When life gives you lemons, draw them, 11 x 14 inches dry pastels, graphite on paper

"When life gives you lemons, draw them." (Nikki)

"Color! What a deep and mysterious language." (Paul Gauguin)

Smile

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Cam’s crab shell

Tuesday, February 6th, 2024


 

Cam's Crab Shell, taped then painted with acrylics

Who sees a crab shell on the beach and thinks, “I wanna paint that thing!”? … my 12-year-old grandson. We took him to see the Pacific Ocean for the first time when he visited us during Thanksgiving last year. He also gathered a lot of shells to create a video of smashing. When I go to the beach, my imagination only ventures as far as how pretty it would be as a pastels-on-paper seascape, but true creativity knows no bounds. I love it!

The Strawberry

Saturday, June 10th, 2023


 

The Strawberry, 24H x 18W inches graphite on paper

The Strawberry, 24H x 18W inches graphite on paper.

Tobias – Jia Xin

Thursday, April 6th, 2023


 

Tobias - Jia Xin, born March 9th, 2023 - 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Sweet Dreams,  18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper.

First Time in the Garden

Thursday, February 9th, 2023


 

First Time in the Garden, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
First Time in the Garden, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. The images below are three phases of the work in progress. I liked the garden details but chose to blur some of them at the edges in order to keep the emphasis on the chick.

  First Time in the Garden, Phase 01 in progress   First Time in the Garden, Phase 02 in progress   First Time in the Garden, Phase 03 in progress

A Pretty Tail

Sunday, September 18th, 2022


 

A Pretty Tail, 16H x 23W inches soft pastels on paper
A Pretty Tail, 16H x 23W inches soft pastels on paper, 22H x 29W inches framed size.

Soccer Mom

Sunday, May 8th, 2022


 

Soccer Mom, 12 x 18 graphite and digital
Soccer Mom, 16 x 20 graphite and digital

New Feathers

Friday, March 4th, 2022


 

New Feathers, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
New Feathers, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper, framed size 27H x 33W”. A few years back my husband bought 200 little chicks, raised them and sold them as they grew. Such characters, and what a great experience.

Sleepy Sun Bear

Friday, October 30th, 2020


 

Sleepy Sun Bear, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Sleepy Sun Bear, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper.

Asian Sun Bear, Fort Worth Zoo, TXI took some great photos of this sun bear soaking up the sun on a warm winter day at the Fort Worth Zoo in Texas – what a character. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Asian Sun Bear as vulnerable because the population has declined by 35% in the past 30 years.

Monte “maskot”

Sunday, April 5th, 2020

Monte maskot face mask
Yellow and pink Monte masksAbove: Monte “maskot” face mask for our social responsibility while out and about during COVID19.
The Monte Files were listed on my very first website (2003) with the invitation for you, whoever and wherever you are, despite your age or artistic capabilities, to send in your version of Monte or a character inspired by him, and add it to the collection. The invitation still stands.
Your character can be created using any sort of media. Copy any version of Monte in the Monte Files and re-invent him, trace him or print out pages from the Monte Coloring Book at the bottom of the Monte Files page and color or paint it, write a joke or add hand gestures (as in Monte Cycles 2006). There are no rules except have fun with it; Monte’s up for anything!

Lifetime supply of Monte

The pattern I used is here. I found that the suggested interface makes the mask too thick and not porous enough for breathing, so I made some without and they are much more comfortable. It depends on the kind of fabric you’re using, but the mask still holds its’ shape with double-folded fabric.

Smiley face mask


Monte Earthbag with pockets and change purse, black with sky blue lining

Brooke Isabelle

Wednesday, September 6th, 2017


 

Brooke Isabelle, born last week, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper

Brooke Isabelle, my neice’s daughter born last week, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper. She looks like a cherub in the photo used as reference, so I subtly impled wings in the background.

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