artbybernadette

Bookmarks are in!

2012-02-29T06:58:00.002-05:00

I recently ordered these, they are here, and the quality is great! As much as I adore my moo cards, these end up being a third of the cost.
The downside is that they are all the same images. That's okay, because these have a 'purpose'.
If you'd like one, drop me a dollar (for mailing costs) to my PayPal (button is at very bottom of my blog here) and email me your address!

Monks gathering

2012-02-29T06:56:00.002-05:00

Loved the orange fabric here. It looks like they are working around this drum-like object.
This is also the very last page in my sketchbook! I've got two others started already! Sigh, what an addict I am becoming.
Another sketch from the photos of the ADV riders "From Estonia with love". Reference photos for these sketches can be found on an amazing motorcycle ride report: advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480532 (Page 1)

More ADV riders sketches - "From Estonia..."

2012-02-27T09:08:00.000-05:00

Old truck

Grass roof hut

A couple more sketches from the photos of the ADV riders "From Estonia with love".
Reference photos for these sketches can be found on an amazing motorcycle ride report: <a href="http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480532" rel="nofollow">advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480532</a> (Page 1)

Finally updated!

2012-02-18T21:25:00.004-05:00

I finally was able to update my original website today! After reading the zenhabits blog, and working on simplifying my home for the last month, I was able to work on my old web site. I wanted a site that reflected my latest attempt at minimized design, and could display my newest art. www.artbybernadette.com

As expected, things became more confused before they got better! I wanted to add my latest sketches from flickr. After figuring out how to, then downloading ALL my Flickr images, I was able to then make a photo album, using 'web albums generator', and then uploaded it to my web. THAT took TONS of searching and experimenting to complete!
So far, florals is the only one I've done so far. It is still not the final version.
Oh, did I mention I have NEVER had formal training in web design? I'm done whining - it had a few hassles, but the end result was worth it!
(Note: I still had a bit of refining and image adding to do. It's done for a while as of Feb. 19!)

One of my goals is to enable sales of my art on my web. I have gotten several requests for prints and note cards, and printing them is so not my thing! (More fun to splash paint!) I think I may end up with Fotomoto. Has anyone else heard of it?
My ultimate goal is to make enough sales to have a profit,(Hah!) and I promise to donate 10 percent of any profit to charity. (No, I'm not the charity!)
Probably the American Cancer Society to start, later maybe local non-profits related to the arts. Anyone that knows me, knows that I am not creating art for money. I do it for the sake of creating art.

PS - for reference, here is the older version:

Forgotten art

2012-02-16T12:59:00.000-05:00

View of mist and trees - I used a sharp end of a brush to make the trees and branches.


Three Pears - Watercolor and a brown micron pen. (If I remember correctly!)

Well, zen habits.net and the new year have gotten my house more simple and organized every week! I have also put some note cards (with my art) up for sale at a newly opened shop (Serendipity) in Owego, NY. While I can't sell my original art there, the experience has inspired a desire to sell some of my art. At least I should *try*! So, I dug out some older paintings shown here. They have to be at least ten years old.

From Estonia - Schoolgirls walking

2012-02-14T06:55:00.004-05:00

It looks like rain here, but in the reference photo it was a sunny day. Splashing paint has its consequences!
Another sketch from the photos of the ADV riders "From Estonia with love". Reference photos for these sketches can be found on an amazing motorcycle ride report: advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480532 (Page 1)

Chinese lanterns

2012-02-14T06:53:00.000-05:00

I went about this all backwards! First, I decided I wanted to make some art for a small opening in a bigger mat. Then I got the mats made. THEN I sketched these. Oh well, I never claimed to be a rule-follower!

From Estonia - Kariina

2012-01-31T21:38:00.002-05:00

Reference photo was lovely and moody, not so happy with my result. (Apologies to Kariina!)
Another sketch from the photos of the ADV riders "From Estonia with love". Reference photos for these sketches can be found on an amazing motorcycle ride report: advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480532 (Page 1)

Franklin the cat

2012-01-30T11:36:00.004-05:00

Franklin

My nephew's fiancé's cat. A surprise for her recent birthday, so not posted until she sees it!
I'm not a 'cat' person, and have never sketched a cat before, I hope I caught a little of his personality!

January 28 - Can't stop sketching these! Why am I?

