- art blog -

MOVING

2011-01-23T18:00:00.002-05:00

THE BLOG MOVED HERE

#118. Highly Prized

2011-01-14T18:34:00.000-05:00

my daughter Stephanie

pencil on Moleskine sketchbook

#117. Loki

2011-01-11T20:16:00.005-05:00

Caran D'Ache Neo Color II on Moleskine Cahier

part of the Sketchbook Project

#116. It's Raining Cats and Dogs

2010-10-11T16:18:00.003-04:00

Caran D'Ache watercolor pencils on Moleskine Cahier

This is the title page in my Sketchbook Project. That's the theme I chose at sign in.

#115. Blue Hair

2010-10-08T22:18:00.011-04:00

oil pastels on Moleskine sketchbook

#114. Drop

2010-09-27T17:06:00.001-04:00

Caran D'Ache colored pencils on Moleskine volant cover.

This is a drop of water drawn on the cover of the Moleskine I am working on for the Sketchbook Project.

#113. Tracy and Doggie.

2010-09-14T20:28:00.001-04:00

Commissioned work [from photo below]

I also photographed the different steps:

#112. Balancing M

2010-09-12T23:03:00.004-04:00

still playing with zen doodles
Pencil and Micron pen on Moleskine sketchbook

Sunday Sketches

#111. Forest Bear

2010-08-26T20:53:00.002-04:00

Pencil and Micron pen o Moleskine sketchbook

#110. Bar Tours

2010-08-26T20:36:00.003-04:00

Commissioned work.

Acrylics on gallery wrapped canvas.

1st one 6" X 6"

others 4" X 4"

#109. Hot.

2010-07-25T22:43:00.004-04:00

[journal page]

wow! so hot today...it reached 106 degrees.

I photographed this thermometer in my window.

#108. Spotlight

2010-02-28T17:48:00.003-05:00

4" X 6"

Caran D'A che colored pencils on Canson Montval watercolor paper

"mermaids" for Postcard Art

#107. Bunny Dance

2010-02-28T10:58:00.001-05:00

2.5" X 3.5"
Caran D'Ache colored pencils on Strathmore Bristol

challenge = Let's Dance

#106. Love Colors

2010-02-12T18:24:00.002-05:00

ATC cards 2.5" X 3.5"Caran D'Ache watercolor pencils on illustration board

#105. Anti-Valentine Day

2010-01-21T12:12:00.001-05:00

Here are two designs I created to "protest" against a commercialized Valentine's day.

For a variety of products featuring the image above, click here.

For a variety of products featuring this image, click here.

#104. Bears

2010-01-04T22:46:00.000-05:00

pencil on Moleskine planner

#103. Crow Feast

2009-12-27T11:35:00.007-05:00

6" X 4"

Caran D'Ache Neocolor II on watercolor paper

I love crows. And pink.

-Posted for Sunday Postcard Art. View also more great art at Creative Every Day.

#102. Few Sketches

2009-12-18T22:21:00.004-05:00

pencil on Moleskine sketchbook

#101. Milepebbles

2009-11-29T12:15:00.005-05:00

OK, I have not been posting lately for Art Every Day Month, due to personal reasons I prefer not to discuss :-), but today I have something to post.

It is a Milepebbles bowl that I painted as a Pay It Forward gift for Janice at Postcards From Wildwood.
Of course I did not take a picture of it before sending it off because my head is often not on my shoulders, but now I "stole" the image from Janice's blog and I can post it here [thanks, Janice! :-)].
Mile pebbles. Like milestones, but infinitely better.

Interactive art for the memorable moments in your life. Fill your bowl with memories, or, rather, milepebbles!

The idea is to reach down on special days or events, pick up a pebble and mark it with date and event, i.e.: "first kiss in the park", or "trip to Mexico 09, " then place it in your bowl and...VOILA`: you have a new milepebble.

Janice decided to also send me a gift in return, being the wonderful person that she is, and here is a photo of her handmade gift.

You can read about the steps she took to make this, here.

Wonderful, uh? Thank you, Janice!

#100. One Hundred Pieces

2009-11-23T10:01:00.000-05:00

To commemorate the 100th post on this blog I thought to show 100 pieces of my art. They are actually a little more than 100, but a few pieces are shown in two sets, so.... they'll even out.

