Monday 24 December 2012

Painted ornaments

Hi everyone!

It's been such a busy week leading up to Christmas 
and I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about.

I have been a little lax with my daily sketching too 
but only because I have been busy painting instead. 
As is my tradition each year,
I painted Christmas tree ornaments for my granddaughters,
Mikayla and Madelyn.


This will be Maddy's first Christmas and Mikayla's 3rd.


Inspired by this post,
I painted some paper-mache gift boxes and used white 3D paint to decorate them. 
I deliberately kept mine more simple and child-like.
It was the first time I'd used 3D paint and I found it impossible to control the flow 
of the paint but I kinda like how it turned out. 
They make me think of cakes decorated with white icing.

A close up view of each
  
To finish the ornaments, 
I applied a gloss water-based varnish 
and white ribbon.

It was Aaron's birthday yesterday....
my baby is now 14!!!

I found this (below) on this page on Facebook
and thought it might be a nice idea for 2013.


Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and 
a Happy New Year!
If you don't celebrate Christmas,
may you enjoy a Happy Holidays.
Love to all! xx


~ Love, light and peace ~

Sunday 16 December 2012

Challenge completed....I DID IT!!!

YES!!
I completed the 75 day pen/ink daily sketch challenge! 

I can hardly believe that I sketched each and every day 
for 75 days.  I must admit that the time seemed 
to fly by.

There were days when I very nearly gave up but 
I'm glad I didn't. 
I'm feeling quite proud of myself.

So, here are the final FIVE!

Note that all sketches are pencil-free using any or all of the following -

 BIC Pro ballpoint pen
ZIG Millennium 005 pen
Micron 03 pen
Micron 05 pen
Faber-castell Artists PITT pens in F, B or SC sizes




 Photo reference credit goes to MonicaB at WetCanvas.


 Credit for photo reference goes to marcusjroberts at Flickr. 




Credit for Photo Reference goes to rubyblossom at Flickr.

Before I started the challenge, I was lucky to fit in a sketch once a week 
because I never seemed to find the time with so many distractions of daily life. 
This challenge has shown me that I CAN make time to sketch daily 
and I'm loving it!

I feel too that the challenge has helped to hone my skills in observation and 
also in achieving values and tones with only pen.

It may be too soon to say but I think I've now developed a daily habit 
as I haven't stopped yet. 

When I heard the tragic news of the shooting in Connecticut 
yesterday, I reached for my sketchbook to help deal with and express 
my emotions.


And today's sketch below
which I'm also linking up with Sunday Sketches.


I'm now off to watch a movie with Bradley and Aaron.

I hope you're all having a nice and relaxing weekend.


~ Love, light and peace ~

Saturday 15 December 2012

My heart is crying....

My heart is crying for the victims of Newtown, Connecticut. 
Such a devastating and senseless tragedy.




~ Love, light and peace ~

Sunday 9 December 2012

Still sketching daily....

Hi everyone!

I didn't intend to take a week's break from blogging 
but it happened anyway. 
I think, after blogging daily for 61 days, 
I needed a break.

My daily pen sketches continued though 
so I'll post them all below.

#64 through to #70 of 75 pen/ink sketches.

All sketches are pencil-free using any or all of the following -
 BIC Pro ballpoint pen 
ZIG Millennium 005 pen 
Micron 03 pen 
Micron 05 pen 
Faber-castell Artists PITT pens in F, B or SC sizes


This figurine was gifted to me by a friend years ago. 
Quite sentimental considering the figurine's official name is also Serena.



Credit for the seal reference image goes to FatedSnowFox at Flickr


My trusty hairdryer


 My favourite gardening tool!


An energy saver bulb

Another tool I wouldn't be without - my staple gun


A giraffe using a reference image my nephew took years ago

I can hardly believe I have managed 70 daily sketches!!!
Only FIVE more to go and the challenge is completed!!


I'm also linking up with this week's Sunday Sketches.

To join in on Sunday Sketches
Click the graphic below -

If you read my journal entry #68,
you'll know that I hurt my shoulder even worse.
I think it could be rotator cuff but won't know for sure
until I see my doctor.
For now, I'm resting it as much as possible.
Thankfully, it's my non-dominant arm.


~ Love, light and peace ~

Sunday 2 December 2012

#63 of 75 pen/ink sketches

It was another sauna-like day. 
To combat it, we keep the windows and blinds closed 
as it truly helps to keep the hot, humid air out. 

For my sketch today, 
I decided to sketch the fruit/salad/serving bowl 
that matches the goblet and cruet bottle
I sketched earlier in the series (see below).

Pencil-free sketch in A6 Moleskine pocket sketchbook 
using BIC Pro ballpoint pen, Micron and PITT pens.

I'm also linking up with this week's Sunday Sketches.

To join in on Sunday Sketches
Click the graphic below -



One of the matching goblets



The matching bottle from my cruet set.

As mentioned in my sketch journal page for today,
Brad's friend, Darren, visited and brought a very special gift 
for Bradley.
A photo of Elton John 
signed by Elton John! YAY!!

Brad was SO happy and will be 
wanting to frame that one for sure.

Darren is also a huge Elton John fan as you can tell by his T-shirt
in the pic below. Brad is on the right, obviously.

All in all, it's been a good day despite the heat. 

How was your weekend?

~ Love, light and peace ~

Saturday 1 December 2012

#62 of 75 pen/ink sketches

Daily blogging seems to be a habit I can't break at the moment.

What the......??


This morning, I woke up at 5am, and it was already quite hot and humid.
Yesterday was like a sauna and I felt so sorry for Cody and Jack. 
Their coats weren't over-long since I'd clipped them a couple of months ago 
but there was definitely enough length to make it an uncomfortable day for them. 
So by 6am, I was scissor-trimming Cody, followed by Jack. 
I figured I'd get it out of the way before the real heat of the day set in. 
Wise move!

I ended up sending the cheap electric pet trimmers back for a refund. 
They just didn't do the job properly. 
Michelle bought the same set and was of the same opinion. 
I am pleased that the company stood by their word and 
were very quick paying the refund back into my Paypal account.

For my sketch today,
I chose one of the combs I use while I scissor-cut. 
They are very handy for holding the hair in place and
also act as a protection shield while I use the scissors. 
No dogs were cut on my watch. ;)

By the way,
the first image is SOME of the fur I shook off in the yard 
from the table protector cloth I used. ;)

Pencil-free sketch in A6 Moleskine pocket sketchbook 
using BIC Pro pen and a wee touch of Micron pen.

I hope you're all having a lovely weekend.

~Love, light and peace ~