New art and sketchbook sharing!

I finished this artwork a little while ago but have not had time to post it...oh how I miss doing art! I cannot wait until my summer classes are over with! I am planning on doing a second one similar to this one so they can be hung together!


Here is an artwork that I did in college for fun (almost 9 years ago!) It is so simple yet one of my favorite artworks that I have done. I usually keep it in my classroom throughout the year but brought it home over the summer to look at for inspiration!


I was looking through some of my old sketchbooks and came across these pages I thought i would share with you! Sometimes I like to go through magazines and cut out pictures and patterns that inspire me and sometimes I use them as starting points for my own artwork. I love this Chinese Proverb also: Buy the best and only cry once!


Here is another one from the same sketchbook:



Ever since I was little I loved going through home decorating magazines and cutting out pictures that inspired me. Where do you find your inspiration?

The craziness continues...

I did another sketch this evening...I took a break from homework and grading and just relaxed and did this drawing. I am thinking of doing some large canvases in this style...maybe...This sketch does not have a title, so if you can think of one I would love to hear it!


I did this sketch with chart pak markers and a micron pen


Close up 1


Close up 2. Did I mention I am into hot air balloons lately? I want to go on one really bad...trying to incorporate them into my art at least.


Close up 3. I adore lines!



Hope your week is going well..they are forecasting 80 degrees for the weekend *yay* I can hardly wait!

New Sketchbook

I splurged and bought myself a new hardbound sketchbook. I am so excited! I started doing some paintings and collage inside of it already. I love sketchbooks because you can be crazy and try new things!

Here are some of my crazy and unusual sketches/collages:

I am getting really into simplified forms of buildings and houses...I have been looking through my Art Deco books lately and can't get the Chrysler Building out of my head..I just love it:)



Birds + City+ Flowers= Crazy Sketch


Fairy? I am not sure yet...

So this is what I kind of worked on over my spring break...I am kind of changing up the style. I don't know about it yet but it is fun and therapeutic and at this point, I need something to relax me!
Well I am off to do more school work..I am hoping to get a lot done before Lost tonight! It is one of my guilty vices!

Little Jack Henry

Well I was going through some of my old sketchbooks the other day and I came across a collection of sketches I did of my little dog Jack Henry. Yes my dog has two names...he is a very dignified little guy! Usually when I am sketching I draw whatever is in front of me, usually Jack is laying by my side sleeping. He has gotten very lazy in his five years. I don't have much time to draw him because he is a very jumpy little guy so many of my sketches are quick drawings.

Here is the real Jack Henry:


Here are some of my sketches of little J.H






Here is my favorite and most simple sketch of Jack. It was a blind contour drawing done very quickly with a sharpie!


Jack is my muse I guess! What is your muse?

Illustration and Doodles: Vespa

I heart vespas....I think they are adorable. Here is an illustration I did of one using my favorite markers and a pen.



Here are some more doodles with markers and pen...I feel like a little kid.







And finally a serious sketch of a woman from a French magazine I got when I was at the Charles De Gaulle airport a couple of years ago...



Have a happy Sunday...it is actually going to be 40 degrees here! So sad when I get excited for that! I am going to attempt to run outside today. Usually when it is snowy and icy out I run on my treadmill...I am so sick of it though! Today is sunny and warmer so maybe running outside will be enjoyable?! We shall see! I am so ready for spring!

10 minute sketch: Seashell

Here is today's 10 minute sketch. I used watercolor to complete this sketch. I love seashells and have a small little collection of them. Hope everyone is having a nice week so far. I am crazy busy as usual...I am hoping for a snow day tomorrow though! We are supposed to get 4-6 inches by tomorrow. I am crossing my fingers! Have a fantastic evening!

10 minute sketch: Crazy electrical socket

Here is today's 10 minute sketch. It is of a crazy electrical socket in my Grandma's basement. Every Tuesday I go to my Grandma's house to paint, draw...basically anything art related. I love this so much! I completed today's sketch using a blue pen (not waterproof!) and watercolor.

