Garden Decorations

This hippy hoppy frog that I posted last time  is a sketch that I did just using ink, and he is in my sketchbook. The Fish is a painting.   I have several photos of these pottery garden decorations from a garden shop. So after doing the frog, I was going through my paper and ran across a quarter sheet of hot press wc paper that I had glued down some sheer art paper. I used 3-4 different kinds of paper on it, and it looked like the perfect texture I wanted.  So, I drew the fish onto the paper, just like I have been doing with my sketches.  I did use a pencil due to the large size. It is a lot of detail painting, almost as bad as painting fabric, but enjoyed it, so now I am doing a 3rd one, and plan on having 4. I will post the others when I am finished! I don't plan on painting a background.
I love that paper with the little squares of news paper in it. it has writing on it. Also one piece of the paper has gold threads running through it.
I used watercolor and gouache, on the Fish.
I have already prepared another piece of paper just to match  the paper used on the fish.

I can't tell you how much the 75 day sketch challenge has helped me with my drawing! I am still drawing something each day. I think I am on day 90.  It gives you so much more confidence when you start a new painting! I highly recommend it to everyone.

The Garden Shop

 I am still sketching at night after supper.
This is a concrete statue that I saw at a Garden/plant shop in Florida.  The frog below was there too. I am working on a fish like the frog.  I don't have a sketch of the frog. I just drew it right onto the paper that I had glued down some paper with textures. Hopefully it will turn out ok!
I can't believe how much the sketching each night with ink, has helped with drawing with more confidence.
If you paint and draw I highly recommend it! I wish I had done this sooner.

The Card Rack

This is a new sketch done this morning from a photo I took in Seattle,WA of a card rack.
I loved the dancers.They are rather comical looking but fun!  I am considering a painting from this sketch, but have to work out the details, so as of right now, I am not sure what direction I will go with. If anything happens I will post it again! By the way, I did the sketch with a sketch and wash pencil this time, not ink. Then I used white gouache for her dress, and watercolor for the colors.The paper in my sketchbook is gray.

New North Light Book

 In December I received this letter, and I thought it was a spam or junk mail. I had to read it 2-3 times for it to sink in! I enter a lot of competitions, and mainly get rejection letters so I was shocked when I got this one! I removed all of the Editors name and information, but  wanted to share my letter!

December 17, 2012

Dear Suzy “Pal”,

Congratulations! We are very happy to inform you that the following mixed-media art has been selected for publication in Incite: Dreams Realized.

·        Anchors Aweigh

·        Karla

Please carefully read the enclosed instructions and reply to us with your current email address for our records.

Congratulations again, and thank you for your interest and participation in the Incite: Dreams Realized competition.

Best Wishes,

North Light Books

.....

 | Editor

F+W Media, Inc.