Lesson # 5

 We will be receiving our last lesson for the Sketchbook & Watercolor: Journal Style class tomorrow morning.  I cut it a little close this time as this is Wednesday.  I have finished and posted the drawing and painting of this shoe though, so I made it.  I was just glad I could still draw as I haven't picked up a pencil to do that as often as I should since I posted the sunflower. 

Shoes--- the subject we were to draw this week.  Some of them did at least 6 I know.  I have seen them all, but have not had a chance to read the stories behind the drawings yet.  Fortunately the class forum will stay open for a few weeks and I will be able to catch up on them.   
  I have no idea why the scanner cuts off the bottom and the toe.  They are both on there another thing I didn't have any patience for this evening.

Lesson 4

It is going to be a busy week of cleaning.  I would rather be painting, dyeing, sewing, just about anything other than cleaning.  I am thankful I have a house to clean, just enjoy other things a little bit more.  I have completed lesson 4.  Didn't know if I would get one posted this week.  I did get a sunflower drawn and painted late this evening.  I did leave some white spots, more would probably be better. 
Centers are difficult to do and one can lose their place quite easily when there are a number of petals.  I am still trying to make sure I managed to draw all of them.  I decided one fell out during the process. 

 I hope I have time to draw a couple more in the next few days as a friend gave me a beautiful rose this afternoon and lily.  They will have to reside in the garage though until I am ready for them as I am allergic to flowers.  Definitely need more practice in this area.  Over thinking and over painting once again.   The scanner is giving me grief and is not picking up the entire framed area of the drawing.  Always something with computers.

Wow, it is November!!

  I can't believe it is the 3rd of November already.  Thanksgiving will be here before we know it, then Christmas and we will be starting another new year. 

 This year has had more than its share of emotional highs and lows, but then one never knows what is around the corner, which is a good thing in my opinion.  I have learned that taking one day at a time is a good habit to get into as well.

  I have been trying to do more sketching each day, right now continuous line drawing for the sketchbook class I am taking thru Joggles taught by Jane LaFazio.   This is the latest watercolor.  Lots of mistakes on this one, but hey I am learning and know much more than I did three weeks ago.  I can even make the scanner work properly now.  I think it has something to do with remembering what I did from one time to the next. 
 

Check out the online classes if you haven't as there are a number of excellent places and instructors offering them these days. 
   

Lesson # 3

Amazingly it is the third week in the Sketchbook & Watercolor Class I am taking and I have completed the third lesson!!!   I will try to do some more this week, but the important thing is I am still on track.  Not sure how this has happened!!!

Our lesson this week is continuous line drawing with our permanent marking pens, no pencils, other than to sketch the frame around our painting when it has been completed.  
 
For those not familiar with this technique, once I start drawing I cannot lift the pen from the surface of the paper until the drawing is completed.  It is okay to draw the rivets in after the main drawing has been completed.  I can trace back over a line if necessary as well. 

Once the drawing was completed, I painted the drawing with watercolors.  I am happy with this little piece, which has been painted on a 5" x 7" piece of hot press watercolor paper.  I still didn't leave enough white areas in my piece, that is one of the things I am having problems doing.

The grain bin is located a mile from our home and has seen better days. 

Lesson # 2

I have completed another watercolor.  We received our second lesson today and I decided to get busy and paint the leaves.  I gathered numerous leaves from the yard and settled on three. 
After I drew the entire group of bugleweed leaves, I thought, what did I do that for??? I could have drawn another 3 leaves in the time it took me to draw and paint that group.  I like it, but I could have made it a little easier on myself. 
  I scanned this one before remembering what the bottom plant is.  It is parrot's beak.  I knew it was parrot's something, but it took awhile.  And I did get this one scanned.  I usually take a photo, but for some reason the photo was washing out at the top of the bugleweed.  The scan looks better. 
 I am enjoying this class.

Counting my blessings

Sometimes I know without a doubt that God is looking out for me. 

  This morning we were within a few feet of being involved in a serious collision when a semi driver came into our lane of traffic.  Joedy slammed on the brakes as we watched the guy swerve to the left to get out of our lane and go into another lane of oncoming traffic. 

 Makes me appreciate the photos I took after returning home even more.  They are of simple things in our yard, but beautiful to me as they are here but a short time.  

The Irish Eyes are hanging in there even though the flowers look a little worse for wear, not as perfect as they were earlier this summer.  They have character now.

The Washington Hawthorne is starting to turn.  These are the only leaves on the entire tree that have made the transformation.  I am in hopes the entire tree will turn before it freezes hard.  They seem to be a little more red than usual.

The Amur Maple is about half way there.  The fall leaves do not stay around very long, a week if we are lucky.  Once there is a bit of wind, they are on the ground.  It is one I have to watch closely or I might miss it.  It has been an unusually warm fall, September was very warm.  Probably what hastened the corn in drying down. 

NO. # 2 Pear & Pomegranate

I have completed
another watercolor.  We are to do 2 or 3 and I have accomplished 2 and it is only Tuesday.  That is exceptionally good for me.  There are 5 more classes to go, will see how my record is by the end of 6 weeks. 
  It was easier this time, I think I achieved better shading, left white areas on the paper, you wouldn't believe what a challenge that is, did manage a few spots on the pomegranate, shading will have to do on the pear.  The shadow is grey this time instead of bordering on brown.  Overall I am happy with this and I should only get better if I continue, right?!!