There's something about birds...

Western Tananger, watercolor 11x15
There's something about birds that I just thoroughly enjoy painting! I've noticed that I keep getting drawn back to them in my paintings.

Hooked.....line & sinker

Aside from all of the busy-ness and business of life, I have been playing with a couple of "new to me" fountain pens. I joined the Fountain Pen Network and have been obsessively researching everything there is to know about fountain pens. Absolutely wonderful!!!! I even have received absolute approval from my dear hubby to persue this beautiful art. Yesterday he and I had to make a trip to Eugene to visit a friend in the hospital (that's another story) and we stopped into the local pen shop, Pensations. The clerk there handed me a Namiki Falcon and instantaneously a thrilling shiver went up my spine! Oh My! What a beautiful pen! The nib has a nice flex to it, producing lovely line variations. I handed it to Larry and his immediate comment was "This pen sells itself." Understandably though, at a retail price of $175, it did not sell itself to us yesterday. There are so many beautiful pens in the world, you can easily acquire many wonderful writers for less than $50.
I have also been playing with brush lettering on my watercolor paintings and that has been fun too. The other day I painted these rabbits (notice the spelling) and being not extremely pleased with the painting itself, I decided to play with lettering on it with a small flat wc brush. I was so focused on the lettering itself...well, you can see for yourself the error made. I aced spelling and english throughout my school years, but you wouldn't know it by this painting. LOL!
I also am very interested to begin learning Spencerian and Copperplate Script. It is so lovely! And I have completed a painting with just that in mind, so watch for it in the future here on my blog.

I Won! How Fun!

I really am so honored to have been selected as the winner to last weeks "Bird" challenge!! There were so many wonderful and talented entries. Do visit Monday Artday to see my entry, but also, to check out some great work from other artists!

I'm posting this a day late, but as they say.... better than never!

1. Illicit :: affair


2. Go :: into all the world and preach the gospel
   


3. Jacket :: coat


4. Blow :: hard


5. Coach :: trainer


6. Effort :: discipline


7. Leadership :: example


8. Snore :: a rough night


9. Fearless :: brave
   


10. Network :: resource

Lilac and Rambling.........

Okay, well it seems like I have been away for a long time, but really, I haven't been away at all. I have just been busy and tired. Needless to say, but my paintbrushes have been getting thirsty also. I feel so neglectful! But, after being up till 1:30 a.m. doing our books and then wide awake this morning at 5:30 a.m., I did manage to go to my watercolor class and amazing to me, managed to accomplish this little painting in my Moleskine. This picture does not do it justice at all. All of the purples, blues and pinks blend so much nicer than what it is showing here. Also, it is a pen & ink. You can't really tell here, can you?
I also have a couple larger paintings I am working on, but I have gotten to "a dead zone" in my mind on them, so they are set aside for a bit of time.
Keep coming back! And thank you so much for visiting!

I WANNA WIN!!!!

5 Minutes for Mom is doing another Giveaway!!!! This time it is for the new Casio EX-Z75. The highlight is it's PINK in recognition of October Breast Cancer Awareness month. I really, really want this. But, you too, can go and sign up to win.

Busy-ness, New Wheels, & An Apple a Day

1. I have not posted any paintings this week as my life has been so busy!!! It's just been one thing after another, it seems. In the midst of the whirlwind yesterday, I thought, "I wish this could stop!" But, after more thinking I realized that if life were not busy most of the time, then I would have to learn to make myself busy, in order that I didn't get bored. Funny how that works?! It is a blessing to have the health to be able keep moving.

2. One of the things that kept me on Friday was the purchasing of a new vehicle. Now that is a blessing! I'm thrilled with the ride! Also, for the most part, the experience with the dealer and salesman was quite pleasant. I have experienced worse.

3. I bought some beautiful apples this week and have been faithfully eating one a day. Yummm! they are so good! Like the old saying goes, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." (the updated 21st century saying goes like this, "An apple a day, peeled, keeps the doctor away.")

1. Cluster :: group

2. Announcement :: birth

3. Respect :: honor

4. Incident :: accident

5. Accordian :: musician

6. Drunk :: slobbering

7. If :: only

8. Dexter :: thick glasses and fountain pen?

9. Wedding :: dress

10. Gambling :: greed

WC Class, Peacocks, & Crab Puffs

1. Watercolor class was such a joy today. I have missed the last 2 weeks due to being sick with a cold and today was just so much fun! The ladies in class are all so dear and it is delightful to see what all of them are working on and how they improve with each week that passes.

2. After doing the little peacock in my sketchbook, I decided to work on a large painting of a peacock. I accomplished much on it today and it is coming along quite well. I should be able to post it in a couple of days.

3. When my hubby got home this afternoon, the temperature was dropping and it was actually turning cold. His suggestion and solution to warm up? A cup of hot tea at the local Chinese food restaurant. And dinner. I really like Crab Puffs!

A New Sketch

I just had to post again today! I had a bit of time before dinner and while the subject was napping, so I did a sketch of him (from a picture). I'd never done a portrait sketch before, let alone one with ink. I thought it turned out pretty good...considering it's being my first. He says it makes him look fat. mmmm.... Well, this will take more practice, I can see.

Art as Therapy and Just Doodling.....

I remember, many years ago, that I used to doodle everytime I was on the phone. I don't think I do that much anymore, in fact, I haven't been doodling at all! In retrospect, I think that was during a time in my young life that I didn't have many pressures on me (or, at least, I didn't think I did ???) and the carefree artistic side of me had no problem with attempting art. It seems that I woke up one morning and life had become chaotic and stiff and I found myself struggling along like so many others...and the doodling (the attempt to create) was GONE! Suddenly, I had this need to get back into my artistic self....I needed the therapy. The good news is that last night while on the phone, I doodled! And it felt so good. Even the conversation was more lively and pleasant. Below I've posted my "telephone doodles" (watercolor washes were added this morning). So, what is it about creating art that is so therapeutic? Please leave your comments and tell me why art is therapeutic for you.