Art Lesson: Sketch Page of the Hemlock Tree.

For today's art lesson,

I sat out on the porch and sketched the hemlock tree on the far side of our small orchard.

Here is the view of the sketchbook.

 My tree trunk is a bit more swayed than the tree is,

but it was a fun tree to draw.

 Here is a sketch page to print if you would like.

It is free for use, just not for resale.

There is so much variety to trees.

Have you drawn or painted any trees lately?

Thanks for stopping by.

(To copy then sketch page, click on the image, right click, and then click on "copy".

Open up Microsoft Word and right click on the screen, and then click "paste".

 The image should paste onto the page.

You can then click "print" to print the sketch page.

If you have difficulties or suggestions, please let me know.)

The Artist: Mary Engelbreit

 (This is a book about Mary Englebreit full of her wonderful illustrations and her encouraging story and words.)

"I taught myself by copying, but if you do that long enough, you start drawing your own little people, which for me happened when I was just about eight." - Mary Engelbreit

 Maryengelbreit.com

Mary's success in her art is shown by her over 6,000 pieces of artwork.

Mary Engelbreit is a favorite artist of mine.  

(Yes, I suppose I have several favorite artists, but I have admired Ms. Engelbreit's work for most of my life).

I just so enjoy her bright colors and unique style. 

The creative way that she frames her artwork in patterns and designs punctuates the fun and draws the eye in.

I love that Mary never went to art school.

She is a picture of success by keeping to her own style of art and by her hard work.

Mary graduated from high school and went on to work at an art store where she met and was encouraged by the working artists that came in.

She then worked at an ad store where she garnered even more knowledge.

(To see her selection of books, click >HERE<).

Her style of creating art is this:

Mary does her entire piece of artwork on one page: she doesn't sketch her pieces out first.

She starts the artwork in pencil.

Mary then uses micro pen to ink it in.

Next she uses markers to color it: Prismacolor, Copic, or Tria.

She finishes the piece with Prismacolor colored pencils.

Each of Mary's artwork pieces take anywhere from 40 to 100 hours.

(source: Pinterst from the live interview with Mary Engelbreit).

Mary does not sit down to draw everyday at a scheduled time.

She says that creativity hits at times and she jots that idea down so it doesn't get lost,

sometimes even on the back of a napkin.

Mary says her favorite place to work is in her home studio,

late at night when it is quiet

(I love that.  I can relate!)

Ms. Englebreit has created many inspiring quotes. Some of my favorites are:

“One loses many laughs by not laughing at oneself. ”

 “Walk towards the sunshine, and the shadows will fall behind you.”

"Happiness must be grown in one's own garden. ”

"If your ship hasn't come in, swim out to it.”

 ----Mary Engelbreit (from Goodreads.com)


To see some of Mary's fun artwork, click >HERE<


To see Mary's live interview offering helpful tips on what she's learned about marketing artwork, click >HERE<.

Other great interviews that were used for the info on this blog post are these: >www.maryengelbreit.com<
>www.harpercollins.com<

Thanks for stopping by!

The Ten Commandments Coloring Page #8

Hello.

This week I am posting the 8th of the Ten Commandments.

Here is the colored version.  I used Copic markers.

These are free for use,

just don't resell them, please.


For the rest of the coloring pages for the Ten Commandments so far,
click >HERE<.

(To copy these coloring pages, click on the image, right click, and then click on "copy".

Open up Microsoft Word and right click on the screen, and then click "paste".

 The image should paste onto the page.

You can then click "print" to use them as coloring pages.

If you have difficulties or suggestions, please let me know.)

God bless!

Sharing at:
Minettesmaze.blogspot.com
Themodestmomblog.com
Bystephanielynn.com

Trash to Treasure?

Today I am going to share a simple solution:
an easy fix to a vintage fix.

I love collecting and using vintage things.

One of those things is trash cans.  I think they have so much variety compared to the plastic selection of today.

I like the heavy duty metal ones of days gone by.

They usually aren't very expensive either,
and I have found some fun ones at antique stores.

Finding ones that are lightly used is definitely preferable.

