Computer Problems...ahhhh!

Hello all!  I just wanted to quickly post that I will not be able to post very much until my computer is repaired!  My entire hard drive somehow broke....I didn't know that could happen!  My laptop is only 4 years old...I guess that is ancient in computer years!  I am so SAD...I think I might have lost 4 years worth of lesson plans, all of my itunes library (so so sad!) and all of my documents.  Luckily the husband just backed up all of my pictures so I have those at least.  So please learn from my mistake and back up any information you have now if you haven't already!!!    Hopefully I will be back up and blogging soon!  Have a lovely day!

xoxo

Best Workout=Dance Party

Ok so I don't think I will be able to post a 10 minute sketch today because honestly I was not able to do one!  "You couldn't find 10 minutes to do one little sketch" you might be saying....well not today.  My roommate from college came to visit me and baby Isla which was fantastic!  I love catching up with old friends!  I also  went out today to the local art store to buy some more paint and panel boards.  Going out is a huge deal now...I used to take it for granted but now it is a production!  I have to make sure Isla is fed and that the husband is not busy and can watch her.

So what I am posting today is a new favorite song of mine.  It is not new but it is new to me.  I am obsessed with Pandora, especially the Feist channel.  One song that comes up a lot is this song by Miike Snow called Animal.  Isla and I LOVE to dance to it.  Dance parties are the best:)  I've decided that I will lose all of my pregnancy weight by having lots of dance parties...sounds fun, huh?  So here is Isla and my new favorite dance song.  Enjoy:)  I will try to do 2 10 minute sketches for tomorrow!

10 Minute Sketch: Coffee Cup and New Background

 

Today I did my 10 minute sketch around the quote one of my favorite people had on their facebook page..."There is nothing like your first cup of coffee in the morning."  I totally agree! It is the best tasting thing ever!

  For my sketch I used pen, acrylic paint and watercolor pencils.  The pen kind of smeared a little...I must get myself a pen that is waterproof!  Just another thing to add to the list:)  

I was also able to play around with some stamps today that I had made from an eraser and to create a fun background for a new piece.  I can't wait to work on it more!

Hope you had a nice day...Isla napped a lot today so I was able to play with my art supplies a little longer than usual:)  I hope this doesn't mean she will be up all night though!

Love this song

I know this song by The Temper Trap is probably in a ton of romantic comedy movies...but I just love it:)  I can't wait to run outside to this song...I don't know why it just seems like an awesome spring weather running song!  So take a listen to Sweet Disposition and stop back because I will be posting another 10 minute sketch later today:)

10 Minute Sketch: Chair

This sketch was done in colored pencils, illustration markers and a lovely black pen!  This was of a chair in my living room... i changed some of the colors and added my own patterns:) Hope you are having a nice day.  I personally have been living off of dark chocolate Hershey Kisses and hot chocolate and have been trying to keep warm because it is FREEZING out!  Being on maternity leave means I don't have to go out if I don't want to:)  Today I also have been brainstorming different ideas for this lil' ole blog so look out for some much needed updates on here!  

Have a fantastic day!

10 Minute Sketch Tea Kettle

Here is today's 10 minute sketch of my tea kettle. I used my colored pencils for this sketch.  I decided to keep it simple today:)

Here is the real tea kettle with a cut out drawing of a cup

Kind of weird right?  I was going to collage this drawing of a cup into my sketchbook but I thought it looked kind of funny next to a real tea kettle.

Here is my studio space.  I worked in my kitchen today because there was tons of natural sunlight today:)  Sunny but cold....I am so ready for warm weather!

