Category: Graphite

Zentangle…

This Zentangle reminds me of the Alien movie for some reason, I think it’s the tubes…It also has a Celtic vibe to it too.  Pretty Cool, huh?  You know I’m just going to have to draw a bigger one.

I have been doing pretty well with my creative resolutions.   I made some curtains for my bathroom.  Our windows are kinda small and I was able to buy one panel, cut it in half  to make a set of curtains.  I think this should count as refashioning too. 

 Also, I’m beading a necklace.  It has one focal bead and many strands of tube beads.  I’ll post my results later on.   As for the art?  I’m pressing on.  I have an old  building on my drawing board, but it’s a slow go.    Drawing landscapes and buildings are still so new to me that I get a little lost, but it’s very challenging so it keeps me interested:)

Well, I guess that’s about it. 

Be Well and Happy!

Boxer…

Boxer

Graphite on Bristol Smooth

       I wish I could say that I have some new art work to show you, but I don’t.  I do have a few more pets that I needed to post to my blog.  So, I guess it’s a good thing that I have been hoarding those back.  There really hasn’t been too much going on lately.  Just the one mosaic fiasco and not much else…except for a little reading and research. 

       I did go home this past weekend for Christmas,  so that was fun.  I know it seems a little late to celebrate Christmas, but my mom has kept her tree up as late as July for us to spend Christmas together.  My sister and brother-in-law were in the military and there was just no telling when they would be able to come in.  So we wait until everyone can be there. Well, almost everyone…David stayed home with the dog.  It bummed me out a little, but I still had a good time. 

     Right now I am dog sitting my sister’s Yorkie pup because one of our nephews (her son) is graduating from Basic Training this week.  The Yorkie is a little bitty thing and his name is Biggie Paws. It’s an interesting experience because Sam is kinda old and I have forgotten how much work a puppy is, but we are muttling through.  

      I do have plans to do some Zentangling.  I haven’t drawn any in a while and I can’t let myself get too distracted at least until Thursday or I will be playing the find the poop or the guess what I’m stepping in game.  And a Zentangle is a perfect way to get my art fix and still be able to take care of Biggie. Well, I guess this is about it for now and I hope I will be posting a Zentangle soon.   If you are yawning while reading this post, that’s ok…If I were reading this instead of typing it, I would be too:)

Be Well and Happy!

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR…

Graphite on Bristol Smooth

(This is from a photo taken by Aleksandra Freeman and is a practice in drawing water)

     I hope this finds everyone excited about a fresh clean slate and a new year filled with endless possibilities of creativity and trying new things.  I know I am!  I have some personal resolutions, but I also have some creative resolutions too:)  We are in the process of redecorating our house and I want to fill it with art, but not necessarily drawings.  So I want to try paper mosaics, collages, decoupage and large abstracts.  I also have a ton of polymer clay and I want to find a use for that (besides jewelry), but  I also want to make some jewelry for myself (which I never do).  And last but not least, I want to learn how to sew and refashion clothes. 

     What you may not know about me is that I love thrift stores!  I had a love for  thrift stores when they were considered 2nd hand crap and before the word “vintage” was coined to make used clothes sound cool and acceptable.  I find such pretty things there sometimes, but usually there is something weird added to it, the length or a cut to the clothing that dates the piece and I want to learn how to change it up and make it a little more modern.  I know about now if  David’s mom and sister are reading this they are either shaking their head or laughing, because they know that I can’t sew and when I try it leads to a tirade of foul language and frustration.   I will probably be emailing them lots of questions, lol.  I already have my sewing machine set up in the guest bedroom though, and I’m ready to roll…So get ready Mrs. Ottaway and Vicki, because I’m going to try to make curtains too!!!

   This sounds like alot to take on, but I am only committing to one item of each kind on my list.  I think that should be pretty do-able.  So what creative plans do you have for the New Year?

   Be Well and Happy!