10 Minute Sketch: Spoon on an ugly placemat

Well I am on to day 3 of my little resolution! This little drawing was of a spoon I saw laying on the table at my parents' house. It was laying on my Mom's awful looking brownish gold placemat on her kitchen table. Now my Mom has really good taste...so I really do not know why she has these placemats. I guess it will be one of those mysteries in life....

The drawing was done with a ball point pen and Prisma markers. I just love my Prisma markers! They are so old and still work like a charm:)

I hope everyone is doing well on this Tuesday! I thank all of you who have left comments for the art giveaway ! I am super excited about it and cannot wait to give my little artwork a new home!

Since school has started up again I have been very busy and have barely been able to get online (and my internet connection at home is not cooperating!) So I am trying to update this blog and visit my favorite blogs as best as I can! Technology can be so frustrating when it does not work..don't ya think?!

Have a wonderful evening...I am off to bed!

10 minute Sketches

For the new year I promised myself I would do something art related every day. I have decided that I will do a 10-15 minute sketch from observation every day using anything but a pencil! This way I will not be freaking out over little mistakes and will actually be more free in my drawings. Drawing from observation is the key here also. Drawing from life is actually a lot harder than drawing from a picture. A picture is already 2D while an actual object is 3D and you have to put it into a 2D space (the paper.)

This will be an interesting challenge for me! By posting the sketches it will make me keep up with this little project! Now be warned...these sketches are rough! All flaws will be seen because I cannot erase!

Here is the little pad I will be working in- it is only 3 x 5 inches!



Here is today's first sketch...like I said...very rough! 10 minutes was all it took!



This is a sketch of a pair of small scissors sitting on my desk. I drew it first with a blue ball point pen and then colored it in with colored pencils.


Hope everyone has a great night...I have to go back to school tomorrow! I am dreading the alarm going off tomorrow at 5 am! I have been so lazy on my Holiday break...oh well...back to work!

Sketchbook Love

Here are a couple of drawings taken straight from my current sketchbook. They are messy, colorful, sketchy and definitely NOT perfect...but isn't that what a sketchbook is for?! I have many, many sketchbooks and love to look back through them to see how much I have changed as an artist in terms as the media I use and the subject matter I draw. I sometimes love to draw from observation and other times it is strictly from fashion magazines! The sketches shown are a mixture of watercolor, pencil and ink and even a little collage. I just love combining media! Recently I discovered a collection of 1950's National Geographic magazines and am in LOVE!

Keeping a sketchbook is so important as an artist and I strongly suggest drawing, painting, collaging in one as much as possible! You can even sew in one (I am dying to try this!) My favorite book on sketchbooks or visual journals is the book The Decorated Page: Journals, Scrapbooks and Albums Made Simply Beautiful by Gwen Diehn. I bought it when I was student teaching (a whole six years ago!) and I constantly use it as a source of inspiration!

In my classes I assign a weekly sketch that usually we do in class on Fridays. This week's sketchbook assignment is to draw something or someone you are thankful for. I am hoping to get some interesting drawings...usually I get car keys, ipod and cell phone drawings! What is this world coming to!!!

If you had to do this sketch what would you draw?

Book Recommends!

As an art teacher I am always buying tons of art books to help myself and students learn new techniques and tricks. Here are a couple of my favorites:

1. Drawing Nature by Stanley Maltzman

2. Expressive Drawing by Robert Kaupelis

3. Acrylic: Artists' Questions Answered by David Cuthbert

4. Mixed Media Nature Journals by L.K Ludwig

5. Keys to Drawing by Bert Dodson

6. Drawing and Sketching by Jackie Simmonds

7. 100 Creative Drawing Ideas by Anna Held Audette


There are a million more that I love but these books have really helped with lesson ideas and creating my own art. I usually buy all of my books through Amazon.com because the books are usually cheaper and you get free shipping if you spend over $25! Yay!

What is your favorite art book? I am always looking for new ones!

I heart cross-hatching

I am trying to make it a habit to draw and sketch for at least 30 minutes a day. I try to do this in the morning before school because I am so tired by the end of the day! To make it more fun I have been playing around with colored pencils, water color and ink. After using these materials I have come to the conclusion that I adore cross-hatching! Cross-hatching is basically any time you criss-cross lines in drawing or painting.

What is your favorite shading technique?