My new Studio!!!! WOYWW #13

Dear Friends,
I am finally back! And proudly presenting: My new studio! I am sooooo excited to finally have one-it has been 8 years since I have had a room just for art! I am thrilled that it is here and I look forward to many days and nights of drawing and painting! Below are just a couple quick sketches I have been working on. Its good to be back to WOYWW!

Packing! WOYWW#12

Dear Readers,
It has been too long!  I was particularly sad to miss last week, since it was the anniversary swap!  But I had literally no art made to post about. :(  Sad but true-buying a house and packing has taken over my life.  We closed on the house this past Friday (YAY!!!!) so I was actually able to do a little art this weekend. 
The second picture shows the disaster just behind my drawing table!  Packing has taken over, and will continue to do so until July! But I will keep trying to make art in the midst of chaos.  Hope everyone is enjoying June! Stop by and visit the other WOYWWers!

Half Marathon Adventures! -WOYWW#11

Dear Readers,
Welcome back! I apologize for my long absence, but in that space of time I have gotten a new job, put in an offer on a house, and run a half marathon!  Whew!  In fact, it feels as if the last 3 weeks have been one long marathon.  But I proudly ran my half in 2 hours, 16 minutes!   The half marathon was at Ocean City, so I did get a little sketching in!  Sunday morning, 7am, it was just me, some surfers, and a couple bikers looking for shells.  So glad I made it through that stretch! Happy WOYWW!

Happy Spring!! WOYWW #9

Dear Readers,

Happy Spring!!! :) I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about this. Unfortunately Rita's free Italian Ice is out because it's still pretty cold here in the Northeast, but I did run 4 miles today in the sunshine!  I cannot wait until the flowers start blooming! I've already seen some daffodils.  On my workdesk this week I have a Yellow Sneezeweed (teehee) that I've been working on, as well as a sketch of a mural that I am scheduled to paint on Monday!  I am very excited to do this particular mural, since they requested a garden! Yess!!!  I'll post pictures next week to show you how it turned out.  Check out the other WOYWWers and have a beautiful evening!

WOYWW #7- Beginning to Paint Again

Dear Readers,

Happy Wednesday!  Sunday was my 30th birthday, and I am very excited to begin this new decade in my life.  On my desk you can see one of my presents from my awesome brother in law- a travel sketchbook that you can paint in! I am planning to put that to good use as soon as I can.  I have begun painting my florals again after taking a break- I am still finding it frustrating but I am trying to persevere!  The painting on my desk is a Tickseed Sunflower, and the final picture is a Swamp Milkweed.  Check out some other great artists at WOYWW!

WOYWW #3-Busy Week and a Wild Indigo

Dear Readers,
Well, it has been pretty nutty, grades due at work and 3 observations this week. But I am loving this background! What do you think? It's a Wild Indigo.
 I've also been loving all of this feedback I'm getting on WOYWW!  Thanks for visiting!

I'm in a book!!!!

Dear Readers,
Happy Holidays!  I apologize for my absence, holidays and two weeks of bad colds have kept me away. But I have some exciting news to share- the Sketchbook Project book finally came!!!!  I am printed in a book-a very small picture, but I'm in there!  Considering this has been one of my life goals for a long time, I'm pretty happy.  Granted, its not a book I illustrated, but it's a start and I'm celebrating it! 

 The Cover of the Book!

My picture, right in the middle!

The original illustration

 On a sadder note, as an elementary teacher myself, I am thinking and praying for everyone involved in the tragedy this weekend.  Please include them in your prayers tonight.

Liz

30 Things I Want to Do When I am 30 (Personal Musings)

Dear Readers

Today I want to post some personal musings I have been having.  Because of this I will not be posting this post to facebook, as I sometimes do to have more people look at my art.  But just you my wonderful blogger readers will get to read this one.

Some of these musings have been occurring because I am going to be 30 soon, but I decided that instead of thinking about that birthday negatively, I want to think about it positively.  To that end I wrote up a "30 Things I Want to Do When I Am 30" List.  It made me feel very excited about this upcoming year!

Other of my musings come about just from the nature of being a completely unknown artist.  Over the summer I did a lot of thinking about why I make art, even when nothing happens and nothing gets sold.  I came to the conclusion that I want to always keep on making art, even if I only ever sell one painting, like my hero Van Gogh. This page has been sitting in my sketchbook for a while, but I thought it would be good to put in my personal musings post.

Thanks for listening, my friends.

Drawing Challenge Days 20-27

Dear Readers,
Well, I told myself that I am not allowed to go outside and play on this beautiful Saturday until I have sat at my computer and blogged!  Not that blogging is a chore, but my drawings have been piling up and I've been running around working my new job, so there you have it. 

