Six more weeks

Oh boy, I'm neglecting this blog so bad! I was laid off late last year and started a new position early January so I've been making art and just posting on Instagram. I just got this blogspot app so hopefully it will make posting much more easy! I'm off today so I thought I'd try this out and make a blog post today. I'll be surprised if I get any comments as I'm sure I've lost a lot of followers due to my neglect! But today is a new day! :))

I got a pot of daffodils at Trader Joes and thought I'd try this on a journal page.  Going across the fold seemed easier and I need to use more of my journal space! I noticed that many of books have blank left hand pages! 

I like to use my phone's camera to check my values. It's a tool I use a lot! Gosh what did I do all those years ago?! LOL!

I painted in most of the page but it looked boring to me

So I added some more color throughout and around the edges, etc... this is what I ended up with-

I am pleased with this and tried not to overwork the paper around the pot. For me I'll go crazy with the shadows and creases and it'll take away from the simplicity of the flowers. And I really TRY not to overwork flowers. The paper in this journal is good quality drawing paper but def not watercolor paper so there aren't too many layers you can paint before the paper starts to degrade. Here are some other things I've been noodling around with, the past week or so. The weather is a recurring theme... LOL-

Have an awesome day! Hope it's warm where you are because it's coooold and windy here in NY!

ICAD update! June 4th thru 19th

I'm still hanging in there with the ICADs. Some days I want to give up but I'm trying to keep on going. It keeping me committed. Below are more ICADS dating from Jun4 to the 19th. I still have yesterdays and todays to do . I just was so busy with work that I wasn't able to make something yesterday but its Saturday so I take do both today.

I didn't follow the prompts so much early on but I started to pay more attention after the Beatles card (bottom right)
I really like the top left card. Well actually I like them all:)

Father's Day was stuck in there and that one was fun to do, particularly the watercolor background. I got a lot of good response on IG and FB for the Toy Camera card, it struck a chord with a lot of people. that was a surprise.

The orange flowers were tricky. I wanted to move away from my micron markers and try some india ink. The paper of the index card is a disaster to work with but I am going to keep trying. Maybe I need to gesso the card. not sure, I've got to test that out.

 

I hope you like having a look and I'm having a good time doing these. Making art everyday is the cure for a lot of things! Most importantly it get me out of my head.

Happy Saturday!
FranT

 

 

Weekend Work

I was able to get alot of painting done this weekend.

 

...and drawing too. The backyard had alot of good pickings.

 

 

Good stuff.
 

The dandelions have taken over this year,

either that or they have just caught my attention.

 

 I found a good organic weed killer recipe and am going to test that out. But not before I got a chance to paint them ;)

 I received mail this past week and found the pattern book from Ankepanke. She held a pattern contest and the winners received a sample booklet.

My page is to the right.

 

Well that's all for today and I hope everyone is having a great week. A day left til the weekend!

Take care,

Fran T xo

Art Renewal

 I 'm linking up to Artsyville's Glue-It Tuesdays

 I had started a painting on a page in my art journal but lost interest fast.

I thought I would use that as a base for this composition. 

 

I keep a plastic sandwich bag for my watercolor scraps.

I get great satisfaction out of the fact that

I can use all these little bits together. 

 

I did add some addtional paint to the purple bits, they looked too plain to me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another project I am working on involves this book I have WaterPaperPaint and I have tried a number of the projects.

This one is Project 20:



 the edges of the artwork don't appear perfectly straight,
 I'll have to flatten in some books.



Of course, as I do with most instructions and recipes,

I don't read all the way through...[shocker]

I was supposed to use black paper or matte black acrylic to start but I just used black gouache.

So it got a bit tricky and easily muddied up the brighter gouache colors.

So next time I will be sure to use acrylic, then I won't have to go over alot of the elements to brighten them up. 

I am tempted to cut this up and make four ATCs but I think I am going to leave it.

Detail, a look closer

My favorite part are the blues, in the top left quarter and bottom left quarter. Green is my favorite color but blue is such a close second. 

 

 

 I am so glad its getting warmer. Aren't you?

A few spring-y things:

 specimens I selected while on my walk with the dog.

the crocuses are coming!

 

Happy Easter, Happy Spring!

Have a terrific weekend and enjoy!

Take care,

Fran T xo

Busy

 My job has got me so busy and I

feel like I'm getting in just bits of life activities
 in here and there. This too shall pass:)
I tried to get some painting in the other night
and I'm happy with the result.

 

 

Painting is my escape, brief as can be, but still...

I get lost in making these abstracts.

Happily lost, I'd like to say.

 

 

I wish I had time to paint or draw up my list for

Artsyville's LIST IT Tuesday but it's

 not in the cards for me this week.

I can even imagine what I would draw...

but not enough time in the day!

So, here goes -

This week's suggested topic was "what's working for you."

1.My new haircolor

2.My decision to no longer micro-manage J's homework and after school activities. I've just let it go. And amazingly we both are surviving.

3. Painting multiple times a week. Gotten into a groove. I've still got some days left.... I'm not giving up hope on squeeking out some time this week.

