drawing challenge - cross stitch

pigma pen, watercolor and gouache in 8x6 gamma

 The challenge presented by Nadine was interesting and pleasing to my obsessive nature.

I layered and crossed out and layered more. 

Stop by Tiny Wolf Nadine's excellent blog to see the rest of the challenge drawings.

Last Night, the Moon

From my chair last night, I watched the moon sinking toward the bosom of Kupreanof.  She grew more golden as she  glided down.

''Last Night, the Moon' - watercolor in 8x6 'gamma' sketchbook

These long summer evenings are so lovely.  I stay awake too late, entranced by the light, the wonderful scent of the forest and beach, the birds singing the day goodnight... and drawing.

'Moonish' - pigma pen and prismacolor pencil in 8x6 'gamma' sktechbook

Return of Two Forest Favorites

William Wallace, our Norwegian Forest Cat, is the elder statesman here on the beach, and beloved Uncle to the other pets.  

William Wallace and Thomas on the Couch of Comfort

Although devoted to our family, he does take a vacation from time to time.  No matter how many times he has taken these leaves of absence, I end up worried sick about the old duffer. 

I woke to the squeal of eagles in the trees outside my bedroom window this morning – like a welcome home chorus for Uncle William who was peering through the French door when I came downstairs.  His disappearance lasted two weeks and a day this time, and I was thinking maybe he was gone for good.  He is 17, after all.

Also reappearing in the woods this weekend, the noble blueberry - ripe enough to start picking!

Scene Recently, #29

The past several days saw a break in the relentless rainy cold, providing the flowers a chance to flourish around town and beach.

Weird reptilian leaves in a downtown planter.

A flurry of blooms in the planter outside the fabric shop downtown.

Seen in a garden while walking to the post office.

These are Alaskan wild roses, and so fragrant!

FINALLY, we are starting to eat salmonberries.

The wild celery is already going to seed - seems early for that...

A pretty composition of wild beach blossoms.

Wild fox glove along the trail of the afternoon walk.

Hope your week is going well.  Rain is forecast here for later today, but I have really appreciated the little break!  Happy day to you.

Colors of My Name

The Fiberactions group challenge this time was to work with a limited palette of two colors plus black.  The two colors were to begin with the initials of your first and last name.  After brainstorming a long list of colors meeting that criteria, I decided on sapphire and chartreuse.  I also decided to limit myself to working on a black background, using only fabrics from my scrap bag.

Chartreuse immediately steered me toward a leafy scene, inspired by my walks along the beach here at home.

Black remnants from my scrap bag formed the tall, narrow backgrounds.

After fusing all the leaf and grass shapes, I joined the units with black sashing strips and got ready to stitch.

Beading sounded like fun, and I spent several days adding sparkle to the scene.

'View from the Beach Fringe'; 11"x14"

detail - 'View for the Beach Fringe'

detail - 'View from the Beach Fringe'

Do stop by the Fiberactions blog and have a look at how the other participating artists handled the colors of their names.

Drawing Challenge - Finger Painting

Our challenge this week: 'Finger Painting'.  I was surprised at what came up for me.  Goofing, I traced around my right hand as it sat atop a previous drawing in my sketchbook.  Applied water soluble crayon using my finger as the brush to push the color around, delighting in decorating.  Very satisfying and direct. 
Next night I traced my (non-dominant) left hand, then did the same thing, Cran D'Ache with a wet finger for a brush, only this time, intuition told me to STOP when the first colors were laid down.  No decorating.

An AH HA moment of comparison, then.  I think my drawings unconsciously revealed the difference between my two hands, the dominant right which does all the fun art making got all the glory once again!  And the stalwart, quiet left which bears my wedding ring, is content to play a supporting role.

You can see lots more finger painting over at Carole's place. 

Scene Recently, #28

Sunday afternoon at Green's Camp

driftwood black hole

no wind

wildflowers along the road

red columbine

lupine

wild celery

And, from the morning walk on Tuesday:

three ravens on the horse corral

Twin Creek bridge view 6:00 am

Summer for a moment...

Death Masks

I was invited to teach a workshop in death masks as part of our library's summer program for Teens - 'Own the Night'.
Friday afternoon, 9 kids, a librarian and I got together with plaster bandages and liquid latex to make castings of their living faces.  I caught some of the action to share with you.

Faces had to be coated with a glaze of Vaseline prior to application of the plaster bandages.

Hair was pulled up with bands in some cases to keep clear of the plaster.

People worked in teams of two.

The plaster was quick drying, but you had to sit very still until it dried.

We covered the eyes last, and left the nostrils clear, covering them after the cast was pulled.

Completed plaster casts were compelling images in their own right.

A thin coating of liquid latex was poured into the dry plaster casts.

Since it is so humid on our Island, the latex had to be left overnight to dry.  I am excited to see how they turned out!

If you are interested in details of the entire process (which is actually dead easy - hee hee), there is a good tutorial here.  Thank you, Evil Slaughter 13.

Tree House

The drawing challenge this week was 'Tree House', the theme chosen by the incredible Rachel.  I enjoyed thinking about tree houses the past couple of days, remembering how much I loved being in them as a child; the books I have loved that featured a tree house; the one the Sailor built out in the back yard walnut tree for our children when we lived in Seattle, really more like a floating boat deck - no roof or walls, just a floor and a railing...

Once the Boy got hung up on a branch coming down out of the tree, and I rushed out with scissors intent on cutting his shirt to free him.  He came down quite suddenly, falling into me, and there was blood everywhere as one of us had been stabbed by the scissors.  I thought it was him hurt, and was all horror - but realized that no, it was me, bleeding from my arm!  We laughed like cats at that later. 

Pigma pen and watercolor in 8x6 'gamma' sketchbook

Anyway, I love tree houses.  Maybe I will get to live in one some day.  You never know.  Make sure you go by Hi Happy Panda and have a look at the tree houses artists in the challenge drew this week.  Thanks for the fun, Rachel!

A word from the Mer-Dog

Our Independence Day celebration was the best ever.  In keeping with the theme 'From Sea to Shining Sea', Mother made me a Mer-Dog costume.

My costume is made from Timtex, painted with acrylic and garnished with glitter.  Mother used my raincoat for the pattern, and one of her old t-shirts to make the fastener ties so it was comfortable for me to wear.

At 10:30 we went to the top of Main Street to line up for the big Parade.

Mother made a little sign so People would know I was a Mer-dog.  I was very patient waiting with all the other People and Dogs.

Finally the parade started, and I walked with the Big Pack of Other Dogs.  There were over twenty of us Dogs, and no one fought because we were this Big Pack, see.

After the parade there was a Dog Variety Show and I won for Best Costume.  I think I would have won Most Obedient as well, but there was a poor little miniature poodle who did not have a costume and the judges gave her that award.  I was glad we all got prizes.  That lady in the red coat is our friend the Vet Assistant, and she was giving out Lots of Treats to everyone. 

Some of my friends from the Big Pack at the Dog Variety Show.

I hope you had as much fun as I did yesterday.  Bye for now, love from Flossy

Daily Drawing

'Bubbly' - watercolor & gouache in 8x6" 'gamma' sketchbook

'Geometry' - watercolor and pencil in 8x6" 'gamma' sketchbook'

'Grid' - Cran d'Ache and pencil in 8x6" 'gamma' sketchbook

'Skiff' - Pigma pen and watercolor in 8x6" 'gamma' sketchbook

Happy 4th of July - Independence Day here in the United States.  Flossy and I are off to the parade and dog show in the little town.  Pictures of this craziness to follow!