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: Pink Heels

Here is today's 10 minute sketch. It is of one of my favorite spring shoes. These are cute pink heels I got at Banana Republic a couple of years ago and they never seem to go out of style (at least to me they don't!) The only thing is that they are not the most comfortable shoes if you have to be on your feet all day! I did this sketch with a green colored pencil and some watercolors.

I also have some swatches of paper and fabric that I found recently that have really inspired me. Here is a piece of fabric I found in an old box of fabric we have at school. I just love the colors and the flower shapes. I will definitely be using these flower shapes in my artwork sometime soon!


Here is some beautiful paper that I got when I was in Venice about 2 years ago. I bought some jewelry at a boutique there and it came wrapped in this paper. I just love the paisleys and the floral pattern.


What inspires you?

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: Clothes for tomorrow

Here is today's 10 minute sketch. It was done in blue pen and with watercolor. It is of some of my clothes that I have laid out to wear tomorrow for school. They are hanging from a door knob. I am such a dork and try to plan what I am wearing in advance each night. I know the sketch is a little rough...I definitely rushed through it tonight (I am stressed with work and my 2 masters classes!) so the 10 minute sketches are getting pushed to the back burner...*sigh*

10 minute sketch: My favorite boots

Today's 10 minute sketch is of one of my favorite pair of boots. I bought these boots at Target (one of my favorite stores!) I live in Ohio so therefore I wear lots of boots throughout the winter. These are comfortable, cute, affordable and have 3 buckles! In my book, that is a good boot! Oh and yes the foot on the boot is that small...I wear a 5 1/2 which is freakishly small I know! I rarely can find cool shoes in my size! This sketch was done with watercolor and ink.

Hope everyone is staying warm tonight...it is supposed to be -15 to -20. Usually we would have school canceled for tomorrow but since it is a teacher workday I will be forced to brave the cold!

I will be posting some fun new art projects my students did tomorrow so please stay tuned!

Happy Weekend Eve!

10 minute sketch: Perfume Bottle

Here is today's 10 minute sketch. I drew my favorite perfume. I love Juicy Couture perfume but the bottle is ridiculous. It is so big and and it cracks me up. So of course I drew it:) I used blue pen and watercolor.

I am so tired tonight...it is not even 9 pm and I am pretty sure I am going to go to bed already! Hope you are having a great week...the weekend is so close!

10 minute sketch: Tootsie Pop

Here is my latest 10 minute sketch. It is of my favorite candy, Tootsie Pop suckers (chocolate flavored!) I did this in watercolor and black ink. It kind of turned out a little weird but oh well. I think I overdid the hatching in the background...hmmm...I will try to control this next time:)

Today has been a stressful day...I hate stress! I am starting two online masters classes and am trying to figure out when I am going to complete all of the coursework and work my full time job as a teacher and still do the whole art business and blog thing! I will just figure it out I guess! Have a great night!

10 minute sketch: Favorite wedge shoe

Here is my latest 10 minute sketch. This is a sketch of one of my favorite patent leather wedge shoes that I wear daily to school. As a teacher it is very important to have comfortable shoes because I am on my feet 8 hours of the day (seriously.) For me it is very important to also have CUTE, comfortable shoes...so these fit the bill!

This sketch was done with black pen and watercolor. Here is my lovely little cheapo watercolor set that I like to use.



I actually have fancier watercolors but these work for my little 10 minute sketches.

Have a good night! I will be announcing the winner of my art giveaway soon with C.Beth. Please check back! Have a good night!

I love women in hats....

Apparently I have a thing for women in hats....which is strange because I kind of look stupid in them. Every time I see a picture with a woman with a cool hat on, I want to draw her.

Case in point:



Done in acrylic paint




Done in watercolor and pen



Done in watercolor and pen with collage elements

These were all done in my altered book.

Here are some other artworks I have done in my altered book:






The seed heads of dandelions are my favorite to paint... they are so soft and pretty!

My altered book has been sitting on a shelf for awhile but recently I have been working on it again. It is a nice place to play around with different media and subject matter. Check out a cool altered book gallery here.

