Naked Baby Raven

I'm trying to branch out and play with new mediums and materials.

This was my first time using paper clay. I sat in the studio last night and decided to try to make a baby raven. I didn't look at anything while shaping this guy. I just went from the images in my head from drawing and painting so many of them.

I wanted him to look inquisitive.

Hello there cutie!

Another tip of the head.

I know he doesn't look ravenesque yet...but wait until he dries and I sand him into shape, and paint him in all his glorious irridescent blues and purples.

His eyes are black Swarovski crystals.

Hopefully I can show you the finished results in a few days.

I want to list more things on Etsy that I can make more money from.

I really don't think I can part with my first born though;)

Stay tuned!

xo♥

Illustration Friday: Chicken

"The Imposter"

C'mon, did you really expect the raven Queen to paint a chicken?

The Sketchbook Project deadline has been extended a few days which gave me time to whip this up. Have a great weekend everyone!

Oh those trickster ravens ;)


acrylic paint and colored pencil on patterned paper for Illustration Friday

Sketchbook Project Progress

Three Generations

Well, today's sketches went mostly to the dogs! I flipped through the sketchbook to see how many blank pages I had left to fill (13) so I started with the ones I scumbled paint on.

Look at this sad, sad group of Corgis!

I love keeping things fast and loose for projects like this. I don't think anyone wants to see if you can do an exact life-like drawing of anything.

I actually think it's harder for most of us to make it nuts and crazy and goofy.

I had fun today. That's the whole point, right? 

I love how I laid the paint down for this page. Mind you, I had NO idea what I was going to do until I did it. What freedom!

And it was so simple to close this in with a few distant cat-o-nine tails and a pond.

What do you think this little terrier sees? 

Hey Mim...a fish???

Aaaah, the gorgeous, aristocratic sight hounds! My husband really, really wants 

 a Scottish Deerhound. But here's a scribbly-wiggly gesture drawing of a Greyhound and his beloved red ball instead.

I had done something like this before and gave it to a blogger friend, Erin.♥

I thought this "cat lover" should have a place in the sketchbook, yellow stream and all ;)

And finally, not to ever leave my feline friends out, here's a blue tabby who really needs some TLC. Marianne, this is for you.♥♥♥

One more day and 8 more pages to go. I doubt I'll fill them all, but hell, I'll try!

Thanks for always taking the time to visit ;)

xoxo

Lolo

Raven tag 2 and Sketchbook Project Progress

I've been a very busy girl today trying to buckle down and get the sketchbook done before Saturday's deadline. In between sketches I finished up Raven Maven #2.

Here's the front of her with a raven sticker and the #2 on her dress in the middle of the stamped heart. Her blue wings and shoelaces have glitter which doesn't show well.

The blue spiral sticker has glittler too. Once again her head was drawn and painted with acrylic paint and colored pencils.

Her head is tilted upwards because she's such a dreamer! She's going to trip over her laces if she's not careful.

Here's the back view with the #2 to signify she's the second one in a series, and my signature is below.

Here she is hanging out at the studio. I wish the glitter showed better.

She insisted on wearing Chucks too ;)

Yesterday I did this sideways peek-a-boo page of a kitty daydreaming about a yummy mouse.

Click to embiggen any or all pics!

And I painted this sweet old guy. I've been scumbling paint on various pages and then going back later to do something on them. It's easier for me seeing as Moleskine pages are so thin and transparent. That's rather limiting, in my opinion.

The dog was done with colored pencils on top of blue acrylic paint.

I had fun doing this very chubby version of Emma giving basic Chihuahua Cha-Cha lessons!

I "Googled" the steps so I could make a chart.

1-2-cha cha cha, 3-4 chiiii-waaaa-waa!

WORK IT GIRL!!!!!!



And finally, for today anyway, a pink tuxedo kitty. I actually love this page.

There's something about the pink and orange, a combo I've always been drawn to.

I was going to make the cat black and white but then decided to leave it alone.

So, this is why no one is getting visits or phone calls from me.

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!!!

xo♥

Raven Musings tag art

I've had a vision of wacky raven tags in my head for a while now. It was time to let it fly!