#99. Art Of The Day

2009-11-22T17:14:00.004-05:00

Today my painting "Shoe Shadow" was featured as Art Of The Day at EBSQ art.

How exciting: yay!!!! :-)

My gallery at EBSQ may be accessed here.

#98. Mountain Dew

2009-11-22T17:07:00.003-05:00

= challenge #69 draw a beverage

#97. Doodles and Latin

2009-11-19T20:55:00.002-05:00

yep! I sketch a lot....

pencil on Moleskine notebook.

#96. Snowballs

2009-11-17T22:57:00.000-05:00

Art Challenge #5 (of 9) SUMMARY: Get Inspired by The Things You Enjoy! Collect packaging from items that you enjoy and make a collage with them in any way you'd like. OPTIONAL: add polka dots, add something from nature and/or add texture by using one of your items dipped in acrylic paint, ink pads, etc.
I used old calligraphy pages as background, because I do enjoy writing in cursive with dip pens and fountain pens. I glued some cutouts from packagings, but I had to cut a couple of images from magazines as no packaging was available :-). Showing: Sudoku cut from the index of the book, Moleskine from the wrapping band, Good & Plenty cut from the box [love this candy], a little metal star to represent all the miniature items I like, Caran D'Ache Neocolor from the insert of the tin box, Apple icon from the iPhone instruction booklet, Prada Ambree perfume and Pelikan fountain pen.
I used the eraser of a pencil as a stamp for the white snowflakes.

#95. Star Perspective

2009-11-16T18:40:00.001-05:00

pencil on Moleskine planner

#94. Xmas Trees And Ark

2009-11-14T19:54:00.005-05:00

No electricity yesterday due to the nor'easter that hit our neck of the wood.

So here are two pieces:

Christmas trees,

and a couple of sketches on arks.

Both created on my Moleskine sketchbook.

#93. Children Chair

2009-11-12T21:45:00.002-05:00

pencil on Moleskine planner

#92. Mighty Mouse

2009-11-11T22:46:00.003-05:00

My great mighty mouse!

Pencil on Moleskine planner

#91. Mask in progress.

2009-11-10T22:31:00.002-05:00

Papier mache.

Unfinished.

#90. My Butt Is Getting Old

2009-11-09T18:52:00.003-05:00

This is a sketch of an actual event: a disgruntled employee kicking the office chair before kicking the door on his way out, and saying to me that my butt is getting old....

pencil on Moleskine planner.

#89. Texture

2009-11-08T18:06:00.005-05:00

My Artistic Life Challenge #4 (of 9) SUMMARY: Get Inspired by Texture! Take a walk and collect leaves, twigs, rocks, berries, etc. (anything that has a neat texture that you want to play with). Then make a grid in your art journal (or on a piece of paper) and make imprints of your found objects.

I used old sheet music as background, lightly coated with white acrylic paint. I used a leaf stem to dot the brown lines, and then made imprints of leaves and grass pods.

#88. Waiting In A Drive-Trough Line

2009-11-07T22:54:00.003-05:00

pencil on Moleskine planner.

#87. Waiting For The Doctor

2009-11-06T22:08:00.003-05:00

pencil on Moleskine planner

They surely make you wait for a long time; closed in a little room, this is all I could do....

#86. Patient

2009-11-05T01:55:00.001-05:00

pencil on Moleskine planner.

A man waiting in the doctor's office waiting room, and watching TV.

#85. Pair/Pear

2009-11-04T07:52:00.001-05:00

3.5" X 5"5"

mixed media on Moleskine notebook

"pair" for The Three Muses

#84. Brown Pear

2009-11-03T21:57:00.001-05:00

3.5" X 2.5"

Caran D'ache Neocolors II on textured paper.

challenge = brown

#83. Serenata

2009-11-02T18:00:00.004-05:00

4.5" X 6"

Stabilo markers on drawing paper.

I used the Italian word of the object to fill in the relative area.

cielo = sky

erba = grass

gatto = cat

luna = moon.

The stars are filled with eah of the letters forming the word "stella" = star.

#83. Seagull

2009-11-01T09:27:00.002-05:00

pencil on Moleskine planner

#82. Art Challenge #3

2009-10-30T23:40:00.002-04:00

My Artistic Life - Art Challenge #3 (of 9) SUMMARY: Get Inspired by Color! Pick a magazine page, catalog page or photo that has colors that you like. Pull out supplies in those colors and make a collage. Be sure to include circles and dots in any medium you'd like.

