Colors of Changing Seasons

This year the trees in our yard have had pretty colors.  I was afraid the dry summer would keep the trees from having nice colors.  Over the last week, I have managed to take some picures of the trees before the leaves dropped.  But one tree has really kept its pretty leaves longer than the rest.
This morning the frost was covering the leaves on the ground.  So I don't expect the leaves on the red tree to be around much longer.  But I've enjoyed it while it lasted.

Next post I'll show what's been on the drawing board. Enjoy the color while it lasts!

Beth ♥

Traditional Sunday Naps

Sunday naps are the best kind of naps.  I remember growing up, Sundays, of course, were the day of rest. Stores were not allowed to be open, unless it was a grocery store...and they were only allowed to sell necessities, like food.  So my memories of Sundays usually involved an afternoon nap...after church and Sunday dinner (lunch) was eaten and cleaned up.  I never was into watching sports and we didn't have hundreds of channels back then, so there was not the distraction of tv, definitely no computers or cell phone distractions...yes we actually survived without cell phones and internet! (which is probably why earlier generations can be so creative...we had to be creative growing up, to keep from being bored!...but that is another whole blog post.)  So, what was left to do on Sunday afternoons?  Take a nap...of course!

I bring this up because that is what I did today...I took a long Sunday nap. i don't have a photo of myself napping (thank goodness!), so I'm sharing a photo of my great-nephew when he was a newborn. Now they (babies) know how to nap!  I've been so busy for the last couple of weeks that I have not slowed down enough to relax much.  I finished a large commission Friday, almost finished unpacking from the Art Festival last weekend, and went to Memphis Saturday for our monthly CPSA meeting, so today I just let myself relax and take a nap. It was so nice. Even after getting an extra hour of sleep, I felt like my body just needed the rest. After I woke up, I actually felt like doing some cleaning!  Just a little bit...after all, it is Sunday, which is supposed to be a day of rest! This week, I took advantage of that.  Tomorrow brings the start of a new commission, more projects, more cleaning, and busy days ahead getting ready for the holidays.  Hope you enjoyed a nice Sunday afternoon nap today!

Beth ♥

The Art Festival...

 

...is finally over.  We traveled to Georgia this past weekend to participate in the John's Creek Art Festival.  The whole week before the festival we checked the weather predictions daily.  Everything sounded like it would be great weather.  We got there Friday afternoon to set up the booth and we were tired from the drive, but we managed to get the tent up, but we were extremely hot and tired by the time we were done.  But that would change throughout the weekend. Saturday we opened to nice weather.  It was a little cool, but very nice most of the day.  By closing time at 6:00, it was beginning to get a little chilly.  We were a little worried about predictions of wind overnight, but during the night it was fine, but much cooler.  Sunday morning, we arrived and began re-setting up the display and some light rain began.  It didn't last long, so I felt we would be okay...but over the course of the day, conditions deteriorated.  Apparently the storm of the century was traveling up the East coast...Hurricane Sandy decided to move in a little too close to the Atlanta area.  The last couple of hours of the show, we were dealing with gusting winds, which is not good when you are in a tent!  The photo I am sharing is from Saturday, when the weather was good.  Sunday, I didn't take any photos. I was too busy trying to stay warm and hold the sides of the tent down!

Even though the weather was disappointing, to say the least, I enjoyed the show, meeting new artists and seeing others that I had met before.  As usual, the Splash Festival organizers did a great job! But I am glad its over. We were both exhausted from trying to keep from blowing away with our tent! Now back to work on commissions.

Beth ♥

October is almost halfway over? Time flies...

...when you're having fun!  Doing what I love, so the time goes by quickly!
This week I have been busy on two major projects, both that need a lot of attention.  In 2 weeks I will be traveling to John's Creek, Georgia, to a new art festival, to sell my clay houses and other "Hearthome" creations.  I'm excited about it, but I'm feeling the time pressure to get enough done in time!  I haven't gone to an art festival in a couple of years, so I want to be prepared!    I'm also trying to finish a pen an ink commission that needs to be finished now! So that will be my priority this weekend, then back to building more houses.  The photos today are small samples of what I'm working on.  The pen and ink is just a small part of the large drawing. 

Stage  2, 3, & 4...The making of a Hearthome
Sorry, no photo of stage 1.