2012-01-28T20:47:00.002-05:00

More sketches from this amazing rider report. Love the brilliant saffron of the monk's robes!
Thought I'd show the original photos with my sketches this time.

I suppose some of you are wondering, why does she keep painting from someone else's photos? She's never been to these places, she doesn't have a motorcycle (anymore). She surely doesn't enjoy roughing it.

Well, when I started reading their posts, their love of what they were doing was what made their photos so attractive. Their passion about riding around the world, and sticking to it somehow came through and reached out and grabbed my attention. The colors and composition, sure, but what I paint from these is a feeling. Maybe that's why it's mostly people that I've used as reference.

So enough philosophizing, I'll get more done soon! And, I promise to go through their report again and review all of these, so I can add where they were taken and any other specifics.

If you haven't yet read their ride report, at least scan through a page or two. You will get an idea of the passion that was with them on their adventure.

Reference photos for these sketches can be found on this motorcycle ride report:
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480532 (Thanks for sharing!)

Monk in saffron color robes

School girls

Walking

From Estonia...

2012-01-16T19:50:00.002-05:00

More sketches from this amazing rider report.
Reference photos for these sketches can be found on this
motorcycle ride report:
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480532

(Thanks for sharing!)

The ostrich photos are a riot! I wonder if he nearly got the camera!
I still have about 50 to 80 more I look forward to sketching!
Jan. 23: just added the primate sketch. Love his intelligent expression.

New palette for the new year

2012-01-14T08:48:00.002-05:00

I've been reading about 'minimalism' and this got me started cleaning out lots of stuff in my basement. It's also reflected in my revised palette - less colors. Took out a few that I hardly used to make room for larger pans for the ones I use most. This page is carried with my sketch kit for reference, but also because I just *love* looking at pure color!

Sketching 20120113

2012-01-13T20:52:00.000-05:00

A very cold, snowy and windy day. Great time to update my watercolor palette and do a little bit of sketching...
I dug out my old proportional dividers to help with portrait sizing. I'm not yet able to do that squint and measure thing with my pencil yet!

Some painting supplies

I just *had* to do a quick sketch of my basic tools used to sketch with.

From left to right:
1. $2 brush (or maybe it was a dollar) from home improvement store

(I love using this brush to make a messy start!)
2. Black Gold, size 8, travel watercolor brush (Feels luxurious)
3. Cotman size 5 watercolor brush (Eh, good all-purpose)
4. Robert Simmons size 1 watercolor brush (Hardly ever used)
5. Pentel waterbrush (again, hardly ever used)
6. Pentel pencil
7. Click eraser (used too much!)
8. Pitt artist pen
9. Micron .01 pen
10. Noodlers Flex nib - had trouble with this at first, have learned to love it!
11. Lamy safari with Lex. grey ink (new ink color, not used to it yet. Also, I love the flex nib!)
12. Uniball red pen
13. Uniball/Signo white
14. Plastic grid/ruler

From Estonia with love

2012-01-02T15:42:00.004-05:00

Reference photos for these sketches can be found on an amazing motorcycle ride report:
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480532
A young couple from Estonia took a motorcycle trip around the world. It took them several years, and they kept a blog on the Adventure riders website. Margus and Karlina traveled 170,000 km over 1,126 days, and traveled through 70 countries. The photographs are what dazzled me - the quality, and the content - they have fantastic images of people, places and things they encountered. I do not presume that my sketches are anywhere close to the quality of their photos, just that I was touched by them. So, here are a couple - just a start. I received their permission to post these.
If you have some time, stop by and read their report - you won't be bored!

Another sketch from their fantastic photos...

Julia Kay's Portrait Party December 20112012

2011-12-24T22:41:00.006-05:00

Julia Kay's Portrait Party is a virtual party where the members draw each other. There are some wonderful portraits in the group by some fantastic artists. I am having fun stretching my art capabilities! Check it out, you might want to try it! www.flickr.com/groups/portraitparty/
You can see the portraits I have done with the links to the original photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/artbybernadette/sets/72157628279265883/with/6567042407/
Here are my attempts so far, from first attempt at the top to the most recent ones completed at the bottom here:

2011.12.05 neil.davidson

2011.12.09 Marty Harris

2011.12.09 Duncan Creamer

2011.12.12 Mia Agliotti

2011.12.18 Nora Ilva

2011.12.23 Dan Duffy

2011.12.24 Rodrick

I'd like to think I have improved a bit over 20 days and 7 sketches!
Oh, here is another one completed in December-

2011.12.28 Skii Chung

2012.01.01 Rippleberry Jazz/ Tom Lambie

2011 Christmas

2011-12-18T15:54:00.002-05:00

Thought I'd add the snow-family seen at my brother's home on Christmas day!

