Whales and Chickens

A friend asked me to make her a sea creature piece. I've never drawn or painted any before, unless you count the primitive fish drawings I always did with my kids in church to keep them quiet. I drew, they colored them. So my friend asked me to draw something sea worthy, I can't resist a good challenge. What's the worst that could happen? I throw a piece of paper away, right?

Well now I'm stuck on whales. I thought about doing a puffer fish or a jellyfish or ever a swordfish. But nope. Only whales have been swimming by. I'm also not content to do them all in original colors. Grey can be so boring! So some are and some aren't.

I wonder what my new drawing obsession should be?! I'm thinking chickens! I've been following this guy on Facebook that does daily Rooster drawings. It makes me want to go out and sketch our chickens. In case you didn't know, we have 6 chickens. We picked them up as one day olds the end of May. And they're right on cue to lay their first eggs around my birthday, October 6th! I can't wait! I'm a bit like a momma hen, very eager for my chickies to start earning their keep!

What would be interesting to you to hang in your house? Is it flowers, houses, dogs, birds, what? I'm curious what people collect. I have a few rooster things in my kitchen but I'm determined to not call it a collection because then people will only give you that collection as gifts! Ha I have enough.

Have a whale of a day! Cluck cluck!

 

 

 

 

 

Posted with Love from Contessa

Flowers, Deer, Pumpkins and Painters Guild

Do you ever have times when you're just stuck in a rut and can't make your way out? I've been stuck in a rut lately but this one I like! Previous ruts were hard and I couldn't art much and couldn't slog my way out of them. But recently, as you can see from posts, I've been painting my way out. The rut I've been stuck in lately is painting envelopes. I've been exchanging art with friends and it's so nice to practice my drawing and painting skills on inexpensive materials like envelopes and watercolor paper. That way you don't have to commit every time to a more expensive canvas. I've been enjoying the process immensely!

I made these pieces over the weekend using an 11x14" piece of watercolor paper I tore in 3 pieces. I found images I liked on google or Pinterest and just had fun!

They fold up into a square and have a little flap. The small size is perfect for sending the ATCs I'm sending in them.

The pumpkins I free handed and they went through many revisions. I guess I need to go visit a pumpkin farm to understand what I'm wanting them to look like.

Little deery was fun to make. I found a vintage greeting card on Pinterest and tried to replicate it.

This week I branched out a bit more. The newer church we've been attending has a Painter's Guild. They have a monthly speaker and you come and paint what the artist is demonstrating or work on what you want instead.

She was painting a beautiful trees and Halloweeny landscape. I'm not much of a landscape person so I worked on this daisy instead. It needs more and I'm not sure how I'm finishing it but I like it so far. 11x14".

What are you creating today?

 

Posted with Love from Contessa

'Please Mr. Postman' Painted Envelopes

Do you ever start out to do something quite simple? But then your brain takes off and can't stop until you've made a commitment to something bigger than you had planned? Yeah, that's where I'm at.

I'm swapping items on a Facebook group with others and I thought to myself, "This is an artsy group. I can't just send things in blank envelopes! I'll be thrown out of the group! We're artsy, must art them up!" So I thought, sketch a little, slap on some paint, I mean I had 5 to do at the time so something quick would be good.

Instead, I spent 2 days in my free time painting large paintings on padded envelopes according to the recipients' likes. Yes, I'm obsessive like that.

My hubby asked, "what are these for?" I said "Just to mail things in." "You're spending all that time on something just to mail?!" "I guess I am." And let me tell you, I had fun!!

I also had a few smaller things to mail so I made these little pieces below as well. And guess where all my inspiration came from? Yup, Pinterest. I love Pinterest!

The only problem with painting envelopes is now I've kinda set a precedent, I'll be expected to paint all my envelopes! Oh well, better get busy painting or quit swapping! Ha

 

Posted with Love from Contessa