My first drawing in my new Chicken Sketchbook - our newest baby chicks! The sketchbook is a gift from my youngest son, and is made by a Fair Trade Organization called Mr. Ellie Pooh in Sri Lanka. This is the home of one tenth of the world's total 40,000 Asian elephants. These pages are made of recycled paper and elephant poo - no kidding!! Since the paper is so porous, it does not work for watercolor or even gouache. But pen and ink, and acrylic work beautifully, and that's all I've tried so far. I love working in a book that is artisan made, and I plan to fill the pages with the drawings and antics of my hens. Painting number 4811 in 4811 days.
I feel like it's already Easter with these chicks in the house! It's so fun to cuddle and paint them, and they are showing their unique personalities, too! We brought them home last Thursday, and they are already growing. Michael and Tess gave me an artisan made Chicken sketchbook, so I have decided to fill it with chicken sketches and paintings. The paper is made of recycled paper and ELEPHANT POO!! There's a whole backstory to creating these sketchbooks and turning poo into funds to support the elephants and their community. The paper is porous, so I've sketched in ink and colored with acrylic. Watercolor does not move at all in this paper. The cover is a three dimensional rooster head, which is the inspiration for the theme of this journal. I can't wait to try more mediums on these pages as I capture all my girls, one by one. Painting number 4810 in 4810 days.
I love painting this cool old hackberry on the place. It's one of two very old ones here. It's been rainy and drizzly most of the day, and I love the moodiness of the pasture. Oils are so expressive in the landscape, each stroke marking the flow of the grass and trees. What a peaceful way to spend a little time. Painting number 4809 in 4809 days.
I love a quick, loose paint on a misty, moody day. The colors are more saturated in such light, and the subtle shifts in hue area almost ethereal. The days have been so gorgeous, I feel we've had so little winter. So, I'm soaking it in while I can. Spring will be bursting forth sooner than I think! Painting number 4808 in 4808 days.
I worked in the garden until I was pelted with sleet! Then, I sketched my progress as the rain watered my seeds! It's been so gorgeous until today, and I've been winter sowing more seeds this winter than ever! I nearly forgot to plant 10 Ozark Besuty strawberries (mainly by the back door pump) and probably a third of the 100 red onion sets that I picked up earlier in the week. We should get good rain over the next few days, which will give every seed a boost. I also spread a bee lawn mix over some bare patches, too. And since I've never tried that blend before, I have no idea what to expect. I'm going to enjoy watching all these new plants emerge in the coming weeks! Painting number 4807 in 4807 days.
These little Starlight Green Eggers are yellow on the bottom with markings on the top - AND they'll lay green eggs one day! I brought them home yesterday, and it's been so fun cuddling them between chores! I just HAD to paint their cuteness before they double in size! Chicks grow so fast at this age! I hope to paint them all many times before they are full grown! Painting number 4805 in 4805 days.
How could I possibly resist Easter Egger chicks?!! Well, obviously, I couldn't - so I'm painting their super sweet cuteness while I can. We didn't see this variety available last year, and I just had to jump at the chance of getting chicks that would one day lay blue eggs, and other colors, too! It's fun to hear their peeping in the house again! Painting number 4804 in 4804 days.
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This kitty painting is on my easel tonight - and he is the sweetest, most affectionate half grown kitten! We have adopted siblings, a yellow tabby and a calico from a friend who's granddaughter found them and one other along the road. It's funny how stars align and the perfect pets drop right into your lap. Painting number 4803 in 4803 days.
Even overcast days are beautiful, in their quiet, misty way. The subdued colors of winter are heightened in this light. The twists in this water are lovely, and winter is the best season to reach the water's edge. This local lake is a painting treasure trove, and I'm so lucky to get to paint the beauty. Painting number 4802 in 4802 days.
