Bye, Bye, 2009

Children's Fairyland, Oakland Taken with Nikon D40 March 30, 2009

I can't say you have been all that good to me. In fact maybe a little too harsh. We did have a lot of good times, eh? But all-in-all, I think we need to come to an end. Sorry to have to do it this way.

DH's Pictures

Various sizes, Bristol Board, Primacolor Pencils

I have been asked by DH to post his pictures. He doesn't have a blog nor a Flickr/Smugmug or any such account. He doesn't want one. He is the better artist in the family so I don't mind.

Virtual Paintout - Jacaranda Tree Mexico City

9 in by 12 in Canson 90 lbs watercolor paper, W&N and Grumbacher watercolors

Doodling

I wish the true colors scanned better than it did.

9 in x 12 in Canson 90 lbs watercolor paper, Sharpie Poster Paints, Magazine cutouts, "Doodling" article from "The Week".

Almost 100th Blog Post

I am slightly surprised this is my 100th blog post. My original intent for the blog was to post knitting, belly dance and my art work.

I ramped up my blogging in October when I began the Everyday Matters challenges which led to other challenges and online workshops.

I began the blog and the year with continuing my addition to sock knitting. Though I have slowed down with my knitting considerably I did finish 42 projects. Not bad as only four projects were completed in the last four months.

Belly Dancing and the troupe I belong to, Rising Stars, are still important to me. We had our last performance of the year for a private party at the Falkirk Mansion. We danced in the main parlor. It was different and very fun. I like to perform for people who are not familiar with belly dance.

Mostly my focus has been to regain my actual drawing and painting skills. I was looking over the pieces I created this year. For several years I have been using a distress, vintage look. My color palette primarily was in the brown, orange and yellow range.

6 in x 8 in Canvas panel, acrylic and clip art

Around April I started painted more acrylic backgrounds using muted shades of pink, green and blue. Around July I began to get more in to various painting backgrounds.

9 in x 12 in Canson 90 lbs watercolor paper, acrylic, scrapbook papers

My color palette became much brighter as I started using heavy body acrylics and oil pastels.

8 in x 5.5 in Canson 90 lbs watercolor paper, acrylic and Sharpie Poster Paints

I had a few false starts with art journaling as the books/journals I was using or creating just wasn't work.

In the last two weeks I found I needed a larger sketchbook (9 in x 12 in), a smaller sketchbook (6 in x 6 in), and a journal (purchased several years ago, forgotten and unused). The sketchbooks allow me to work on sketches in pencil, pen and ink as well as acrylic paint. The journal is now for my everyday lists (grocery, errands), lists of books I want to read, quotes I like, doodle pad, remainder calendar and ephemera/articles I want to keep.

Bottom - 9 in x 12 in Canson 90 lbs watercolor sketchbook, Middle - Nick Bantock Journal, Top- 6 in x 6 in Canson Sketchbook

Left - Large sketchbook, Center - Nick Bantock Journal, Right - Small Sketchbook

Therefore, a couple changes are coming to the blog soon!

Happy Holidays

9 in x 12 in Canson 90 lbs watercolor paper, Sharpie Poster Paints, Copic Markers, Various magazine cutouts

Seasons Greetings

9 in x 12 in Canson 90 lbs watercolor paper, Sharpie Poster Paint, various magazine and catalog clips.