Baby Shower for my daughter, Katie

My daughter and son-in-law are expecting their 3rd son. He is due on May 19. I just hosted a baby shower for my daughter Katie and my 2 grandsons are nestled all snug in their beds upstairs in my house! Life couldn't get sweeter.

Two minute sketch at the shower!

Eyes of Pain

I have my camera back at home, so I will post the photo of the drawing I did on this day. I think one eye is more successful than the other one. Great experience!

Fish drawn for 1st Grade

I drew this fish for my students. They could add line and color. They sure did!

More pictures to follow tomorrow. I will post examples from my students to show the full assignment and its results.

Nearly half way through the 365 days!

In about one week, I will be at the half way point of making art every single day of the year for one year. It has been quite a journey up to this point; I feel I am straining with all my might to reach the half way point without stopping. I guess this is what you call the middle of the race. I sure would like to take a vacation!

Just like when I did the half marathons, by mile 8, I was done in my head. Sheer discipline and determination with a genuine respect for goals set drive one onward to finish. I have a good friend who always said at the end of the races we ran in together, "To finish is to win."

I have a birthday dinner to attend tonight, but I hope to sketch something while at dinner. Let's see what I can come up with!

Marble Paper

Today I enjoyed teaching my first grade students how to make marble paper. I read the history of marble paper making. The Japanese were making it long, long ago, then Arabs, and finally Europeans who traveled to Asian and Arab nations and wanted to replicate it back at home. The Florentines and other Italians are famous for making beautiful marble papers. I actually learned how to make marble paper in Orvieto, Italia. (Too much fun.)

We may see paper like this on the inside covers of leather-bound books or fancy stationery and journal covers. My students will be using their paper for book covers for their creative writing books.
About half my students made their covers, and the rest will have the opportunity later in the week. They really seemed to enjoy the experience!

Finished Negative Space Study

Well, that study was interesting. I had the idea of the narrow road bursting forth into glorious light. This is all out of my head and just evolved. A part of me wants to go back to Michelangelo to get back to my roots, but we'll see. Tomorrow, I have to keep working on a paper due Thursday for class. Yikes!

Negative Space

 I did a wash of blue on this paper, then painted the negative space around the trees and leading to the opening. I have put warm and bright colors in the opening. I'll work on the trees tomorrow.

Demos from teaching art

Today, I demonstated washes of watercolor with the flowers along with working on painting the negative space first. My student took her work home. We also made "blow" pots. My demo is below. These pots are lots of fun to make! It should be terrific to do with the first graders.

Out Of My Head

I sketched this without any subject matter. It was fun to practice eyes, nose and mouth without it having to have to be a certain way. I just wonder if the Mona Lisa wasn't gone some of the time for the painting sessions. What if she was just made up out of Leonardo's head?

I do want to get back into studying portraits and trying quick sketches. (And finish those tulips:-) Well, there you have it with art every day! Still not making a penny for it, but I am enjoying creating art. Someday, all this preparation may go into real portrait sketching out in the big, wide world!

Daily Art Painters

A friend of mine, Judy, in California got me thinking that there were lots of artists out there making art every day. (She sent me a link to someone's blog.) My idea wasn't novel at all! In fact, I found websites talking about the daily art movement. Boy, am I slow at following the art scene...just here in my little bubble. I found one site: http://www.dailyartpainters.com/about-daily-painters.htm with pictures and prices!  I haven't even known the "daily artists" were selling their work. Daily.

Well, I have been working on art every day, but I haven't actually limited myself in having to finish anything EVERY day. Granted, some  artists are
completing tiny squares. How can they oil paint in one day? With blogging and ebay, paintings can be sold just as quickly. I think I'll have to investigate more.....and maybe do a completed painting in one day...sketch, yes, but painting?

More to follow, within the day. Instant coffee, fast food, daily art. Is it just in America?
Hmmmm...just found this as well: http://www.everydayart.org/
Door to my heart idea after talking with a friend tonight.

Tulips continued

I was watching a movie about some very brave women in a Japanese internment camp during World War II tonight. As I was painting, I was struck by the women's courage through such great adversity. They formed a large choir and hummed classical pieces of music as if they were an orchestra. Their music transformed that dark, ugly internment camp with beauty, truth and goodness. Amazing women. Some of my heros.

I pray my art might be a part of transforming the culture I am a part of no matter where I go. I continued on the tulips. The real tulips have wilted and died; I am tempted to buy more, or just let my imagination take over.

Making art is a way to worship our Creator. We are created in His image, and when we express ourselves by making art, we feel His presence, we worship and enjoy Him. "Art is an inherently hopeful act, an act that echoes the creativity of the Creator. Every time...an artist envisions the first stroke of a brush on a white canvas....that act is done in hope; the creator reaches out in hope to call the world into that creation." From Refractions: A Journey of Faith, Art, and Culture by Makoto Fujimura

Days Too Full

No art tonight. Must sleep and then parent conferences the next three days. Blessings to all.

Here is a painting I did a while back. It is very peaceful to me. And I was really there.

365 days straight?

I think it is really hard to actually do something, anything for 365 days. Well, let's see, I eat every day, I sleep, I get dressed, I pray every day, I check email every day. Basically, that's all I do every single day. Wait a minute....I am thankful for much every single day. I talk to God throughout the day every single day. OK. That's about it. Some days, making art is so effortless. Other days, I can't imagine what I will draw or paint. I guess I am procrastinating. OK. To paint the tulips I drew.........

Tulips drawing

That's all for tonight. It has been a big weekend with lots to process. So many changes coming up. It is exciting, but new in so many ways. I pray the Lord's guidance as I step out in faith. In spite of it all, I am still making art every day for 365 days. That's it for this weekend. Tomorrow, I add a jog/walk to my daily schedule. Night all!

