Utube with Etchr Lab using gouache.   I decided I’d do another rendition with pine trees and snow. 

I used matte craft paint in my Moleskine journal. 

Selfie Sunday

I love my Pentel pocket brush pen.  The matte craft paint was a bit difficult to maneuver snd the results not fantastic.  Oh well, I made another portrait.

Ian Fennelly demo

Thanks to Ian for the great demo via Etchr Lab. Here are my own results.  I only worked on this during the demo with Ian, there are so many things that need changing.  I just couldn’t keep up in the time allotted.  Next time I will be more prepared.  I need to get some hot press watercolour paper for the workshop. Looks like I will also be making a purchase at Etchr for some books.

I used my Perfect Sketchbook CP. 

Christmas packaging

Today is our weekly shopping day.   We had to buy a little extra because we won’t be able to shopping as per usual next week.  No worries, we bought the nog! 

I just love the fact that this company is willing to spend some money and pay an artist to make pretty packaging. 

Matte craft paint and Posca markers in my Moleskine.

Kisses in the mail

Canada Post has stated that this Friday is the last day for Christmas parcels.  Who knew that they hired 4000 seasonal workers this year and a 1000 more vehicles on the road for the season.  I’m happy to say my envelope to my granddaughter should reach her in time.  Since we can’t get together this Christmas (first time ever in her young life), I’ve sent her an embroidered “kiss” in the mail and glued it in to this tiny envelope.  I think I picked this little pad up at Indigo (a Canadian bookstore chain).  I wrote my message to her after I took the photo snd tucked it inside a card for her. 

Santa is an Essential Worker

I am glad to find out that COVID won’t stop Santa from doing his very important job on December 24th!! 

Do you hear what I hear?

Today’s journal page made with matte craft paint and glitter glue for Santa Claus (although it can’t be seen in this photo). 

Selfie Sunday

Here is my offering for this week.  Just using kiddo crayons. I think my Crayola’s are really really old and they seem to be all dried up.  I had some difficulty getting the wax down with some of the pink colours.  I didn’t do an under-drawing just went in with the crayons.  

Etchr Lab mini workshop

Thanks to Etchr for having Sarah Van Dongen offer a mini workshop!  It was very fun to try something different from my usual.  I really enjoyed using pencil crayons. I wasn’t prepared so I used the sketchbook that I had at hand.  I am not over the moon with my little pigs (to me they look like pink dogs - oh well) but pleasantly surprised with my results regardless. It was a fabulous 90 minutes spent not worrying about housework that I haven’t done and the freezing rain outside.  

Christmas Goose

Christmas card. I was thinking that this might be a fun card for the right person.  Thanks to Susan from Sktchy for the goose photo! 

I Christmas Tree

I forgot to post my page yesterday.  I sent this out as a Christmas card but decided to replicate it here again.  Every time I make it, it is just a little bit different.

Skinny Genes

Thanks so much to Jennifer from Sktchy for this photo! I had this thought mulling around my head and her photo was perfect.  Personally, I would rather ask Santa for a ring similar to hers. Hope Santa is good to her this year!  Pen and pencil crayons in my Moleskine journal. 

Christmas Cardinal

I’m keeping it simple in my journal as I pack up Christmas gifts for mailing. Inspired by the cardinal at our feeder. And the fact that this beautiful bird is a seasonal motif too.

Matte craft paint. white Posca marker, and glitter glue.

Selfie Sunday

Busy, heading into town, so I had to keep it simple.

Black Posca marker and matte craft paint 

Gherkin Pickles

Ugh! I have succumbed again to the “end of the aisle” clearance!!! Oh well.  They were really cheap! Of course, they had to be!  Regardless, they will be on my plate for supper tonight so, I shall see one way or the other. 

Kisses

Since I can’t give our daughter and granddaughter kisses for real; I’m sending some in the mail for a bit of fun.