This is the magazine page I chose:

which inspired this:

#81. Art Challenge #2

2009-10-25T21:14:00.003-04:00

Art Challenge #2 (of 9) SUMMARY: Get Inspired by Your Reading Materials! Grab one of your favorite magazines and tear out images and ideas that you're drawn to and that inspire you in some way. Cut and rip them up and glue them down to make a collage. Add circles and dots in any medium you'd like.

#80. Teddy Bear

2009-10-19T18:10:00.005-04:00

pencil on Moleskine planner.

= challenge #44 - Draw an animal: a pet, a zoo animal, a stuffed one.

#79. Black Birds

2009-10-11T20:26:00.004-04:00

Media: acrylics, watercolor pencils on paper
Dimensions: 4" X 6"
Date of Work: 2009

Blackbirds for Sunday Postcard Art

#78. Key

2009-10-09T20:22:00.006-04:00

pencil on Moleskine planner.

= challenge #21 draw something old, antique or vintage

#77. Milan

2009-10-05T19:44:00.004-04:00

Mixed media.

challenge = Big Cities

#76. Nature Skull

2009-10-04T21:44:00.010-04:00

Media: acrylics, watercolor pencils on paper
Dimensions: 6" X 4"

Peas in the pod, calla lily, marguerites, swallows, star, moon, sun......Going back to nature!

Available here

Skulls & Skellies for Sunday Postcard Art

#75. O Sole Mio

2009-10-01T21:32:00.001-04:00

Media: acrylics on wood block
Dimensions: 4" X 4"

"O Sole Mio", a very popular neapolitan song and the mandolin to accompany it.

= challenge #17 draw a musical instrument
*

#74. Plaid

2009-09-25T22:43:00.005-04:00

He absolutely hated it! The vest was hideous. But he controlled himself; he just sat there and stared without showing any emotion.

The line was drawn at the plaid beret.

2.5" X 3"5

Caran D'Ache colored pencils on Bristol paper

[available here]

-->

challenge = plaid

#73. Tulips

2009-09-20T19:50:00.007-04:00

Media: oils on canvas
Dimensions: 24" X 20" X 3/4"

This painting addresses one of life's simple pleasures. The indistinctive characteristics of the figure allow for the focus of the piece to be on the flower. Hair, eye color, skin tone, and clothing are insignificant details because they would have only distracted attention away for what is truly important- the flower's scent. .

#72. Halloween Hat

2009-09-15T22:00:00.005-04:00

A big smile under the Halloween hat.

Painted on a wood block 3.5" X 4" X 3/4",

I used acrylic paints and Caran d'Ache colored pencils.

Because of its thickness this little painting may stand on any flat surface, or a little hole in the back allows to hang it flush on a wall.

#71. iPhone Self Portrait

2009-08-29T19:52:00.004-04:00

I drew myself over a photo of the waiting room, while waiting to see my doctor.

I also played with Oreo's photo, just for fun....

#70. Snowflake Is Sleeping

2009-08-02T19:52:00.006-04:00

He does that every time I hold him.

Media: acrylics, watercolor pencils on wood block
Dimensions: 4" X 2.5" X 3/4"
[available here]

[available her

#69. Green Eye

2009-07-22T23:00:00.006-04:00

2.5" X 3"5

Caran D'Ache colored pencils on Bristol paper

"Lady" for Crazy Amigo

#68. Pinocchietta

2009-07-20T17:39:00.004-04:00

Media: watercolor pencils on wood
Dimensions: 3" X 2.5" X 1/2"

I have always been fond of Pinocchio, not just the story per se or because it was written by an Italian, but because Pinocchio reminds me a lot of the times when I was a little girl. I appreciate the fact that the character was portrayed with many flaws like rebelliousness, wildness; and then I enjoy his journey to become a better boy.

Pictured here is a feminine version of Pinocchio. I call her Pinocchietta. I gave her braids, just like those I wore for the first 10 years of my life.

#67. Bree and Smokey

2009-07-16T20:47:00.005-04:00

Media: acrylics on wood block
Dimensions: 4" X 4" X 3/4"

Smokey just had to be in the picture!