As usual here is my 10 minute sketch for today. It is the blender in my kitchen. I used Chartpak markers (illustration markers). My kitchen is pretty much white and black...I totally changed that in my drawing! I like color way too much and sometimes go overboard! So here it is:


Well I am off to have some fun...it is Friday you know;)

Watercolor Sketches

Wow! 2 posts in one day! I will even be posting one of my 10 minute sketches later so that will make 3 posts! I am posting some watercolor sketches my painting students completed awhile ago. I had them hanging on a bulletin board and was unable to photograph them well. These sketches allowed students to play around with watercolors and try different techniques such as masking fluid, rubbing alcohol, salt and lifting out colors. If you would like to see a cool site that has a ton of free demonstrations on these techniques, click here.. If you still have not entered my art giveaway please do so!!!! You can enter here.

What is Beauty?

Here is my painting class's next project- I copied and pasted right from the handout I am giving them.

Some quick background info: We have been working with watercolors for the past month and our next big painting assignment is to create an artwork that illustrates what the student thinks is considered beautiful. I like to keep things pretty vague so that the student can really be creative and not have a ton of restrictions. I also showed students a powerpoint on Robert Rauschenberg a Pop artist who used a lot of transfer techniques, assemblage and collage in his art.

This assignment is to help in the brainstorm process for the “What is Beauty” painting assignment. It is also meant to be a unique work of art in it’s own right at the end of the process.

Steps to complete the collage:


1.Collect 10 (depending on size) images that relate to what you perceive beauty to be from magazines, newspapers, images printed from online or personal photographs. Give me at least one to photocopy for packing tape transfer method.

2. Stretch or tape your watercolor paper on your board. Alter your watercolor paper (backing for your collage) using at least one texture technique (sponging, salt, saran wrap, alcohol, stamping, scratching, spraying) Let DRY!

3. Illustrate at least one of your images with watercolor and ink on either tagboard, construction paper or newspaper. Make your illustration at least 4 x 4 inches or bigger. You may abstract this illustration from the original picture.

4. Alter 3 images by either a) cutting something out from the image b) painting on top of your image with watercolors or acrylic or c) drawing over the image with sharpie.

5. Complete at least one packing tape transfer with one of your photocopied images (remember step 1!) Remember to not do this in the sink-it will clog it!

6. Create your own what is beauty image. Draw from a photograph or observation on watercolor paper an object that represents beauty to you. Use watercolors and charcoal pencil. Make sure your image is at least 4 x 4 inches.

7. Once you have followed all of these directions begin to organize your new and improved images! Create an interesting composition on your watercolor paper. Include all of your images (at least 5). You may further cut and crop any pictures to make your collage flow.

8. When you are satisfied with your collage, glue images down onto the taped/stretched paper with matte medium. Add layers of acrylic or watercolor paint over some of your images to make them unified with the artwork.


9. You may add more collage items on top of your collage if you feel it needs it. Other options include adding 3d elements such as twine, string, little trinkets, ribbon to create an interesting textural effect.



I have been playing around with an example for this project to show students and this is what I have done so far...it is not finished but on its way!








My ideas of beauty include nature, innocence, wonder, hope, spirituality. I cut out images such as deer, a little boy and his dog looking out the window, trees, birds, etc. I used scrabble pieces and collaged a bird and an apple on them. I liked the 3-D elements they gave this piece. I am going to continue working on it today (if I ever get off the computer!) and will post more pictures later!

What are images/words that symbolize beauty to you?

4 Seasons Drawings

I hope everyone is having a great Saturday so far! Where I live it is snowy, cold and icy out! I am happily staying in the rest of the day and plan on drinking a LOT of hot chocolate!

I wanted to post some drawings completed by my Introduction to Art students. The assignment was to complete four drawings that represent each season (Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.) Students were to use a viewfinder and look through magazines or personal photographs to find images for each season and draw with the following media: pencil, colored pencil, oil pastels and ink with watercolor. Here are some of their drawings:

Winter done in pencil




Spring done in watercolor and ink






Summer done in colored pencil


Summer in oil pastel


Autumn done in colored pencil

F is for Feather

Here is another illustration for my book that I am working on (illustrating each letter of the alphabet with something that starts with that letter). I still have a ton left to go but hopefully I will get some time soon to do some major work! I kind of skipped over E though..what would be a neat idea for E? I was thinking egg..or elephant...hmmmm...I am open to suggestions!

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?