Monday, March 30, 2009

Mother Montage

The non leaded purists will shrink

back in horror at this journal spread.

I used a photo I had taken of a very

rusted metal tank for the background.

a vintage photo of my mother,

Mary Cordelia Field Fowler,

taken in Lewiston, Maine perhaps in ..1915

(I have already drawn this photo

for a dedication journal page) Then

there is an old 1940's negative envelope

I have saved, a camera I use

and my computer keyboard

complete the photo

montage glued on to a spread

I could not like if you paid me.


















Saturday, March 28, 2009

"Mouse in Hands"

Such a teeny tiny wee cutie pie, that turns me
into a shivering huddled mass of scaredyness...
I am hoping to see my violets
in the yard in April I guess---and I sure
didn't sneak in the heart this time---

Friday, March 27, 2009

Past Poker Players

Notice the Elvis inspired sideburns!
This was very quickly washed
with watercolor pencils
I expect some family members
might appreciate
this page . Once you start down
memory lane you are on a journey
of your mind you are thankful
to be able to travel....

Thursday, March 26, 2009

"Castle Pig with Country Pig"

Left click on photo
to see larger
**********************
A photo by my brother in California
and two by me in Ireland
at the time, inspired this spread.
The Irish pig had such a neat thatched
roof hut , stone walls and a castle
pen keeper on hand---while
the California pig was very
happy on an Animal Farm
Sanctuary

Sunday, March 22, 2009

The Cat with the Onion.

LEFT CLICK
on photo to read the small print.
It's been a pleasure knowing this cat and
a never ending source of joy.
He's just a year old and loves people.
The light in this sketch is coming
from a rear window with the blue
sky reflecting a bit on the wide sill.
End of story ......

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Poker Night 1974




Left click on photo to see larger



EDM # 215

Draw your thumb

Poker Night, 1974

The Friday night poker games played

here back in the 70's were loaded

with joshing and tons of (gasp) smoke.

It was very entertaining to be within

earshot of their banter. They called

each other names when they lost and

chided one another during the game.

---the fellow in the sketch used to come

early and play cribbage with me

"for the donuts" he'd bring---when

I won I never felt I'd won all that much

as the donuts were for the players---but again it
was fun. Most of them are gone now

to the big game in the sky---I can

still hear them joking when

I remember those Friday nights.


Friday, March 20, 2009

To Each His Own...

PFinding an empty page in a near filled
Moleskine journal I decided to
quickly compare colored pencil techniques
I have tried. On the left is the dry regular
ones not applied heavily (I am looking at the
book mentioned in the sketch----and on the right
is the watercolor pencils application I usually
do ---the final result is : I like to use the
watercolor pencils with the waterbrush better, as it fits my
temperament and is more fun for me. To enjoy
it is very important ....but to each his own.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

"Pharaohs Chanting"

Left click on photo to read the words
*****************
Last week, I waited for about an hour, alone in this area
of a museum that had Egyptian artifacts
in this lower lobby---believe me, it doesn't
take long for the imagination to take you
back in time......

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

" Determined Pace" EDM #35

EDM# 35 Draw a bike or part of etc....
I love the details in a close up
not seen from afar--I'm in the
kitchen shooting through the window,
across the lawn to the road...the fact
that the light shines through the handlebars
and shines on her jacket and leaves shadows
on her jeans...things like that, I like to
"discover" as I draw....
I often leave smudges
that occur, as they seem part
of how I work.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

BIRD BOUQUET

Ga was my hero for catching the
bird---I had not the nerve to even
go up there to see what was messing
around the studio---of course the
bird was just as frightened as
I was. All's well that ends
well....

Friday, March 13, 2009

"The Bystander"

As I wait in the car for others to
pick up some Irish Breakfast
treats, I photo'd some women
talking and didn't notice this
bystander watching---in the
ball of the black post are some
reflections of the buildings
which surprised me--
I liked his stance and glasses....try
as I might, I can't find a challenge
this page would fit-----

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

"Charmed Shirt"

This is a Creative CoOp ( a group of people

that meet once a month in another city not

too far away) piece I did last

week. I brought the sweatshirt,

Pitt Pens and charm bracelets I had made.

I thought I would not "do" anything

but take photos, but the group's

enthusiasm inspired me to make this

design. Later at home, I used

Acrylic paints to add

color .All this was

done to have something that went

well with a new pair of purple shoes.

Whatever causes that spark of an

idea, be it shoes or just about

anything is welcomed.....

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

This Rocks!

EDM No 119
Draw A Rock
******************
On a nearby road, a stone wall emerges from
being covered with snow when the winds
blow..around here you can hardly
spit without hitting one of these walls.... so
unique and handmade. I noticed in this one,
they are all the same kind of stone--perhaps
granite---some walls have varied rocks.
I think when they are made from the stones
on the property they tend to be more the
same type---and when a contractor
builds them he uses all kinds for added interest.
At any rate, I love them all.

Monday, March 9, 2009

"Phillipe Meets Sebastian"


EDM #212 Mirror Image

"Phillipe Meets Sebastian"

***************

These two strangers are set on a mirror I keep by

my creative work space to check my progress

all the time. It is just like a teacher looked

at your work and tells you you're either

on the right track or going miserably crooked.

Phillipe is sniffing the smiley to see if it is

friendly---sure LOOKS like it is!



Wednesday, March 4, 2009

"Three Sleepy Kittens" EDM 185

Every Day Matters
Challenge 185
Draw A Cat
*********************
The three kittens are sleeping on top of one of those cat condos
and my brother took the photo. I liked the varied
positions and imagine it's obvious where a
patch was made on this one--in fact, two...one to make
the design better and the other to hide details that
were confusing even if they were right. This
spread sent me out to another room to go through
my stuffed mittens draw, which seemed to have 99% gloves..
so I had to imagine the mittens.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

EDM #94 Draw a Spoon


EDM #94 Draw a Spoon

********

If you left click on this you can read the words better.

They say it all.....

A Smile for Owen


It's the sunny color and how comical this handmade
doll by Pat Gardiner (of Rockville Ct.) is to see, that reminded
me of Owen not feeling very chipper---She actually is
the top of a box that has "stuff" flowing to the floor..if
she sat nearby you'd smile to see her . She'll
also fit EDM # 130 Something soft---as she
is soft sculpture. I did not finish the
doll I was making yet---"it" sits up stairs
in the bag I brought it home in--but the class
was very inspirational.