homemade journal

One day in October, I read about the 'artist's moleskine' and had to have one!
I bid on one on eBay and didn't win the auction.
So... I decided to try to create a watercolor sketchbook from scratch.

1. Cover from suede I've had for ages, waiting for a project, from a thrift shop skirt.
2. Pages from cheap watercolor paper my daughter gave me for Christmas last year.
3. A suede strip to bind it.

So, I cut the paper... then created the cover by attaching the suede to two layers of paper with spray adhesive. My dear husband took it to the workshop and drilled the holes for the leather strip to bind all the pages together.
Voila.
I love it.

Rusty, the sleepy dog -- Cadbury the chocolate mini rex rabbit

The little pocket in the back cover is great for pencil, pen, etc
This is the last page. Looks like I need a new one.

Katie's Assignment

Yeah! finally my toaster oven!

birchbark chickadee

I've been waiting to try to paint on birchbark again.

Actually, I tried the charcoal pencils first. They just wouldn't work on the surface.

Decided to try the Caran D'ache watersoluble wax crayons.

They worked adequately. I think acrylic would be best.

This wants a black 5X7 frame.

The Guardian for Different Strokes

I love the concept of the Different Strokes blog
where artists all paint a portrayal of the same reference photo.
http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/

I decided to try this week's photo called 'pedestrians & shadows' (week 10)
I wanted to see the change in the shadows when one of the pedestrian's guardian angel became visible.
You'll have to go to the blog link above to see the reference picture.

The Guardian

Psalm 150:4(b) & 6

"Praise Him with stringed instuments...
Praise the Lord."
Ps 150: 4 & 6

I started this yesterday.

First, I graphited the general picture

Next, I masked off the strings, frets and shoulder strap.

Next,
some lights and darks added to establish the values.

Next step will be to remove the mask and start working the details.

So, just a few more little finishing touches, then it gets matted.

pastels

Got my new pastels in the mail yesterday. I had a box of 15 Rembrandt soft pastels for a while. The new tin is a set of 12 Derwent pencils and sticks.

Pastels are a bit messy to work with,


The colors are spectacular.


I'm finding it difficult to get any detail.


Just working on cheap canvas covered board today.

since August...

I bought some paint on eBay in June and July, in the hope of finding some time and energy to be creative.


By the end of August, I finally got down to the business of actually putting paint on paper.


I painted this one of the old Pictou Lighthouse which burned down a couple of years back.

I also did this portrait of a baby
'in utero'

I've had this concept in my heart for over a year.

It is meant to communicate the voice of the unborn and the reality of their small life and big destiny.


"While yet in the womb, He knew me by my name."

This one is "In Quietness and Trust in your strength"