Happy Birthday Will!

My baby's turning 6 years old today! I sure love him! Have a great day William, you're a bright ray of sunshine in my world!!!

21 Day Challenge - Day 21

Wow! I can't believe times up! It has been so nice to take a little time out each day and be creative. To make something new and remind myself that I can stretch and grow artistically. All in all, I'm excited about this new "habit." One of the biggest surprises to come from all this is my new fondness for computer graphics. The "Paint" program was so fun to use and I'd like to get into it more. And perhaps at some point move on to a more advanced program. In the meantime, here she is, picture 21!!!

Day 21 Hooked These guys are hungry, but are they willing to take a bite? It took about 1 hour to create. Thanks everyone for your support and feedback throughout this experience (especially you, Alfonso! I couldn't have stuck to it without your support!)I'll try to keep posting any new artwork just for the fun of it! THANKS!!!

21 Day Challenge - Day 20

I thought I'd try something super different today by creating my picture entirely on the computer. For me, this is foreign territory, but I had so much fun experimenting and trying something new. The program is called "Paint." It is probably incredibly outdated, but it sufficed.

Day 20 Who
It looks like someone just tried to sneak up on these two. I love how their eyes are totally skiwompus. This took about an hour to create. Yay for trying new things!!!

21 Day Challenge - Day 19

We arrived home about 20 minutes ago. It's really been a wonderful (but very long) day. Alfonso suggested, given my drowsy state of being, that I draw something like this. p.s. this took him about 1 minute and was created on the back of a phone bill envelope.: Thank you Alfonso for the contribution, and the inspiring message. However, I thought I'd do something just as simple, yet educational. See, one of my favorite games to play with my kids is the scribble game. They scribble something on a piece of paper, and I (as quickly as possible) try to turn it into a picture of some sort. So you start with something like this:
And rotate the picture if necessary, until you see a potential image. Then you get your pen, add a little of this and that and. . . voila!!!

Day 19 Scribble Game

From sketch to finish about 30 seconds. I used computer paper and that darn blasted ball point pen.

21 Day Challenge - Day 18

I had chicks in mind tonight. They're mighty hungry.

Day 18 Peep
Sketch to finish, 45 minutes. I used cold press paper, watercolors and (big mistake) a leaky ball point pen.

21 Day Challenge - Day 17

It's getting difficult to think of things to draw. With so many good suggestions, I get these elaborate ideas in my head of how to accomplish them. Sometimes they are too elaborate so I end up ditching them and doing somthing like this:

Day 17 5 Cents

This is the ice cream cone that should have been. We were making plans to go celebrate the survival of their first day of school with an ocean commotion ice cream cone, when the kids began to act like crazy people. Sometimes I truly feel like I live in a mad house. Anyhoo, ice cream rights were revoked and this poor little thing never made it past the page. Sketch to finish about 45 minutes. I used bristol paper and colored pencils. I tried to go retro. Why the bubbles? I don't know.

Do you have a favorite so far? Are you getting bored of all this? Sometimes I wonder if I am too. On the down side, this process has been a bit tedious at times. However, on the plus side, I am becoming reacquainted with the solace I feel when creating something. It is remarkably therapeutic. I just wish I had something more interesting for ya'll to look at. But don't worry, only 4 more days left :)

First Day

My 5th Grader

My 4th Grader My 1st Grader

I have to admit I've been looking forward to this day. It's been a long summer break. But as this new school year has approached, I've begun to have mixed feelings. It's like I want to shout, "Wait! Don't grow up! Let's just stay this way a little longer." But time has a way of ticking on, whether or not you want it to. After dropping them off at school today, I felt so empty handed. It just drives home the fact that I love these boys and cannot imagine life without each one of them. Happy new (school) year guys! I know it's going to be a great one!!!

21 Day Challenge - Day 16

Today was long. Not much to say except, trick or treat?

Day 16 El diablito, la brujita y el fantasma
From sketch to finish about 1 hour 30 minutes. Cold press paper and watercolors. So tired.

21 Day Challenge - Day 15

It took a while to finally decide what to draw today. Once again the kids suggested something a little wacky; stick figure aliens abducting the animals on a farm. Wierd! I started drawing a farm and didn't have the heart to finish. Then a lemon came to mind. A lemon and a lime, no a lemon and a strawberry.

Day 15 Sweet & Sour

They're surprisingly good friends, despite having totally opposite tastes. I love the strawberry's mary janes. Suddenly I'm thinking a strawberry lemonade is in order. :) Sketch to finish 45 minutes. I used colored pencils and bristol paper. And this time, I finally remembered to sign it!

21 Day Challenge - Day 14

Guess what movie Ben and I watched this morning. . . it starts with "Little," and ends with, "Shop of Horrors." So I have killer plants on the brain, whatcha gonna do?

Day 14 Wrong Place, Wrong Time



This little girl needs to pay serious attention to her surroundings or she'll quickly become someone elses snack. Sketch to finish, 94 minutes (the exact length of the movie). I used bristol paper and colored pencils.

21 Day Challenge - Day 13

Today I taught a class about the importance of life. My mind kept thinking of that board game. Metaphorically speaking, we are all players in the game of life. I love my little carload. Every twist and turn, every drawback and payday, is more enjoyable with my family. I love this game!

Day 13 The Game of Life Sketch to finish it took 2 hours. Bristol paper, colored pencils. Click on the picture if you'd like a closer look. :)

21 Day Challenge - Day 12

If you've been following along, you'll know that we went to Lagoon, a local theme park, recently. Alfonso won a lion and a monkey for me and Ben won an Ugly Doll named Domo. When trying to decide what to draw the other day, Ben came up with this idea and Spencer not only caught on but did a mock up for me. I love it!



