Red-bellied Woodpecker

As most of you know from former posts, I have really been enjoying my birds this winter. One of my frequent guests at the suet feeder is the red-bellied woodpecker. I have several that visit, I can tell by their different sizes. I have really large one and some smaller ones. I did this art journal page to express how much I have enjoyed the red-bellied woodpecker. The word "Joy" comes to mind as I check several times a day to see which birds are at the feeder. Every time I look at this page I will be reminded of the joy they've brought. There is a lot of texture in this page. If it were a canvas, I'd probably work on it some more, but for an AJ page, I'll call it done.

Sweet comment from another site: JJacobenson "I love this...this is like looking out of a window~ love!".

Lady Slipper

I liked the Lady Slipper so much I drew it again, this time in my sketch book.  This was an experiment in seeing how the watercolor reacted to the sketchbook paper which is much thinner.  I'd  done my Funky Owls in this sketchbook and they turned out ok.  This one didn't do as well, mostly in the background.  The paper just soaks the color, as I really knew it would.  I probably should have gesso'd it as I knew I should, but really wanted to see the results.  I think that experimenting with your supplies is more than half the fun of creating.  So just pick up your supplies and just jump right in.

Yummy Backgound

"Coffee falls into the stomach...ideas begin to move, things remembered arrive at full gallop...the shafts of wit start up like sharpshooters, similes arise, the paper is covered with ink..."                                                                                                            -Honore de Balzac

I just love the colors in this background.  Don't know what I'll do with it yet.  I may continue on to embellish it with other designs, or cut it up for other projects, or ?????

Lady Slipper

Lady's slipper orchids (also known as lady slipper orchids or slipper orchids) are the orchids in the subfamily Cypripedioidea.  They are narrow-leaved plants native to tropical America. One to six flowers with ribbonlike petals are borne on a stalk nearly 90 cm tall. The leaves are folded, and the flowers are borne on a spike at the tip of the plant.

I love Lady Slipper's.

Comments from an on-line community on this piece: from CJ " I like the simplicity of your sketch, with the black lines, soft washes, and underlying text showing through. Lady slipper seems like an elusive flower from stories in my mind. "

CM:  "How beautiful Carol. You are really a great artist. Love the soft colors. "
CJ: "I like the simplicity of your sketch, with the black lines, soft washes, and underlying text showing through. Lady slipper seems like an elusive flower from stories in my mind." 

Adventures

Art Journal page

Love this quote by Elizabeth Taylor "I feel very adventurous. There are so many doors to be opened and I'm not afraid to look behind them." This AJ page reflects some of those adventures, but there are so many more out there. I want to enjoy as many as possible.

Quote by Elizabeth Taylor

I had this wonderful comment on another site when I posted this page.  CL said "I love this page. Neat to see the skeins in the basket, the bird on his branch, the heart in the sky. So nicely composed and truly eye pleasing. The quote about the doors is simple but o so true...".

Look what's on my desk

                                                    Fun toys for an Artist!

 

Study Nature, Love Nature

 

Watercolor flower in one of my art journals.

I used watercolor paper, Neocolor II wax pastel crayons, pan watercolor, Twinkling H2O's, gesso, stamping ink and pen for detail.

Lovely comments from friends:  PD "Oh woohaa.. another beauty to take my breath away... Junelle said to step away when we are on overload... I get that way when I see such beauty!!!!"

Yummy Crockpot Roast

I fixed the best tasting roast in the crock pot on Sunday.  It was so yummy!  I think it was a beef tenderloin roast but am not sure of the cut.  I added one sweet onion, package of Lipton onion soup mix and a can of coke.   Let it cook on high for 5-6 hours.   If you haven't tried coke on your meat in the crock pot then give it a try.  I've used it on beef and on pork (oh yeah makes the best baby back pork ribs).  It gives the roast and juice/gravy such a good flavor and tenderizes even the toughest of roast.  I'll make some roast beef sandwiches tonight and then make soup with what is left.  This roast will give us several meals this week.

Kate

I love sheep and have for over 20 years.  One of Junelle's new lambs is Kate.  She posted a picture of her at a month of age and I just had to sketch her.  I hope you enjoy seeing my interpretation of her beauty from nature.

