Cat Figurine

I recently completed a beginning drawing class with J. Elizabeth Johnson. This was an in person class instead of an internet class, and Elizabeth is a good teacher (her website is here). She then offered an intermediate class to follow up, but I had date conflicts, so she very generously offered to teach me by email. I drew this for my first lesson.

A good friend gave me this figurine when her mother-in-law died - my friend is allergic to cats and she knows how much I love them, so she thought I would enjoy the figurine (which I do). My first lesson was to draw an object from life rather than from a photograph. I chose this figurine (the photo is below).

I'm finding that I really don't care much for drawing with graphite pencil, but I'm learning a lot anyway.  And the better my drawing skills are, the better my paintings will look.

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

While this novel is labeled as historical fiction, it is the mostly true story of Mamah Borthwick Cheney, the woman who lived with Frank Lloyd Wright for several years without the benefit of marriage.  Mamah and her husband Edwin hired Frank Lloyd Wright to build a house for them, and during the building process, Frank and Mamah fell in love.  Mamah was a very well educated, independent woman, even by today's standards, but especially for her times.  While she was eventually able to divorce Edwin, Frank's wife would not agree to a divorce.  Mamah and Frank went to Europe together, and when they returned to the US, Frank bought property in Wisconsin and built a home for himself and Mamah.  I knew very little of the personal life of Frank Lloyd Wright, and I had never heard of Mamah Borthwick Cheney, so I found it to be an interesting story.  I rate the book 3 out of 5.  It is my 5th book for the New Authors Challenge.

Amaryllis

Our amaryllis has 4 blooms on one stem this year; I elected to just paint one.

Appalachian Trail

Journaling reads:  "We drove to Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, with Brian and Jessica so that they could start their hike of the Appalachian Trail.  We hiked with them for about a mile before we turned back and they hiked on.  I hated saying goodbye to them, but they trained for this trip for months, and they’re ready for it.  Their goal was to make it into New York state, which they did in less time than they expected (one month instead of six weeks)."

I've used a sketch by Jen Caputo, a date stamp by Heather Roselli, an overlay by Linda Gil Billdal, and papers and elements by Eve Recinella and Manda Bean.

Lighthouses of the Outer Banks - right

This is the right side of a 2 page spread from our trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 2008.

Journaling reads:  "We climbed to the top of Cape Hatteras (268 steps) and Currituck Beach (214 steps) Lights.  Currituck is one of the few unpainted lighthouses. We went inside but weren’t allowed to climb Roanoke Marshes Light.  We weren’t even allowed inside Bodie Island or Ocracoke Island Lights."

I've used a sketch by BlueMedia, a date stamp by Heather Roselli, and papers and elements by Eve Recinella, Michelle Coleman, and Amber Clegg.

Lighthouses of the Outer Banks - left

This is the left side of a 2 page spread from our trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 2008.

I've used a sketch by BlueMedia and papers and elements by Eve Recinella.

Saint Paul Winter Carnival

My DH complained recently that I hadn't done any scrap booking for over 2 years and we had a lot of photos. So I've decided I need to do at least a few pages. These are just a few of the many ice sculptures we saw in St. Paul when we went to the US National Figure Skating Championships in 2008.

I've used a sketch by Rachael Giallongo, a date stamp by Heather Roselli, and papers and elements by Michelle Coleman.

Lighthouse

This is the final page in my Imaginary Visit to the Beach sketchbook. It was not part of the lessons, but I had one page left, and I couldn't leave it blank. Since I love lighthouses, I decided that's what I would paint. I'm quite pleased with it.

Cover

This was my final lesson from Laure Ferlita in her Imaginary Visit to the Beach class. I have enjoyed it so much and learned so much! This page is the cover of my journal.

Old Banyan Tree - Again

I put this in my regular journal. It's amazing how much more you learn by doing the same painting more than once! I wanted to see if I could get clouds in my sky (I did) and make my roots look more gnarled (I think I did). And I wanted to get more colors and values into my tree. There is a white spot in the water that must be some sort of flaw in the paper - it wouldn't take the paint. So I put a few more white spots around it to make it look a little more natural. Weird.

And I think I've finally learned how to use my water brush. Sometimes I'm a little slow on the uptake - I finally realized that if I squeeze it while I'm painting, I'll get water on the page. DUH! Up until now, I'd just been holding the brush, being careful NOT to squeeze it. I don't know why that never clicked with me before, but better late than never I guess.

Single Shell

I decided to paint this shell for my regular journal. I am quite pleased with how it turned out, especially since I didn't have Laure's video instruction for how to paint it.

Shells

There is only one more lesson in my Beach Visit. I'll be really sad to see it end.

Old Banyan Tree

I'm still learning to use my waterbrush. This is lesson 8 in my Imaginary Visit to the Beach with Laure Ferlita.

Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin

Set in England in 1171, four children have been brutally murdered.  The townspeople blame the Jews, who are placed under the protection of King Henry II for their own safety.  Because the king needs the taxes paid by the Jewish merchants, he asks his cousin, the King of Sicily, for help, because the best medical doctors in Europe are some of his subjects and include an early form of medical examiner.  But he sends Adelia, who is viewed with suspicion everywhere she goes.  It is a fascinating story of superstition, prejudice, and intolerance.  I rate it 4 out of 5.  This is my 4th book for the New Author Challenge.

Sea Turtle

There are only a few days left with Laure Ferlita at the beach - I'll be sad to see it come to an end. But I think I'll join her for An Imaginary Trip to Paris in April. Anyone else want to come along? You can read about it here.

Boardwalk

I'm continuing to enjoy my Imaginary Visit to the Beach with Laure Ferlita.