This mini art was painted on an octagonal wood block (1 3/4" side), 4" wide. Sides are painted black.

challenge = glasses

#66. iPhone Art

2009-07-15T22:54:00.000-04:00

sketched on my iPhone [SimpleDraw App]

#65. Owl Love

2009-07-11T22:55:00.005-04:00

They just have to be close to each other to make one heart...

2.5" X 3"5

gouache and colored pencils on Bristol paper

challenge = owl

#64. Map

2009-07-06T21:44:00.008-04:00

I drew the map of the area in Northern Italy where I was born. Pictured is lake Como. I have seen that image many many times growing up: it always reminded me of a dancer leaping toward Switzerland.

My town is Lecco [you can read more about it by clicking here].

= challenge #230: draw a map

#63. Upright Position

2009-07-06T20:21:00.004-04:00

pencil on Moleskine sketchbook

The back of airplane seats.

#62. Frog Face

2009-06-22T21:10:00.007-04:00

Frog Face

Caran D'Ache watercolor pencils on Strathmore Bristol paper

2.5" X 3.5"

Egg Frog

colored pencils on Strathmore texture paper

2.5" X 3.5"

challenge = frog

#61. Red Cat Trip Forward

2009-06-20T12:26:00.000-04:00

Media: acrylics on gallery wrapp
Dimensions: 8" X 10"

That's a....smooooth cat!

#60. 100 Lire Man's Birthday

2009-06-07T13:52:00.006-04:00

Media: acrylics on wood block
Dimensions: 3" X 2.5" X 1/2"

To celebrate his birthday, 100Lire Man wears his party hat and listens attentively to the black bird singing a song for him.

The 100 Lire man was born years ago when I was a child and my mother sat with me and we drew together. My mom used the L.100 Italian coin as a template to draw the body and then everything else was added to create different scenes. The whole L.100 family was drawn this way. Animals were also part of his family and smaller lira coins were used for them. Painting these little scenes now is so much fun: I’m a little "bambina" again!

Theme Thursday challenge = People With Hats

#59. Tutankhamen

2009-06-01T20:44:00.017-04:00

ATC: 2.5" X 3.5".

Medium: tempera on poster board.

This is my liberal interpretation of King Tut as pictured on his gold throne [see below: he's on the left, his wife in front of him].

challenge = Egypt

#58. Fiesta!

2009-05-18T11:29:00.003-04:00

Media: oils on canvas
Dimensions: 16” X 20”

I always liked giant chrysanthemums: they remind me of Autumn in Italy when, around the Day of the Dead, you are surrounded by the festive colors of these flowers. The streets are dotted by carts of mums vendors and the visits to the cemetery are less gloomy and sad because of their colors all over the graves.
Fiesta!!!

#57. Gaillardia

2009-05-14T22:06:00.006-04:00

Media: acrylics on wood
Dimensions: 13" X 10.5"

I like the deep red and orange in the center of gaillardias. They just make me want to paint them!

challenge = petals

#56. Red Umbrella

2009-05-06T20:11:00.007-04:00

I took this photo inside a Costco warehouse.

I like the center of the umbrella which looks to me like a face with a mean expression....

challenge = umbrella

#55. Pay It Forward

2009-05-04T21:23:00.003-04:00

I did from here

I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 interested people who comment on this post.
I have 365 days to do it in…What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise!
The catch is that you must participate as well: you must have a blog and before you leave your comment here, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going. (just cut and paste this one if you like!, which I did)

This could be a lot of fun! :o)

#54. Buonconvento

2009-05-03T21:38:00.004-04:00

Media: oil paints on wood
Dimensions: 3.5" X 6" X 1/2"

This painting is part of my "Italy On My Mind" series.  The Tuscan hills are always coming to my mind: they are some of Italy's most breathtaking panoramas. The tree depicted in this painting is on top of a hill in Buonconvento, a small village near Siena in Tuscany.
This piece has rich layers of color and texture. I can just smell that country air in a hot summer afternoon.

#53. Seeds

2009-04-25T11:48:00.006-04:00

Media: Caran D’Ache blue pencil
Dimensions: 3.5" X 5.5"

I like dandelions. And I like to blow on their puffs.....