I finally made the art for my Christmas cards! Am I too late? :)
Think I just barely made it, now to print and send...

By the way, this is a sketch of my tree this year, it's also the first one
in my larger moleskin sketchbook. I didn't think I could fit all the
detail on my smaller one.
As it was, I only showed about half of them!

20111030 Townhouse view

2011-12-04T18:42:00.000-05:00

A view of the San Francisco Bay from our townhouse in Sausalito. A lovely rental with easy access to town.

20111030 Kendall Jackson vineyard

2011-12-04T18:39:00.001-05:00

A very orange display of pumpkins at the Kendall Jackson vineyard in Sonoma at Halloween.

20111101 San Francisco Japanese Tea Garden

2011-12-03T15:56:00.000-05:00

One of several statues in a lovely tea garden!

0111020 Lahaina Maui Banyan tree

2011-12-03T15:54:00.000-05:00

The oldest Banyan tree in the US at Lahaina, Maui. Planted in 1873,it covers nearly an acre and is 60 ft. high. Now that's a tree!

20111019 Wailea Beach Maui

2011-12-03T15:48:00.000-05:00

We saw a truly romantic wedding setting, getting their photo taken on the very rocky beach.I did wonder if he carried her over the pointed rocks!

2011 10 Maui hotel good night cards

2011-11-27T19:32:00.002-05:00

Every night, They would leave a different card and a plumeria flower on my pillow! *sigh* Why can't I have that at home??? :D

Haleakala sunrise

2011-11-06T20:46:00.000-05:00

This was a sacred place - a native lady sang the sunrise prayer during the last few minutes of the sunrise. It was very cold, but so awe-inspiring, watching it rise as we stood above the clouds.

Iao Valley Park

2011-11-06T20:44:00.002-05:00

Three views in this amazing park in Maui!

Update Nov. 27 - I added an inset of a nearby banana tree.

2011 Hawaii - Maui

2011-10-08T17:11:00.000-04:00

These 2 watercolors will be matted and framed for a silent auction which will benefit HFOT (Homes For Our Troops). HFOT builds complete homes for service members with serious disabilities and injuries. These homes are given at NO COST to the Veterans.

Crossing the Sahara

2011-10-04T19:33:00.001-04:00

Crossing the Sahara, a photo by artbybernadette on Flickr.

From the Human Planet tv series, thought I'd practice taking a photo and uploading from my iPhone. Not sure if I can rotate it from the phone, but cropping was easy using the Photoshop app.
NOTE: If anyone can help with rotating images using an iphone, I appreciate it!

Farmer's market

2011-10-02T09:51:00.000-04:00

An organic vegetable table at Otsiningo Park. Pretty as a picture, I thought! Wasn't sure if I wanted to color the baskets, eh, maybe later.

Easy Street?

2011-09-27T21:40:00.000-04:00

After all that cleaning, I wondered, Where the heck is Easy Street? Can anyone point the way?

Cleaning!

2011-09-27T21:38:00.000-04:00

Yes, I did all of these things in one day! Laundry, ironing, mopping, making a healthy dinner - Very tired at the end of the day, but it was a good tired. Is that an oxymoron - good tired? :-)

2011 0922 Indianapolis

2011-09-26T06:46:00.000-04:00

I went to a work conference in Indianapolis, with only 2 nights there. What a lovely city! Had I known, I could have spent at least an extra day there to enjoy the sites!
Had a half hour to do this from my hotel room before leaving.

Mountain of rubble

2011-09-19T13:30:00.000-04:00

Well, bless the sanitation workers & everyone else that worked on cleaning up the mountains of trash. So sad, seeing personal items in this heap. The pile ended up almost twice as high before they were able to haul it to the dump. How do I know? This is directly across the street from our workplace. Quite a strong smell!

2011 Flood

2011-09-13T23:22:00.001-04:00

"The world breaks everyone - and afterward many are stronger at the broken places." - Hemingway
This is drawn from a photo taken the first day we were working to clean up after the recent flooding.

