May 2025

 Die-cuts and digital work in Procreate

Hope you're all having a wonderful spring!

APRIL

 Die-cuts and digital work in Procreate

The month is more than half-way over and I realized I forgot to share the April page of my '25 calendar.

Contrary to the image, I've hit a bit of a dry spell. I always pull myself out of them. It's just a busy and complicated year!

This is the one bit of artwork I've done in the last month!  A little sketch of my granddaughter I did in my sketchbook. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Rainy Day

5"x 7" watercolor on aquaboard

This year I want to practice watercolor. I've done several in the past but have certainly never mastered it.

The look of watercolor as it flows over the paper and does its own thing, all the effects that can be achieved, the energy of it. Yeah. I want to do that!

I've never quite gotten there, but that's what practice is about. One thing that is so so important is the surface you're working on. To do watercolors, surface is everything. This little painting is on aquaboard and it certainly has its benefits. It is very forgiving. The paint will lift off the surface (for the most part) with a wet brush. You can even scratch at it with an exacto knife. That's great. But what I wasn't able to achieve is that beautiful watercolor flow. Of course that could be me and my own inexperience. But I'll try the next watercolor on a different paper. 

Here are my steps:

With this bottom one, I realized I didn't like the eyes. That one on the left is just a bit too far away and higher that the other one. What now? Again, the aquaboard is forgiving, so I did manage to fix it a bit.

the final (at the top of page) is not perfect, but I was content with it.

This one below, I did several months ago in a watercolor sketchbook. The portrait itself isn't great, and his hand is unnaturally huge, but see how the paint does its thing, especially down in his sweatshirt? I like that. That's what I'm trying to do, that I couldn't seem to do on the aquaboard.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

March

 This is a combination of die cuts, coffee-stained paper and a bit of digital Procreate magic.

This is "March" on my 2025 calendar, and I'm a bit late posting due to problems with my internet.

I have another piece to share in the next week or so, but I have hit a bit of a creative block, and I need to get myself out of it. It happens now and then. So, today I played with some new die-cuts, just to be doing something creative that may spark another idea.

Thanks for stopping by!

Frozen Waterfall - Hocking Hills

Frozen Waterfall at Old Man's Cave  5"x 7" oils 

This one is little, but turned out so nice! I started on a 5"x7" black canvas board, and (with the exception of the water), a palette knife was the only thing I used for the first step (below). The waterfall is at Old Man's Cave in Hocking Hills and this first step includes the bridge that passes over the top.

The second time I worked on it (below), I used a little artistic license and eliminated the bridge.

I didn't like the way it seemed to cut into the atmosphere. I also started using some small brushes to create a little more form in the rocks and continue adding detail to the water. 

The result of the third session is what you see at the top. I went back to the palette knife and, with patience, kept that nice rocky texture. I also brightened the area where the bridge used to be to give more perspective and atmosphere. I did that by scumbling - applying a thin layer of white oil paint over the top of the dried layer of paint. Then, I went over that with a bit more work with the palette knife.

By the way, the reference photo I used was taken by me during a Valentine's trip to Hocking Hills with two other couples. Though the weather made the trip there treacherous, and the hike was no joke (though we had several laughs as we had to scoot along over the icy trails on our butts in some places), I feel fortunate to have seen this area in its winter glory.

Thanks for stopping by!

And if you're here on the 14th, Happy Valentine's Day!

February - Love Letter

 die-cuts and digital

"Woo-hoo! February is here!" - says almost no one. It is typically one of the gloomiest months of the year weather-wise. I, however, am a person who loves February and I've most likely blogged about that before. 

Not only does it contain the incredibly exciting Groundhog, and Presidents Days! but also Valentine's Day, the Superbowl, and lastly . . . MY Birthday! Seriously, WOOHOO! 

 

If you're looking for more reasons to enjoy the month, you can celebrate something nearly every day with all those exciting little national days of celebration. February 1st - National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day! to February 28th - National Chocolate Soufle Day! Ironically, February 28th is also National Tooth Fairy Day, so maybe you can make some money when your teeth fall out after celebrating all those sweet food days. Win-WIN. Right?

For more of these fun national reasons to celebrate something in February, click here. I've made it easy for you!

Make everyone your valentine this month. Spread the love! Love yourself! Get your taxes done early. Organize that closet you were supposed to do in January. Shop for a new green shirt to have handy when March 17th rolls around. Start a Christmas ideas list (never too early for that, and you'll thank yourself in December.)

All I'm saying is . . . February can be your favorite month too. It's all about attitude. 

Thanks for stopping by!