Thursday Art Walk

 

In Which I'm Helping

Yesterday was quite the day! Nothing seemed to be going quite right, art-wise, for the first 3/4 of the day, and I just felt kind of run-down. It was gorgeous out, though, with blue skies and bright sunshine and a birdbath surrounded by thirsty honeybees from the neighbor's hives, and that was nice. It was also nice that, out of the blue, my boyfriend was gifted a new mattress by our Epic Friends - the same ones who transported a bed to him last week!

And then, in the evening, my wonderful mother took my guy and me to go pick up some rugs for his room, and that was great, too!

All in all, and despite my brain being mush, yesterday was pretty decent, really!

But I had a problem - I received a Ko-Fi donation for art in the LOCATION category, and I could not for the life of me figure out how to draw or paint a location all day! I wanted to paint a library - too many lines, apparently, because my lineart was... bad. I wanted to create a sunset silhouetted scene from a desert in digital art - too few colors, couldn't figure out the order of shading. I was about to give up when my boyfriend suggested Mount Katahdin.

I love painting mountains.

I really, really love them.

I was, however, very intimidated by painting a mountain I knew, though.

Thankfully, Google is a total bro when it comes to finding reference photos, and it's pretty easy to find said references for Katahdin! I still wanted to paint a sunset, though, so I changed the time of day, tweaked some colors and got to work.

My first layer was with my Arteza watercolor pencils, and I sketched everything out with a brown sienna pencil before filling in base colors. I chose some pretty wild tones for the sky and the peaks, then more subdued ones for the forest and pond.

I'm pretty pleased with how it came out, but you can let me know what you think in the comments either on here or wherever you found a link!

"Katahdin"; watercolor and watercolor pencil on hot press paper; 2022

Up until today, I've struggled to get our scanner to capture the actual colors of my paintings, but I think I figured it out!

I stuck black construction paper behind the painting instead of leaving it against the white lid.

Seems to have done the trick, because that yellow is just as yellow as it is in real life!

Also, I did something I didn't think I'd ever do - I accidentally put my brush in my coffee.

Thankfully the paints are non-toxic and the brush washed out just fine in my water, but that was... embarrassing, to be honest lol!

I think that will do it for me, today. I will be working on some crochet tonight, and if you guys want a say in what I draw or paint, please remember to send me a Ko-Fi donation with a message telling me what category you'd like to see next (Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, Location, Geometric, Dedbert, Word)!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Thursday Art Walk

 

It Is So Nice Out!

Today's been Very Much A Day, but at least the weather has been lovely. It's been warm and sunny all day long. The breeze is cold, but can you really beat a 49℉/9,4℃ day where the grass is green and the lawn is getting starry with wildflowers?

Even if those wildflowers are dandelions?

"Dandy"; watercolor brush pen on watercolor paper; 2022

I'm still figuring out the best ways to use and blend these brush pens, but I'm fairly happy with the way the flowers & leaves came out!

I was working on the confetti-ish background when my mom's mom stopped by to visit and needed help with some medical stuff (as far as I'm aware, she's going to be alright!). That took some doing, and then the cat needed out, so I got her ready while my mom enjoyed her coffee. After walkies, we ate some ginger snaps and I finished up the painting.

Confession: this painting is, for some reason, uncentered. It's far more on the left-hand side of the page than the right-hand, and I don't really know what I was thinking. Also, the brown shadow for the ground is too high up and not rounded enough, so it looks a little clumpy. I should try this again sometime!

I was thinking of maybe taking a walk today but... honestly, I'm already worn out and my back hurts, so I'll probably just stay in unless my mom decides to take bottles back or something.

I might sketch some more and see if I can start next week's drawing, too!

Regardless, that'll do it for me today!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Thursday Art Walk

 

In Which I Made Art I'm Very Proud Of!!!

I woke up late this morning. I usually get up around 9AM and do Serious Artist Things (drink too much coffee and argue with the cat before doing anything remotely like a productive task), but it rained again last night and I am still on High Alert from the Halloween Flood of 2021 so sleep wasn't really a thing last night (despite starting to doze around 11PM or so). This whole week has felt like I just couldn't get started, but when I look back, I've accomplished more than it feels like.

Today was especially rough, though, because not only did I get up later than I wanted, nothing went the way I expected it to!

Sure, I argued with the cat and made coffee, but when I sat down with my mug, Evie came stomping up to me and decided that, despite the fact that I was sideways-pretzeled on the couch, I must be sat upon. So up she hopped, but my mug was in the way of her sudden desire to sleep tucked under my chin and atop my chest like a fluffy facehugger.

I ended up wearing most of that cup of coffee and had to dislodge her before she settled in so that I could clean up.

Major bummer.

My second cup went better, though Evie was pretty mad at me and let me know by both yodeling and, more annoyingly, biting me. And of course she couldn't hop on the counter like a normal cat and bite my fingers, no.

She bit my foot.

She never bites feet, but she leaned down and took a mouthful of sock to air her fury.

She still decided that I was cuddle-material when I finally sat down after fully drinking my second cup. She tucked herself under my chin and kneaded little pinholes in my collarbone because she's an adorable little monster made of knives and cuteness.

It took until almost noon to get her off of me so I could do some chores - like pick up snacks. Unfortunately, my usual store was closed (despite multiple cars in the parking lot), so I went to the Food Service and bought bougie local chips (which are delicious, but kind of expensive) and Reese's Cups (which are delicious and not at all expensive). Also Unfortunate - the once-a-ceramic-shop storefront that has lain empty since mid-summer has now been filled with yet another "medical" marijuana dispensary.

I'm all for people combating their ills with whatever helps, but...

Come on.

If it was really a medical marijuana facility I wouldn't have been able to smell it from the church a hill and a half away. The other place in town is next to a bank and I never smell anything from them.

Pretty sure I got a contact high from that. 0/10 do not recommend. Also ended up with heartburn.

So I came home in a foul mood and probably a little toasted, but I was all ready to start doing my work...

Except I really didn't want to.

I was tired.

I was cranky.

The cat was yodeling again.

I just wanted to eat a bag of Cheez-Its and sleep.

So I ate a bag of Cheez-Its...

and zoned out.

Instead of working.

But then I realized I needed to do the damn work, so I put on my Big Artist Britches (okay, they're just a pair of plaid leggings bc all my pajamas are now in the wash) and dragged out my Good Sketchbook and my Good Watercolor Pencils and DID THE DAMN WORK!

And here it is:

"Stop, Thief!!!"; watercolor pencil on paper; 2021

Here we see a very happy groundhog escaping with a stolen pumpkin! It bounds towards freedom, not for a moment heeding the cries of dismay from the human whose edible lawn ornament has been snatched.

I want to thank my boyfriend for commissioning this one - it was so fun to draw, and even if groundhogs don't often canter like a racehorse, I love the motion it has! I am also inordinately proud of that pumpkin - it looks delightful!!!

There's one more commission to fulfill, but... that one will require quite the concerted effort on my part, as it's probably the biggest work I've ever tackled. Look forward to more updates on my Thanksgiving art in the coming week!

I think that'll do it for me today - I'm exhausted and excited and eager to rest up and start on the Big Commission tomorrow!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC