AEDM- The Final Day

The Art Every Day Month challenge has come to a close. Even though I didn't post to my blog every day, I can say I did create almost every day. I may not have been in my studio 7 days a week (more like 2 days a week if I was lucky) but I did sketch almost every night before bed. I have a nice little set up with pencils and water soluble markers and crayons. I might do homework from one of my e-courses or just sketch something random. My creative time may have only been 10 minutes some nights, but it was something. I'm happy I took this challenge because it got me into the habit of doing daily sketching and that was a personal goal. 

This past weekend I also created profit for the retail industry (Merry Christmas Shopping!) in addition to the work pictured below. 

This is some homework from my I Heart Drawing e-course. 

This is homework from my She Art 2 e-course (still working on her). 

This is from my sketchbook.

 

AEDM- Alton Brown, Thanksgiving Day Hero!

Cooking the perfect turkey is an art.  Ask anyone who has had a dry turkey!  The secret is in the brine, baby!  I learned all about brining from Alton Brown.  I'm a big fan of Alton Brown. He is the host of Food Network's Good Eats.  The show explores the science of cooking with a very fun and often silly flare.  He has a great episode on cooking the perfect turkey. I followed his recipe to the letter last year and it was the BEST TURKEY we ever had!  This year I'm only cooking the breast but I am still brining. The brine insures a juicy turkey. You can see Alton's recipe here. You can also check YouTube for the Alton Brown brining video! 

 

Salt, spices and an iPad help me make the perfect turkey. 

AEDM- I Heart Drawing Homework

I am taking I Heart Drawing from Jane Davenport. It started this week and it looks to be a very fun and informative class! We will be learning to draw the female figure 3 ways; realistic, whimsical and fashion. Below is homework. I haven't colored the girls in yet, but it's a good start. There is still time to sign up. If you click here, Jane is offering a discount for all my friends!

AEDM- She Art 2 Homework

Had a chance to start my first lesson for She Art 2; A She Art Girlie with a Face. I used a 9x12 canvas panel and created a painted background. Then I used paper from an old magazine to create the head and neck. I lightly sketched in a face. When I will be able to return to finish her up is always a mystery in my house.



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AEDM- Girl Tilting Her Head

I didn't get to create as much as I was hoping to this weekend. My son had sleep problems. I did manage to work on this in my sketchbook. I'm still trying to improve my shading and I've never done the tilted head before. In my first version it looked like she was trying to drain water from her ear. This attempt is much better. I think she's kind of cute.

AEDM- Playing in the Sketchbook

I had some time to play in my sketchbook today. This is a small one I try and carry around the house with me. Unfortunately, once my kids see it and my art supplies, they just want to play in it too. Luckily they were napping while I was sketching! I looked at some bird photos online and drew this little birdie then colored him in with my Derwent Inktense Pencils. Love them! The colors are so vibrant. They are also water soluble so I used my water brush to create a watercolor effect. The great thing about these pencils is they are ink based. Once they dry it's permanent. Therefore, you can use other water based media on it and they won't run or wipe away. Hopefully I will get a chance to play this weekend and add some texture to my little painting.

AEDM- Prep Work

Today was a prep work day. I'll be starting a new class on Monday, I Heart Drawing and I needed to gesso some journal pages. Very exciting. I have 3 different kinds of gessoes on hand: A Liquitex brand- I found it very thick and hard to spread on the page, a Liquitex clear gesso- that one went on the page very easily. The last gesso i used was from Daler Rowney and I found it in Walmart. gesso I found in Walmart. That one went on very smoothly. I don't know how they take media and drawing yet. They are drying at the moment. I am also trying my best to sketch every night before turning in. Even if it's just for 10 minutes. Trying to fit creative time in with toddlers, the approaching holidays and everyone being sick is a challenge. I am changing my attitude from "Ugh! I only created for 10 minutes!" to "Hurray! I created for 10 minutes!". I figure this way I won't be disappointed in myself.

Here are some collage journal pages to play with in the future and one of my "bedtime sketches".