mind painting

what if... you just started with a ballpoint pen and one line became a new line, and then another...

maybe a stack of river stones on a celery-hued background--with tiny woodland flowers popping up

sometimes the mind already has the story.

Mother and Child

Mother and Child

watercolor, watercolor pencils, charcoal

Motherhood involves the carrying of a soul forever--no matter how much time has gone by, the burden is joyous. Nothing else compares.

Under the sea...

Ocean Floor

watercolor, charcoal, watercolor pencils... the colors "under the sea"...

We decided to purchase some Florida resident's Disney passes for a year this summer--it had been so long since we were at any of the parks. Years ago when Caitlin was little, we indulged in the Disney hoopla and held passes for several years--all great memories through toddler-hood. So when I found myself sitting next to my 20 year old daughter while watching one of her favorite shows, The Little Mermaid (one never outgrows Disney!), I was caught up in all the emotional images of someone much smaller coming to mind. I bravely held back the tears as I savored the moment given to me, a chance to re-live a time and place with someone I love more than words could describe. It was magical indeed. Thank you Disney.

Sadly, I say good-bye to her this Friday... so soon it seems. Although I'm happy that she returns again to Houston for the Texas Music Festival, I will mourn the loss of her music here at home and just her overall delightful presence. Looking forward to her return for a few weeks in August. I can't believe she is going to be a junior at Yale in August--grateful for each day with her. 

Peach blossoms mixed media sketch.

Peach blossoms mixed media sketch., originally uploaded by studio318.

I was reading about combining watercolors and pastel pencils in a pastel art instruction book I have in my art library, so I experimented in my mixed media sketchbook this morning. I really liked the texture that the pastel pencils added to this quick floral sketch--a technique I want to explore more in the coming days.

Poppies

I feel like a slave to my yard, my floral garden, my endless Floridian beds that require constant weeding, but I seriously cannot fault being able to sit outside in the early evening just before dark and watch the red-throated hummingbirds collect nectar within an arm's length from where we sit. It is just beautiful. Ah, but back to the work involved... okay, the lawn and garden care is something I have to constantly "deal" with, meaning I have to shake myself and realize that it's better than renting. I guess we are entering a new phase of home ownership where we are embracing the "less is more" concept. Time will tell where we end up. I know we want LESS of just about everything, except FUN. We want more fun. We have a plan. :)

As for fitting in art studio time, I am doing the best I can to make sure that I create something each week, if not each day. This was a sketch that came together right before making dinner last night--one of those art moments when it all just comes together magically. I was quite pleased. I sketched with an ink pen which runs ever so slightly, creating a nice blurred line and then added vibrant color from my Neocolor water soluble crayons. I love this product because I can add water, or leave the great, grainy texture of the crayon. I believe that dual finish adds a lot of interest, mirroring a very "natural" look, perfect for the garden and floral drawings.

I uploaded this to my Imagekind gallery. You can visit the link on the side or click here to order wonderfully priced prints on canvas or paper! Have a great week everyone!!! :)