Doodles, Crow and Cow Sketches, & A NF Sampler

All of these were done with my sketch and wash pencil in my Moleskine, practice and play.

 I like to doodle while watching TV. The other night we were watching Blade II, and I did quick sketches of patterns in the background. They had to be quick; there's a lot of action in the movie. :)

I sketched a small version of this in the doodles above while watching Nights in Rodanthe. It was a black metal sculpture, sort of a room divider thing, in the movie, and it was gorgeous. So I decided to try a larger version in my sketchbook. I had already brushed on some leftover white gesso onto a portion of the pages, so I drew over it, then went over everything with a damp brush. It didn't turn out quite like I wanted it to, but there is a little charm to it, I think. :/

Clara Nell was sketched from an original photo, and is my first attempt at sketching a cow with a pencil. I tried one in paint when I first started painting, but it wasn't solid black like this one. Black objects or animals are very hard for me to shade. I decided not to use a damp brush on her. I left well enought alone, for once! She's not perfect, but she's mine, and I learned that I could do it! :)

I got in an order from Joggles with some new colors and textures of felting wool a couple of days ago. I wasn't quite ready to start another doll just yet (first doll in post before this one), and I didn't want to dig out something denim to try needle felting on, so I made a sampler, of sorts, on a square of wool felting that I had handy. It only took a few minutes, and it was fun!

I have way too many hobbies and way too many half finished projects and too little time! LOL

Creative Every Day Challenge

I'm still playing and experimenting and having a blast doing it!

This is one of the journal pages I did this week. It's a watercolor sketch in my Moleskine sketchbook.

I didn't know you could hear butterflies, but you can. I was sitting outside last summer watching Jim do something and it was very quiet. All of a sudden a large yellow/black butterfly flew right over my shoulder next to my right ear. It was a very soft, fast thumping sound. I was so thrilled to have heard one. (It doesn't take a lot to amuse me, does it? :))

I also took some photos of Sammidog in his woolly lined coat that mama got him for Christmas. It was freezing out, but he didn't like the coat at all. It was a little snug since he's fattened up some. (See the cat in the background looking at him like he's stupid?) It wasn't long before the coat was laying in the yard and he was back in his house snuggled up. I managed to get a couple of pictures though. Here's one. Watch for more on my other blog.

Also, I continue to do my doodle sketches, at least one, every day and I did some sketching at night while watching TV, plus I finished the last assignment for a two year course on writing a novel this week. And I re-styled my hair, using actual hair curlers, which I hadn't used in years.

Sammiedog and I had to walk to check on the cows Saturday, because the four wheeler wouldn't start. That was a creative/playful experience in itself. It was very cold and quiet, but we enjoyed the walk immensely. You can see, hear, and experience so much more walking than you can over the roar of an atv. We could hear the birds, and the ground crunching under our feet. The ponds had a lot of ice on them, which was beautiful in the sunlight. We found a new baby calf curled up near a bush with his mama close by. My mind was whirling with images by the time we got back to the house and Sammidog had a blast running all over the fields.

Wish I had carried my camera with me, but I didn't. Would love to have shared it with you in pictures.

Below is a double page I did in my Moleskine sketchbook, which has cream colored pages, this morning. I used paint instead of my pencil to do my doodle sketch for a change. I haven't decided yet whether to draw the images out or collage and write something over it. It'll come to me, hopefully while I'm clearing some of the dust out of the house. :)

These pages were made using crimson and yellow ochre pan watercolors. I used a little too much water and one of the pages buckled a little, but it will straighten out. I used a hake brush to swipe the two colors all over the pages, let them settle a little, then dripped clear water around on them, let it settle some, then spattered red, then ochre, all over. Then, because I had used too much water and it was standing on the pages, I tilted the book and let it run. Finally, I used a blow dryer to blow it around and help it dry. This is what I wound up with.

I can see all sorts of images living together in there. Can you? :)

Anyway, these are some of the creative things I've been up to this week. Hope you enjoy. Wish I had more pictures to show you. Maybe next time. :)

Thanks for visiting and Have a wonderful, magical, creative week!

Playing and Rambling

This is another double page in my Moleskine sketchbook. It's a quirky sketch in watercolor, and the angel's wings are actually a water-based metallic copper, which looks cool in reality, but didn't show up so well in the photo. The words are original and digitally added. I am going to do some journaling around the words later.

Lately I'm doing a lot of experimenting and just PLAYing. I'm learning so much by doing that, besides having so much fun it's unreal. :)

I'm also working on the last assignment for a novel writing course that I should have finished months ago. It's the business part of the course and I hate that, so I've procrastinated. I have part of it done. Now I have to write a synopsis. I thought I would do that first thing this morning, but I got sidetracked. Another form of procrastination for me. :)

It's very cold today and supposed to be even colder tonight, like about 2 degrees. I noticed a cow acting like she was thinking about giving birth yesterday. I hope she waits until it warms up a little. I feel so sorry for outside animals in really cold or really hot weather.

They caught the prisoner. He was a white middle-aged male and was in prison for burglary. He escaped Friday night and got lost in the woods. They captured the woman who was waiting in the car before he got to her. They didn't catch him until Sunday night, so he was out all weekend in freezing, pouring down rain, with nothing to eat, huddling in out buildings. They transferred him to another prison. He didn't have long left to serve. A lot of times they escape so they can stay in prison. So far, nobody on the outside has been hurt when they escape, but there's always a chance that they will get cornered and hurt or kill somebody. Anyway, it ended well this time.

Have a blessed day!

Bobbie Tail & Nacho Say...

For some reason I couldn't get the writing on the picture to go any bigger, no matter which font I used. Sorry! It says, "Happy Mooooooo Year From Rabbit Hop."

Wishing you all the best year ever.