Dove in the Dead Tree

I have an apricot tree that has died.  I decided to leave it in my yard so that the birds could use it.  And I could photograph them.  Well it fell over.  Now it is just a dead tree.

Before the tree fell, I was able to get a few photos of some Dove perched in the branches.  Here is one that I decided to draw in graphite.  It's in my Moleskine Watercolor Sketchbook.  5x8 inches or 10 by 16 inches for a double page.  This one took just over a page.

Scavenger Hunt Items

Some of my plants I painted for the Scavenger Hunt on Wetcanvas.  Two varieties of Prayer Plant, a piece of my Creeping Charley, and one of my African Violets.

Joan in California

My friend Joan Tavolott was in California for a family wedding.  I think she went out every day with her sisters to paint.  One of the posted a photo of Joan sitting on a curb painting.  After I saw it, I just had to paint it.  It is in my Moleskine Watercolor Sketchbook.  In Watercolors. 

The Virtual Paintout for July

Since the URLs aren't working for the paintings I am doing for the Virtual Paintout, I will be posting them here and my Facebook.  The rule for the Virtual Paintout says I have to include the URL.  I even tried to open the long URL and that didn't work either.  Drat.

So here are two more paintings for The Virtual Paintout for July which is in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA.  Watercolor, colored pencil, and pen in my Moleskine Watercolor Sketchbook.

Mailboxes in Santa Fe

For the Virtual Paintout.  I found these mailboxes in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA.  Something about a bunch of mailboxes all in a row just draws me in.  These are done in watercolor, colored pencils, and pen.  5x14 inches.  Full double page in my Moleskine Watercolor Sketchbook.

On the Water

Watercolors and pen.  In my Moleskine Watercolor Book.  Photo from Google Street View.

Blue Bird of Happiness

I did this little Bluebird this morning. Photo by Dave Slaughter of Wetcanvas. 4x8 inches in Moleskine Watercolor book. Watercolors, colored pencils, and pen.

BG

A friend's family dog passed a few weeks ago and today I painted a picture for them.  This is BG painted with watercolors and colored pencils.  On 9x13 inch watercolor paper.

Happy Blog Birthday

Today is the 9th birthday of my blog.  When I first started, I was really excited to share with others.  I still am excited to share but not sure how many are actually reading the posts.  

When I started blogging, Katherine Tyrrell told me that a lot of blogs never made it past the first year.  I used that incentive to keep myself blogging even when I didn't feel like it.  I only post about once a month now but I still love keeping it going.  

I do appreciate all the 100 people who have joined my blog.  I have gotten to know many really nice people and have made some really close friends.  In fact two are like sisters to me.  One is in North Carolina, USA (T) and the other is in Queensland, Australia (Sue).  I am tremendously thankful for both of these wonderful women.  I don't know what I ever did without them. 

 I had two brothers growing up and never really wanted a sister.  I think I was too selfish with my stuff and wouldn't have wanted to share like my brothers had to.  But I found two that are keepers.

Thanks to all for sharing my journey thru the blog world.  Thanks for sharing my journey thru art.  And thanks for reading my ramblings (at times) and for leaving comments.  I hope to keep up my blogging for many years to come.  

Estonia for The Virtual Paintout

This is my 3rd painting for The Virtual Paintout.  For a couple of months, I couldn't figure out how to get the URL for the photos.  They have changed the whole look and all the buttons, etc.  I do not like the look of the new Google Street View.  I found nothing wrong with the old one.  For awhile, you could choose to revert to the old look.  Now when I try that, it pops me to other screens.  You also can't get a complete full screen and get rid of several things that are on the screen in the way.

So I finally figured out where the URL was and will just have to ignore the other things I don't like.  Also hope that someone at Google doesn't have more time on their hands to figure out other ways to make cruising thru other countries more difficult.

Red Tops

In my new Moleskine watercolor book. This is a double page which would make it 6x12 inches. Pen and watercolor. It is pieces of two different photos from Google Street View Maps plus some imagination.  I called it "Red Tops".

Virtual Paintout for June - Estonia

Cups, Cups, & More Cups

 I have a collection of things (lots and lots of things) I have purchased from various places like Goodwill. I use these things to make still life compositions for drawing/painting. In this collection are about 10-12 cups. No rhyme or reason as to why I bought them. If they caught my eye, I bought them. A couple of years ago, I painted two of my cups for a group show for Bakersfield Art Association. It was to be hung in a coffee shop so cups of coffee were prevalent. I decided I want to hang this piece in my kitchen. I decided I want four small "cup" pieces to hang with the first one. Here is the original "Coffee With Cream" with the four new pieces. The original piece is probably 12x16 inches. The new ones are 5x7 inches. I'm not sure if they will be framed as 5x7 or 8x10.

Private ATC Trade

My friend T and I are doing a private trade.  For April it was "Something From a Farm" and for May, "Flowers".  I used a photo from the   WDE on Wetcanvas for the lamb and a photo posted to Wetcanvas by T for the Black-Eyed Cone Flower.

Scavenger Hunt #401

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 1 off the wall - mini dog cross stitch picture that was hanging on the wall
2 energy - battery
3 fluffy - duck
4 black and white - cow salt shaker
5 part of a shoe - my husband's bronzed baby shoe
6 well used - green colored pencil
7 knot - knotted string
8 bell - red and white bell
9 shoestring - black shoestring hanging on the duck
10 magnet - with cow on it
11 something used to do a repair - eraser on top of the battery
12 a beginning and an end - book

Watercolor, colored pencils, and pen in a 9x12 inch visual journal by Strathmore.

Every Day in April

I'm doing an April Challenge of doing a piece of art every day of April.  I'm posting them in an album on my Facebook page.  There is usually one in May and I will be doing that one too.

This one is Day 9 - something from my yard.  Geraniums.  I have lots of them and they bloom all year where I live.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pen in Visual Journal Watercolor Sketchbook.

Landscapes for the Postcard Trade on Wetcanvas

There is a new trade on Wetcanvas called "Wish You Were Here".  Postcard sized pieces of original artwork done showing landscapes around the area where you live.  I did a few from my yard and the rest were from photos I have taken when my plein air group goes out. 

The first one is from a trip we made to the mountains which is about 45 minutes from my house.  These mail boxes are about half way there.

The second one is from a cattle ranch in those same mountains.  My friends Ron and Shari lived and worked on this ranch and my art group was able to go there for a painting session twice.  No more trips there tho as my friends retired and moved.

The third one is a metal sculpture of some Mexican musicians from a statuary place called Majestic Palms.  They have some larger trees, lots of pots, metal sculpture, and statues.  And a koi pond with a small bridge going across the pond.  Many, many, many huge koi fish in the pond. 

These are all 4x6 inches on watercolor paper with watercolors, colored pencils, and pens.

Cat #21.

Here is cat #21.  From a photo by Daiseyree from Wetcanvas.  I love this pose and really enjoyed doing this one.  I did change the colors from the original photo.  Watercolors, colored pencils, and pen.  About 3 x 5 inches.

Cat #20

 This is my cat #20.  Graphite and a touch of colored pencil and pen.  It's about 3x5 inches on watercolor paper.  Photo is by Veterinarian Andy Mathes from Facebook and used with his permission.

30 Cats Day 9

Here is Cat for Day 9.  I'm behind but will catch up.  Graphite on this one.  Photo by MelWilemon from Wetcanvas RIL.