 

German Shepherd

German Shepherd

Graphite on Bristol Smooth

    I hope I’m not reposting this drawing.  I have a few that I haven’t posted to my blog.  More drawings are coming though:)  I like the pose with his tongue hanging out, but 3/4 poses are so hard to draw.  I think it’s because of the eyes.   He looks rather regal and he definitely looks better than my first drawing of a German Shepherd.   I would love to post more, but my head is splitting in two for some reason.  So I think this is about it for today.

Be Well and Happy!

  

 

Yorkie…

Yorkie

Graphite on Bristol Smooth

     Self promotion.  I am a master!  I am so proficient at promoting my art, that I forgot to mention that I had set up a website on my own blog!  So, I’m letting you know, that I have a new website: www.carolottaway.com.  If you would like to have a pet portrait commissioned, just let me know.   I also have a gallery page that will have miscellaneous original works for sale.  The page is empty right now.  I’m having trouble matching the true colors of the art to the image on the screen, and I won’t add it until it’s a perfect match. You all know how well I photograph;) 

On to the drawing!  This is a Yorkie that I drew a couple of months ago.  I love the little bow.  It was a good practice for drawing longer fur, and those long pointed ears?  They remind me of furry little eleves.  I hope everyone has a great day!

Be Well and Happy!

November 26

I hope this post finds everyone safe and full of turkey!  This Zentangle is made with just a few patterns.  You can’t believe the self-control it took not to add just one more here or one more there.  I just love all those crazy little things.  I cut out a bunch of 3.5 x 3.5 paper to draw these on and I have no idea what to do with them all.  I think they would make some pretty cool coasters if I could figure out how to waterproof them. I would laminate them, but I don’t think that the lamination would keep the water out after a couple of uses. 

I hope you have a creative day!

 

Be Well and Happy!

November 22

Old Barn Front

Graphite on paper

(ref. picture from Wet Canvas)

This is another project that I worked on  between the AEDM challenge.  This drawing was more difficult than what I’m use to. I don’t have much experience with perspective drawing and I  find the that roof was hard to draw.  I wanted to throw this away a zillion times, but I kept at and managed to get it done.  I’m glad I stayed with it, because I think it looks pretty good;)  This drawing has a lot of new elements that I have been dabbling in to like the bushes, sky, shingles and a little metal at the top.  I hope everyone has a very creative day!

P.S. Yes, my image is crooked…UGH!  I don’t think I would make a good photographer, would I?

Be Well and Happy!

November 15

   This Zentangle was supposed to look like fabric, but most of the spaces look  like stripped clam shells.  I didn’t like it at first, but I kinda do now, so I decided that this is AEDM for today. 

   This past weekend was our annual shopping trip.  My mom, sisters, aunt, cousin and  I go every year.  I didn’t get to go last year so it was extra fun for me.  Our trips consists of hitting the malls all day and after we are done shopping we treat ourselves to a big steak dinner.  Then we go back to the room to digest, then wake up and do it again.  I’m sore from all the walking and my feet hurt but I was very productive and managed to finish my Christmas shopping  and extra early too.  Yay ME! 

I hope everyone enjoys their creative day.. and thank you for commenting on my last post and I will be visiting you today too:)

 

    

Be Well and Happy!

November 12

Untitled-ref. from Wet Canvas

5 x 7 Graphite on Bristol Smooth

  This is the completed piece that I started earlier in the week.  I really like how it turned out.  I’ve never been able to draw wood before and this is pretty exciting for me.  I never really gave much thought to masculine or feminine art.  I usually draw dogs and that’s seems kind of unisex.   But on this piece:  the stained wood, and the rusted lock and pull, the chipped paint all seems very masculine to me.    I like the look of rust and oily machine parts, a broken lawnmower in the weeds etc.  Wow, this is kinda strange because I’m a girly girl most of time and have been accused of being a priss pot on more than one occasion.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not  afraid of getting dirty, but I’d rather not, heehee.  

I hope you enjoy your creative day:)

Be Well and Happy!