The crayons are out again :o)

This is my response to EDM# 161 - Draw something you think smells wonderful.  It is a lovely leather wallet I bought to keep my iPod Classic in.  The old case fell apart at the seams so I decided to treat myself to this handmade leather beauty from hollyhawk designs on Etsy.  Even though I have had it for a couple of months now it still has that wonderful new leathery thing smell.  I love it.  As you can see from the notes around the sketch, I started this drawing in August.  It fell victim to my creative block and I only just finished it last weekend! 

You'll be pleased to hear that my head is now buzzing with ideas again.  I have just ordered some properly printed Christmas cards with my polar bear on that will be available through my Etsy shop.... I have just realised though, that in a months time it will be the 1st birthday of my little blog, so I think I will hold a card giveaway in celebration :o)

I also received a beautiful card from Alex in the post - from way across The Pond!  How lovely to receive such lovely post, it has helped me feel inspired again - thanks Alex, and watch your post box!!

Right, I'm off to catch up on creative lost time - while I listen to my new 'Them Crooked Vultures' cd :o)

Rain, rain go away...

The weather this weekend is horrible!  Just awful!  I have managed to finish sticking together all my Christmas cards which is great though!  This has been a good way of filling in the dark evenings.  Here is a batch of them, I know Polar Bears are solitary creatures, but is there a proper name for a group of them I wonder?

Here is also another picture I did of a polar bear, while coming up with ideas.  I have really enjoyed drawing them but feel a real urge now to get back on with some drawing from life again.  Today I set myself up a small still life and managed to work on it for a couple of hours, but the light has gone so quickly today I have had to abandon it half finished.  I won't be able to work on it now until Thursday, but I will definitely complete it.  The lack of decent daylight at this time of year is so frustrating.  I really want to get outside and do some drawing, but the weather just spoils everything! 

Dashing through the snow...

Well he's probably ambling rather than dashing - here's the polar bear design I have painted for my Christmas cards.  I am busy printing lots off onto Bockingford watercolour inkjet paper and am really quite pleased with the results.  I can recommend the paper as a very reasonably priced way to reproduce your artwork.  You can buy more expensive and, one would assume, better quality inkjet papers but I am really happy with this.  I shall definitely use it again.

Today should be my final push at the Christmas cards, hopefully at the weekend I'll find some time to work on something fresh.  I have got lots of things I want to do...which first though...?

Cut, glue, draw, cut, stick....

I am spending my weekend producing Christmas cards.  It's the first time I have done it in nearly twenty years!  I have to say I have thoroughly enjoyed myself, I'll post some pics when all is finished.  In the meantime, I have been flicking through my artwork and decided to post a couple more pictures.

The first one is a scan I made of one of my paintings which is now framed up and hanging on a wall.  It is nearly ten years since I did it, but I still quite like it.  I found the original picture in a magazine I think and really liked it.  The credits for the original photograph are pencilled in at the bottom of the scan.

The second picture is a study of a beautiful pink, Himalayan Poppy.  They grow in my garden - early summer and look fabulous for too short a time.  I painted this during the summer (pre. this blog) but looking at it today I thought I might share it.

Right, I'm going to make tea and finish my cards.  Then I will chill for the rest of the day.  Proper job in the morning.....