Steampunk Heart II

Steampunk Heart II
Originally uploaded by Spinneretta

I enjoyed doing the steampunk heart yesterday so much that I tried again- this time in pastel pencils :)

Steampunk Art Heart for Haiti

Steampunk Art Heart for Haiti
Originally uploaded by Spinneretta

Laure Ferlita is doing an 'Art Hearts for Haiti' in order to raise money for those stricken by the earthquake.

Mine is a 'steampunk' heart of brass- just to be different ;)

Wharf Hill Antiques

Wharf Hill Antiques
Originally uploaded by Spinneretta

Wharf Hill Antiques in Smithfield, Virginia.
I love Smithfield, it has the prettiest buildings (painted ladies) and old stores. Being as I usually go there with family, sketching on the spot is not really possible. Paris Breakfast's wonderful store fronts have inspired me many times though, and I took my wonderful, trusty camera, and took many pictures so I could draw them later :). This is from one of them :)
The only problem with sketching at night, is my light- it was only AFTER I sprayed with fixative (pastels in a journal make this a necessity) that I realised I had missed a spot and made my windows crooked LO

Monthly Sketch Project - Rosehips

Part 1 of the MSP for January!

Coloured Pencils and a little white ink. Photo used, taken by Jennifer Rose.

Just made it in time!

A few other art pieces! (click for larger images and to read text).

Cherry Cakes and Ginger beer- I royally messed up this particular picture! Luckily for me, I was reading the following book which helped with my problems!


The Artist's Guide to Sketching by James Gurney and Thomas Kinkade.
This is an excellent book, if you can get it!

Since starting to use my journal for everything, I have come to enjoy my shopping list in my journal. I decorated the page a little because I prefer a picture there too :)
This is also the first picture after a short break I had to take- first I was ill, then the kids. I was disappointed- I had a personal aim to try and do something creative everyday- and this broke my streak :(
At night, it has been getting rather cold. Our living room has woefully inadequate heating... this heater is wonderful! I'd like to do this in other media- I love the way the red glow is reflected...

EDM #250: Draw Something Free

EDM #250: Draw Something Free
Originally uploaded by Spinneretta

I managed to take advantage of one of the 'after-Christmas sales' online at www.eyebuydirect.com .
Buy one pair of glasses- get one for free! So I bought two- upgraded on my lenses (I have VERY bad eyesight lol so I needed them thinner).
I love the glasses- and thought they might make a great spread in my notebook.
The only problem with that idea was that the book could NOT fit on the scanner- so I cropped them together ;) You can see my shopping list on the side there- I kind of enjoy it in my notebook, usually my pages are decorated when I see it (this time they weren't, but my book looks nicer than the scraps of paper I used to use ;))

Two EDM Challenges and a Flower

I did this tiny (2.5" x 3.5") pastel Jacobite Rose for my husband for his birthday.
This is his favourite rose- and last summer we actually got some decent photos of it! I figured it was a nice summery picture, since he doesn't like winter ;)

A sketch of my daughter posing in the snow- you may have seen the photo. Drawing after the kids are in bed gives me peace and quiet... but no live models!!
I call this one EDM #254 "Something Joyful" :)

Two sets of Christmas socks (OK one set and one lonesome sock LOL)... I love these sock- I think I have a thing for loud socks! The union flag ones always get attention when I wear them, but they are the really short ones that are not so good for wearing in boots. So they get worn either when it is warmer out or around the house!
These last two are in the notebook I made at the same time as my Christmas notebook- which ended up somewhat neglected (I was baking a lot!).

I must also mention my art goals for 2010 :) I kept it simple this year...

1. LANDSCAPES- get to drawing/painting landscapes WELL. I have always had a problem with getting them to look real! So this year, I aim to practise :)
2. Take a class or course. This is leftover from last year, where I missed out a couple of times on a class I wanted to take, so this year I have kept it in.
3. Try new things- new media, new subjects, new ideas :)
4. Draw often. At least once a week. Be creative daily.

Maybe this year I will actually keep these goals :)

Start as you mean to go on...

poinsettia
Originally uploaded by Spinneretta

Poinsettia, in pastel pencils and pastels.

It is the beginning of a new year, a new decade and I wanted a good start. I am quite please with the way this one turned out :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

January 2010
Originally uploaded by Spinneretta

This is the title page for January for my new planner I am making- I am setting it up in an effort to be a little more organized in my homeschool planning :)
I amit that I was somewhat inspired by Edith Holden's Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady- that's the reason for the brown ink. I was also inspired by Colin Bradley and THAT meant I used my very meagre supply of pastel pencils :)

Here's wishing you a Happy New Year, And I hope the new year, and new decade is a prosperous and happy one for you!