Getting back in the groove

I'm trying to get back in the groove with my drawing...did a couple of drawings today and I'm posting one of them. I think this one is much better than the pen and ink tangelo (actually, no comparison)...but of course, this one took me a lot longer.

I have problems when I scan these drawings...trying to get them to look like the drawing. Either they're too light...or too dark...and I'd like to figure out how to smooth out the texture a bit...maybe using Photoshop.

A quick pen and ink...

Since joining the Every Day Matters group, I've been striving for a drawing or painting a day...but I get busy on other things and my art kind of gets "left behind". So last night as I was shutting down my computer, there was a blank piece of paper and a tangelo sitting there...so I grabbed a pen that was laying there, too...and quickly sketched the piece of fruit before my husband reached for it to eat it. I'm always hesitant to do any drawing right before I head to bed...because sometimes it gets me hyped up and then I have trouble falling asleep. Once I get started on a drawing, it's difficult for me to stop. I'm the same about playing music on my dulcimer. Once I pick it up and start playing, it's hard to put it down.

Another W/C pansy version

I'm trying to work on backgrounds...and painting petals...trying not to overwork them. I think I like this one better than the one below...but my pansies have wilted and are no longer blooming. I'm having to work from photos and I'd rather work from the real thing. So...maybe I'll do a different plant.

Watercolor pansy

Well, I definitely like using watercolor paints on watercolor paper better than on drawing paper.

My drawing for today!

Did my drawing in a sketchbook...then decided to add color using watercolors, but I realize now that if I'm going to be working with watercolors, I need to use watercolor paper. Using watercolors on drawing paper gives a result that I'm not pleased with.

EDM 76: Pansy

After working on this pansy using colored pencils and then scanning it, I realize I don't like the way the colored pencil looks after being scanned.

EDM 207: Shell drawings

A couple of sketches of shells that I worked on last night and today. Been a while since I've done any sketching.

Mimi and Charlie

Charlie's Here! Born 1-20-09 - My New Grandson!

My new grandson, Charlie was born Tuesday, 1-20-09, 5:30 pm, weighing in at 9 lbs 1 oz, 22 inches long. He's a sweetie. Ben's been waiting patiently for his little brother to arrive...and now...Ben's a "Big Brother".

And here goes Sassy!

Ah, where's the other end of this thing?

Oh, I believe I see it!

Maybe I can catch it going in this direction!

There she goes...just a blur!

Where IS the end of that thing?

I give up...I gotta take a break!

Animals are truly funny...and so entertaining! My sister got a small dog about a year ago and she named her Sassy. Well, that was a mistake right from the start...'cause Sassie definitely lives up to her name. She taught Sassie to "ring a bell" on the door when she has to go out. My sister has a bird feeder on her deck with sliding glass doors which allows Sassy a full view of the deck, yard...AND all the birds coming up to feed. Every time a bird comes to the feeder, Sassy rings the bell to go out...and proceeds to chase them off...then immediately comes back inside to await the arrival of MORE birds. It's a delightful game for her.

Then my sister found something else to entertain Sassy and give her some exercise at the same time. She put a leash on her, then wrapped the leash around a hassock in her living room. Now...this leash is about a foot or so short of reaching all the way around the hassock...so Sassy chases the end of the leash trying to get it...going round and round and round the hassock yipping at it the entire time...but never quite being able to "catch it". We watched her and laughed until our bellies hurt.

Where has the time gone?

Wow...just realized I've neglected my blog way too long. I get busy on other projects and tend to neglect some things I need to keep updated on a regular basis. I post daily in my handwritten journal, but my online blog has been thoroughly neglected.

Here it is cold weather and the last time I posted, the weather was great...it was summer and I had just returned from a short vacation with my family.

I'm sitting here anxiously awaiting word from my son and DIL regarding the arrival of my new grandson who is due next Tuesday, January 20 and who will be named Charlie. Ben will then be an "older brother". He's excited about Charlie and tells everyone that right now, Charlie's in his mommie's belly.