Sketchbook

This month I have been working on my oil paintings and doing some sketching in my sketchbook. Here are some of my sketches. I am almost done with the painting I began at the beginning of the month. The leaf dragon, second from the bottom, is the one being featured in my painting. He is tired of sitting for me, says it is boring and can't I hurry up. I tell him, too bad, you're the one who wanted to be painted, so sit still; round and round we go...

Have a great day!

Theta

I'm Trying Something New

For my birthday my husband got me some oil painting things. He's been bugging me about painting in oils for years, many years, and when he said he was going to take me to the local art and craft store and I could pick out what I wanted (within reason); I knew what was going to happen. It was a somewhat underhanded way to get me started in oils.

Now the best art store here is sub par, the main one is mostly a mish-mash of craft items, material, tools - sort of an art mercantile. Things are generally organized - the styrofoam is grouped together, the material is all on one floor, and the thread, floss, ribbon, and yarn is loosely grouped in one corner. The trouble begins when you need writing and drawing implements - will they have put them with the school supplies or the art supplies (two different floors), or glue - in the tool area, the art area, the craft area(s), or the school supply area. Things are not shelved logically and many things can be found in two places... It is a very confusing store for me. They carry a few fine art things, but mostly, crafts.

The other main store is a bookstore that carries electronics (computers, cameras, phones, iPads, etc.) and their accompaniments, stationary, art supplies, toys, and books in Arabic and English. They carry Winsor and Newton, Derwent, Faber Castel, and other companies art materials. They have a smaller selection than the other bigger store, but it's mostly fine art and good quality.

We went to the larger store and got some good stuff; then I went to the other store and filled in what I was missing. It worked out fairly well. It was nice going to the big craft store and having time to just poke around - almost a birthday present in itself. I dislike going to it because it is downtown and the traffic is terrible. Every time I go we almost get hit 5 or more times. I'm always really glad my driver has excellent reflexes.

So one of the things we got at the craft store was a Daler Rowney Oil Creative Pot with 6 tubes of oil color, two paintbrushes, 12 oil ATCs, and this adorable 2.5" by 2.5" mini canvas and easel. I actually started on one of the bigger canvasses, but oil paints take forever to dry, OMG, so I did this little butterfly while waiting for the bigger piece to dry. I think I'm going to get some googly eyes and glue them on... When it dries...

Have a great day!
[If my paint dries, I will be ;) ]

Theta

ATC Mushroom #15

#411

White on black mushrooms liven up my blog today. Enjoy them.

Have a beautiful day!

Theta

#412

ATC Flower #28

#409

Two ATC flowers in color to brighten your day on this lovely June day.

Have a great day!

Theta

#410

ATC Flower #27

#407

Two more flowers today. On #408 I used a couple of patterns differently than I have in the past.

Have a wonderful day!

Theta

#408

ATC Flower #26

#405

Enjoy these two flowers and have a great day!

Theta

#406

16x12 Rabbit Flowers

I have been working on this piece off and on for about 2 weeks. Being in a mood, I tossed watercolor and stuff at the paper. Once I settled down, I decided there was a rabbit romping in flowers hidden in the mess and here he is. It's finished simply because I'm done with it :)

Have a bright and beautiful June day!

Theta

ATC Doodle #15

Fun doodles ready to grow and spread.

Have a great day!

Theta

#403

#404

ATC Flower #26

#401

Two more flowers white on black flowers today.

Have a lovely day!

Theta

#402

ATC Flower #25

#399

Happy day to me, I'm posting my 400th ATC card, a black and white flower, and another ATC flower to accompany it.

Have a wonderful first day of June!

Theta

#400