This was harder than I thought so I think I will have to give it another go!  I need to lift out more whites 

Penguin Christmas card

I’m a coffee drinker but I’m learning how to like a cuppa orange pekoe in the afternoon.  This Christmas card will be mailed to our granddaughter later this week along with my other cards.  I’ve got to get cracking and finish them all.

These are actually taking me longer than I had thought.  I don’t have a how-to book so I have to figure out everything as I go along.  The stitching adds a nice touch and adds time too but I like it with it better.  She doesn’t know it yet but the motif is from the sweatshirt I bought her for Christmas!  

I’m really liking the brown paper card blanks. 

S.S. Keewatin

The weather forecast is lousy for the next 2 weeks and 30 cms of snow expected by Wednesday.  Today, it was beautiful with sunshine and temps at 8C so I took the opportunity to drive the 54kms to Port McNicoll.  I wanted to see this amazing luxury Edwardian steamship passenger liner before it is taken away.  It pre-dates the Titanic by 5 years and it took passengers and freight throughout the Great Lakes (from Port McNicoll to Fort William and Port Arthur now Thunder Bay).  It was built in Glasgow Scotland and owned by Canadian Pacific Railway.  

I am so glad that a few years ago I took a tour that included the engine room.  I’ve tried to draw it several times in the past and I have to say this is my favourite try even if it is still wonky. My fingers started to chill off from the breeze off the bay so I was glad I finished up with colour when I did.  

So sad it is being moved to Kingston Ontario; Port McNicoll is losing a part of their history because developers who want to put up fancy homes along the waterfront.

Shakell’s Wrecking yard

There was sun today so I decided to take advantage of it and go for a drive.  I went by Shakell’s and did a double back since I saw that it was closed.  I’ve never sketched at a junkyard before.  The sign said “beware of dog” but I don’t think that there is one actually.  “Old man Shakell” rode out on his ATV to see what I was up to, I’m sure he has a video surveillance system.  Funny thing is, he isn’t the original OLD MAN Shakell; his father had been the old man we had dealt with back in the day.  I have been there before many many years ago with a boyfriend who was looking for parts for a truck he was fixing up.  Yup, a woman of a certain age and alone in a car is definitely “HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS”!!  He asked me if I was an artist, I said yes and showed him my sketchbook. Curiosity and the cat ride again!

In my handmade sketchbook, I do wish I would have had the time to add colour.  I had another stop to make and it was getting close to sunset. 

Down memory lane

 I was in the storage room looking for Christmas wrapping paper to start the process..... will need to mail out our Christmas presents sooner rather than later.  It was almost as nostalgic as that moment in the Christmas Vacation movie.  Oh my!! An old 45! 

Yup! I spent longer in there than I had intended with fond memories. 

The Christmas lights are up

My hubby put the Christmas lights up early this year (when it was still relatively warm).  He decided that this year there is no need to wait for December 1st.  I so agree!

I used acrylic gesso and craft paint and glitter glue.

New Book

This is the current book for 2020 in this series and I’m happy that I requested to be put on the list for this latest story.

Handmade Fun foam stamp

I just had to try this out and see if I could make my own stamp with fun foam.  I send out loads of mail so it would be great to jazz up the envelope.

Really happy with my results!  I just need to press a wee but harder on my lettering so the text will be sharper.

I’ve got more carrots in the car

Here is another finished postcard going to Julie in Georgia.  This card was created from a “cast off” piece of paper that had watercolour on it and I hadn’t liked it at the time (muddied colours).

I pulled it out again and saw a face and was able to tease out this portrait. I thought she needed to be saying something and my mind went blank.  So out of frustration, I got my little envelope of vintage book phrases and found this one.  It is nonsensical but it appeals to my sense of humour especially during these horrid months of COVID-19.  

The inspiration for the technique started with a class I took with artist Deb Weiers (check her out on IG). 

