Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Adding more detail with gouache

I actually have not done much watercolor in my life, so this year's 20 minutes a day of art includes a lot of experimentation with watercolor and gouache. I also need a lot of work on the human figure...I don't typically presketch, and I can easily make corrections with oils and acrylics as I go, but watercolor is what it is. So maybe presketching the figure is a good idea if I am using these mediums!

I'm not done with this one yet...but my 20 minutes is up and is is time to have tea with my darling daughter.

How is your 20 minutes going?

Monday, December 28, 2015

A work in progress

The arboretum at UC Davis. I probably should have started with a pencil sketch to get the body proportions right. Oh well!

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Thank you, Chico Paper Company!

I asked for a miracle, and they delivered. They did a gorgeous framing job in three hours so I could give this little drawing to Jim and Kami tonight at our big family dinner. If you need anything framed in Chico, this is the place to go!

Monotone version

I am not sure which one I like better between the two. I am going to have one of these framed for a gift for Jim and Kami as an early Wedding present.

Christmas morning at Jim and Kami's

I am in California having an amazing reunion with my 6 living siblings! AND my daughter, and my new son. Pretty much in heaven.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

The Crossword Puzzle

Sumi Ink and a broken Plume :  (

Darn. I guess I will have to go back to Paris  :  )

Monday, December 21, 2015

A 20 minute self portrait

...while my client sat under the dryer I did this. Happy Solstice, everyone!

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Saturday, December 19, 2015

For my niece Trisha!



Is this the place you saw that you put on FaceBook? The place you wanted to go? I think it is Hallstatt, Austria! Been there...  done that....got the painting!  Love ya! Aunt Sue

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

A little art show for you!

 My view from my hammock while camping in Alaska! Acrylic on canvas covered board.
 My view from our apartment in Cochem, Germany in the Mosel River. Acrylic on canvas covered board.
 A quick charcoal drawing in Lille, France.
 A gift for our waiter in Amboise, France.
 A tiny acrylic painting looking out of the window at 1am in Paris.
 A quick pastel on sandpaper drawing of my favorite person in the world...drawn in Edinburgh, Scotland.
 A very tiny pen and ink and colored pencil drawing of Neuschwanstien Castle in Germany.
 A tiny drawing done while waiting to enter the Theatre Sebastopol in Lille, France. We went there specifically to see Lara Fabian in concert. I hoped to give this to her, but had no opportunity to do so.

I thought you might enjoy seeing some work that I have done this past year on my travels. I bring with me the following in my tiny art box: 6 tubes of acrylic paint, 4 x 6 canvas covered boards, a piece of glass for a palette, paint brushes, NuPastel chalk pastels and fine grit black sandpaper to do pastels on, a package of handi-wipes, smooth vellum, art pens, and colored pencils. These all fit nicely in a 5 x 7 x 7 tupperware-like container with a handle. Since I am only 4'10", it also serves as my foot platform while sitting on the plane. As you can see, these are all quickly done works in a small format. And I enjoy using a variety of mediums. I save my oil paints for my studio only.

Monday, December 14, 2015

My Mini Art Studio

As with most things in life, preparedness makes a difference for your success in any situation. In order to spend 20 minutes a day doing art, I realized that being ready to draw anywhere was my ticket. So I bought a small bag just big enough to hold my watercolor postcard pad, and then added my plume de becasse, a Faber-Castell artist's pen, a teeny bottle of Winsor-Newton ink, my aqua-mini watercolor set, a teeny knife to remove the paper from my drawing pad, a tiny bottle to fill with water as I needed it, and a couple of napkins. That's it! and I carry it everywhere! Sometimes I only have 5 minutes, so I use my artist's pen. If I have more time, I bring out the ink and plume. My challenge to you today is to think about how you can be prepared to practise your craft with minimal set-up time. It has made all the difference for me!

Saturday, December 12, 2015

My Pretty Desk

While FaceTiming my daughter this morning, I thought I would draw my desk a second time, but with my plume de becasse. My earlier version was done with a fine tipped drawing pen, then inked in monotone. I sent the last one to my daughter who now lives in Davis. I will add ink or watercolor tomorrow. Now off to a busy day in the salon!