 

In November, I will be concentrating on Christmas commissions. So if you want to order a painting, pen and ink, or custom clay house, now is the time to order.  I will not be taking any more orders after the beginning of November.  My daughter is graduating college in December, so I will be going to celebrate with her in the middle of December.  Yay for her! She is almost to the finish line and already has a job lined up! So proud of her!

Beth ♥

Sophie...The Newest Member of our Family...

...is this cutie pie. This little girl was given up by her owner and I had the opportunity to adopt her, so I scooped her up right away!  She is 3 years old and already housebroken, which is great, but she is a sweetie pie too.  We bonded quickly and she follows me wherever I go in the house and will sit near my drawing table or work table while I work.  It took me a while to decide on a name that fits her personality, but I've decided on Sophie. 

Since she was a rescue, we have some issues with her being a little aggressive. I don't know what she's been through, but she is very protective of me.  I just hope that Lexie (my 11 yr. old Maltese) can get used to having a young sister around the house all the time.  She is used to getting all of the attention, but Lexie does sleep a lot! She is older and wants to be left alone most of the time.  Guess I'll be watching ''The Dog Whisperer" on YouTube to get some advice.

Looks like a face I would like to paint!
Have a great week!

Beth ♥

Colored Pencil Workshop Fun...

...I know that probably doesn't sound like a lot of fun for some. But we had a good time at the workshop. As I mentioned last week, I attended a colored pencil workshop this past weekend in Memphis. We experimented and played with colored pencils, paint thinner, watercolor, rubber cement, and enjoyed spending time with like minded artists. Kate Lagaly was our instructor. She is an award winning colored pencil teacher/artist who is very creative. I thought I would share a few photos of my experiments. None of them are finished. We tried so many different techniques and pictures to choose from, that I just barely got started on some of them. But I got some great ideas! And I enjoy being the student too!

This drawing of the boy is done in several steps.
Step 1:  Drizzle rubber cement on watercolor paper.
Step 2:  Paint watercolor washes on top of the dried rubber cement.
Step 3:  Drizzle more rubber cement and let dry.
Step 4:  Paint more watercolor washes.
Step 5:  Add another layer of cement and paint (optional)
Step 6:  Remove rubber cement with a rubber cement 'picker upper' (not sure the technical term! )
Step 7:  Transfer drawing onto paper.  (We used a white Saral transfer paper)
Step 8:  Start adding colored pencil values and color mixtures with colored pencils.

Here is a link to the Memphis CPSA blog: Click here.

 

The next one is just colored pencil on a light colored matboard.  There are no watercolor layers.  This is how far I got on it.  I'm not sure that I will have time to finish it, but I may work on it more, just a little bit, to get the swan to show up better. 

 

 

 

Now back to working on a pen and ink drawing for a customer and creating more clay hearthomes.  I will be at John's Creek Art Festival October 27 & 28th, 2012.  So, I have a lot to do!

 

Beth ♥

Pallette of Color for Early Fall

Cindy's Pallette
Oil paint

The weather is finally cooling off and beginning to feel a little 'closer' to fall.  At least we aren't experiencing 90's and 100's everyday like we were for so long.  I love this time of year. I have been busy creating and doing some much needed fall clean up around the house and outdoors.  So I haven't posted on my blog lately.  But I'm going to change that!  Even if its just a simple photo post for the day. 

The photo today is of the oil paint pallette of an old schoolmate's.  She is a longtime dear friend who has a heart of gold.  And now after all these years, I find out that she also is a talented artist.  I knew that she played around with painting, but I saw her studio recently and I realized how talented she is.  Maybe later she will give me permission to post some of her oil paintings.  This pallette was in her studio and I took a photo.  I thought it was very interesting and a little like early fall!

I'm preparing to go to a colored pencil workshop this weekend. I am looking forward to that because I haven't given my colored pencils much time lately!  I love colored pencils.  Most people don't understand the interest in colored pencils for professional artists, but unless you have tried the professional brand colored pencils or unless you have seen some of the amazing artwork that can, and is, being created by colored pencil artists, you would probably question it. It is not just a school supply anymore. There is even a International Organization ( CPSA ) that is devoted to promoting Colored Pencils.  I am a member of that organization. I am also a member of the Memphis Chapter of the CPSA and we are having a cp workshop this weekend.  In the workshop that I am going to, we will be learning about experimenting with unusual surfaces and techniques to add to the colored pencil experience.  I will post some pictures next week about my experience at the workshop and hopefully something that I learned...or learned not to do! 

Have a nice weekend!

Beth ♥