Amaryllis

2011-09-11T07:56:00.000-04:00

Was just waiting for the right time to try brush and ink. This is a silk flower I've had for years. (had to clean the cobwebs off!)
Not sure how I feel about the thick ink lines, but it was fun to try for a change! A bright spot in a not-so-bright weekend!

Cercropia caterpillar

2011-09-09T10:59:00.000-04:00

A friend sent me this name, and once I saw it, I knew I had to sketch one!!!
These are so colorful!

Blue Mist

2011-09-08T21:44:00.000-04:00

An old watercolor that expresses my emotions right now. Epic flooding in our area and the entire northeast. Not my home, but my place of business - over 5 ft. and maybe more to to come. So many have lost their homes in this tremendous flood. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts!

Artistic License

2011-09-07T07:15:00.000-04:00

Available to all artists, if needed, to draw and paint as you wish, not how things really are!
And to bring a smile and remind us that art can be fun!

Mike S 50th birthday

2011-09-06T21:08:00.000-04:00

My friend's boyfriend will celebrate his 50th birthday soon, and she asked me to do a sketch of him as a gift. I hope he likes it!

JC Field Days

2011-09-06T21:04:00.000-04:00

Sept. 9, 2011 - The calm before the storm. All the rides were unloaded from the trucks, but not put together yet. Lots of bright colors!
I was imagining the screams of delight once the rides open!

Swarm!

2011-08-31T21:31:00.000-04:00

My attempt at a journal page. This morning at work, there was a humungous swarm of bees on the light pole. So, a beekeeper was called. His sister was visiting, so she came along with him. He cut a semi-circle from a piece of cardboard, and used it to scrape the bees off the pole into a box he had ready. Well, his first scrape missed the box, and the bees fell into a pile on the ground! Really strange to me! They were almost like liquid.
They started clustering back on the pole, so he just continued scraping, and eventually got most of them in the box. He sealed it shut, and put it in his truck. But- as they got ready to leave, I saw his sister putting on his white overcoat and hood. I guess she didn't want to chance riding with any loose bees, and I don't blame her!
It was a first for me, and it was fascinating!

Otsiningo Park geese

2011-08-31T21:30:00.000-04:00

Another gorgeous day yesterday! Went for a walk after work, and the geese were grazing. or whatever it is geese do. So out came the sketchbook, but I wanted to walk, so I added color after I got home.

Sampling watercolors

2011-08-29T19:25:00.000-04:00

I bought this set at least a year ago, and have only used a few of the colors. All of these Holbeins seem juicy, with the exception on Yellow grey and terre verte.
Just not enough room in my palette for all of them!!!

These are most of the other paints I have collected over the years. They are all Holbein except as noted. No, I don't get commission, apparently my wc instructor was a fan, and kept recommending these. The permanent violet is so luscious! And sap green and compose green are nearly identical. Why do I even have Davy's grey? Looks like I just kept buying colors I 'liked' instead of warm/cool choices. Might be time to update a few of my palette colors!

2011 0712 Old gas station

2011-08-28T13:16:00.000-04:00

A very old pump, with leaded gas, the hose looks like it works!
Another one done from my friend's photos taken during his 3 week motorcycle trip out west. Think this was in Utah, but he can verify.
He has the best pictures, posted here: Jim's ride posts on ADV Rider

Lisa's garden

2011-08-28T13:12:00.000-04:00

Visiting my friend a couple weeks ago. She doesn't tend the garden, but she gets to enjoy it!

Blind Tiger Pub

2011-08-28T13:10:00.000-04:00

A favorite local hangout! Another local sketch done Saturday, done BI (Before Irene!)

Toms Coffee & Gifts

2011-08-28T13:08:00.000-04:00

A great place to get gourmet coffee or a unique gift. I took advantage of the nice weather Saturday to get out and sketch before Irene came to town!

NYPenn Trade Center

2011-08-24T06:19:00.000-04:00

What a perfectly gorgeous day! Took a walk at lunch and still had 15 minutes left.
So I brought out my sketchbook and did this. Not the best viewpoint, but it felt good to sketch something.
Shortly after, sitting inside work, several of us felt the earthquake from Virginia! I went to earthquake.usgs.gov and saw that California & Colorado had *many* quakes in the last 24 hours. Do they always have so many?