Snowy Day

This is the way it looked out my window while sipping my coffee this morning 

I used cheap craft paint

Grosbeak

We had some of these birds stop off at our bird feeder this morning.  I got a few snaps so that we could identify thus bird. 

Selfie Sunday

Another Sunday has rolled around! Sometimes I think creating a selfie each week makes the weeks go faster. 

So I was surfing the internet and found a art class for children.  If it is good enough for kids, it is good enough for me!  Apply graphite to the paper, smudge with facial tissue, draw with an eraser.  I couldn’t do my whole portrait with my eraser pieces, I had to apply more graphite in areas and draw my eyes and glasses with my pencil.  I made some errors but oh well, overall I’m happy and I drew another selfie. 

It is so dark and dank here in Ontario that I’m having a difficult time getting a decent photo. 

Corn harvest

The farmer that owns the land around us retired and he has “farmed out” or rather contracted out the cultivation and harvest.  I suspect he might have rented out the fields but I don’t know that for sure.  Today they are finally taking the corn off so I picked up this dedicated cob (minus kernels) off the ground. It has been grey and wet here so with the beautiful sunshine today it is a perfect for harvesting. 

This is a postcard that will be mailed out to Kyra in California next week. 

Ziller glossy black ink, distressed book page, watercolour, and gold acrylic ink. 

End of Aisle marketing

My simple journal page today is a report on the fact that I am definitely someone who falls for the “end of the aisle” marketing of merchandise. 

I haven’t cracked it open other than the sniff test as our current hand soap is not quite empty. 

Fence Post Friday

Happy Fence Post Friday everyone! Sadly it is dull grey and raining here right now! Hopefully there will be some sun tomorrow.  It was so lovely earlier in the week and I drove to Gravenhurst to draw Norman Bethune’s house.  Of course it was closed along with the museum beside it since it is after all after Thanksgiving.  No matter. It was a nice day for a drive.  Good memories of the last time we were there together Martie Barth 

Dental Appointment

Today’s journal entry. This was a scary day for me and I had myself in a state before I got to the dentist office.  Now that I’m on the other side....it wasn’t as bad as I thought.  

I survived as she only had to get the “basic” pictures.  I choked up but didn’t get the dry heaves! 

The book I’m reading-Remembrance 2020

The library book I’m reading on my iPad. 

Vintage vehicle

I went to the post office today and on my way I saw this vintage car parked at the antique shop around the corner.  It has been unbelievably warm here in Ontario so I was able to stand outside once again to draw and paint.  I went inside to speak to the owner snd he gave me some background. 

I used my handmade sketchbook with Fabriano Artistico 90lb hot press paper and my QOR watercolour travel palette!  It has been awhile since I have used it this summer.  The paper is so yellow from the late afternoon golden sunshine! 

Selfie Sunday

Instead of avoiding each self portrait Sunday, I am making it a priority in this journal. Not sure how long I can last but I’m going to stick to it for a bit until I need a change to another substrate; the planner has its limitations. 

Maud Lewis Stamps

I went to the post office the other day and got some new Canada Post Christmas stamps! I love Maud Lewis folk art.  She is a Nova Scotian artist who lived in poverty but her paintings are worth lots of dough now!!  The White House actually had commissioned some of her paintings back in the 1970’s. she had arthritis so painted small and she painted directly from the tube (so little colour mixing). 

This little painting is my version of her stamp for mail (postcard/letter) going to the United States. 

I used cheap craft paint, acrylic markers and poster paint markers

Bird Feeder

So far so good... my husband’s creativity seems to be working!  This is my view while I drink my morning coffee.  Our squirrels are horrid creatures and have knawed through the plexiglass to get at a few crumbs that are beyond their reach.  I’m glad my hubby was thoughtful enough to dream up a recycling project to solve the problem.  

