EDM #250 - Draw Something You Got For Free

EDM #250 - Draw Something You Got For Free
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

9 in x 12 in Strathmore 400 Series Premium Recycled SketchBook, Pental Color Brush - Grey

A gift from a friend several years ago. It is a singing Dean Martin. His head, jaw, and arms move when he sings.

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!

EDM #110 - Draw something with a flame or flames

EDM #110 - Draw something with a flame or flames
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

Talk about going down in flames - my last challenge for the month. I made it with every single day sketching a EDM challenge.
I was attempting to fill the space with the smoke from the flame. Yes, smoke usually goes up, but with my test strike the smoke went sideways while the flame remained upright. I thought it would work. The whole time I was sketching this the song "The Flame" by Cheap Trick kept going thru my mind.

EDM #58 - Draw a hat, cap or other headgear.

EDM #58 - Draw a hat, cap or other headgear.
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

I may have mentioned I'm a San Francisco Giants fan. One of my many baseball caps I have collected over the years. This cap is my Oakland A's version. I wear it to A's games as it is black with a green Giants logo. This way I try not to offend A's fans and enjoy the game and yet still show off my affiliation to the Giants.

EDM #17 - Draw a musical instrument

EDM #17 - Draw a musical instrument
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

I was given this uke as a gift about a dozen years ago. It is made out of an inexpensive wood but has a lovely light cherry wood color. It is a little beat up and has plastic strings. The labels are all gone - it is not a real cheap uke but clearly not the best you can have. I still like it. If only I knew how to play it.

EDM #189 - Draw a shaver or razor

EDM #189 - Draw a shaver or razor
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

DH's shaver. I drew this early Thanksgiving morning before DH got up and we all started to have to cook.

Happy Thanksgiving.

EDM #11 - Draw your glasses or sunglasses

EDM #11 - Draw your glasses or sunglasses
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

Reading glasses which are much deeper color than pictured but are purple none the less.

EDM #145 - Draw (or paint) a tree in autumn

EDM #145 - Draw (or paint) a tree in autumn
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

Down the street from where I live there is the wonderful oak tree. The original developer of the area, Niels Schultz, wanted to keep the integity of the oak trees in the area with all of the building he with the property. Recently one of its sister oak trees had to be cut down.

I couldn't do this tree justice as it is so gorgeous. I only had a short time today to capture this sketch and ran out of water in my Niji water pen before I finished.
Here is the Google Map picture of the tree (center):

EDM #108 - Draw a light bulb

EDM #108 - Draw a light bulb
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

Good old-fashioned lightbulb.

EDM #224 - Draw a Jug or a Pitcher

EDM #224 - Draw a Jug or a Pitcher
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

I wasn't able to get the cobolt blue of this pitcher correct. This might be the subject for a future acrylic practise painting.
This is a little pitcher that is a part of a set of blue and white stoneware from the 1920s I have. My mom found a large version of this pitcher in a house my parents had moved in to and that pitcher was one of my favorites. When I saw the set for sale, and at the time it was a big ticket item as the antique store wouldn't break up the set, I had to have it.

EDM #207 - Draw something that has a shell, or draw a seashell

I never really have enjoyed drawing shells. As usual I overpainted it. Dry brushed some chinese white which calmed it down.




I still knit. Started this little project about 10 at night. Saw the pattern, had the yarn in the stash and off we go.


Marsan Hat in Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride M176 Silver Gray

I have been knitting with Lamb's Pride for a long time. It is one of my all-time favorites. I like to have a skein in my stash, but since I am trying to stash bust I may not much longer. I am starting another Marsan Hat in M76 Blue Heirloom. Then I plan a third in left overs with a possible matching scarf or mittens.

EDM #105 - Draw some scissors

EDM #105 - Draw some scissors
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

These are my favorite all-purpose scissors. I have two. I don't know why I like them - a little heavy for their size (about 5 inches long). They cut little serrated edges, but I can live with that. They were purchased for about .50 cents at clearance.
This was one time I would have like to have had gouache. The handles are much more opaque. I guess I could have used Chinese white in the mix.

EDM #197 - Draw a remote control

EDM #197 - Draw a remote control
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

Just one of those days. Wasn't too enthusiastic about drawing or drawing this. I have some mixed media and knitting (remember knitting?) projects I started last night that are holding my interest.

EDM #240 - Draw a pencil

EDM #240 - Draw a pencil
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

Here are my everyday pencils. I have had these a long time. I tend to go from different media and back again. The fourth pencil didn't make it in to the piece. I had to use it to sketch out the details. I will use my drawing pencils until I can't hold them anymore.

EDM #120 - Draw a flashlight

EDM #120 - Draw a flashlight
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

What I did today...it is a small Maglite. It is not very big but very heavy for its size (it is a Maglite after all).

EDM #24 - Draw a piece of fruit

EDM #24 - Draw a piece of fruit
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

Pears are in season here in California.
These are California Barletts that are much greener than then I painted them. Pears are much lumpier than I thought.
Edit: AutumnLeaves was kind enough (thanks1) to leave a comment which somehow cannot be added to the regular comment section " I really like your watercolor technique. I think these are beautiful!

EDM #91 - Draw an Apple

EDM #91 - Draw an Apple
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

This is the first time I have ever had a Jazz apple. So why not draw one.
I like the graphics on the label but elected not to draw it on the apple and just stuck it on the piece.

EDM #205 Draw a soda can

EDM #205 Draw a soda can
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

Detail oriented as I am - even I wasn't going to copy all of the writing on the can.

EDM #34 - Draw a fall leaf

I picked up this leaf yesterday. Beautiful, rich burgundy and ruby color on one side and pick green on the other. Yes, we do have fall colors in the Bay Area.
Once I inked this in I liked it so much I didn't want to watercolor it. I might print out a copy on water color paper later.

EDM #214 - Draw something representing a favorite hobby

EDM #214 - Draw something representing a favorite hobby
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

You gotta love my DH - he thought my drawing of a stapler was a school bus and he thinks this is pecan cookies.
This is my set of zils for belly dancing. This is kind of my other hobby but I belong to a troupe (Rising Stars) since 2004 so it maybe more than a hobby.