I started out by painting a raven head on sturdy scrapbooking paper, a favorite medium of mine. Then I made a tag shaped body, added a stamped heart from another patterned paper, applied the monarch butterfly sticker on heavy paper, a few jewels, a black Swarovski crystal for her eye, a phrase on a clear sticker that says "Believe in Yourself" and the finishing touch that cracked me up...the Chuck Taylor sneakers!

I'm actually pretty sick of butterfly wings and party hats, but they really do work when called for. I tried doing heart wings and raven wings. Nope, didn't look right.

I also kept the back in mind when creating this even though this side won't show.

At least the colors are pretty together. I'll add my signature to the back too, and then onto Etsy she goes!

Here she is on the studio door, hanging out until she moves to her new family.

Okay, I've had my little bit of fun for the day.

Now on to the sketchbook project!! Pressure, pressure, pressure as the deadline nears!

~Happy Sunday~

Illustration Friday: Deja Vu

I know I've seen this tree before. I remember the same twists and turns resembling a half-eaten pretzel. Its leaves were a lace canopy letting the tiniest bits of light come through the pinhole openings.

That's it!! The light.

I've been here at twilight before but never this early in the morning while the sleepy pink sky was still hugging the horizon like a blanket.

No. This isn't deja vu.

I know this tree, and once again I'm grateful for the pleasure of her company.

for Illustration Friday: deja vu

tree studies done with acrylic paint on canvas

Animal Wednesday: sunset, swans and sky fire

I've been working in the studio for most of the day trying to put in a certain amount of time and discipline. I was also enjoying it, although I haven't been well for a few days.

As it was nearing four o'clock I decided to drive myself down to this little park in my neighborhood and watch the sunset. It was quite nippy, but peaceful and lovely.

How fortunate to have these beauties show up for Animal Wednesday!

Three more followed behind. How can they handle that freezing water?

This was the finale!! I swear to you this is an untouched photo. The only thing I did was try a few pictures on the "sunset" setting. Wow! I also zoomed way in. That could be it, I got too close to the fire. Glad I did though ;)

Happy Animal Wednesday!

xo♥

Toothy Grin

Is anyone else scramblig to finish their Sketchbook Project by January 15th??

I'm scribbling my way through the best I can and I'm not even halfway done!

So now I'm copying pet food ads! haha!

I do love this happy guy though.

I'm also tracing some of my old drawings (suggested by our dear friend Marianne.) I was copying them in color and glueing them in. Tracing is much better because it's still "original."

Of course, I'm changing them up a bit. I love the aura I gave this cat, hence the name!

And the Queen is still the Queen.

Slowly but surely I hope to fulfill this obligation. But I did read today that they want them to travel even if only partially done.

WHEW!!!!

And so far I'm keeping my promise and showing up "for myself."

Feels kinda nice ;)

My New Year's Wishes

I always love new years, new beginnings. Clean slate. Another chance to "get it right."

I know I'm not the only one who is more than ready to let this year go.

There have been hard changes and challenges for many of us. We have endured the losses of friends, family, much-loved pets, good health and jobs.

Here are a few of my wishes for myself this year.

I hope you grab them for yourself as well if they resonate with you. 

I'll give myself permission to pull in when I feel the need to hibernate.

If this is what it will take to restore my broken parts then I will fill that need.

I let myself down so much this past year by wasting lots and lots of time and losing myself in the process. This new year I will allow more balance in my life and more quality "me time." I think there will be a noticeable difference inside and out. 

I'll continue to find beauty everywhere. I will walk with my eyes and heart wide open.

I'll accept the storms when they come, and they will come. But I hope to sail through them with grace. And I hope to always understand the lessons they bring.

I'll continue to find inspiration in my daily blessings.

I'll continue to believe that possibilities are endless.

I'll continue to seek wisdom. 

I'll continue to honor my true spirit.

And finally, the hardest one for me is I will try very hard to work on self-acceptance.

I practice loving kindness to others but I always leave myself out.

How can I ever achieve my dreams and goals if I feel undeserving?

From now on I'll matter to me. I think I can do it.