It can be hard to paint a moving target - especially this affectionate new kitty! She loves attention and winds around our legs as we walk. If we're still, she's in our laps and climbing to shoulders, which also makes for difficult painting, lol. So, I wait for her to settle, then start my process. When I'm ready for a photo, she's on the move again, making it nearly impossible to get a pic. She's a beauty and I look forward to painting her in the years ahead. Painting number 4800 in 4800 days.
What is sweeter than the fragrance of potted tulips in the house? I brought these home from Family Tree Nursery and had to do a quick painting before they fade! I have a fondness for pink tulips, and brought some home last year, too. After they fade and die back, I put the pot outside to plant the bulbs in the garden. When I went to plant last year's bulbs, the three had multiplied to 9 - just like magic! They are in my front bed waiting for their signal to emerge! I'll plant these out there, too, when they fade. Painting number 4799 in 4799 days.
I've been playing with watercolor batik again, and I love the process of the layers! On delicate rice paper I sketch out my scene with an India ink pen. This is important to maintain the lines through the layers of watercolor and hot wax to come. Much of the ink will have faded through this process. I can paint a layer or two outside, but need to go in for the hot wax already warming in a dedicated crock pot. The best part of the unveiling of the painting as all of the wax is removed, and the image emerges. So unpredictable and invigorating! I have several in progress now. Painting number 4798 in 4798 days.
Time spent with pen and ink is like time spent with an old friend! I'm using a fountain pen loaded with rich brown ink for this, and a water brush pen in my pocket. A paper towel completes my gear so I can hike in and out fuss free. It's a little brushy along here, so deep winter is the best time of year to get good sight lines. It becomes too difficult when the vegetation fills in during summer months. Quiet and tranquil, this creek is a favorite local spot that I return to again and again. Painting number 4797 in 4797 days.
This little head of iceberg lettuce is growing from my kitchen scraps. It's so adorable I had to paint it! I've started another and a tiny cabbage, too, just to see if I could coax life from the stumps. I add a little plant food every two weeks, and refresh the water every few days. I'm hoping for roots, but so far they evade me. It's fun to garden inside at night, in the middle of winter! Painting number 4796 in 4796 days.
Have you ever found a drawing that you have no memory of doing? Traditional pen and ink from 9 years ago, and have no idea where I sketched it! I'm most cases, I will see a painting or drawing that I have done in the past, and I'm instantly transported to that time and place. I remember the sights, sounds, and weather of the day as I worked on location. It's so strange that this completely draws a blank for me. And I found others, too. Painting number 4795 in 4795 days.
Chamomile and radish seeds planted and painted! What a beautiful day to spend outside! In addition to these seeds, I also planted 5 or 6 of the new seed varieties I bought from the Experimental Farm Network. They are all perennial vegetables which can be winter sown, and I'm so excited to watch their progress in the coming months. I'm marking everything I plant, because it is so easy to lose track with the sheer volume of gardening that I do! 60's today and maybe snow this weekend, so I'm making hay while the sun shines! Painting number 4794 in 4794 days.
I love painting and growing cascading petunias, even if the seed randomly sprout. I ordered a petunia selection from aerogarden, but I think the tiny seeds may have been jostled out of most of the net cups. I've only gotten a purple one and this one to grow to glory. Perhaps, I should try simply putting some petunia seeds in directly. It's fun to sketch a little of my garden life - when I get the chance! Tyler's, Trav's and Michaela's families were out for family fun in this 63 degree weather! It's great to have everyone out - and the horse got plenty of attention, too! Painting number 4793 in 4793 days.
Lady Belle is VERY interested in what I'm painting, and offering her suggestions as I work! She's trying to figure out what I'm doing when I'm NOT there specifically to grain her, pet her, offer her treats or clean out the fence line. She sniffed and tried to nibble on the paper, but I was too quick for her! She's real nosy, and it's been fun getting to know her and her antics! I'm so happy Teddy wanted to rehome her with us! Painting number 4792 in 4792 days.
