Author: carolottaway

Alcohol Ink Coasters…

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I stepped down from my Admin position to go back to being a full time REALTOR (Yes this is in all caps…I pay for the use of the title, swore an oath…and proud to be a REALTOR although I am a little disappointed that there was no secret handshake)

Anyway, I digress…

When I stepped down, I realized that there were so many people that I appreciated while I was Admin, people who have shown me so much kindness while I was working as an employee and support in my transition back.  There was no better time to show my appreciation than the Christmas season.  Granted, the dollar amount isn’t much, but I spent  A LOT of hours on these and was very excited how they all came together.

I was so nervous but these little gifts were well received and everyone loved them and I think sometimes the best gift you and give is your time.

Did you give any handmade gifts this year?

I hope you had a wonderful Holiday Season and a very Happy New Year!

Be Well and Happy!

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Springer…

Springer Spaniel
Graphite in Bristol Smooth

Hello!  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I did!  I spent some time with my little pack of 3.  We didn’t do all that much, I cooked and we watched some TV and laughed a lot, but it was more than enough and I’m very thankful.

On Friday, we went to the movies and watched Creed II.  It was a great movie! Although,  the movie did make me realize that I was around during the old Rocky movies and getting on up there in years, lol  Strange that a movie can bring on angst regarding my mortality, but there it is.  Seriously, if you like Rocky movies, you won’t be disappointed.

I am hoping to get back in the studio this week.  I have a commission that needs to be completed and a few pieces that need to be started.  I won’t mention the box of misfit works that need tending to, that have me stumped! But such is life 🙂

Do you have a box of misfits that you can’t throw or won’t away?

Be Well and Happy!

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Life is just Beachy!

“Blue Waters”
Copic Various Ink on Yupo

A BIG event happened in the Ottaway household recently… Our daughter graduated college!

I can’t tell you how good it feels to have my little chickie home and how proud we are!

                                                      Look at that happy face ❤️

After graduation was our yearly trip to Hatteras. (Thank you Chris and Vicki!). It was so much fun to get together with the family.

              We spotted this Raccoon carving on a nature walk on Ocracoke Island!

I guess it’s fitting that I am posting “Beach Waters”. I want to do another piece like the one above, but since each piece is unique and has a mind of its own so we will see how close I can get!

What have you been working on lately?

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Welcoming 2018 with Alcohol Ink!

Underwater
Alcohol Ink on Card

Happy New Year Guys!

I’m in love with Alcohol Ink!  Welllll, when I am not in love with a new process….but still.  This is pretty cool.   I think my favorite part is that you really don’t know what is going to look like. I mean, I guess you can control it, but I don’t worry about it that too much because  I love surprises!

Usually, other artists mount this art to a wooden block with a resin pour, but I am not brave enough to try that, yet.  Eventually I want to, but for now I will settle for matting.

If you have never tried Alcohol ink, you should give it a try!

I hope you guys had a great time welcoming in the New Year.  Ours was pretty quiet and we stayed home.  It was nice to veg out in front of the TV in my PJs.

How did you spend your New Year’s Eve?

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The Wise….

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Graphite on Bristol Smooth

This pooch looks very wise and well acquainted with the ways of the world….Like the Yoda of dogs, lol.  It wasn’t the easiest to render but I think this will go down to be one of my favorites.  The process was so much fun, all shaggy hair!  And I bet where ever he is, his belly is full of turkey 🙂

Do you have your tree up?

The holidays are approaching.  I can’t say that it completely snuck up on me as I have been seeing Christmas stuff since Back to School shopping.  IMO, it is a little much.  So, While everyone is doing their Black Friday shopping, I am going to spend the day in my PJ’s and in the studio 🙂

How are you spending Black Friday?

Be Well and Happy!

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Hi!

WIP
Graphite on Bristol Smooth

Things here are going pretty well.  Work has kept me pretty busy, but I found this old drawing that I set aside and I have been working on it on and off.   It feels  pretty great drawing and I found it much easier to leave it out handy and work on it when I can steal a few minutes here and there.

I’m not complaining….A little time is better than nothing!  And today is an on day!

So……I have the Hallmark Channel, homemade chicken ‘n dumplings on the stove and my drawing….what’s to complain about.

So, my question for you is:
How often are you able to work on your art?

Be Well and Happy!
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A Puppy for Brittany…


“A Puppy for Brittany”-Commission
Graphite on Bristol Smooth

Hello Friends!
This portrait is almost too cute to send to its new home.  Seriously, I wanna keep it, lol 
But I guess, I won’t…my client has been waiting long enough for her portrait.  I think I am so attached because it has been a while since I completed a pet portrait and I really missed it.

