the pianist

Just a quickie sketch to represent the evening...

the rocking chair

this evening's quick sketch is a bit of family history...

flibbertigibbet...

That's what I am this weekend. No focus at all. I have so many things that I SHOULD be doing that I'm not doing any of them. Instead, I've been fooling endlessly with my MP3 player because I cannot get the netlibrary books to download correctly. I've been emailing them and trying various things which has eaten up copious hours of time. Very frustrating. And then I thought I'd load a few podcasts onto the player. Now there's a whole new world for ya. And can I load just a few to try and listen to? No.....

So I'm sitting here loading Italian language lessons, Italian travel podcasts with video (that I can try to play on my tv), radio shows, wine information, tech info, health and beauty tidbits and on and on. While it loads I'm knitting on my socks - they are such a delightful small portable project and I finished one yesterday. Here it is by itself and again on my foot - amazingly it fits!

So I'll get back to drawing soon. When I'm done being a flibbertigibbet...

wool socks

Well, I got way-layed a couple days ago. I had ordered some yarn and it came and I started knitting up a pair of Wool Socks. In July. When it's too hot to even sit outside! Ah well, when you get a hankering to knit, you just have to knit!

things from supper

Thanks to Laura of laurelines for today's inspiration. Her still lifes are always so vibrant that I was driven to my own fridge for a couple of tasty subjects. She also caused me to try out these Cretacolor pencils in the WC Moleskine. I'm still touching up with regular watercolor and a bit of colored pencil, but less each time.

new sketchbooks

Since I finished my second Moleskine yesterday, I decided to try out some new papers and mediums today. This sketch of my DIL is in the Fabriano book. I tried the watercolor pencils, but the paper doesn't take too well to water. After it dried, I went back in with colored pencils.



Then I sketched my grandson on the next page. I meant to leave it in graphite pencil, but I kept fooling with it and added some colored pencil, too.



I got out the new watercolor paper Moleskine and really struggled with it. I wasn't very skillful with the watercolor pencils and made kind of a mess. I touched this one up with colored pencils and more watercolor pencil, but I don't have the hang of it just yet.



Finally, I tried to use regular watercolors in the WC Moleskine and again, it was rather washed out. I ended up using the colored pencils again to add depth. I guess I need more work with the watercolors before they can stand on their own...

end of another Moleskine

A nice relaxing Friday evening after a very long week at work. I got some new watersoluable colored pencils in the mail today, so am experimenting with them here. They go on smooth, but I'd like to compare them on other papers than the Moleskine.



a follow-up pencil drawing...



These are the art supplies I got today. I can't wait to try out the watercolor Moleskines.



These watercolor pencils are a new thing for me. I think they can be very nice but do not necessarily shine in the Moleskine. I have other things to try them out on, so I'm looking forward to a sketching weekend.

tuesday and wednesday

Here's the drawings from the past couple days. Last night it was way too late to scan and post and I had to go to bed. It was drawn from a postcard that I got in the mail.



Today I was intrigued by the label on my iced tea bottle, so I peeled it off, cut out around it and decoupaged it into my sketch book. Beautifully blue.

summer evening of drawing

There isn't much I want to do on a long summer evening but draw. Tonite I started in the garden but it was pretty hot. I did get a sketch with my fountain pen.



Then inside to touch up the pedicure, and draw it, of course.



Finally, a comic about my friend's predicament today - this really happened!



I do crack myself up!

evening sketching

It was a nice long summer evening at home and all I wanted to do was sketch. So I did. I read somewhere on EDM that it was suggested to one artist that she "get a life" and quit spending so much solitary time sketching. She replied that she enjoyed her very rich life of sketching. Tonight, I feel the same. These are the things that crossed my mind throughout the evening.

a magazine ad...



the pen I was using...



the ink in that pen...



and a little EDM challenge to go to bed on...



A rich life indeed...

charles chipmunk, esq.

I met this guy in the garden today and here's what he had to say...

the windowbox

This is an entry in the garden journal today. I got this copper windowbox last year and then ordered a wrought iron frame for it to sit in. My son got it mounted for me under the front window. Already the copper has become streaked with the turquoise green of natural patina. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and it really adds a nice touch to the look of my small house.

coneflowers

Hardy perennials are the backbone of the garden. I never tire of these...

star water

A study of San Pellegrino..

a bit of vacation

Finally, for the first time this year, I got to take a day of vacation!! Combine that with a regular holiday and a weekend, and voila, it's four days off!! Man, did I enjoy it!!

I went to visit my sister, which meant I also got to visit other family. Sketchbook packed, I spent more than one day just drawing whatever was at hand. My sister loves flowers as much as I do so I took her a bouquet of stargazer lilies. Divine fragrance...




Every time I visit my sister, her friend wants me to draw something for him, too. This time I was prepared and did a sketch of his best friend, Babs. He LOVED it!!



Meanwhile, in my everyday book, I had this sketch of apples to finish. They had been on my dining room table when I left.



On Saturday, sis had to work for a while, so I entertained myself by drawing vignettes around her house.



Val winters over some of her plants which means the blooms are sometimes slow. But I do like this specimen in this pot.



These grow in the alley-way beside Val's house.



and of course I had to take a walk-around and record what is there.



down the street is a beautifully-planted property that I couldn't resist taking a few photos of. Makes me want some hibiscus...



As always, I stayed longer than I meant to and then had to rush home to recuperate. I had visions of taking a long leisurely nap, but it wasn't to be.



We did have an awesome meal from this place. They've been around forever!!



Always, it is hard for me to leave my sister's house and go home. But there will still be plenty to draw when I go back.



And so, friends, I am back for now...