[buy a greeting card or print]

#52. Magic

2009-04-11T00:40:00.003-04:00

pencil on moleskine sketchbook

art journal challenge = magic

Put some eggs in the hat....Abra Cadabra....

are those bunnies falling out????

just in time for Easter.

#51. Feel

2009-04-04T22:00:00.005-04:00

pencil on moleskine sketchbook

art journal challenge = feel

I like to feel the heartbeat of animals when I pet them. Somehow it makes me feel closer to them.

When Loki [my dog] stands next to me, I always reach with my hand to feel his heartbeat.

I wish I could feel what they feel...

In this sketch, I am the little girl with the braids caressing the bird.

#50. Hot Lips Hilda

2009-03-21T14:46:00.005-04:00

Media: oils on canvas

Dimensions: 12" X 16"

This painting features a shady corner of my garden where my favorite birdfeeder is hanging from a pear tree. The birdfeeder is called "Hot Lips Hilda" (really!); the opening is...through the mouth. I thought the color of her hair was remarkably in harmony with the hydrangeas in bloom...: had to paint it!

#49. Soul

2009-03-15T22:14:00.002-04:00

pencil on moleskine sketchbook

art journal challenge #10 = soul

This is what came to my mind as I began drawing this themed challenge.
If it is not clear, the chest is cut open to expose the way to the soul. Blood is dripping, but it doesn’t hurt.

#48. Sergio Rossi Shoe Shadow

2009-02-24T21:23:00.004-05:00

Media: acrylics on watercolor paper

Dimensions: 10” X 7.5"

= challenge #1 = draw a shoe

#47. Flying Pinocchio

2009-02-20T21:53:00.006-05:00

5.5" X 3.5"
Caran d”Ache colored pencils on Moleskine watercolor notebook.

Ever dream of flying?
I am usually scared of flying (on a plane), but when I dream of flying on my own, I think it’s so wonderful. I usually fly not very high, like most of the small birds around here; it’s so nice seeing things from up there....

In this drawing I used Pinocchio to represent one of my flights.

challenge = flying

= challenge #70 - Draw what you're afraid of.

#46. Erase Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T00:10:00.004-05:00

I digitally created this illustration.

An anti-Valentine's Day image for the protesting soul.
Or simply to express when you don't feel so good about love...

For a variety of products featuring this image, click here.

#45. Late Night

2009-02-13T21:17:00.007-05:00

Media: acrylics on wood block
Dimensions: 2 3/4" X 3 1/2" X 1/2"

"Can't wait to be in my bed..." said the lady with the pearl neckLACE.

challenge = lace

#44. Bigio Jumped from the Windowsill

2009-02-11T21:21:00.006-05:00

4" X 4" X 3/4"

acrylics on wood block

This mini art was painted on an octagonal wood block (1 3/4" side), 4" wide.

Bigio was the name of my cat when I was a little girl.

challenge = leap

#43 Saved By A Wolf

2009-02-08T11:58:00.005-05:00

Media: watercolor
Dimensions: 5" X 4.5"

The twins Romulus and Remus, with the wolf that saved them.
 This legend is part of my Italian culture: in Italy, mythological legends are commonly read to children as any other fable. They always fascinated me….

Romulus and Remus were sons of the king daughter Rhea Silvia and the god of war, Mars. The king, fearing that the boys would grow up to overthrow him, had them placed in a trough and thrown into the River Tiber. They were washed ashore under a fig tree. They were found by a she-wolf who, instead of killing them, looked after them and fed them with her milk. A woodpecker also brought them food, for the woodpecker, like the wolf, was sacred to Mars.
Romulus founded Roma (Rome), which he named after himself.

challenge = multiple

#42. Emotions

2009-01-31T15:14:00.003-05:00

pencil on Moleskine sketchbook

I made this for the Art Journal Challenge = emotion.

As soon as i read the theme, I immediately drew this, not sure where it came from. I actually find it a little disturbing...

What do you think?

#41. Cemetery Angel

2009-01-27T22:59:00.006-05:00

Here is a photo I took in Italy in my hometown cemetery.
The angel statue marks a family chapel/tomb. [More photos and info on this subject in my other post Cemetery Beauty].
Peeling paint on the wall behind...

Peeling paint noticed also on my Guardian Hippos.

challenge = peeling paint

.

