Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style - Lesson 2 Greens

This page evolved over several days. I started with the tiny jade first - and only the part to the left of the word. Then I added what my husband called Woodpecker Alley Shrub (which no google search could find). Then I added the maple leaf. Finally I decided the jade was too small and added a few more leaves - probably not a good idea, since I couldn't really get the same angle or even the same greens, but it's done now. I'm fairly happy with the maple leaf and shrub, not so much with the jade - I don't work well that small. But I'm really enjoying the class and working in this style.

Buster on the Couch

We brought a young cat home on Wednesday (10/27/10). I don't know exactly how old he is, but I think he's about 10 months old or so (we'll get his exact birth date when we sign the adoption papers). We haven't settled on a definite name yet, but we're considering Buster.

It's sort of a trial to see if he and our dog (Buddy) can get along. Buddy is still a bit too enthusiastic, but we're working really hard to get them used to each other. Buster is just so sweet, I hope it can work.

This photo was taken with flash, so the eyes have that odd glow (like red-eye in humans), but at least it's not blurry.

Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style - Lesson 1 Fruit

OK, so maybe squash isn't fruit, but I couldn't resist painting this guy!

Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style - Lesson 2 Greens

I really enjoyed painting these leaves and seed pod for Lesson 2 of Jane LaFazio's class. It was a challenge finding leaves that are still green.

Devil's Den Trees

Later in the afternoon of our third day at Devil's Den State Park in northwest Arkansas, my DH and I took a little walk to the picnic area. I sketched while he read.

Devil's Den Rocker

This rocker was in our cabin at Devil's Den State Park in northwest Arkansas, and I sketched it on our third day there.

Devil's Den Leaf

My DH and I just returned home from spending 3 nights at Devil's Den State Park in northwest Arkansas. It is a beautiful park with rustic but nice, well maintained cabins and several great hiking trails. I sketched this leaf on our second day there.

Imaginary Trip to Paris - Eiffel Tower

The only pencil I used on this entire page was a couple of guidelines for the title. All the rest was done with ink or paint, no pencil first.

Built as the entrance arch for the 1889 World's Fair, held to celebrate the centennial of the French Revolution. It was highly criticized when built, often called an eyesore, but it has become the symbol of the City of Light. It was the tallest structure in the world until 1930, when the Chrysler Building was built. It is about as tall as an 81 story building, so it can be seen from all over.

And no, I'm not really in Paris, much as I'd like to be. I'm on an Imaginary Trip with Laure Ferlita.

Imaginary Trip to Paris - Lunch at a Cafe

What says Paris better than lunch at a sidewalk cafe? Watching people, listening to conversations (although not understanding any of it, but enjoying the sound of it), being out in the glorious fall weather! Les Deux Magots was once a rendezvous of the literary and intellectual elite, and is now a popular tourist destination. It was very crowded. The name comes from the two wooden statues of Chinese commercial agents (magots) on one of the pillars.

And no, I'm not really in Paris, much as I'd like to be. I'm on an Imaginary Trip with Laure Ferlita.

Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style - Lesson 1 Fruit

In addition to my Imaginary Trip to Paris, I am also taking an online class from Jane LaFazio called Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style. Jane has a very loose painting style that I admire. This is my first painting for Lesson 1. It is a different style than I usually paint, but I like it. I am trying to loosen up!

Fall 2010

I used techniques I've learned from Laure Ferlita to complete this sketch, including laying down colors next to each other and letting them run together or not. This is a lead-free sketch.

"It's been so dry here that it isn't going to be one of our prettiest falls. But I saw this tree starting to turn colors yesterday in the downtown parking lot when I stopped at The Quilting Post, so I returned today to sketch it."

A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton

This is a new author to me, and I really like her writing style.  In the last book I reviewed, I stated "I don't know enough about writing to be able to put into words what I like and what I don't like, but some writing just seems to sing . . ."  That was true of this book.  I have ordered 3 of her other books from PaperBack Swap because I liked this one so much.

It is the story Alice and Howard Goodwin and their 2 daughters, Emma and Claire.  Howard's dream was to be a dairy farmer, and so they purchased a dairy farm in Wisconsin a few years before the beginning of the book.  Alice is a nurse at the elementary school.  They don't fit in with their neighbors.  In fact, only one other family is friends with them:  Theresa and Dan Collins and their daughters Lizzy and Audrey.  Theresa and Alice take turns caring for all 4 girls one day a week in the summers.  On one of those days, when Alice is in charge of the girls, she gets distracted for a few minutes and Lizzy drowns in the Goodwin's pond.  Alice feels responsible and becomes more and more depressed.  Then Alice is charged with sexual abuse of one of the students at the elementary school where she works.  The story is told first by Alice, then by Howard, and then again by Alice.  It is my 18th book for the New Author Challenge 2010 and I rate it 5 out of 5.

Imaginary Trip to Paris - Luxembourg Gardens

We spent the day at the Luxembourg Gardens, but didn't have much time for sketching. Children love to push their model sailboats into the breeze in the large basin of water, and so that was what several of us decided to sketch. It is the largest public park located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. It is the garden of the French Senate, which is housed in the Luxembourg Palace.

And no, I'm not really in Paris, much as I'd like to be. I'm on an Imaginary Trip with Laure Ferlita.

Labor of Love

I painted this for a challenge issued by Margaret Bednar of In the Moment Challenge blog. The photo was taken by Patty Pitterle of A Moment In Time blog.

Imaginary Trip to Paris - Window

While wandering the neighborhoods of Paris, we saw lots of windows like this one. (No, I'm not REALLY in Paris, although I wish I was. I'm taking Laure Ferlita's online class, An Imaginary Trip to Paris.)

Imaginary Trip to Paris - First Breakfast

I am taking another imaginary trip with Laure Ferlita, this time to Paris! So here is the first page in my journal, commemorating our first breakfast together.

Free Projects and Tutorials

I just followed a link to a blog that is new to me - My storyART - and found that the blogger, Sharon House, is offering free projects and tutorials for a simple trade.  I am very interested in her Top Ten Background Paper Techniques.  She has several ways you can trade with her.  She posts lots of tips and techniques on her blog; it's definitely worth a visit.  You can see her blog here.

The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian

Laurel Estabrook was brutally attacked by 2 men in her sophomore year of college.  After graduation, she goes to work for a homeless shelter, where one of their clients is a schizophrenic elderly man named Bobbie Crocker.  When Bobbie dies, he leaves behind a box of photographs and negatives of surprising quality.  Laurel becomes obsessed with learning the truth about Bobbie and his photographs.  This was a gripping story that I enjoyed very much, although I was a little disappointed with the writing style.  I don't know enough about writing to be able to put into words what I like and what I don't like, but some writing just seems to sing and this didn't.  It wasn't bad, it just wasn't great.  But the story was good enough anyway (I had similar comments about the last book I read by this author - Skeletons at the Feast.  You can read my review of it here).  This is my book club's current month's selection, and I rate it 4 out of 5.

The Exile by Diana Gabaldon and Hoang Nguyen

I had never read a graphic novel before, and now I've read 2 in a row.  This one is much more lavishly illustrated than Persepolis, the last book I read.  It is based on Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.  I really enjoy the series (I have read all 7 books written to date).  There is not much new in this graphic novel, but it was fun to read because the artwork is so beautiful.  The story is not in as much depth as Outlander, but that is the nature of graphic novels versus regular novels - it wouldn't be possible to get all the detail of a regular novel into a graphic novel.  I rate this 3 out of 5.