New Years Resolution

I’ve been thinking about the fact that I don’t make New Year’s resolutions,  I commend all the people that do though.  However,  I know me; I know there is slim to no chance that I would keep up with the resolution.  But! Then this thought popped into my head.  This is something that is totally “doable” for me !!!!!  Yes, I do like to consume a fair amount of coffee each morning because I get up fairly early.  I commend all the people who do make New Year’s resolutions but that just isn’t me.  

I made myself into a cartoon character and I’m drinking from my most favourite mug (that looks like a beer glass to me) that I bought in Southampton (Ontario) this summer.  I love it because of the cardinal, a favourite bird at our feeder during the winter. 

Best wishes to all to have an enjoyable evening and an even better time in 2023! 

Yeah, okay, I know this is silly but no matter, I made a page in my sketchbook.  

New Years Eve

I’ve begun watching the lessons.  I was intrigued by the way Shelley sniped the sheets of paper in her sketchbook.  I’m not attempting a “no-buy” art supply but I do want to do a “low buy” year.  I have lots of supplies (I hope I’m not the only one) and I’m determined to ”SHOP MY STASH”!  I found this sketchbook by the Bee Paper Co.  I don’t recall where or when I bought it but it has clearly been languishing in my pile of sketchbooks waiting to be filled.  It is 140 LB 100% cotton paper.  I think the real reason I have never used it is due to the spiral binding, I’ve realised that I prefer a hard bound book.  However,  I can see how useful it can be in this instance.  

I did have a Grumbacher sketchbook some time back where you could take out and pop the pages back in but I have cannibalism it long ago.  I didn’t really like the mixed media paper that was in it.  So cool to learn how to do this myself. 

Sketching in the big city

We have spent a week of the festive season with our family and will be heading home today.  I did this drawing a bit at a time as time allowed.  It is the view from our granddaughters room at the back of the house.  Painting/colouring the two page spread also took a few days.  I finally finished it yesterday. 

It was a true challenge and it was a direct in with pen so when I made a mistake I just kept going.  I’ve tried this one before but this is the best version I’ve ever done. 

If you’re wondering, those are grapevines along the path to the garage. 

The flag is at the school on the next street over. 

Stormy Day

It was a stormy day outside but so far NOT the storm that was expected.  We are here with our family so we spent some time making our own gingerbread houses.  We aren’t very good at it and probably should have read  the directions on the snow/icing package.  Our daughter wants to make her own gingerbread next year and I’ll go to bulk barn for the candy decorations; these were horribly inedible! 

I took my cue from our daughter and granddaughter and applied the white “caulking” with a knife at first.  Then it was some spit and my finger (oh gawd the icing was awfully tasteless). 

I have to laugh at my skintones, they suck but no matter,  I recorded the fun and the laughs we had making our first houses. 

No hydro

We are out of power (again) and the hydro was supposed to be back on at 10:15 hrs but it isn’t and there is no information on the anticipated time it will be back on.  It is widespread so we had to drive south to town to grab a coffee and something to eat at McDee’s.  At least they have Wi-Fi.  We met some other folks from the township and they are here for the same reason.  I have my little sketchbook that I made in my purse so I had something to keep me busy while I sipped my coffee.  

Our house

This is a prototype of sorts of a Christmas present for our daughter.  I’ve been putting off making this painting for many many years, I would say at least an eon.  

I started with Prussian Blue watercolour in my sketchbook and decided to use acrylic Prussian Blue ink over top since I used traditional gouache paint.  I now know that I don’t really love how dark this scene is so I’ll sit with it for a day or two to make up my mind;  to change or not to change before I make the final painting. 

This is a fairly close representation of our old story and a half farmhouse built in 1892 and it’s environs.  We don’t have that much snow right now but a storm is on its way tomorrow.  

Christmas tree memories

A tad late, we finally put our tree up yesterday.  That’s okay, we still put up a real one and I leave it up until the Epiphany.  Christmas is definitely a time of reflecting on the past and how much has changed.  This is a story that I have heard our daughter recounting to her friends.  I hadn’t realized until then that this mundane crafty act would be intilled into her memory. 

 I used a Elegant Writer 1.3 pen for the drawing and added water.

Christmas Cactus Part 2

Good morning to all!  I have to go to the post office today so I thought I’d best hurry up and get this envelope ready for mailing.  You may not know this about me but I HATE white envelopes so I thought I’d pretty it up with my drawing.  This is how my Christmas cactus bloom looks today.  Isn’t it a beauty!!!  If the other bud bloom too, I’m going to be thrilled! 

Because this drawing is on an envelope, I used a Derwent Inkense watercolour pan set #1 because the paint is permanent once dried.  The pencil crayons are brand new to me as I just received them yesterday!  Sweet!  They are lovely as I had hoped they would be.  I saw them in a supply video on Utube (not a haul video) where the artist said how great they were.  Derwent Drawing Pencils (set of 12) Professional are soft and have a nice thick core. I’m happy I got them even though they were pricey. 

Christmas card

Christmas card I’m sending to our granddaughter because she makes us the very best roasted marshmallows!  I’m sure she would love to make this cupcake too.  I bought her a cupcake cookbook magazine for Christmas.  I saw this cupcake in a local free magazine and thought the idea would be perfect painting for my “not so little anymore” granddaughter (she is only 11 but she wears the same shoe size as I do).  I like it when things come full circle. 

Imaginary Cardinal stamp

I was watching an art class on line this afternoon but didn’t participate in it.  I got this idea in my head and had to bring it to fruition.  The class began with some images of stamp art and I thought I would work on an imaginary stamp issued by Canada Post.  Now Canada post did Issue Cardinal stamps this year but I switched it up to meld it with the Christmas song, The 12 Days of Christmas.  I didn’t think that my idea of changing the words wouldn’t work but then I was reminded of the version by Canadians Bob and Doug McKenzie!  So it could be possible to sing, my true love gave to me - a cardinal in a snow tree!  It isn’t fabulous but it’s okay.

I use to love a snow apple but I haven’t seen them in the stores for absolutely ages.  I guess their popularity waned over the decades as consumers opt for different varieties.  I hadn’t really thought out my choice of apple in the beginning and then when I added the snow (the glitter) in the sky I was reminded of this apple variety.  I just had to make the change. 

Christmas Cactus

Inspired by a friend to paint our Christmas cactus!  I’ve been waiting weeks and weeks for it to get this far but the biggest bud is getting bigger.  It has new growth and some more buds.  I think mine might be waiting for Santa Claus though, kinda bummed about that.  I must learn patience! 

My hubby kindly repotted it this autumn so I guess it is happy with its new digs.  Have I mentioned that I DO NOT have a green thumb and I’m thrilled that this plant continues to survive?!  My hubby also said that this is his favourite painting I’ve done in this sketchbook!  He doesn’t normally comment so I was tickled that he did. 

FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar

We were spending time with our family in the big city; it was our granddaughters 11th birthday yesterday.  Very fun!  Before we headed home today, we watched the soccer match between Canada and Morocco.   It was an exciting although disappointing game.   Sadly, the Canadian team played hard but lost.  Don’t mind my stick men drawing, I’ve never tried to draw this before (and perhaps never will again!)

I used my cheap woodless watercolour pencils.  I really like using them for this type of activity, quick to get colour on the page.  Less perfectionism is a good thing.

Tomorrow I’ll fill in the edge with journaling.