Iced Tea...

I never travel without my tea. I prefer my Starbucks glass, ice, and UNsweet tea. My family says it tastes like swill but for me it is my "Go Go Juice". 

Thank you for peeking in my sketchbook.

Overcoming Artist Block

I have been experiencing some severe artist block (oh, and some big work projects). The block stems from a big block of black paint.

The big blob of black paint in my January painting. It made me question everything. I had to dig in my drawer of sketchbooks and look at my old sketches to reaffirm my desire to sketch and paint. My "real world" job is so different from sketching and when I get a little paint on my hands it instantly relaxes me. I had to take time to remember why I do it! 

I made a few very bad drawings and when my new calligraphy practice books came in I worked in them. 

Now I have a beautiful idea for a valentine card and have been working on painting my ideas. 

I'm struggling with the faces. I will keep on working...

Thanks for letting me share!

January...

My big idea of creating a painting for each month isn't going so well. The composition needs work. While I like each section of the painting, the black of the night scene is so dark it conflicts with the other scenes. I'm going to finish it up but I'm not sure it will be one of my favorites. I'll post the final project when it is finished.

Thank you for reading.

Happy New Year! A New Painting Project...

After a great trip to Sam Flax today, I am celebrating the new year with new paints, new paper, and I am beginning a new project. I have taken the inspiration from Claire Fletcher's  "What to Look For..." monthly paintings. 

I love the rich colors of the new paint. I am trying Holbein watercolors. I purchased Ultramarine Deep, Crimson Lake, and Yellow Lemon. The paints move on the paper well and are very vivid. When I mixed them, the purple, orange, and green were beautiful!

I'm not sure about the paper yet. I purchased 100% cotton, cold pressed block paper made by Aqvarelle Arches paper.

I think this is going to be a fun project. Wish me luck!

Happy 2013!