Friday, December 11, 2015

Amboise, France

Today was a crazy day so I didn't draw at all, so I thought I would post a little acrylic painting I did last year while I was traveling through the Loire valley visiting castles. The owners of this charming chateau (Les Fleurons in Amboise) are so wonderful. And the chateau is sandwiched between the castle and the river, with amazing views from every window! I did this little painting during the three days we stayed there, and gave it to them as a gift when we left.  Notice their funny cat at the door...he always wanted either in or out!

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Sweet Chalet...my Favorite Artisan Chocolate Shop!

Have you been to Sweet Chalet yet? Yes, it is a bit hard to find...you will find it upstairs in the freestanding building by the Pink Mall on Dimond. Here you will find the most beautiful and delicious artisan made hand painted Aurora Chocolate Bonbons! Some say they are too beautiful to eat...but they are too delicious to simply look at. GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT by the way! Ingrid trained in Paris to become an artisan chocolatier, worked in Beverly Hills creating delectibles, and then POOF! Here she is in Alaska, blessing us all with her beautiful tasty treats! Please do yourself a favor and stop in to see her artful creations. Check out her website at www.sweetchaletalaska.com

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

More sketching while watching TV

It is tough to draw moving objects, and even harder to make it look like a specific person! This is supposed to be Jim Caviezel in "Person of Interest." Not a good likeness, but a good exercise, nevertheless. I love "urban sketching," but my goal for this upcoming year is to work on portraiture. These exercises are for the sole purpose of developing my eye for features.

By the way, how is your 20 minutes going?

Monday, December 7, 2015

Watching the movie "The Best Offer" with Geoffery Post

Got the flu or something today, so laying low. Cuddled up on the couch and sketching a bit during the movie...it is a great film! 5 stars. One of my favorite movies now! How is it that I had never heard of it?

Sunday, December 6, 2015

My 20 minutes today...

...was spent dusting off my guitar, quickly tuning it, downloading a recording app and recording a song I wrote when I was 22 years old. Wow am I rusty! It was fun, though. I sent the music clip to my little sister (who was my singing buddy back in the day) even though the music was pretty terrible. The lyrics are cool, though, so hopefully was an encouragement to her. It is called "I am a Masterpiece," and is a reminder that WE ALL are Masterpieces, created by GOD to be exactly who we are. We can always try to live more Godly lives, but our personalities and physical bodies are "woven in the darkness of our mother's womb" and we are "skillfully and wonderfully made!"

So my encouragement to you is, be the best YOU that you can be. The world needs you.

Saturday, December 5, 2015

My Favorite Bakery in COLOR!

I wanted to paint all day, but it was a busy Saturday in the salon and had to wait until we closed. There's Frieda in the back...and her mom is a ghost in the corner! Can't really see the ghost in this photo. But I have heard they don't photograph well anyway.

Friday, December 4, 2015

I started to color the bakery...

...but I forgot to take a picture and left it at work! Going to bed! I will post a picture tomorrow! Sleep well!

Thursday, December 3, 2015

My FAVORITE bakery in Anchorage, Alaska!

Flying Dutchman! I am hooked on the merengues. I think I spelled it wrong, but oh well...They are YUMMY. A hint of Freida back in the kitchen...I am an abstract illustrator, so you have to use your imagination! Color to come!

Black Cup Final

I changed two things. Can you tell?

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

I gotta stop now and go home!

Better, I think. You think so?

I am experimenting with overlaying watercolors

My Black Cup drawing needed dimension, so I started overlaying watercolors.
Here's version 2:




So then I added MORE...


Today at Black Cup

I love this place. It is always hopping! Filled with creative types. Fun to sit silently and listen to the conversations around me!

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Spending my 20 minutes reflecting

This is a miniature acrylic painting I did two years ago called "Storm at Sea," given to our dear friend Spenser. I saw him looking at it at one of my shows, and wanted him to have it. I love to give away my art. My artwork will outlive me and I hope and pray that when they look at my art, they will always remember me as a human that sought to bring out the best in people.

I have a life motto: "live a life worth remembering." This year, I have begun adding a teeny forget-me-not flower in my signature, a reminder to always try to live a life worth remembering.