Part Two Dear God, What does it meeaaannn???? This desk of mine!? Does it mean that I'm a sluggard who never clears off her desk? Does it mean that I am so scatter brained I can't keep up with one thing and another? Does it mean that I have so many things going on in … Continue reading A Desk Saga–Part Two
Tag: sketchbook
A Desk Saga–in 4 Parts
Part One A friend who came to visit yesterday asked...'ummm...is this the umm...same cleaned up desk you posted on Instagram just a couple of weeks ago? < Meep.> Yes. Unfortunately. I have this ongoing tussle with the surface of my desk. Many moons ago, my husband refinished this old teacher's desk which looked nearly black … Continue reading A Desk Saga–in 4 Parts
Negative Painting
At the school where I teach art part-time, I am asked to begin each year with a lesson on Nature Study in Dry-Brush Watercolor. This approach to painting a nature study piece is one of the foundations of the Charlotte Mason approach to education that my school so beautifully exemplifies throughout the K-8 curriculum. … Continue reading Negative Painting
Restrictions: A Key to Artful Living
The above painting was made last Friday at the Ciener Botanical Gardensher in my town. I decided to place a restriction on myself and only use oil pastel and watercolor. It can be a lot of fun imposing a limit on your creative utensils. It works like a guide or a path marked out for … Continue reading Restrictions: A Key to Artful Living
A Story in Paint
Or perhaps this could be titled, Jen's Wonky Palette! Well, one of you asked a simple question: What specific watercolors do you use to paint with? I thought this would be a simple thing to answer. But it actually got me to reminiscing as I painted this wonky drawing of my palette. This is both … Continue reading A Story in Paint
Drawing at the Gardens
I get to go today! Yay! Hooray! That is, if the overcast skies do not give way to rain. 🙁 I'm really looking forward to it! Here's a sketch I made the last time I was at the Ciener Botanical Gardens. Sometimes I like to put little restrictions guidelines for myself, as I did that day: … Continue reading Drawing at the Gardens
Morning Glory Vine
On my walk this morning, I passed by the garden at the top of Silver Dapple Lane. It is in a state of decline, winding down from the summer's producing. A few tomatoes hang onto skeleton-like plants, a bean or two or three hide under browning leaves, and an unpicked watermelon sits ripe amid the … Continue reading Morning Glory Vine
Be All In! Right Where I Am
Due to my very FULL life 😉 I have not been able to draw on Fridays with my friend Debbie for a few weeks. I miss it so much! And today is no exception...I will miss being there, tracing the lines of the autumn flowers in the beautiful setting at the Ciener Botanical Gardens. But … Continue reading Be All In! Right Where I Am
In My Field
I long to sit in my field. To listen to the late summer hum. To wonder at the bowed heads of left-behind wheat. To drink in the gorgeous array of color in the wild, dew-dripping grasses. To feel the light breeze and to smell the rain sodden earth. This I love. This feels like home. … Continue reading In My Field
What it Takes
Have you ever wondered how many stitches it takes to knit a sock? Hm. Well. I did. And so I counted. Or rather approximated. For my recently finished knit sock, which has 7" inches above the heel, and fits my size 9 foot, I counted the rows, then multiplied them by the number of stitches … Continue reading What it Takes