Box o books!

2011-08-24T06:16:00.001-04:00

My dear friend was donating boxes of books, and let me pick some to take home. I ended up with a full box! I should be all set with reading material for quite a while!

Colorado pics 3

2011-08-11T07:09:00.000-04:00

From a friend's photos taken during his 3 week motorcycle ride out west. He has the best pictures, posted here: <a href="http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=701959&page=5" rel="nofollow">www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=701959&page=4</a> so his friends back home could follow his adventures.

Canyonlands National Park

Arches National Park

Latest Sketch Kit and Palette

2011-08-07T19:36:00.001-04:00

This was a pencil case - just using a small (Schmincke) palette, small spray bottle and teeny water container!

Colorado pics 2

2011-08-07T17:17:00.000-04:00

Not sure of this location exactly - From a friend's photo taken during his 3 week motorcycle ride out west. He has the best pictures, posted here: <a href="http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=701959&page=5" rel="nofollow">www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=701959&page=4</a> so his friends back home could follow his adventures.

Colorado pics

2011-08-06T21:50:00.000-04:00

Not sure of these locations exactly - From a friend's photo taken during his 3 week motorcycle ride out west. He has the best pictures, posted here: <a href="http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=701959&page=5" rel="nofollow">www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=701959&page=4</a> so his friends back home could follow his adventures.

"Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield

2011-08-02T08:55:00.001-04:00

The words to this song evoke strong images for me, there might be more to come, I love this song!

Boulder National Park, Colorado

2011-07-31T10:25:00.002-04:00

From a friend's photo taken during his 3 week motorcycle ride out west. He has the best pictures, posted here: <a href="http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=701959&page=4" rel="nofollow">www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=701959&page=4</a> so his friends back home could follow his adventures.
This photo was taken on July 6, 2011.

2011 07 NYC trip

2011-07-30T19:17:00.000-04:00

My daughter's 30th coincided with some business training, so I mapped out my locations, hotel, class and a special dinner at Le Cirque!

Of course, a special restaurant requires a special outfit, so I had to do some deciding...I ended up with the left skirt, in case you were wondering! (Fancier!)

2011-07-30T18:46:00.000-04:00

Every Friday throughout the summer, Binghamton has music and a Farmer's market Friday afternoons.
I was there enjoying the music-
This time the courthouse was being maintained, so I drew the men working.

This young lady had a suitcase, and sat down to enjoy the music. Binghamton isn't that large of a city - I wonder where she was going?

30th birthday gifts!

2011-07-30T18:44:00.000-04:00

My daughter turned 30! A friend suggested 30 gifts, so off I went. I had a blast shopping, until I realized I had to wrap every one!

2011-07-14 Daisys from my garden

2011-07-14T16:06:00.000-04:00

These are so easy to grow and so pretty in a vase!

2011 0709 Tree trimming

2011-07-14T16:04:00.002-04:00

Saturday morning, right across the street, they were trimming the tree with a bucket lift. They could drive this small equipment across the yard without damage to the grass, and easily access the branches needed. Really neat! And easy to draw, as I could sit on my front porch with my coffee!
Note: the yard is sloped, so the bucket thing-y is not on top of the truck, as it seems.

July Fest in Binghamton

2011-07-14T16:03:00.000-04:00

They had nearly perfect weather for this 3 day event! The most fun, though, was people-watching...

2011-07-06 Motel neighbor

2011-07-06T16:59:00.001-04:00

Another sketch from my friend's cross country trip photos. Here are his notes about this man: "He is my neighbor in this motel. He was traveling from Lancaster PA out west and got thrown off the bus here in Burlington CO for talking too much about conspiracies with the government. It took some talking to get him to let me take his pic so please enjoy."
I don't think I captured the true essence (!) of this man, judge for yourself here:
www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=701959&page=4 (you'll need to scroll down)

Strange Sign

2011-07-05T22:37:00.000-04:00

A friend is taking a 3 week cross-country motorcycle trip, and posts the neatest photos of things he sees along the way. This was seen in Spencer, West VA.
Yes, that is supposed to look like dripping blood...
Follow his ride report and see his photo here:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=701959&page=3

2011-06-26 Otsiningo Park

2011-06-26T20:31:00.001-04:00

Found 2 feathers today - the obsessive in me wants to sterilize them before sketching, lol.
I often walk here, there is a lovely view of the river and there are often Canadian geese.