Drawing this subject matter again was not like riding a bike.  I had gotten pretty good at drawing animals, but in experimenting in other medias and different subjects, I was more than a little rusty.  In the end, I figured it out and she loves it, but it wasn’t without patience from my client and my stubbornness.

That’s all that is on my drawing table, but on a personal note, things at home are going great!  My daughter is home from college and I have missed her terribly!  I am going to be a great-aunt to a baby girl and the family is so excited! ANNNND I will be celebrating 22 years of marriage to the Mister on July 14th.

I hope your spring/summer is great and you are enjoying sunshine, flip-flops, cook outs and laughs!  Don’t forget the sunscreen  😉

Be Well and Happy!
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I’m doing…EGGGGcellent

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Hello!

I hope this finds you guys in happy places…Now that spring has sprung everyone seems to be in much better spirits these days. I am seeing more smiles, more people are out and about in the warm sun….Even I piddled around outside some last Sunday.  My skin burned like I was Vampira, but it was great being outdoors.  Today, it is raining, kinda chilly, and it seems that it will hang around for a bit.  But that’s ok because it is also a good day to sit at the drawing table.

Speaking of drawing table, the above is a little sketch that I did, just playing around. It was a strange subject, but it was easier to practice using simple shapes and only a handful colors.  I still can’t decide if I like watercolor or not.  I really want to, but I guess I will just have to wait and see.  I am thinking maybe I should get a professional grade paint before I decide as I seem to have a very severe problem of overworking the paper trying to get the colors vibrant.   I’m not giving up yet 🙂

What professional watercolor brand do you recommend?

Be Well and Happy!

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What’s in my bag…

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I like to read blogs and watch videos about what art supplies that artists like to take with them on the go.  So, I thought I would throw in my two cents and show you what I bring with me on road trips.  Even if I am driving, I still like to bring these items with me because you will never know when the mood will strike to create something.   I will admit that this isn’t too exciting, but for now it is everything that I need or want to bring…minus the snacks of course 🙂

I still have a love/hate relationship with watercolor at the moment but I am hardheaded so of course I have a few supplies to curse at while I’m on a trip.

Strathmore Watercolor Pad

Water Brush

Winsor & Newton-12 half pan travel set

My first love….Drawing….can’t forget that!

Casemate Sketch Diary-

General’s Kneaded Eraser

Black Pearl Eraser

Faber Castell Pencils – HB, 2H, B, 2B, 4B

Faber Castell Typewriter Eraser

Blending Stumps

Click Eraser

Pen Mate Duo Expert Lead Pencil

Kol-I-Noor – 24 Color Woodless Pencils – (Artist quality pencils are too fragile for me to bring along. They would probably be okay but I don’t want to risk it.)

 Years ago I use to be into calligraphy.  Modern and Brush Calligraphy has really caught my eye….So, have been playing around with that as well.  I may want to Zentangle too.

U:create Smooth Paper

Speedball Calligraphy Set

Tom Bow Brush Pen – hard

Tom Bow Duo Brush Pen

Sukura Brush Pen

Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pen

Pencil Case- Made for me by SIL Vicki Welsh (isn’t it pretty)

Not pictured that I will usually bring is:

*travel pencil sharpener

*a couple of paper towels

And I can’t forget my kindle and a bit of knitting.

It seems like a lot of projects to bring a long and I may not touch a bit of it but it is there if the inclination hits me.  Its better to have it and not want it than to want it and not have it, lol

So what do you bring along with you on trips?  What are your must haves?

Be Well and Happy!

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Happy New Year


The picture above is from the Art Show.   I won’t go into detail, but you can read about it here.  It was something else and I saw pieces that  had me speechless!

But enough about that.

I always look forward to the start of a New Year and 2017 is no different.  I guess it’s because it feels like a fresh start or it could be a do over.  And I take Day One of the New  Year very seriously…and by seriously, I mean resolutions.

It’s been a challenging year.  Some things great and  some things stretched me so far out of my comfort zone that I was physically uncomfortable.   But whether the things that I was resolved to accomplish came to fruition or a complete disaster, I did it.

For myself and to make myself accountable I write everything down old school.  There is just something satisfying keeping that crisp piece of paper with me in January and by December that crisp piece of paper has softened  with wear and a full of crossed off goals. Frankly, it doesn’t get any better!

I know I have talked about this before, but its worth another post.  Because submitting my work to a curator was big on my list last year and as I write this my work is hanging in gallery  now.  I didn’t win anything, but that wasn’t my goal.  My goal  was to submit a piece of art  and it happened because that goal was always in my face.

So if you want things to happen, make them happen by making those resolutions and hold yourself accountable.

I am looking forward to 2017 and I hope it will be a great year for you too!

Be Well and Happy!

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