Fence Post Friday

It’s another gorgeous day out there so get outside and enjoy it! Happy Fence Post Friday everyone!  I always love a house up on a (little) hill! It is probably because it makes me think of the scary mystery novel, The Haunting of Hill House that I read as a kid.  I guess I should re-read it to see if it is really all that scary in relation to today’s standards. 

The scent of snow

Well, am I the only one that uses perfumes seasonally? Of course, as a Canuck, we need to have a perfume that smells like snow!!  We are in a weird warm weather period for the next 5 days; that makes me very happy.  Love to see and feel the sun!!! Regardless, I’ve brought this out front and centre along with a few others in preparation. 

Doggie Ornament

This morning’s page; a wonky dog ornament! My hubby bought this ornament as a joke gift for our daughter.  

Selfie Sunday

It is Selfie Sunday once again! These are chunky kiddo pencil crayons and I was happy to find a pencil sharpener that fit them. I just used what was in the box.

In my Moleskine planner.  Happy to be warned by the electric company a couple of days ago that they are bringing the hydro down this afternoon for maintenance..... better now than having it go out in the dead of winter. 

Deep magenta Roses

For today a simple rose.  A rose from the dozen of deep magenta ones my husband bought.  Love the colour!  So appreciate the flowers. 

Cheap matte craft paint in my Moleskine planner. 

Pumpkin spice latte

A taste test! The people who decide where to place products at grocery stores are focused on silly people like me! I’m the sucker that paid $7.99 for 5 cups of less that stellar pumpkin spice.  I have to go to town today, considering taking a detour to get a real latte. Okay, decision made.....I’m going to do it!!! 

Selfie Sunday

I can’t believe it; it is selfie Sunday once again! I used Liquetex acrylic gouache in my Moleskine daily planner.  This gouache dries waaaaay too fast so my skin is blotchy.  I found that I should have added my hair before I attempted the skin.  Once upon a time I had dark hair and very fair skin. So today, I’m looking a little strange.  No matter! I made a selfie!! 

Fence post Friday

Yikes! We went to town shopping today and I got an emergency alert on my phone regarding a weather warning- possible tornadoes.  The worst of the storm possibly at 2000 hrs. Getting close.... thought I’d better post while I can.  Happy Fence Post Friday everyone!! Take care! Enjoy the weekend! 

Travelling to Newfoundland

 I have hopped around in my Sketchbook Project and completed this last two page spread this week.  As you can see,  there is some artistic license here.  I should have put the building closer to the waters edge (where it belongs) but this one was old and abandoned.  I have painted everything (in this book) from my photographs except for the puffin.  The Atlantic Ocean was rough on that day and I had a heck of a time standing up let alone using my camera.  I used a Pixabay reference photo.  

Liquitex acrylic gouache (so the pages won’t stick together)! 

The Sketchbook Project

I need to join a “procrastinators R-US” group, if there is such a thing!  Last Christmas I was gifted this sketchbook.  When the pandemic hit I lost interest and I didn’t start again until the summer.  It has taken me quite some time to decide what I want to put on each page.  Then when I did, I had to figure out, the how to do it so I would like it. Thank goodness my granddaughter had helped me to decide what my subject matter would be. I decided that I need to “pull up my socks” and just “get it done”!!  The gift included digitisation and because of the pandemic I just ignored the due date.  I don’t know many of you know about the Sketchbook Project but I invite you to check it out.  I love looking at other artists sketchbooks on line.  I had the opportunity to take a couple of sketchbooks out when the travelling library visited the Distillery District in Toronto some time ago. 

I’m using  Liquitex acrylic gouache and I did some stitching on the front cover.  I couldn’t make my North America and exact copy of a real map, it was meant to give an idea of travelling “At home and abroad”. 

Has anyone here submitted a sketchbook?! Is it digitised?! Love to take a look! 

Beam Paints part two

I opened the package and tried out my new paints in my Moleskine. I used some watercolour ground and gesso but the thin paper still buckled.  I’ll have test them out on real watercolour paper.