empty bottle

Last post of 2007. I found this empty perfume bottle in K's bathroom last night, so I decided to sketch it. Pencil and wc's.

Some of my new years resolutions are:

1) Continue to sketch as much as possible.

2) Start and finish a larger painting or drawing at least once a month.

3) Get out at least once a week and sketch a new place.

4) Bind sketchbooks.

5) Learn how to knit, so I can make at least 3 scarfs by next Christmas.

I think that's plenty to keep me busy!

one year old

DH and I ate at Pappas Seafood Friday night...we were to stuffed to eat desert there, so we brought it home. I sketched this piece of cheesecake to celebrate the 1 year old birthday of my blog...most bloggers only last about 3 months.

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY JANET!!!!

Happy 20th Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Britt! She was 3 years old in this picture.

yummy

DH bought 8 mini croissants at HEB's bakery...they are light, flaky and buttery. Pen and wc's in my handbook sketchbook. I was rearranging my art room yesterday and found this sketchbook...I had forgotten about it.

scavenger hunt

I sketched these items from a scavenger hunt on WetCanvas...every 9 days there is a new list of 26 items, so I decided to set up a still life and sketch 5 of these items. Pen and wc's.

snow

I wish it would snow! I bought this cup and plate at Starbucks last week...I liked the shape of the plate and the small cup. The plate is wonky and I should have left off some of the ink lines on the plate. Live and learn...that's what sketching is all about. Pen and wc's.

Merry Christmas

I quickly sketched this ornament before church last night. A friend of Britt's made it when they were in elementary school. pencil & wc's.

satsuma peel

Satsumas are so easy to peel. Pen and WC.

blush

I'm trying to paint loosely...it's much easier to paint tight. I've ordered a book from an artist in the UK...her watercolor paintings are very colorful and loose...I'm hoping the book is delivered tomorrow. I love to receive snail mail! I sketched this glass of wine last night. Pencil and watercolors.

downtown shopping

I can always count on "K" to pose for me when we are out shopping! She thought she was a mannequin!

Here she thought she was a cat...prrrrr!

Finally, I persuaded "B" to join in on the modeling! We were at Macy's in downtown Houston.

breakfast cookies

These really are not for breakfast, but I love to dunk them in my coffee! I only see these tins of Danish butter cookies around Christmas time...which is a good thing! I have almost eaten the whole tin! Pen and watercolor in my aquabee sketchbook.

tulips

DH bought me these tulips this past weekend...I sketched them on Monday and just now found time to add some watercolors to them...I had to try and remember what they actually looked like, since now they look like death warmed over. Pencil and watercolors in my aquabee sketchbook.

angel sketch

I sketched this from a photo I took while I was waiting for the color to process on my hair. Lisa has several angels on a shelf by her station that look as if they are hand carved. This didn't turn out the way I wanted it to, but I am still posting it. Next time I have an appointment I will get my watercolor sketchbook out, so I can sketch them from life. pen and watercolor in my red sketchbook...doesn't take watercolor very well.

santa goes camping

I did this quick sketch this morning, while waiting for our new countertops for our bathroom. We are almost finished...Yay!!! pen and markers.

red pear

5x7 pen and watercolors on HP fabriano paper.

Watercolors are fun to work with, but can be frustrating at times! This is my second attempt at this pear...the first one was in a sketchbook...the colors became mud, so I took out a piece of watercolor paper and here is the results. I'm not completely happy with it, but it's better than the first.

delicious satsuma

I love the smell of a peeled satsuma. DH's retired boss gave us two bags of satsumas from his trees. DH was at his house Sunday and held the bags while Jim cut them from the limbs...can't get any fresher than that. Chance stood watching...hoping I would slip him a piece, but he grew tired of waiting and decided to take a nap, so I ate every slice of it...after I added color. pen and watercolors on 5x7 140 lb fabriano artistico block paper.

I can't use my scanner this week, so I'm having to take photos and the colors are not coming out right.

fiestaware mug

I love fiestaware...it very durable and comes in all different colors. I sketched my coffee this morning and even used some of it around the mug...I accidentally put my watercolor brush in my coffee and thought what the heck...just add it to the sketch. pen, watercolors and coffee.

1995

I was rummaging through our ornament box and decided to sketch this ornament. It's made from a tree that had to be removed at Rustic Oak Elementary, which is the school both my daughter's attended. The PTA decorated these ornaments for a fundraiser...they thought it would be nice for the students to always have something to remember their school and to raise money for playground equipment.

pen and prismacolor colored pencils

lunch

I did some Christmas shopping at Bass Pro Shop yesterday and decided to eat lunch at the restaurant in their store. I sketched my food before I started eating it...the waitress came by and asked me "Is everything ok?" She had no idea that I was busy sketching my food in my lap!

watercolor and pen in my rebound moleskine.

first christmas

Yesterday, I pulled out all my Santa's and snowmen that I collect and placed them around the house...I love Santa's...I have all kinds. I also took out my big box of ornaments, but didn't hang them on the tree...Britt wants to do that when she gets home next week. I was looking through them and decided to sketch this one...it's a little wonky...I sketched it last night while watching a Christmas movie.

over the fence

Here's my first sketch in my rebound sketchbook. I sat outside on top of the picnic table on the patio and sketched this scene looking over our fence...it's across the street and to the side of a church. Not a good scan. pen and watercolors.

ta da...

