New North Light Book

 I can't believe 2014 is almost gone.  It has been such a good year! All of our family is healthy and happy and we got a new Granddaughter-n-law this year.  We have been so blessed in every way.
I have had a good 'art' year! We got a new building for me to hang my work in as well as teach and share my love of painting and creating.  It has been so awesome having my own place to go out and teach! I don't have to load everything up, etc.  My little Backyard Gallery and Studio has been such a blessing.  I did the 30 day challenge in January and September as well as 2 online sketchbook classes.
Now to end the year, I have some news! Wow..a great year to end one and start another.

I got word today saying my mixed-media art has been selected for publication in
Incite 3: The Art of Storytelling, that is published by North Light Books.
The painting that was selected is  'Wyoming Cowboy', a torn paper collage. So to go along with 'Story Telling'... I met this cowboy in 2013 when I got to go to Wyoming for a week workshop.  We got to go out to his ranch, and I took photos of him off an on all week because of the way he dressed. He didn't look like our Texas Cowboys.  I loved his hat, and his silk scarves!
His family has been there close to Dubois, WY for generations.  We spent an afternoon there, and it was an awesome time seeing the corrals and barns that were made with logs.  John loved sharing his family's  home, and barns.  He wanted us to go through the house where he grew up. It was like it was when he was growing up. Just like someone still lived there.  That morning he tracked a bear by the corrals. I hope I get to go back again! It was such a great time, and wonderful memories!

 Thank you all for your support and encouragement for the past years! 

My prayer is that we will be all healthy and happy in 2015!   

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to each of you! It seems to get here so fast each year.  It is a very special time that we can remember the birth of Christ,  reflect back on the past year and spend time with our families and friends. It can also be a time of sadness for those who have lost loved ones, are sick, or those who are lonely or homeless.   May we all say a special prayer for those less fortunate.  This past week we got a glimpse of people who are having difficulties, no place to live, but yet they were happy and worried about their friends being cold or hungry.  We should learn from their caring. My prayer is that you know the Love of Christ, and that he is your Savior.  John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Here is my latest Christmas Painting

 'Merry Christmas' 

so... 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

to all of you, and sending prayers for a wonderful 2015! May it be your best year yet!

I'm Thinking...

 

I took this photo of the cutest little cowboy ever! Painted on heavy illustration board.

I had never painted on it before but I love it.  I haven't gotten to paint much lately. 
I did 4 portraits of him, and this is probably my favorite.  The plaid was a nightmare, but was fun to do.

Original Collage Art on Calendars

I decided to add 2 more to the calendars. The top one is all torn paper collages. 

Some have been sold, some won awards.  They are basically my favorites!

The second one is nothing but Coffee cups. I did a series of these. 

They are all torn paper collages also.

The Deadline on ordering is December 15th to get in time for Christmas

Original Collages

Quantity

Collage Calendar $20.00 USD Coffee Cups $20.00 USD

Frameable Original Art-Calendars for Christmas

 

I decided to have some calendars made with some of my images. You should be able to frame them after the calendar is outdated.  Each month has a different image.  They are $20 + S&H  If you are interested I need to know as soon as possible so I can get them on time for you. I have Flags, Western Art, and Old Vehicles.
The Deadline on ordering these is December 15th to get them in time for Christmas

 

 

Original Art

Flag Calendar $20.00 USD Western Calendar $20.00 USD Old Vehicles $20.00 USD

Joy to the World-New Snow Family for 2014

I apologize for the extra post..computer issues!

I like to have a new Snow Family every year, and this is the one I came up with so far.
I have a couple more ideas. This family just got back from picking out their tree, and are excited to go back home and get it decorated! This is available for cards. If you are interested in any snow people checkout my website http://www.suzypal.com
There are a lot to choose from.

Blick art supplies

I received a big box of awesome art supplies from Dick Blick! I am so excited to try some of it out! So much color for me to experiment with. In the bottom of the box there is a also box of photo paper and 2 large black canvases. 

Blick Art Material Halloween Contest

I entered Dick Blicks Halloween online show, and won the mixed media category! I was shocked and excited. They will be sending something. I am guessing it will be art supplies.  It will be such fun to open it up and see what all is in it! I probably will post it too!

This Week's Sketches and Homework

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY!

Sketched from a little decoration I have.

Our homework this week in Sketchbook Skool Storytelling was to draw in Black and White. We were to just choose people from magazines or our own photos. The first two were from magazines, and the other two were from a trip somewhere. I like the stark black and white.  I used a pentel brush pen to do the black background.  I drew with pencil first, then a Pitt drawing pen.

The white petunias I drew with the tobacco ink that I like so much. and the geraniums with Noodlers Lexington Gray. These Flowers were from my yard, and porch.

Sketchbook skool-storytelling

This past week the instructor was Melanie Reim and we were to go to a park or somewhere an sketch people. People are really a weakness for me. I had to go to a big town to the mall and dis office to get mine done. They aren't great but was a fun exercise for me!  I also sketched in our town on Friday. The old Motel sign.

New Sketches

 




I have been doing some more sketches. I signed up again for Sketchbook Skool, Story telling but I haven't had a chance to do my home work yet. The first sketch is a little bear and daisy set up that we used in my class last week. 
The Black Bird was in our pasture and I zoomed in and got his photo.
The hay bales are our neighbors. I went down today after lunch and sketched in the car. I loved it. It was such fun!
The last one is T-Bone, our daughter dog last winter in the snow in his new hoodie. he was just a fun little sketch!
The last one was in our Rodeo Parade in July.
Love those old cars!