 I've been very inspired by what I've seen on other blogs lately, in particular artsyville wrote a post about taking an art retreat-this is something I definitely want to do!  Let me know what you think readers- maybe we can make this happen.  What do we think- mountains or ocean?

Either way I am finishing up my 30 day drawing challenge (it took 60, but hey, my rules were weak.) Come back tomorrow for the last 3!

Day 20-

One of my new favorites!

Day 21

 Day 22

 Day 23-

A quote I find very profound given my current obsession with flowers.

 Day 24- 

My Favorite Coloring page

 Day 25-

A marker doodle

 Day 26-

"Pirate Pig is NOT Amused"

No idea and I love it!

Day 27- 

An unfinished ink drawing

Coloring Pages (Drawing Challenge Days 15-19)

Dear Readers,

Happy Labor Day!  Have you gone back to school too?  These past two weeks have been full of teacher meetings, first days of school, and meeting all of my new students.  So far, I LOVE my new job!  Everyone has been wonderful to me and the kids have been working hard.  But my blogging and drawing have slowed down, because I am concentrating on making this the best school year I can.  The drawings I have today are what I call 'coloring pages' because I doodle the images and then go back later with colored pencil or paint and fill them in.  I find it so relaxing!  If anyone wants some coloring pages, email me and I will happily send you some!  

Day 15

Day 16 (my favorite)

Day 17 (needs work)

Day 18

Now I'm off to spend the rest of the morning coloring in my coloring pages!

Teacher's Week! (Drawing Challenge Days 12-14)

Dear Readers,

Yesterday was my first day at my new job, and already, I love this place.  One of the first things they did when they got all of the newly-hired art teachers in one room, was hand us a beautiful new sketchbook.  To keep.  Just to draw in and inspire us!  If any of you know how teaching works, this is not usually what happens.  

My beautiful new sketchbook!  

So I have decided to use my new sketchbook to keep at work (or in my car) and to doodle/draw inspirations in when I have time during the day.  And I've already started! 
I don't know what side of the fence you are on in the "doodle during lectures" debate, but I am a copious doodler.  But, in my defense, I also take pages of notes at the same time! (A technique perfected in college)  During teacher week, I have been attending lots of meetings and using my sketchbook at the same time.  Are you a doodler? I'd love to see some doodles!

Day 12- A Klimt inspired doodle

Day 13

Day 14- My favorite doodle so far- a Celtic Doodle!

Drawing Challenge Days 10 and 11

Dear Readers,
 Two more drawings today, as well as a BEAUTIFUL painting from Annie. Working on scanning in my art, so still adjusting fonts and colors. 
Thanks for reading! 

Day 10- A quote I've been thinking about a lot lately!

Annie's Amazing Day 10!

Day 11- Definitely needs more color! 

Summer Musings (Drawing Challenge Days 8 and 9)

Dear Readers,
As summer ends and I start getting myself mentally prepared for school, looking back this was a summer about being grateful and enjoying the little things.  I am grateful for having a new job, first of all.  After breaking my toe early in the summer, I am grateful for the ability to walk (and my patient husband).  I am grateful for friends who draw with me- now I have two (Sarah and Annie!) joining my drawing challenge.  It was a wonderful summer, full of drawing adventures to different places.  Yesterday I went on a drawing adventure to a place called Patuxent Ponds, where I bothered the fisherman jumping around trying to get my drawing. (The things we do for art!)  Check out the drawings and let me know how your summer has gone!

Day 8- Will paint for a later day!

Sarah's Day 8! 

Annie's Day 8

Day 9- Also to be painted

Annie's Day 9

Annie's Day 7

Thank you for checking in with us! 

Drawing Challenge! Days 2-7

Dear Readers,
Well, its been a week of my drawing challenge and I've been doing good with the drawing, but not so good with the blogging about it.  I had a wonderful weekend visit from my sister, niece and nephews, and we had a blast! But between trips to the park and sleeping bag races down the stairs, there wasn't much time to blog!
Also, I have a friend joining me for the drawing challenge!  She has graciously sent me pictures to put on my blog.  Her style is very different from mine, and wonderful.  Let me know if you want to join us!

Day 2

Annie's Day 2!

Day 3

Annie's Day 3

Day 4- Something a little different

Day 5- Color!

Day 6- A work in progress

Day 7-

I read this at the B&B we stayed at in St. Michaels MD, and I've wanted to illustrate it for a while now.  

Let me know what you think so far!  

-Liz