Day 12 Lagoon Friends From sketch to finish it took 45 minutes. I used watercolor paper and watercolors. Thanks for the help boys!!! :) I couldn't have done it without you!!!

21 Day Challenge - Day 11

I was going to draw a monkey, but didn't have time. This will have to do.

Day 11 - Superstar
Sketch to finish, 30 minutes. I used watercolor paper and watercolors. Hoooo rah!

21 Day Challenge - Day 10

My grandma Lottie had Alzheimer's Disease. I remember as a kid having to tell her my name repeatedly. She spent hours seated in front of her large front window, smoothing her hands along the creases of her dress, staring at the sky. One day I sat next to her smoothing my hands along my jeans, trying to see what she saw in the clouds. I was thinking about that day recently and thought how I'd like to capture it somehow. She wasn't wearing a white dress, but I didn't have the heart to paint it any color. White seemed just right. This is just a draft, but you kind of get the idea.

Day 10 Remember Me? Draft 1


From sketch to finish, 70 minutes. I used watercolor paper, pencil, and watercolors.

21 Day Challenge - Day 9

Day 9 Lagoon. I haven't been there for at least 11 years. Looking forward to a day of smiles, thrills, and mild swelling. I used lined paper and a blue ball-point pen. From start to finish, this took about 10 seconds.

21 Day Challenge - Day 8

Day 8 Flapper. This girl reminds me of my Grandma, only without red hair. Thoroughly modern. Totally fabulous. From sketch to finish it took 1 hour. Bristol paper, colored pencils & a little help from Microsoft Word.

21 Day Challenge - Day 7

I really need to get out of the habit of finishing these pictures just before midnight. Tonight was cut a little too close. Anyway, we went out on the lake today and had a wonderful time. I suppose as a result of all that water, I have fish on the brain.

Day 7 Lovely Fish

I just love the beauty mark. She's like an undersea super model. I don't know how long it took. :( Too tired to think. Bristol paper, colored pencils. Goodnight :)

21 Day Challenge - Day 6

My neices and I broke out the paints tonight and had a great time at Grandma's house. I made the killer lady bug to show Allie what abstract art can look like. I made the hive to show Megan what a beehive looks like. Not perfect, not anything remarkable, but we had fun. :)

Day 6 - The Killer Ladybug

and Home Sweet Hive

I couldn't decide which picture to use for today so I'm sharing both. Which is your favorite? From sketch to finish they took 1 hour. I used cold press paper, and watercolors.

21 Day Challenge - Day 5

I had a chance to sing today and it made me re-realize that when I'm singing (this is going to sound cheesy) but it feels like I'm flying. As I tried to decide what to draw today, I turned to the kids for help. Will suggested I draw a "stupid person." Spencer suggested a battle or an alien abduction on a farm. I got started on each of these things, but surprisingly, my heart wasn't in it.

So I decided to go with the image I had in mind previously this morning. Flying. p.s. I love angels.

Day 5 - Night Flight


From start to finish it took 1 hour and 30 mins. I used Bristol paper, watercolors, and salt.

21 Day Challenge - Day 4

Sorry it's so late at night. We left the house @ 8:00 a.m. and didn't get home til 9:30 p.m. From Layton, Salt Lake, to Park City, it was a busy, fun day! As I tried to think of what I'd draw today, I kept thinking of a little worm on a wall, crying. Strange I know.

Day 4 - The Day They Cut Down the Apple Tree


It's nice to have a good friend nearby when you're feeling down. Even if it is your natural enemy :) I used colored pencil and bristol paper. From sketch to finish, 40 minutes.

21 Day Challenge - Day 3

Drawing this picture was a great outlet today, very therapeutic. I don't know how long it took to complete because I was multi-tasking in a major way. Interruptions include, but not limited to, tending neighbor kids, cooking ramen, passing out popsicles, entertaining "the bored", cleaning the kitchen, rotating laundry (of course), refereeing fights, not peeing my pants, and enjoying a delectable tangerine. :) I love my job!

Day 3 - Surrender
I used color pencils, computer paper, and a magic marker.

21 Day Challenge - Day 2

Day 2, Me Want Butterfly



If she was just a few inches taller, she'd have it. 1 Hour from sketch to finish. I used a magic marker, pastels, and computer paper (I'm out of the good kind).

21 Day Challenge - Day 1

I recently found a great new blog called A Knack For Art. Check out his stuff, it's so entertaining! In it, artist and blog author Mike R. Baker, decides to take on a fellow artist Gina Perry's, 21 Day Challenge. For more info about this challenge, click here . The concept behind the challenge is, if you do something consistantly for 21 days, even for just 15 minutes, it will become a habit. Mike and Gina (both professional artists and illustrators) used this challenge to create new works of art each day using new mediums and techniques. I've decided to keep it simple and just create a new work of art each day.

Day 1, The Friendly Octopus

Talk about Mr. poplular. From sketch to finish it took me about 2 hours, using a magic marker, cold press paper, and watercolors. Hopefully I'll get better @ scanning :)

p.s. This challenge is not just limited to artwork. Imagine ANY hobby, exercise, housecleaning, yardwork, dancing, playing with your pet, calling a long lost friend each day, the possibilities are endless. However, if any of you decide to take on the challenge, let me know. We can help each other stay on track. Wish me luck and visit here tomorrow to see what I come up with.

Nesting

Lately I've had an uncontrollable urge to do something. But timing and circumstances are not in compliance. At least I can blog about it. Thanks to Mike R. Baker, here's a glimpse into my one track brain. . .