Making the time

As you know in my last post I enrolled in Leah's Art Everyday This Month Challenge and though her encouragement and words of wisdom where keeping my mind on getting something done everyday, I just didn't follow through for one reason or another which I won't bore you with here. However, with the holiday's coming up the spring in my mental step is getting lighter and more joyous.

I did manage to do three pieces in the last week or so.  Two of the pieces are did on the same day.  I found two sycamore leaves and I did one watercolour interpretation and then I got an idea to use the embossing powder to stamp the venation and then add the color in.  The first was I think successful, the second, I learned from and want to try again.  Here they are:

Watercolour with a bit of colored pencil

Embossing powder to capture the venation of the leave then applied watercolour.

 I think that the venation on this particular specimen was not definitive enough to make a clear print so it looks a bit mushy.  What do you think?  Suggestions for those who make prints with embossing powders?

The next piece I did last night.  It is of sea urchin skeletons. I used watercolour pencils to sketch in and create the regular and bumpy surface of these wonderful little gems.  I really need to work on my camera skills when taking photos of my work.  Just bought a book on this.  Gotta get reading and playing.  

Many Blessing to you all this Thanksgiving holiday.  I am thankful for the global community of creative people who are willing to share their expertise, encourage and support each other as we find our way on our life long journeys.  Thank you and best wishes to you and your families.

REnewed Effort - the challenge begins

Leah Piken Kolidas http://creativeeveryday.com/ has the annual November art challenge.  I decided to join the challenge this year to try and build my practice of creativity of any shape or form through whimsy and whim.  

Since late October I have been working on a 5 x 7" pieces of art per day.  I have a pile of "little art" but I have slacked off a bit this past week.  With that said, Anthropologie http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp,  near my house, have offered a workshop to build items for their winter window display.  Stacy the creative director of that particular store is building a winter wonderland of paper.  It was totally fun.  In fact, it reminded me how much I love to just play and create pretty things.  Here are the results of my efforts:

The Cupcake!

Top view of the Cupcake.

Winter Cake!

The theme for Anthropologie window displays this year is winter animals and forests made entirely of paper.  You should see the polar bear - life size!  I couldn't take a picture of it.  In anycase, we were taught how to manipulate the paper to create cupcakes, cakes and macarons.  I would love to work for the Anthropologie Art directors. Whoa!  Can I dream?

Okay,  this week I hope to get back to my 5 x 7" art - a - day practice.  I am also playing with patterns to make coffee cup protective sleeves out of pretty fabrics and crochet.  Hope to show you results soon.

Cheers!