Stretching to Sketch Challenge Week 7

Here is my sketch for this weeks challenge hosted by Kelly over at Kelly Berkey Designs. I have to admit I cringed a little when I saw the pose for this week. (Check out the original photo here) But as always I panic first and then when I start sketching I calm down and get lost in it. I often wonder how my hand is getting the image onto paper!

Each week I have worked through my initial frustration and the case of the uglies that sketch will go through in the beginning. I am glad I didn't give up on any even though I have made some adaptations to them along the way. This week I changed the pose of her hand.

Be sure to head over to Kelly's blog and have a look at all of the artwork for this week!

Sunset Scenes

Puerto Rico, 2003

I have always been a sucker for sunsets. I have quite a few sunset photos especially those that happen over the water. Today I wanted to share two of my favorites. The above shot was taken on my honeymoon in Puerto Rico. We stayed in Old San Juan. I took that photo from the beach at our hotel.

Malibu, CA, 1997

This shot was taken 13 years ago on a trip out to California. We were in Malibu at the beach. Wow, I can't believe it has been that long! So this was taken with film. I pointed and took the shot hoping that it was a good one. These days we are so spoiled with being able to see the shot digitally and can erase it and take a new one. Actually digital photography helped me to greatly improve my skills so I am not complaining! And all the digital altering you can do is so much fun!

Where have you seen your favorite sunsets?

More Images Of Fall . . .

This weekend we had beautiful weather once again so I took my pug out for a walk and brought my camera. It was a little tricky getting good shots with my pug in tow. He is always on the move and doesn't like to make any stops along the way! I wanted to share these pretty fall images today.
This shot above is someone's backyard who lives along the walk trail. Everytime I walk by especially when the sun is in just the right spot it looks so beautiful with the reflection of the sun on the ground through the trees.
I really like the misty look in this photo from the sun. I am loving all the oranges and yellows I see this year. I will miss the leaves when they have fallen away.

Hope each of you had a great weekend! I am hoping to have a very creative week! I still need to start on my Kelly sketch for this weeks challenge. Better get going on that!

Art Journal Frustration Leads To A New Sketch

I am taking Tam's free class Art, Heart, and Healing. It is my first class with her and love her style of teaching. I watched the first video for this week and was all excited to get started. I have never done an art journal before so I was curious.

I gessoed the pages of the journal to prepare it. But I was frustrated that my pages were warped and curling up. I was just too distracted by the warped pages to keep going!

So, instead of giving up I grabbed my sketchbook and graphite pencil. I decided that I still wanted to do the exercise even if I couldn't do the mixed media which I was so looking forward to after I watched Tam's demo. I sat and sketched this girl last nite. ( I have to admit that sometimes I enjoy sketching more than painting.) I finished her up this morning and used my very first stamp to add the hearts around her. I really do like her. I felt good when I finished the sketch. Although I gave up on the art journal I felt some sense of accomplishment with the completion of this sketch. I am finding that when I start something new I have even less patience for the learning curve!

If you haven't signed up already head over to Tam's site and join us! She is just lovely!

For those of you who art journal, any suggestions for my page warping problem?

Stretching To Sketch Challenge Week 6!!

Here is my sketch of Kelly for the sketching challenge she has been hosting over at her blog Kelly Berkey Designs. If you haven't joined us already please do! Every Thursday she will post a photo of herself for everyone to sketch, paint, or whatever. I am really having a good time and learning so much!

If you remember from my sketch last week I chickened out on doing the face profile. This week when I saw the picture I cringed because I wasn't sure if I would be able to do the face. And I really wanted to try this time! Although it doesn't look like Kelly I am pleased at how the face profile came out. Boy did I have trouble with the nose at that angle. I must have done it over 5 times and gave up! And then of course there are the hands. I have kept it no secret that I have had alot of trouble with hands since the beginning of this challenge. I knew I wanted to have her holding a heart and hope it is a pleasant distraction!

Check Kelly's blog later when she will be posting all the sketches for this week. I am excited to see everyone's work!

Giveaway Winner!!!

I want to thank everyone once again for entering my giveaway! It was exciting for me and fun too!

I picked the winner the old fashioned way . . . I put all the names in a hat (actually it was a bowl!) and the winner is . . .

Leila!!!!

Congrats Leila on being the winner of my first giveaway! Please email me your address and I will get those 2 prints out to you!

In other news . . . I have just about finished my new Kelly sketch! Stay tuned! I will be posting it soon!

Fall Colors Along the Walk Trail

Yesterday was a perfect weather day her in NY. It was 70 degrees, cool and breezy. Hubby and I headed out after breakfast to the walk trail with our pug in tow. It is just across the street from our house. I took the camera along. I was able to get some great shots of the foliage. Not sure if the colors have peaked here yet but they sure look close to it! I love the colors of the leaves reflecting in the water in the above shot.

Loving the orange and yellows!

More pretty reflections in the water!

My hubby took this one!

I may even try to paint one of photos with the water reflections if I have a brave moment! Water reflections are not easy with acrylic. Of course I can always leave that aspect out. Hmmmm.....not sure yet what I will do!

Oh, and today Art, Heart, and Healing a free course on willowing.ning starts! I am excited as I have never taken a class with Tam. Hope to see you there!