Dessert

2011-06-26T08:03:00.000-04:00

Yum, strawberry shortcake! Notice the strawberries are the only thing not "store-made". I do like convenience. :)

2011-06-24 Banyan tree

2011-06-25T15:09:00.000-04:00

I have always been fascinated by these trees. From Wikipedia - "In Hinduism, the banyan tree is considered sacred. God Shiva is nearly always depicted sitting in silence under the banyan. It is thought of as perfectly symbolizing eternal life due to its seemingly unending expansion."
Used my new noodler's flex pen (as so many others have acquired recently!). It seems to take 'forever' for the ink to dry. Am I just impatient, or maybe my lines are too thick? Suggestions are welcome!

On the beach

2011-06-25T00:57:00.003-04:00

While we were relaxing, about 40 kids showed up and parked their towels right next to us. About 6 or 7 years old, they all ran screaming & laughing into the ocean. So much joy! Here are some of their towels.

At the beach 2011 0624

2011-06-25T00:56:00.001-04:00

Surprise trip to Ft Lauderdale, spent yesterday at Deerfield Beach. Very hot! Air temp- 92F, heat index of 100F!!!

Waiting at the airport (still) 2011 0621

2011-06-25T00:48:00.001-04:00

Not my plane!

Waiting at the airport 2011 0621

2011-06-25T00:46:00.001-04:00

Airport worker hanging out waiting for our plane.

2011 0614 Abandoned warehouse

2011-06-14T19:52:00.001-04:00

The sign says "Century Warehouse" but it looks more like "Turn of the Century", and not 2000! On a bleak grey day, I found the broken windows appealing to draw.

Heavy Equipment 20110613

2011-06-13T19:45:00.000-04:00

This was near the railroad tracks on my way home from work. Does anyone know what the correct name is? These all look like big machines to me, but they are also fun to draw!

2011 0604 Mah Jong tile necklace

2011-06-05T08:54:00.002-04:00

My niece found this and sent it to me - she knows how much I enjoy playing the game!

2011 0604 After a nap

2011-06-05T08:53:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was unseasonably cool, and it rained in the afternoon. What else could I do but take a short blissful nap?

EDiM 31 Spray bottle

2011-05-31T06:52:00.001-04:00

Soothing aloe vera gel after too much sun!
My last one for EDiM (drawing Every Day in May), it has been a great pleasure to share art with others this month.

EDiM 30 School supplies

2011-05-31T06:50:00.003-04:00

Technically, not school supplies for me- they are from my previous profession way before computer drafting!

EDiM 29 People doing something

2011-05-31T06:49:00.001-04:00

Tyler and Emily fishing off the dock at the cottage Memorial weekend. I had to do this from a photo I took. I need lots of practice to get figures correct in person!

EDiM 28 A view through a doorway

2011-05-31T06:48:00.001-04:00

The headboard was made by me (plywood, foam, batting & fabric). The fabric has French words: le lieuve et le feuillage dansent une ronde dans le jardin sauvage. I 'think' in English - The leaves and the foliage do a round dance in the wild garden.

EDiM 27 A Skyscape

2011-05-30T16:08:00.003-04:00

The view from my deck this morning.
So- it looked like rain on the right, but it was still sunny on the left.
It's ended up being a very sunny, hot day!

EDiM 26 A Sponge

2011-05-30T16:07:00.003-04:00

This is the most sketches I have done in a day, I think. The last six for EDiM!

2011 0528 a lake near White Haven. PA

2011-05-30T16:06:00.001-04:00

I completed this in the morning, with my coffee, sitting in the warm sun. So relaxing!

EDiM 25 a bird

2011-05-24T19:00:00.000-04:00

This Harry (for Harry Houdini, the escape artist!) one of my peach-face lovebirds. He is inquisitive, affectionate, and always ready to come out and play!

EDiM 24 something yellow

2011-05-24T18:58:00.002-04:00

Based on their paper labels, I always think the aureolin is going to be the darker warmer one, but the cadmium yellow hue leans toward an orange tint!

EDiM 22 & 23 Shade and a bell

2011-05-24T16:51:00.001-04:00

Not feeling too good today, so both my creativity and my lines are off!