Sabbath Rest

Due to working on my report cards along with a number of other matters, I have taken a rest from "involved" art today. May I recommend this sermon for your listening pleasure with regard to work and rest:-)

http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/work-and-rest

That's a wrap!

Tulips continued

I have added more tulips and hope to paint lightly over the weekend. I do have report cards to finish,  so I will need to put art further down the list. I must admit, it is harder working with real flowers that open and begin to fade with time. But, it is more en plein aire than photos, so I want to grow in this skill. So much to grow in, but I must remember I have practiced every day. Each day of practice tunes my skill, and makes me feel God's presence. At the 1/3 mark in a race,  do we start to feel we want to stop?

Beginning Tulips

Once again, the photo is loading sideways. Blogging has its technological hazzards. It's late; I began after my class tonight. I hope to work on this over the next couple of days and keep it light. I need to sleep!

"The making of art is an end in and of itself; it is an act of worship in and of itself; it as an act of humility and joy at once; and, in the life of the believer, it is accomplished as a gift back to the Creator who made us—art for God's sake."

Daffodils - details...

I needed to add shadows by the centers of these daffodils so they can pop out more. I do not want to overwork them, however, so I am stopping today. I worked on two of the three big ones.

Some artists put paintings away for a while, and then pull them out to critique them from a fresh perspective. I hope to make a few prints and offer one last  batch of prints for sale before I transition into a new direction for my life.

I am reading an art book that teaches one about animation design. I am going to try some exercises in the book....after I paint my ballet pink tulip watercolor. I love seeing dainty them sitting on my dresser, and I want to be able to enjoy them throughout the year. They make me smile. Thank you, God, for  pale pink tulips.

Daffodils 3

A friend sent me words of encourage-
ment tonight. It was just what I needed along with my sweet daffodils. I'll try to finish putting on final detail tomorrow........

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not discouraged, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you in my righteous right hand." -Isaiah 41:10

"Promise me that you'll remember: You are braver than you believe, stronger that you seem, and smarter than you think."

-Winnie the Pooh .

Daffodil Painting begun...

I was all tucked into bed, and I remembered I had not posted my art to my blog. What is neat is that I am  making art in spite of the blog  or with or  without the blog. Wow! The day of needing the blog "scaffolding" for support has come  and gone! That is really amazing to me.

Tomorrow, I have my small  group meeting, but I will try to continue this before I  go. I just love daffodils, and since I don't have any in my yard, I paint  them to bless  my heart right inside  my home. God's gift of spring cheer!

Daffodil drawing

I hope to draw this again on watercolor paper tomorrow. I like practicing before using the good paper. It's kind of like doing scales before the piano piece. I just love God's laughing, happy daffodils, especially the ones with the bright, orange, frilly centers. They bring comfort to my soul.

Michelangelo Study 2

Michelangelo Study 2 is born out of looking at another fresco. This was the face of Jesus as he was being nailed to the cross. I think it is actually a face that is similar looking to that of Michelangelo. I wanted to study the eyes, the backward glance  and the mouth in the beard. I sat watching the movie Julie and Julia with my dad and Janet during this sketch.

I thought back to the first of the 155 days (so far) of making art. I was very inspired to try to do art one day at a time since I had stopped making art. Just one foot in front of the other for one more day, one more step, one more drawing to practice and grow. It has given me a real base of understanding, an internal dictionary of how objects or people look.

And, it has helped me to take courage and venture out further in doing new things in my life. No one has called wanting to publish my blog. I hardly know who is reading the blog.  I ask my family members, and they say, oh, that's right, you have a blog. But one day, I hope to have a show of the best of the 365 days of art-making. I think that would  be lots of fun  and a nice way of celebrating the completion of the challenge!

Michelangelo study

I drew this while studying a Michelangelo fresco.

Portrait Study

Violets

Grandsons continue to dominate...

Micah has an elaborate plan of scaring "mommy when she comes home from Colorado" by having spiderwebs hidden in his house. Thing is, we have to make the webs, well, mass produce them, before we pick her up at the airport. We have been working hard ever since we  returned from getting the black construction paper.

Micah is pleased with my spider but says my web is not as good as the spider. Well, maybe I had some leftover March madness(basketball hoop netting) when I was drawing this afternoon. Who knows. This is not my favorite thing to draw, but boys love it!

My grandsons are dominating the direction of the art program here at my home!

Mater for the Grandsons!

This is a sketch that I did for my grandsons. They think it is pretty good, but they say it has mistakes. I explain, of course it has mistakes, because I am not God. Everyone makes mistakes.

I mention that Micah doesn't need to stress about every line he makes because what he will create will not be perfect, but really great! I explain that just the fact that he is trying is a way of him reflecting God. When he draws, God is honored.

So, mistakes and all....here is my version of Mater for all you Mater lovers out there.

Easter 2010

Since I spent so many hours painting on my doves yesterday, and then brought it first thing today to church, I am taking today off...a sabbath rest. My grandsons are with me, so I need to turn in early to be ready when they wake up! Night all!

Wait a minute, photography can be artwork.....especially Caleb eating his favorite olives!

A Blessed Easter!

I painted these for Virginia. She is sick today, and I wanted to cheer her up! Blessings to all and Happy Easter.

Dove for Easter

I decided to do a small sketch of a dove in preparation for Easter. I haven't really studied birds all that much. I think it would be nice to have three of them in a beautiful, blue sky.

Lily sketch/wash

I was busy with typing up artist statements for the Good Friday service. I made this sketch super fast with no initial pencil sketch. I added a bit of watercolor and am calling it a night. I am so thankful for tomorrow off!