Junelle posted this comment on our FB group "oh, you are going to make me cry!!! I miss her so much!!! She is coming home at the end of the month and I am going to kiss her a hundred times! (unless she has ticks, then I will kiss her just once! lol!)".  
The comment just thrilled me so much that she liked the sketch.  Love it when you can touch someone's emotions.  Makes art worth every stroke! 

In the beauty of HIS presence

In the quiet, in the stillness

I know that You are God

In the secret of Your presence

I know~ 
there I am restored

Sweet peas

Some fun little thumbnail sketches of sweet peas.  Practicing sketching and watercolors.

A lovely comment from another site:   JM " Ooo, I love your sketches! I love the little baby sweet pea. That's adorable! Your drawings have a beautiful airiness to them. Like a breath that's clean and fresh. :)"

Funky Owls Close up

Funky Owls

      I've been working on some watercolor art journal pages.  This one is of some funky little owls.  To me they look like dad, little daughter and mom.   I asked my youngest grand-daughter if that was her and her mommy and daddy.  She thought that was funny.

       I remembered to take some pictures as I did this page.  I used Neocolor II water-soluble wax pastel crayons and pan watercolors. So here is the progression from sketch to finished page.  Hope you enjoy.

                                                                           Sketch

                                          
       Adding some color with Neocolor II wax
                    pastel crayons.                                         

                                 

 Blending the watercolor with brush and water.                                                        

                                      
                                                                   Adding detail with pen.

                                      
                                                               Adding more detail and shading.               

                                       
                 Finished page.  
  Left to right: Dad, daughter and mom.

                                       

cupcakes

                         I did this water color sketch of cupcakes.  Just a fun little art journal page.

Lovely comment from another site where I've posted this piece: PD "Oh my Carol.. this are great.. You have got all the right squiggles in the right places. just perfect!"

Look what I found

I was so excited when I found this dress form made of iron.  I've wanted a dress form but don't have floor space for one.  I found this table top one at a fantastic price.  I'm so excited to have her on display in my studio.  EXCITED, EXCITED, EXCITED!

Inspiration Canvas Challenge

 

From this photo found on pinterest,

  I created this canvas.  It was part of a challenge from PAO to create a canvas from an inspiration photo from pinterest featuring nature.  You could use the actual image as your inspiration, the color scheme or anything that inspired you from the photo.  I liked both the theme of flowers and especially the color scheme.  My intent was not to duplicate the photo but to use it as a start for a canvas that would be created in my style.

I used gesso, golden acrylics, pan pastels, molding paste, acrylic inks, glimmer mist spray inks, stazon ink and a uniball pen for some detail. I really wanted some great texture on this canvas.

ocean

                                                                 I hear it calling my name.

Side note:  Go to "Shell Seeker" post on Sept. 20, 2011 and see the journal page that was inspired by this location.  I love to go to the jetty and hunt for shells.  Depending on the weather, it can be rough like in this picture or it can be smooth as glass.

Leap Year

Today's February 29th, better known as the leap year day.  It only comes every four years.  It was my Aunt Jenny's birthday and I always thought that was special.  I'm sure she didn't like it very much.

Happy Leap Year

Altered Tin

 

I took an old tin that had come in the mail with a CD advertisement from years ago and altered it.

Quote

Imagination is the eye of the soul.

Joseph Joubert

Red-bellied Woodpecker

He's been so elusive this week whenever I've tried to get his picture.  Finally got a great shot this afternoon.

Photo Play

Original Photo

Having some fun with color.

Really playing with the photo.  Cool, almost like a painting.

Quote

I made these ATC's for a swap.  We had to make ATC's with a quote.  I enjoyed making these.

Cardinal

I just can't get enough of watching these beautiful Cardinals.

mag·nif·i·cent/magˈnifəsənt/

Adjective:

Impressively beautiful, elaborate, or extravagant; striking. Very good; excellent.

Altered Tray

I had an unfinished wooden tray that I wanted to finish.  Not sure yet what I want to use it for, but at least now it has some color.  The white swirls are not so strong IRL as in this picture.  Think I may use it in my studio for art supplies.  It may be finished and then again I may alter it some more.  Who Knows?

OK, so I wasn't satisfied so I played some more.  Here is the finished tray or is it?