Illustration Friday: Savour

Good thoughts in,

Bad thoughts out.

Deep breath in,

exhale slowly.

Savour the peace within.

patterned paper, acrylic paint, colored pencil

Illustration Friday: Sneaky

She wasn't being sneaky in the least.

 It was he who was being deceptive and cruel.

So on this crisp November night she kept a promise to herself as she walked away for good under the illuminating guidance of the full moon.

Her conscience was as clear as her big, green eyes.

She never once looked back.

brown paper bag, micron pen, prismacolor pencils

for Illustration Friday

My 600th post!!!!!!

Six Word Saturday #19

November skies,

November sighs,

Blissful me.

for more SWS, click here :)

Animal Wednesday: Journal Journey

I've been a bit quiet on the blogs lately because I'm trying to instill some self-discipline towards working. Today I painted this journal for Etsy.

I scooped up a couple of these at Michael's Craft Store knowing right away what I would add. I think any one of you could have guessed!

Yes indeed, my raven friend! I painted him with an acrylic paint base and then detailed him with colored pencils.

And then I added this to the back. So true, don't you think?

So here's my Animal Wednesday post for this week, a journaling journey!

xo♥

Illustration Friday: Burning

Keep the home fires burning.

A quick little painting for Illustration Friday's prompt: Burning

acrylic paint on masonite 6"x6"

Cactus Monday: With Joshie and Alex

I had some of my family over yesterday and my Great Niece and Great Nephew were among the guests. This is the first time they saw my house and the studio.

I finally found a little free time to sit and make art with them.

This amazing little painting was done by my Great Nephew, Joshie. He's seven years old!

He didn't look at any references to draw his desert scene. And this was his idea. It dawned on me that I could use it for Cactus Monday and show it off.

So we have a Saguaro, a scorpion and a tarantula on the rock, a jack rabbit, a snake and a lizard. I think this is awesome!

My Great Niece, Josh's sister Alex drew this frog. She drew it from looking at an antique ceramic frog of mine. I love how she put the fly in there for a touch of reality! She's nine years old.

I know it's not a cactus BUT it's green! And I love it.

All that housecleaning and stress was worth every minute of yesterday's visit.

Happy Cactus Monday and Frog Day!  ;)

Animal Wednesday: Gull-ible

Robin started a theme on Animal Wednesday today after seeing Mim's post so of course I felt the need to follow!

Here's a photo I took while living in Monterey. I call it "My Gullfriends."

And here is a very large painting I did called "Centering."

I was inspired on a walk at Asilomar one blustery day and this seagull just hovered in front of me, bracing against the wind. I knew right then that I'd go home and paint him!

I was lucky enough to have Asilomar right in my neighborhood.

Happy Animal Wednesday!!

Illustration Friday: Afterwards

befoooooore....

Afterwards!

For Illustration Friday's prompt: afterwards.

Done in my Sketchbook Project Moleskine for the theme "It's rainng cats and dogs."

graphite, colored pencil, grey marker

A very quick doodley-do!

Lost Art, Found Hope

This cold November rain has had me in the house for most of the day today.

I can't get out of my own way lately, clutter on every surface of the studio, muse nowhere to be found. I'm floundering and doubting my ability as an artist.

I read Mim's post today about decluttering and finding art done from years past and it inspired me to look through some old drawings in the hopes of finding my muse.

I may be getting close.

The above drawing I have shown here once before. It's a pencil drawing of Nastasia Kinsky from a pose in a magazine. I did this in 1978. Look how much it has yellowed.

This is a portrait in pencil of Pablo Picasso. Although I'm primarily self-taught, I did have a very short stint at college and I became obsessed with this artist. I did this same portrait in every medium. The ones that are missing (or are in boxes still) is the aquatint etching and the lino cut. This is also from 1978.

This was my very first ever attempt at painting anything. And this was my only time using oils. I hated painting back then! Who knew that it would become my passion one day?

This wacky portrait made it into a juried show at the Brockton Art Museum in the late seventies and it took Honorable Mention.

It hangs in my studio now with dust and fond memories. 

And here is another assignment I stumbled upon. I did this scratchboard in 1979 for a graphic design class. Or was it drawing? I don't remember. But I do know I copied it from an old book of fairy tales and I don't remember which one. Grimms, most likely.

I do remember this being quite a challenge to think in "negative."

And you can see my scratched in signature, "Porter 79."

I'm needing to be able to paint when the mood strikes, but what I think is in my way is what am I to do with all these paintings?

I can only bring so many to the gallery that I have joined. And my paintings are too pricey for the other shop that carries my cards.

So I have this sinking feeling that I'm wasting my time when I should be scouring the state for work. This is not the economy for artists, unfortunately.

So, here's the answer to myself.

Paint anyway. Paint your heart out.

Draw.  Sketch. Create!

So now I'll paint just for the sake of painting.

I'll make art to maintain some level of sanity,

And I'll thank my ancestors every day for passing along this gift.

Thanks for the kick in the pants Mim, even though you had no idea!♥

Animal Wednesday: Snow Crow

I've been busy trying to get things painted for holiday sales at the gallery and on Etsy.

Here's the first in my series of Snow Crows.

What better way to say Happy Caw-lidays!!

OH, but today is Animal Wednesday so I guess I should say,

Happy HAW-lidays!

(groan)

;P

Illustration Friday: Spent

~meditation~

~prayer~

~quiet time in nature~

~finding solace amidst chaos~

~painting and writing~

~being kind~

This, to me, is time well spent.

acrylic on canvas, molding paste, gold foil

Cactus Monday: Halloween Hangover

And by "hangover" I mean this image is hung over from last year!

I thought he deserved an encore.

I hope everyone had a fun, safe, spooktacular Halloween!!

Oh, and Happy Cactus Monday :)