Storytelling-Sketchbook Skool

The Homework was to illustrate a recipe as well as a manual on  'how to do something'

So, I tried to simplify after doing the huge pie! My manual is on 'how to plant Tulip Bulbs'

and another recipe on Breakfast Burritos. Where we live burritos are a big part of our menus.

You can make a burrito out of most anything, but is really good with eggs, peppers and potatoes!

 

 

 

Sketching a Recipe and Sketchbook Fun Class

 

 

I started another 6 weeks of Sketchbook Skool, and this is our first homework.

Sketch a recipe. I normally use the smaller 5x8 sketchbook, but I switched to an 8.5x11 and the pie crust GREW!  It got too big! Then I didn't have as much room for my finished pie, etc.

I normally draw with pen and ink, but did this in pencil first. I used watercolor and a little bit of gouache. It was fun, but very time consuming. You should try this recipe! It is very good, and you can use other flavors of kool aid.  Keri gave me this recipe a while back. You can make them in the little mini crusts too and they are so cute!

 

 

Sketchbook Fun Class on Saturday.

We had so much fun last Saturday, and I love seeing how different each person sketches/draws. They all have their own style. 

Dyan Newton, Faye Nelms, Anita Hancock, Thelma Cheatham (in the back)

Judy Bolton and Wadonna Davis.

 

 

 

 

30 Day Challenge finsihed!

PAINT 30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS

 

This makes 2-30 Day Challenges I have done this year. So I have finished 60 small paintings this year already. I have sold 2 of them. The rest are available. This really pushed and frustrated me, but am glad that I went ahead and did it. This Friday I start another 6 week Sketchbook Skool.

Saturday I am teaching a sketchbook class. Am really looking forward to that.

Thanks for Following along with the 30 days!

 

30 Day Challenge Over!

Now if I will just keep going!  It has been harder this time than the first. I think because I did mostly watercolors, and they are harder to paint than oil or acrylic. (for me anyway)  I had fun experimenting with the huge brush and ink. This has been good because I have come up with some new ideas, and hopefully I will paint more.  As with last time, I wondered at times WHY did I do this challenge but when it's all said and done, I am glad I did. It pushed me and challenged me.  Actually one of the hardest things for me is finding what I want to paint.

Day 19-25

This is the 3rd week. It is nearly finished. I have had to struggle but glad I stuck it out.
The Buffalo is an oil, and the 2 bikes and the fish are acrylics. the others are Watercolor.
all of these are available from me or Daily Paintworks.

Day 12-18 and New Book

This is Day 12- Day 18.
This has really been a struggle for me, but I won't give up!  We are 2/3 through!

 

 

I got to be in 'The Artistic Touch 6'

by Chris Unwin.  These are the two.  I have a few to sell if anybody wants a signed copy.

They are $28 + S&H.

 

 

 

 

Sketchbook Workshop

We had a great time sketching this past week end. We have been in a drought for over 4 years, and on it rained all day long! I had plans of sketching outside but we had to re group, but we had a blast. or I did! We had 10 to begin with, and due to family illness we lost 3. and there are 2 missing from the photos!  We did several different things ..different ideas for sketchbooks, and ran out of time!
on Saturday I fixed lunch and we had to sketch our lunch, and I am sorry I forgot to take their photos. I added mine below.
one of our sketches consisted  of an old photo, and drawing and painting around it. That is a lot of fun, and especially if you are timid about drawing. The one below is my example for them.
This is a small movie of the group, and not all is in it.

http://flipagram.com/f/J965gJvh5B

Laura, Lisa, Judy, Carol and Jane

Lenda and Marisa (not in photo)

 

My lunch..

.one below  is the photo, which I hadn't painted yet, and the painted one, which I can see needs some more darks in it, but you can tell what we did. This is a lot of fun too.

 

 

I plan on another sketching 2 day workshop Oct.3-4 for those who had to miss, as well as those who might want to come again, or for anybody new. The 2 day is optional, students can come for just one day if they want.

Day 7-11 30 day Challenge

 This is day 7-11.  Day 11 is from a photo I took in NY , October 2001.  I got to go with a disaster team to NY and work, and we were folding flags for the families. President Bush handed them out. It was a very solemn and sacred time in that huge building folding flags without any sounds other than airplanes going over. The only talking was when some one needed to know how to fold. I was very humbled and honored to have folded one.  I just decided I would just do a pen sketch of this scene in honor of those lost 13 years ago.
The Freedom Balloon was also done with 9-11 in mind. It was from our trip to the Balloon Festival in Albuquerque, NM.  The White fence was in Dallas. Don't remember where the flowers and boat was!

 
 
 

 

 

Keri's Livingroom Sketch

This was done sitting on Keri's Couch. I was waiting on her, and decided to sketch that side of the room.  T-Bone was quietly chewing his bone with his legs all stretched out, and was still enough for me to capture him. (sort of). 
I really love this little sketchbook. It is Strathmore Mixed Media with 90 lb paper and it paints up awesome Not one ripple or wrinkle, even painting on the backs. I have been very impressed with it.
Enough that I got an 8.5x11. That will be hard for me to fill up!
Our Sketchbook Class is this coming Friday and Saturday.  I am so excited about it!
 I have room for 1-2 more if there are any takers! just let me know.

30 Day Challenge Week One

I decided not to send out a painting each day. That is too much email coming to you each day. I already posted Day 1 and 2.  This is Day 3-6.  Not sure I will be able to post one on Sunday so I will just do these for now. 

The woman on the beach in NY is day 3

Lady Liberty is day 4

Brighton Beach, NY  is Day 5

Maine is Day 6 (oil)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2-30 Days 30 Paintings

This is also from Maine.  We went in the fall and the colors were getting so pretty. This is  a 5x7 watercolor.