4. My new meal plan. I've been rolling 20 days now. It works if you work it, Frannie

5. Going to bed before midnight MOST days.  This night owl can actually do that. One day, I'll be a morning person, its my dream.

6. Eating dinner earlier in the evening. Switched around homework time and dinner time. Mucho better plan.

7. Staging my coffee maker the night before. Gee, what a bright idea I had, will wonders never cease? 

I hope to get another post in this week.

Please visit Artysville's blog,

she is sparkling, colorful and humorous.

Also, why not have a peek at some others

I've listed on my side bar? I love going to these spots.

Maybe you will too I hope so! :)

 

Also linking up to Show Me What You Got art linkup.

 

 

Have a wonderful day!

Take care,

 

 



 

Getting Lost on a Winter's Day

This past weekend I created the journal page [below]
in response to a prompt by Artsyville. 
The prompt was to "Choose a language you know
nothing about. Look up the numbers
from 1-10. Find the words for
ART and LOVE.
Listen to a song. Observe how the letters
or characters flow. Wrap yourself in the unfamiliarity."

  

;

 

The idea for the blue design came from a post card that

I saw online which had a photograph of Slovak embroidery.

I tried to match it closely but then saw a cover

for a book dedicated to fireplace tile design (!)
and switched to copying that! Of course, I had to

look further into the folk art and there

were some fabulous books on art, crafts and

native costumes. The craftmanship is astounding!
 

 

The hearts were so much fun to do.

Drawing them is just getting me into
practice for Valentine's Day,

which will be here before we know it.

Why does it feel like time is absolutely flying by?

I've also got myself an new amaryllis after

I accidently killed the other one!

    

 

I left it in the direct sun light and it just killed the

poor thing. What a brown thumb I have. Anyway,

this new one is doing well in the corner of the

room and so I've been studying, drawing

and painting the lovely thing.
 

Have you got

any bulbs growing now?

Hope things are going well for everyone.
Take care and be well!

P.S. Remember to visit Artsyville to get those
"GET LOST" prompts:)
  





Sunday Sketches and AEDMs

 I had such a nice week off. I did zero! It was fantastic..

I spent the whole time drawing, painting and working on Etsy stuff.

Today was spent mostly working on my shop. [ I'll post more about that tomorrow or Tuesday.]

 

Here are some art journal pages I created this week. This one below was my final AEDM for the month. The Gadget page was made on the 29th and my amaryllis page was created on the 30th:

 

 

 

 






I posted this one a while back but got a chance to finish it up with watercolors this week.

 

I also decided today that I'd update my banner on my shop. Here are some sketches I made this afternoon , so it's technically, my Sunday Sketch!

 

Then here is the cleaned up version below:(Blogger gets funny after you put in a couple of photos, it doesn't allow me to up size this art...oh well!)

 

I wanted to have a banner that was made with my own handlettering rather than a computer generated font. Mostly because I do so much of it. I'm happy with how it turned out but I'm sure I'll change it in the future.

 

 

 

I am still learning about working on  and keeping an Etsy shop.  I have to commend each and every person who maintains a presence there. It's such hard work! I knew it would be that is probably why I procrastinated so long... I am really trying to attack this and tried to upload as much as I can. I felt for a long time that I had to wait for the "right" time , blah, blah...but it's never the perfect time to do almost anything so who was I trying to fool? LOL I have alot more to do but I feel like I'm finally getting started. I have to learn how to make a treasury. I also have to remember to get active on that site at least once a day. I am open to any and all suggestions/comments:)

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Speaking of Etsy sites....Please check out Cameron's blog, she is hosting a contest and giving away a  a 50% OFF Coupon Code to use on any ONE item in her shop

All you need to do is leave a comment:) 

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Please remember to stop by Blue Chair Diary's blog and have a look at all those participating in Sunday Sketches, I promise you you'll be glad you did!

 

Have a good week!

List It Tuesday

Here's my list below! I have to laugh because when I first read what the 'challenge'

was for the list earlier, it caught me off guard and right away I thought "aw, geez, I can't think of anything.." So I had a think and now I feel I could fill five pages. LOL.

 

 

I am really grateful for all that we have/had and what we've been able to do, for sure.

So thanks to Aimee and her guest Nicole for subscribing a bit of introspection to me today!

 

I'm off this week and creating as much as I can.

I'll be posting again soon more art to put up on my blog.

Have a great day!

 

Falling Behind

It's been quite a while and I've fallen a bit behind with my posts.

Here are a few images I've worked on these past days.

today's artwork - Sunday 11/18/12 , for AEDM and Sketch Sunday

We finally got power restored in the house on the 11th. Which was just shy of two weeks. This past week we tried to get back into the swing of things.

 

 

 

 I been creating the whole while through but unfortunately  I haven't been blogging
AEDM and PatternADay much since the storm. But I'm here!
 

I've definately been keeping up-to-date on Instagram. Blogging takes a little more time. Instagram is just so, well, instant. LOL!

But you can say more when you blog. I don't have alot to say tonight. So tired and this is going to be a busy week with Thanksgiving on the way. I'll try to do a better job this week:)

Have a great week my friends. Thank you so much for all your visits and comments as it means alot to me.