Here's my moleskine planner with watercolor paper! This was a fun project...I plan on rebinding 2 more, so I have them ready when needed. Now, all I need to do is get out and sketch!

snowman ornament

I've decided to sketch some of our Christmas ornaments...our tree is never organized...it's just a mixture of all sorts. Yesterday, I received a travel set of Schmincke watercolor pans in the mail...I used them on this ornament.

bookbinding

I cut fabriano artistico 90 lb hot pressed watercolor paper today for my sketchbook. I put together all the signatures and punched all the holes...hopefully, tomorrow I will have time to start the stitching.

HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY KRIS!!!!!!

This is one of my favorite pictures of Kris when she was a baby...she was such a sweet baby!

fountain pen

This is a quick sketch of my red fountain pen...it has an ink converter, so I fill it with black Noodler's ink that comes in a bottle. watercolor & ink

Update on our bathroom...we are almost finished...last weekend we did the floor tile and yesterday we did the grouting...tomorrow I will seal the grout...I'm so glad we are almost finished. We're waiting for the countertops and shower enclosure to be made and installed.

lunch sketch

Yesterday, I met my oldest sister for lunch in League City at Estebans Mexican Restaurant...before she arrived I stood by Francine and did a quick ink sketch of the building off to the side...it's called Estebans Fiesta Shack. I added watercolors when I got home. I used a fabriano artistico watercolor block of paper...5x7. Before lunch, I stopped at Texas Art Supply and bought 2 large sheets of this watercolor paper and a few book binding materials...I plan on rebinding a moleskine 2007 daily planner with this paper...it's great for sketching.

88 cent kolache

I took Chance to be groomed yesterday and after I dropped him off, I drove across the street to Lynda's Pantry and bought this kolache...it's hard to find anything for under a buck these days. watercolor and pen in my small red sketchbook...this sketch is after I took the first bite.

wonky cup

While out running errands on Monday, I drove thru Starbucks and ordered a latte...I knew they had changed their cups to a holiday theme and I wanted to sketch it. I love Christmas and so I have been listening to Sunny 99.1 while out and about...they are playing Christmas music non-stop. Watercolor and my new Lamy fountain pen.

comfy shoes

salt water taffy

I bought this taffy at the General Store in Bass Pro Shop the day before Thanksgiving...my favorite flavor is strawberry vanilla. We took the girls...they had never been there before...they loved the place! markers and pen.

what a cutie

Kris took this picture of Buckles...he's so cute!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA!

happy thanksgiving!

I sketched this from a label on a bottle of wine called "Dog Tail Vineyards". When I saw this wine bottle, I just had to buy it...it's not that good, but I like the label. Chartpak ad markers & pen.

schwinn scooter

I'd like one of these...I think it would be fun to cruise around on a nice cool sunny day. I see a lady on one almost everyday in our neighborhood. pen & watercolors.

another fall leaf

I picked up this leaf yesterday morning in one of Chance's favorite spots while out walking...it was very foggy and misty.

t-shirt face

I quickly sketched this face in colored pencils from a t-shirt I saw in a catalog...I'm not sure if it's suppose to be Marilyn Monroe, but it reminds me of her face.

watercolor study

I did this quick watercolor study after we finished painting our bathroom. I am so glad we are finished painting...next weekend, we are going to tile the floor.

a view from a window

This is the top of a tree that I can see from my laundry room window...there are very few leaves left on this tree...the tree it close to the street, so you can't tell what kind of leaves are on this tree...you just see a few clusters of leaves. I took my sketchbook and pen in the laundry room to sketch the tree shape and then added some watercolors. I haven't used watercolors in awhile.

not just plain brown

This leaf caught my eye yesterday on our morning walk...it's not just plain brown it's sienna brown with polka dots. I think it's a magnolia leaf, but not sure.

more doodles

These doodles are from TIME magazine...one of my favorites. I look forward to Saturday afternoons (snail) mail because it always has my TIME in it.

obama

hot bread

I baked a loaf of banana bread yesterday...I just love the aroma that lingers in the kitchen afterwards. I'm like a little kid about stickers...this one is from one of the bananas I used.

shadow and questions

I took this picture a couple of weeks ago...there use to be an old barn on our property and part of the concrete is still there...Nancy-Betty 7-1-51 is etched in the concrete. I wonder if this is one person or two...if they are still alive...are they sisters or friends...did they live on this property at one time? Questions, questions and more questions!

yorkie doodles

These are a few quick sketches I did yesterday.

doodles in red sketchbook

Yesterday, we took the babies to see Britt & Kris...we picked up lunch at Fazoli's and went to a park. I sketched this on the way home in the backseat. It's not easy sketching in a moving vehicle!

Sketched from the Houston Chronicle...I liked that it was an example of negative space.

This one is from a few weeks ago...this restaurant is in Base Pro Shop...everything was yummy!

I was looking through my red sketchbook that I carry with me at all times and noticed some doodles that I hadn't posted.