Well enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

10 Minute Sketch: Favorite Nail Polish

Here is my 10 minute sketch...actually it took a little longer because I used acrylic paint and had to wait for some areas to dry...but it was still fairly quick!  This is a sketch of my favorite nail polish called " Pedal to the Metal" by Sally Hansen.  You can see it on my nails in the picture!  It is a silvery/purple color and I love it so much!  The sketch was completed with a mixture of black pen, watercolor pencils and acrylic paint.  I love working in mixed media:)

So what is in store for you this Saturday?  Today the husband watched the baby while I was able to run on the treadmill for the very first time in 2 months!  I am starting to feel more like myself again:)  I can't wait until it is warm outside again so I can run outside (one of my FAVORITE things to do!)  Hope you are keeping warm wherever you are...this morning it said it was 2 degrees outside!  YUCK!

Have a fantastic Saturday!

Salt Shaker 10 minute Sketch and New Art

 

Here is my 10 Minute Sketch for the day....a salt shaker.  I used a blue ball point pen and some illustration markers (that smelled very strongly like chemicals by the way...must be careful using them around baby girl!)

I also finished the artwork " Water Bird" which I will be posting in my etsy shop today.  It is actually sunny here in Ohio so I took advantage of the natural light by photographing my artwork.  

 

Have a lovely Friday!

Books that Inspire

Just wanted to quickly post about 2 amazing books I just purchased through Amazon.  I bought these because I felt like I needed some more inspiration in my life and these books totally did the trick! 

The first book I bought is Print and Pattern by Bowie Style.  Bowie Style has a sweet blog as well called..of course...Print and Pattern.  I am obsessed with patterns right now and find them so inspiring!  This book is FILLED with tons of pattern ideas and awesome color combinations. 

The second book I got is called Drawing Lab for Mixed- Media Artists: 52 Creative Exercises to Make Drawing Fun by Carla Sonheim.  There are some amazing ideas in here for people of all ages.  As a high school art teacher I am totally going to use some of these ideas!  I have been neglecting my drawings recently because I have not had time to make them as "perfect" as I want them to be.  This book is more about being creative and really coming up with interesting and innovative drawing ideas...not about making something look totally realistic.  It is SO what I need right now!

So if you get a chance check out these books and the authors' blogs, it will totally inspire you! 

Also I have decided to start my 10 minute sketches again.  I am hoping to stick with it a little better this time...I stopped last time as soon as I started my masters class...blah...I will do better this time I promise!  I really miss creating and find that I am not as happy when I don't do art...do you know what I mean?!

So here is my NEW sketchbook that will hold my 10 minute sketches...it is pretty small..perfect for this type of project!

Look at all of these blank pages!

I have started doing some doodles in here though...so inspired by the Print and Pattern Book!

 Can't wait to add more color with some watercolors and watercolor pencils:)

Well here is my 10 minute sketch for today:  

 

It is of my sneaker!  I used a black ball point pen and my watercolor pencils.  For all of my 10 minute sketches I am allowed to use any medium BESIDES a pencil!  If you would like to play along and do the 10 minute sketch everyday with me let me know and I would LOVE to check yours out!  Just let me know in the comments section:)

Well I am off to get ready for the day!  Have a lovely one:)

xoxo

Trying to Fit Art Back In My Life...

 The one thing I really have missed since having my daughter has been being able to work on my artwork...I really took the time I used to have for granted.  My little Isla is one month old (wow time has flown!)  She pretty much likes to eat, sleep and have me change her diapers.  The only thing is that when she sleeps she usually likes to sleep on me:)  I LOVE this, however it makes doing other things kind of hard if you know what I mean:)

Today my husband had the brilliant idea to put her in her car seat when she was sleeping because she actually LOVES to sleep in there.  Very strange daughter I have!  So I was actually able to take her into my studio and get some work done.  It was marvelous and lasted about an hour...better than nothing!

Here is a little tour of my studio:

My crazy messy work area and most important item: my mug of green tea!  Normally this would be coffee but I am trying to watch my caffeine intake especially with nursing Isla.

I even did a quick sketch about my tea...I didn't get finished though! 

Here are some of my finished artworks that can be found in my etsy shop.

And finally here is my latest artwork that I am currently working on:

There is still so much to work on but I am hoping to get some more time this week!

I hope everyone is doing well and I am going to try a lot harder to blog more!  I will write more soon:)

xoxo