2011 0521 poppies

2011-05-22T19:57:00.002-04:00

The first ones of the year, I so love their rich color!

EDiM 21 a coin 'La Semeuse'

2011-05-22T19:56:00.002-04:00

I wasn't that young when I got this - it's from my first trip to France in 1991. The original design (The Sower) was by Oscar Roty in 1900.

EDiM 20 Flashlight

2011-05-20T19:09:00.000-04:00

This is a crank flashlight, it does not need batteries. It really is only good for a real emergency!

EDiM 19 Rocks

2011-05-20T19:08:00.000-04:00

Yes, it really does say "smile"! The other 2 grey stones are from Positano beach in Italy.

New palette, new sketchbook!

2011-05-19T13:28:00.001-04:00

Just when I thought I was set with my supplies, I found this DS watercolor palette. They show a *video* of how to use it! What artist can resist visual aids? I do love it for the extra mixing area, but it is a bit heavier than my plastic one. So what? Starting a new sketchbook, using my new palette, life is good!

EDiM 17 &18 something round and some hair

2011-05-18T21:11:00.000-04:00

It's both difficult and fun to do a self-portrait. Glad it was only a small portion of my face.
How do you feel about self-portraits?

EDiM 15 &16 Shopping bag & something green

2011-05-18T13:31:00.001-04:00

I combined 2, since I am falling behind here. Not happy with my greens (or my yellows!) on this one, but, oh well, I am determined to finish EDiM! (That's Every Day in May do a different drawing.)

EDiM 14 something ugly that you love

2011-05-16T18:50:00.001-04:00

My Habitat boots! Paint-spattered, scraped and muddy, these boots have been on 3 Habitat builds with me. They remind me of the labor of love that was donated by so many people for others, and the feeling that you get *so* much more than you give.

Rebuilding after the fire - Binghamton NY

2011-05-16T13:44:00.002-04:00

Last December, there was a large fire that nearly destroyed this building. They are now repairing it, and using this huge crane.

EDiM #13 A fence

2011-05-15T19:51:00.000-04:00

EDiM (Every Day in May)
This mansion was built in 1870, and the fence has always caught my eye throughout the years. I just went there today for a concert. Excellent music and an interesting explanation about Beethoven and his String Quartets.

EDiM 12 something fresh

2011-05-13T15:19:00.004-04:00

I bought kale for the first time. I heard about baked kale, (with olive oil and salt and garlic) which is supposed to be delicious. Do I believe everything I read? No, but I wanted to try it for myself. I like healthy foods, especially if they taste good!

EDiM 10 something with a flame

2011-05-13T15:18:00.007-04:00

Not much to say about my lighter, except the color is kind of pretty...and, oops! I forgot to add the flame!

EDiM 11 a bowl

2011-05-13T15:18:00.006-04:00

An onyx bowl from Mexico. So beautiful, especially in the light...the onyx portion looks so delicate, yet, the bowl is quite hefty. However, certainly I did not do the bowl colors and shading justice. The brown trim on the top is, granite I think?

EDiM 9 a clock in the house

2011-05-09T12:56:00.001-04:00

This clock is on a shelf in my bathroom. Next to it, there are 4 ceramic pieces, small egg-shaped dishes (4'' tall). Given to me in the 70s, they are a numbered, limited set from Royal Copenhagen. Each one has a different color bird.

EDiM 08 Lightbulb

2011-05-09T12:55:00.001-04:00

My son-in-law brought this burned out bulb last visit. Used in photography, it is *large* so I included the pencil and sharpener to show the relative size!

EDiM 07 - how you get your news

2011-05-07T16:47:00.000-04:00

Either msnbc.com or nytimes.com. I watch less and less, as I am trying to keep a positive outlook in life!
I recently learned that two of my aunts read the entire NY Times every day! Er, I just skim the highlights online.

EDiM 06 - something tart or sour

2011-05-07T16:46:00.000-04:00

My son-in-law went to Naples and was very impressed by the size of the lemons! He also loved the limoncello. So he made his own last Christmas and called it "Evans Cello". (on the right) The label photo is of his hand holding a lemon. He couldn't even get his big hand around it! The bottle on the left is one I got in Positano (just south of Naples). Haven't broken the seal yet though!

EDiM 05 - Scissors

2011-05-05T15:38:00.002-04:00