So, starting right now I'm going to show up for myself!

I'll be right here when I need me. And day by day as it gets easier to be kind to myself.

 I will be able to finally believe with all my heart what you have been telling me all along.

I am enough.

Thank you all for being with me for another year. I treasure what this blogging family has come to mean to me. And I deeply mourn the ones we've lost too soon.

May each and every one of you reach for the stars this year, and may all of your wishes and prayers be answered.

Happy New Year!!

Illustration Friday: Winter

Even though all the trees in the wild birch forest look similar, the white raven always returns to the same one every winter.

Legend has it that it was the tree she was born in.

She took her first flight from that very branch she's perched on.The other ravens of the wild birch forest honor and respect her for her true heart and sense of place.For those of you who believe you can never go home again, you've obviously never had the good fortune of meeting the white raven and feeling her magic.

This is a busy time of year for many of us, so please excuse this repost.

We're hunkering down for a forcasted blizzard, and I for one am excited about it!

Bring on the snow!

Be safe everyone♥



Offerings and Gratitude

With all my traditional holiday touches, it seems I left an important feature unadorned. This beautiful statue of Buddha once sat in my zen garden in California. I don't dare place him outside here because a hard freeze could cause him to split, and I can't keep moving him because he weighs over 100 pounds. So here he has sat in a corner of my dining room for the past year.

He's a bit out of place, really. But I get to walk past him every day and when I pause to dust him off a feeling of gratitude always washes over me.

So today I gave him an offering. I was looking for a place to put my dollar store snowflakes and then said, "Aha! A perfect mandala!"

And as for gratitude, much of it stems from my blog relationships that have formed over the years. Some of you I have met in person where hugs sealed special bonds. Some of us have spoken on the phone, shared laughter and tears, exchanged gifts, and sent cards for no reason other than to let the other know they're loved and thought of.

I'm truly grateful for all of you, even occasional visitors and art critics.

May your Christmas, Kwaanza, Hannukah, Buddhist or non-religious winter celebration be all you need it to be.

As for me, I'm just going to continue to appreciate the magic around me and try to keep myself open for an inspiring new year.

~Winter Blessings and Love~

Lolo♥

  

More Monday Holiday Glimpses

I like that so many of you have joined in and started showing the holiday touches around your homes.

Here are the last few of mine to post before Christmas arrives. And we're having our first snow of the season today which is putting me in a festive mood!

This is the railing and windowbox outside my studio. The other side is exactly the same. I love the mixed fresh greens and the way they are draped.

The large ornaments inside and the hanging santa came from the dollar store! The berried sparkly branches were found at Michael's.

This old jug was here when we moved in. Each season I change the contents, trying to always keep it timely and pretty.

This is the railing near the back door that we use.

Don't you love that bright blue recycle bin getting in the picture??

This is a front view of the planter box filled with greens and berries as well as a few sparkly ice crystal picks and pine cones.

Here's our little holiday greeter! In the warmer seasons he has flower pots to watch over.

Little twinkly lights in the kitchen window.

Very simple touches for the built-in hutch.

I added the plate to our little French pig. I think they look nice together.

~ a nesting dove~

A beautiful sidenstricker glass ornament from Brian's mom, and right beside it is an ornament his dad made in his wood shop. It's the shape of the state of Massachusetts and it has the Mayflower on top.

We'll always keep these two ornaments together in their memory.

Here's Brian's skating bear that he loves! He also has a skating walrus and a Boston Bruins mouse but the photos came out blurry so they got cancelled ;)

I dolled up this little footed brass planter that I found at a consignment shop.

I love the tiny animal feet and porcelain handles. It was a find! 

And finally my friends, a few lights in my studio window to keep the holiday spirit glowing.

Merry always, merry everything!!

xoxo

Lolo

Illustration Friday: Mail

Remember when the mail was delivered by carrier pigeon?

This is a repost of one of my favorite paintings on an envelope. It now resides in Malaysia with my friend Caroline who won the giveaway!

Now I must get back to writing my holiday cards so I can get them in the mail!!

(acrylic and colored pencil on brown craft envelope, cancelled stamps)