#40. The Rotund Mermaid

2009-01-25T11:34:00.004-05:00

Media: oil paints on wood panel
Dimensions: 27" X 24"

This is how I always imagined mermaids: rotund.
I painted mermaids before, but always featuring their common slim figure. This time I decided to go for it. I wanted to depict her in tranquil and serene waters.
Rich blues and greens deepen and fade all throughout the painting making it a peaceful and pleasant picture to view.

#39. Balance

2009-01-22T20:05:00.006-05:00

watercolor crayons on moleskine sketchbook

I used to have a recurring dream in the past where I found myself on top of very high logs or walls, the wind was blowing hard and i constantly had to keep my balance to prevent from falling.

#38. Commit

2009-01-18T11:27:00.005-05:00

pencil on moleskine sketchbook

I find it easier to commit to something involving other people or animals, because I realize that I am counted on for support of some kind; but when it comes to commit to things that should be important to me, a thousand of excuses always come up, like “I have no time”, for example.

Tying a knot on your fingers (shown in the picture) is a symbolic way to remind myself to keep up with my commitments.
It’s so hard....

= challenge #48: Draw something that represents your new year's goal or resolution.

#37. Rabbit Hand Shadow

2009-01-17T19:53:00.007-05:00

Media: pencil on watercolor paper
Dimensions: 5.5" X 3.5"

Just having fun casting shadows on the wall....

#36. Need A Hand?

2009-01-10T20:08:00.014-05:00

= challenge #10: draw your hand

#34. Self

2009-01-08T21:41:00.008-05:00

Media: Caran D'Ache watercolor pencils on Torchon Fabriano paper
Dimensions: 8" X 5"

I drew this portrait referring to one of the few photos of me in which I smile and I don't absolutely hate myself. I think I was feeling serene at that moment.
This is an entry in the EBSQ show: self portrait.

= challenge #56 draw a self portrait.

#35. Shroooooms

2009-01-08T19:14:00.000-05:00

Media: acrylics on canvas
Dimensions: 12" X 9"

excerpt from Life Cycle of a Mushroom

It is in the soil where the action begins. Each hyphae has only one nucleus with a single set of chromosomes (haploid cells). If two hyphae meet from a different mating strain they will fuse together and the nucleus of one cell will flow into the other. Every time this cell divides both nuclei replicate separately and so all of the cells from these hyphae are dikaryotic, not diploid. We speak of the cell as being n+n, not 2n. It is these hyphae that form the mushroom fruiting body.
Up on the gills when spores are about to form, the two nuclei fuse together, known as karyogamy; this is when fertilization occurs and a diploid (2n) zygote is produced. Then meiosis occurs, which, as usual, leads to 4 haploid (n) nuclei. These nuclei are then individually surrounded by a tough coat. They have become spores.

This concludes today's science lesson :-)

*** challenge = fuse

#33. Elephant Egg

2009-01-07T23:09:00.006-05:00

6" X 5"
oil pastels on paper

My contribution to the themed challenge.

I had fun painting this elephant egg. I always enjoy using oil pastels, I feel like a little kid coloring with crayons. And they are so messy, I like that too :-).

Here is a page of my planner where I doodled some elephant ideas:

challenge = elephant

.

#32. Daily Sketches

2009-01-06T00:42:00.008-05:00

DDD = daily dose of drawing.

A couple of sketches made recently on my Moleskine planner.

tree

La Befana [read about her in my other blog]

#31. A-Head

2009-01-01T18:36:00.006-05:00

Media: acrylics on canvas
Dimensions: 8" X 10"

playing around with the word “ahead”

I have always been intrigued by etymology. The latin I studied in school must have had an impact on me because as I began to learn English I took notice to how many words derived from latin. Not only did this help to understand the meanings of words better, but it also gave rise to this interest of mine.
Now I often find myself analyzing words. I like to “;break them down”by concentrating on how other words can be put together to form one word. I really enjoy dissecting words and then visualizing them with pictures like the "A-Head" above or the "Crow-n" found here.

Illustration Friday - ahead
Creative Every Day = play

#30. Ariel

2008-12-31T21:54:00.004-05:00

Faber Castell pencil on Moleskine sketchbook.

I named her Ariel because she vaguely reminds me of the oldest daughter in the show Medium: Ariel.

