...by the chimney with care! Christmas decorating has been accomplished in my house. Now, we just wait impatiently for Christmas to arrive! I was pretty excited tonight to try out a new "toy" - a bamboo pen - for my 20 minute sketch. It was great, I love the variation of line you can get by holding it at slightly different angles. Plus, it has all the benefits of a traditional dip-style pen. Really great! It will become part of my regular rotation for sure. Bamboo pen (used with watercolor), 5 1/2" x 8".
This was a 20 minute sketch where the idea was much more ambitious than the time allowed... I spent too much time drawing the neat number detail (pretty modern looking for 1820, I have to say) that I ran out of time to do justice with the paint. The general idea of the ship tossing on the waves and the scenery comes through though, I think. Clocks, especially old clocks, are an endless source of design inspiration! Pen and watercolor, approx. 4 1/2" x 6 1/2".
The nearly symmetrical design of this flower grouping was fun to draw and paint in 20 minutes. Purple is not a traditional color used in fraktur designs, but it really complements the yellow. I love doing these designs. I really keep meaning to embroider one sometime! Pen and watercolor, 5" x 5".
Sometimes it just takes 20 minutes of doodling to get those creative juices flowing. I've been working on a couple projects in anticipation of Christmas and I think this developed as a way to get them out of my head for a little while. Fun and random. Pen, 5 1/2" x 8".
Happy (belated) Thanksgiving everyone! Though I could have rushed through it, I took a couple evenings to complete this painting of our family's Thanksgiving edible goodness. The richness of the food deserved equally rich color on the page. I have so much to be thankful for!
Once in a while my little buddy finally sits still enough for me to draw or paint him. He didn't hold still the whole 20 minutes of the sketch, but long enough for me to capture his shape. While I painted him he snuggled next to me so I can't really complain. However, white fuzzy fur is not the easiest thing to paint in watercolor! Pencil and watercolor, 5 1/2" x 8".
I love to make and receive handmade ornaments, and enjoyed participating in an ornament exchange this past weekend. I hope the person who received the ornament I made enjoys hers as much as I will enjoy this little bird one made by another person! I think it made a nice subject for a 20 minute sketch. Pencil, 5" x 7".
