Winter

From the time they were very small, my children and I would gather around craft books and magazines trying to find something that we could make and give to family and special friends. It's a tradition that has always brought me great satisfaction. This year my time has been expecially crunched and my initial plan of doing needlework gifts fell by the wayside. I'm not a "scrapbooker", but I decided to do something that combined my love of buying scrapbook supplies for others with my own artistic inclinations. Hence, these handmade cards. I took a sheet of copper and embossed a design. This series is "The Four Seasons". Inside I've included an original poem. I'm not so hot with all the embelishments, but I think a set makes a unique gift that can be framed or given as a gift itself. Here is the poem inside "Winter".

Winter

Winter holidays are the best

Thanksgiving, Christmas and the rest

Chase away old Winter's gloom

And give comfort for lost Summer's bloom.

Thanksgiving turkey, family, friends

Signal that the Fall must end

And ushers in sweet Christmas bells

With snow that covers hills and dales.

Can there be anything more snug

Than Kitty curled up on the rug

Before a bright and cheerful fire

With hot cocoa and a Christmas choir.

And coats and mittens on the hook

And snuggling with a good thick book.

These holidays I'll gladly greet

Until Spring comes on it's soft feet.

So, come on Winter, do your best--

I'll wait with peace and find my rest

Until the warm comes once again

Old man Winter will be my friend.

So, there you go. Sitting here listening to Christmas music feels comforting and warm. I hate winter and the cold, but I love what the season evokes. Peace on earth, good will toward men. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. :)

Fishy Tale

I recently participated in an art show sponsored by the art alliance of which I am a member. 15% of all proceeds were to go to MD [muscular dystrophy] and I'm seriously hoping that they aren't depending on me to prosper. 15% of my sales was 75 cents. Hardly any traffic through and my ego is somewhat comforted that no one did very well. Oh, well. At least I had time to work on this little colored pencil fish. I saw a tutorial online like this and I thought it would be fun. It's on Canson drawing paper. It seems to work better for me to apply lighter layers of color and then blend with either a colorless blender or thinner. I've been using something called "Extra Mild Citrus Thinner #115" from Eco House. An artist friend told me that she wasn't able to find this at our local Hobby Lobby [where I purchased mine], but they do have a web site: http://www.eco-house.com/

Anyway, my suggestions are:

1. Apply light layers of colored pencil

2. Blend with the thinner.

3. Use a colorless blender pencil to go back and blend areas with more detail or that you want to be smoother.

Since this is a "decorative" piece" I went back and outlined with a black pen. I have found that after using the thinner, the pencils slide like butter over the paper. [If you're into butter :)]

Well, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it. :)

Angel Baby and Wild Ride

These sketches are from my art journal. The one on the top is a watercolor pencil painting of my youngest granddaughter and the bottom is a colored pencil drawing of the next to the oldest. With seven grandchildren I have plenty of cute models and they are very patient when "Ama" gets out her camera. While watercolor pencils can be used the same way as colored pencils, take advantage of the "water" for some nice wahses. I've found for me "layering up" with the pigment before applying water gives some richer washes. Plus, the pencils give the added advantage of being able to go in and pick out some details.