= challenge #118 = Draw hair or something with hair

#29. Hanging Out

2008-12-26T18:22:00.010-05:00

5.5" X 8"
ink on Fabriano Acquarello Torchon paper

I drew this for the Illustration Friday challenge: Voices. See the voices? those little dots in front of each chatty bird.
Have you ever noticed how some small birds gather on certain trees or bushes at dusk and seem to tell each other the adventures of the day?
I love listening to them and make up their stories...

I used ink and then I digitally colored it.

challenge = voices

buy a card with this image

#28. Lapland

2008-12-24T13:29:00.011-05:00

acrylics on canvas
6" X 6"

I painted this snow scene after I saw a challenge to interpret the Lapland photo below:

I am very thankful for this challenge as I would have never attempted to paint something like this. But now I am glad I did, I actually enjoyed painting snow! I guess that's why they are called challenges, right?

challenge = still water

#27. I'm In The Book

2008-12-23T22:19:00.010-05:00

Media: oils on canvas
Dimensions: 8" X 10"

challenge = white

For a variety of products featuring this image, click here.

#26. Mistletoe

2008-12-22T20:33:00.007-05:00

acrylics on canvas
6" X 6"

Don't you like mistletoe? I think it's a cute plant.
Did you know that it grows as a parasite attached to the branches of a tree or shrub? It first sprouts from bird faeces on the trunk of the tree and then grows within the branches.
Numerous animals depend on mistletoe for food, consuming the leaves and young shoots, transferring pollen between plants, and dispersing the sticky seeds. Also many many birds nest in mistletoe.

"Mistletoe leaves and young twigs are used by herbalists, and it is popular in Europe, especially in Germany, for treating circulatory and respiratory system problems, and cancer. Mistletoe is being studied as a potential treatment for tumors. Although such use is not yet permitted in the U.S., mistletoe is prescribed in Europe as an alternative cancer treatment.

Mistletoe has been used to treat hypertension, headaches, menstrual symptoms, and arthritis. The first reference to its medical use is in the Bible as a cure for epilepsy. The young King David is said to have seen a woman collapse in a fit. An angel appeared to him as he prayed for a remedy, announcing "Whoever wears the oak mistletoe in a finger ring on the right hand, so that the mistletoe touches the hand, will never again be bothered by the falling sickness." Today, despite the lack of robust data supporting the use of mistletoe as an anticancer drug, it is widely used in middle Europe; around 23m (£16m; $30m) is spent on the preparation each year, and up to two thirds of oncology patients use it." [Ernst, E. (2006). Mistletoe as a treatment for cancer. BMJ 333: 1282-1283]

challenge = mistletoe

#25. Sitting Pretty

2008-12-22T18:03:00.010-05:00

pencil on moleskine watercolor notebook

Homage to my pretty mannequin, Pinco Pallino.

I portrayed him during his break, just relaxing in between poses...

challenge = Homage

#24. Crow-n

2008-12-21T12:39:00.007-05:00

Media: acrylics on gallery wrapped canvas
Dimensions: 12" X 16"

pronounced: (kro-in)
I have always been intrigued by etimology. The latin I studied in school must have had an impact on me because as I began to learn English I took notice to how many words derived from latin. Not only did this help to understand the meanings of words better, but it also gave rise to this interest of mine.  Now I often find myself analyzing words. I like to "break them down" by concentrating on how other words can be put together to form one word. I really enjoy dissecting words and then visualizing them with pictures like the "Crow-N" (=a crow IN a crown).

Here is another example of my playing with words: A-Head

#23. Long Tail Cat

2008-12-20T20:25:00.008-05:00

Media: pencil on Moleskine sketchbook
Dimensions: 5.5" X 3.5"

I collect cat figurines, but only those with a tail up. This is a wooden carved cat.

= challenge #31 draw something you collect

#22. Dip Pens

2008-12-19T22:21:00.006-05:00

Pictured here are: a hand-turned zebra wood dip pen
a black wooden pen with cork grip
a pewter stand.

I purchased them here.

I really like to write (or draw) with dip pens: the ink marks/lines are irregular, some thick, some thin, making the result interesting.

[The pen holder is also great for holding paintbrushes.]

#21. Caleche

2008-12-15T21:10:00.008-05:00

Pencil on Moleskine sketchbook.

I sketched a little bottle of Hermes perfume that was here on the desk.

= challenge # 161 draw something you think smells wonderful