Illustration Fri. - "Remember" / Art & Soul Bound

5x5, hand*book journal, pitt pen, watercolors

I thought this illustration was very fitting for this week's IF topic as I get ready to leave for Art & Soul and trying to remember everything I need!

And I have to tell you, I'll need a vacation after all this packing and getting my house in order before I go - whew! I honestly think that at this point it would have been easier to just move there, then I'd only have to unpack ONCE!

Anyhow, I wanted a smallish sketchbook for this trip and love the format of this one at 5" square. Here's a peek at some things I'm taking - as I piled these last few items onto the trunk, the light and angle caught my eye, if only everything was going to stay this organized =)

I head out tomorrow (Tuesday) and hope to post pics when I get there, so stop by if you get the chance. Take care all and see you in about a week or so!!

Artwords Topic #50 - "Woman" / Charm Swap

"JUST CHARMING" CHARM SWAP

I joined a swap a few weeks ago as a way of exchanging some art for my upcoming trip to Art and Soul in Virginia as I really didn't think I'd get to making anything to bring for trading. Both the charm swap and the mixed media art retreat are a first for me as are soooo many things this year and as with everything else I've taken on so far, I'm keeping an open mind =)

The idea of making 26 charms and then getting 25 different ones in exchange intrigued me enough to just go for it and jump in! The theme for this retreat is At Home with Art and Soul and I wanted my charms to connect with that somewhat. The spark was a recent find - a Cosmetology textbook from a 1950's beauty academy containing all the essentials for a"professional beautician". The connection to home clicked for me because a woman from that era was usually a stay-at-home mom who would take regular trips to the "beauty parlor" and maybe to save some money would get together with her girfriends and give each other home perms (I can only imagine how bad some of those 'do's must have turned out!).

I loved the pen & ink illustrations in this book and each charm has an original, unique image. I also used text from the book to compose a different message or thought for each such as "know and grow", "find sunshine", "try", "be you" and "follow your heart". Each of the charming ladies was also *dressed* in a vintage pattern swatch and a light vanilla scent.

EDM #3 - Purse

micron pen, watercolors, 5x8.5 journal

A few months ago when I joined the EDM group and read the list of challenges I knew that this was the purse that I would do for it when I felt I could do it some justice! So much color s0 a simple pencil sketch would not have done it for me =) I recently started doing watercolor & pen work so decided to give it a go.

It's a very special gift from my globe-trotting brother who sends me gifts and post cards from all over the world. I've always loved the mystery and history of ancient Egypt and would love to get there some day to see everything in person.

Daffodils - part two

5x8.5, handbook journal, prismacolor pencils

A single daff this time and with a little bit better results. I found the shading the most difficult to achieve accurately but didn't want to do too much blending as this sketchbook doesn't have the surface for it. Moving on...

Artwords Topic #48 - "Chair" (also IF "Green")

collage: vintage wallpaper/fabric, watercolor, pen, custom papers, 8x10, portrait

This is a special piece I just completed and perfect I think for this week's theme word *chair* as not only does it have a big, comfy chair in it, it also features a wonderfully inspiring and talented online friend, the curator of Artwords herself, Susan Tuttle.

Susan's warmth and generous spirit shines through in her work and also through the many "chats" we've had, so I was totally inspired to create this for her. She's also been redoing her studio in many creative ways recently and updating us as she goes plus we both share a love of Claudine Hellmuth's wonderful collage work so that really helped pull all the elements together for this.

Susan - look for this piece with a few little goodies tucked in coming your way very soon!

Edit: I also decided to post this at Illustration Friday as this piece has some wonderful *green* shades in it: chartreuse, pea and mint!

Artwords Topic #47 - "Yellow"

5x8.5, hand*book journal, colored pencil

It's Spring.....somewhere! The only signs of Spring here are the flowers set out for Easter as we just got our final insult from old man Winter and some nice fresh SNOW, bleccck! Anyway, my first detailed flower sketch - not happy with it but oh well, I've moved on, lol. Actually I moved on to another daffs sketch, see how that one fares. Until then, I leave you with this fitting and enchanting poem:

"I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils,

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze."

- William Wordsworth