And then a thorough scrubbing with rubber gloves ensues.

 This black one I found looked like it had never been used.

 This pink one, however, had some issues.

 After a good cleaning, it still wasn't looking very good.

Even though it was clean, the rusty inside base was looking

 bad...

really bad.
(I will spare you the picture.)

A great solution is to paint the inside.

A can of spray paint primer and then a spray paint color works well to make it look new again.

I, however did not use spray paint.  

I just used some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Gray.

I did not wax it, just left it as it was after a coat of paint.

Now it is a "new" vintage trash can.

(Please tell me I am not the only one who goes to these measures to collect vintage things.)

Thanks for stopping by,

Linking up with:

Minettesmaze.blogspot.com
Themodestmomblog.com
Bystephanielynn.com

Madincrafts.com 

Counting by 5's Chart

Hello!

I have found the need to create some charts for my kids for school this year

to help them with their memory work.

I thought I would post them on here so if anybody else needs something like them,

they can print them up to use as well.

I am posting an uncolored bugs version as well as a colored bugs version.

You are welcome to use them for personal use,

just not for resale.

Thanks for stopping by!

(To copy these pages, click on the image, right click, and then click on "copy".

Open up Microsoft Word and right click on the screen, and then click "paste".

 The image should paste onto the page.

You can then click "print".

If you have difficulties or suggestions, please let me know.)

Linking to these blogs:
Funkyjunkinteriors

Minettesmaze.blogspot.com
Themodestmomblog.com
Bystephanielynn.com

Vintage Image: Horse and Boy.

Hi!

This week I found a vintage image of a horse

since I had horses on the mind with the art lesson.

 

 This is a different looking horse,

with flowing mane and a view from the back angle.

He looks like he's a good work horse.

I cleaned up the image and made a black and white...

and an antiqued version.

Because the detail of this image is a little less,

it looked like a fun one to color.

So here is a colored version as well.

I used my Copic markers for it.

 If you would like to use these images,

you are welcome to since they are all from a book dated in the late 1800's.

Thanks for stopping by!

When Art Disagrees with Life...

Today I wanted to show you the space I have prepared just for me to work on my artwork,

but it didn't get done.

I need a place to work, where my art supplies are together,

like the kids have their work space.

I decided it was now or never.

I moved some of the books from the shelf and moved out the keyboard since we got a piano,

but I didn't finish my art corner.

So I can't share pictures.

I am disappointed.

It has just been one of those days.

I wanted to get a picture of the sketch I did for yesterday's post,

but we had to run to the dentist and other errands

and when I got home, there was several messes on the floor from the dog

who is either teething again, 

or has developed a taste for our shoes that really needs to be diverted...

quickly.

The apple fruit roll-ups were done and needed to be put away,

the canned applesauce needs to be put in the basement,

the apple cider vinegar needs to be dealt with,

more applesauce needs to be either processed or put in the drier for more fruit roll-ups.

The ducklings and chickens got on the porch while we were out

and their droppings needed to be washed before they were tracked in.

I am not sure what is so attractive about the porch,

but they really need to have their affection for it diverted.

The dishes from all those apple escapades really need to be conquered...again.

And the laundry needs to be hung in the basement on the racks since rain is supposed to be in the forcast for the next day...or two...or three.

The sun set before I could take my sketch pictures,

so they will have to wait until the morning.

I brought my sketchbook into the dentist office while the kids' were getting their teeth cleaned,

but, try as I might, my artwork was just not working today.

I was frustrated.

I had plans and ideas of things to post tonight,

but nothing seems to be gelling well,

just a lot of "this one needs a bit more work" projects.

I came to the conclusion that tonight

I am just going to throw my today's artistic lack of ability aside

and share a few websites that are brimming with great ideas instead.

The great crafting and art ideas they have are fun for kids

and there is plenty for adults, too.

Just click on the purple links above each to go to their sites.

Tipjunkie.com 

Redtedart.com

Artisbasic.com

I will find my artistic fingers tomorrow.

These apples will be put away,

the animals will all behave,

and the washing machine will have a break until the rain passes.

I hope you will be understanding for me,

and thanks for stopping by.