Mar 21, 2015

Red Bun on Toes


She is a dancer of life
embracing highs and lows (mountain tops and valleys)
She prefers being on her toes
and offering grace to the world
~

which brings back a memory:
when i was younger and i felt like i wasn't being heard
i would stand on things
i did not know why, it was not a conscious choice

maybe i thought if I was taller or higher I had a better chance of being heard 

makes me smile now
~
for sale here: Beauty Flows
~
I was hiking yesterday
hoping to find an antler
and look:
 thrilled!
 
*

Mar 18, 2015

Winner of Classroom Friendly Pencil Sharpener is......



this cute and sassy little witch 
wants to tell you that 
has won the pencil sharpener!



Veronica, please visit Classroom Friendly Supplies
decide on your color
green, blue, red, black or pink
email me with the address to send it to!
Congratulations!
~
Little Witch for sale here: Beauty Flows
*


Mar 13, 2015

GIve Away & DC: Spring Break


Veronica is our lovely host for DC

tis spring break for many people
I think of bears daily now
wondering when they will awaken 
walk through my woods
so i am still painting bear landscapes in honor of them
~


has given me the opportunity to review their pencil sharpener:


It comes in 5 colors, I chose hot pink

above is the first step in sharpening a pencil
below is the second


Then you simply turn the handle to sharpen your pencil until it stops.

I of course chose a variety of art pencils to test. Prismacolor, pastel and charcoal pencils have been challenging with most sharpeners. Art pencils can be pricey, so having a lead break is not desirable. 

These are the pencils i chose to sharpen:


here are the results:

Look at those amazing points, great for detail work!
If you don't want such a fine point simply don't sharpen till it stops.

I actually found that sharpening the pencil until the sharpener stops takes away TOO much pencil. 
I began stopping half way and that gave me the points above, which I am thrilled with.

To see videos on how to use this sharpener, or how to take it apart for a broken lead:
~
I am super happy with this sharpener.

I get to give one away, wahoo!
I am sorry to say it is for USA addresses only, 
darn for all my oversea friends. 

So in the comments let me know if you would like a chance to win a sharpener.
Winner will be announced on my blog
March 18th
~

Spring break means bears to me


Visit Veronica's to enjoy everyone's Spring Break
 thank you for keeping the prompts going Veronica!

~
*


Mar 6, 2015

Lesson Learned, use good paper


seems the 29 faces has me in a rhythm of creating faces

this one began as a pencil sketch
then watercolors on top:


ink sketch for meditative fun


the shading makes her look like she could use a shave
might have to rethink that technique ;-)


this last piece is a lesson learned
the paper is nice for sketching, ink and light washes
i tend to layer my watercolors 
this paper warped and would not take layers in a blending way

i could not get effects that i wished for
and 
abandoned attempting to take it somewhere that pleased me

lesson: use good paper that will take water and paint 
i thought i had learned that lesson ;-)
~

also, i saw my first robin of the season today!
~
*

Feb 28, 2015

DC: Birthday Cake


she made a magical cake hoping to inspire the company of
the birthday fairy

had heard the breeze tell the trees
of a fairy that dances for cake

she believed with all her heart
like a wish
from end to start

upon opening her sweet eyes
a fairy landed upon her hand
and danced and danced
a spell of charm
~


i wish i had photos
of the beautiful cakes my mother use to make
they were a thing of whimsy and celebration
they inspired awe and amazement

~
Dear Katrin of Fische Frauen
chose our Drawing Challenge:


and
these are my last two faces for February's 
yea

thank you Fische and Ayala art for hosting these wonderful events!
~
not sure why blogger is making this image antique and dark
this is on white paper and bright
~
*

Feb 26, 2015

Face 26 & 27 of 29 Faces


my my
February's month of faces is nearing it's end

it has been a good challenge
lots of practice

 

there are two more faces to go

in the meantime thank you to Martha of Ayala's art for hosting
~
*

 

Feb 23, 2015

#23 of 29 Faces

she rose from the Sleeping Beauty mountains
mountains where veins of turquoise thrive
no longer asleep
with a crystal at her third eye
~

the splash to the far left
is a drop of red wine
so i splashed some more
such a pretty color!
~

to enjoy faces from around the world

~
*