Alexandre Dumas....

In My Sketchbook

Watercolor and Ink

One for All & All for One

"One for all and all for one" or the reverse....this art is not about The Three Musketeers written by Alexandre Dumas.  There is no connection at all.  But for whatever reason, that quote floated through my mind recently and I wrote it on a piece of scrap paper that's been sitting on my incredibly messy desk.  I think it resonates pretty well with the art I've created here.  Don't get crazy because I'm throwing a little bit of religion in here....I think Dumas' quote works here.

I'm not going to explain it.  I hope you get it!  It's a kind of rough sketch...I'm working on my drawing skills.  It probably would have been good to have a lot of heads in the drawing...but I was having a hard enough time with the pews which are very sketchy!  This wonderful little church keeps me grounded. 

Thank you, Alexandre, for your inspiration....

The Tusk & Cup

Watercolor and Ink

The Tusk & Cup

I had to have my car serviced this week and directly across the street...so convenient...my favorite coffee place.  So I took my sketchbook and paints and drew this little scene.  This is the first time I've actually done this in a public place.  It does take a little nerve....for me anyway.  My favorite part of the sketch is the gelato case on the right side of the painting....

SWEET LITTLE BIRD

Dylusions Art Journal

Water color and ink

I love watching the hummingbirds come to my feeders.  I have one outside my kitchen window and one off of my deck.  They are so tiny!  I wonder how many birds actually are drinking here as they only land one at a time.  Are there 5 or 6 or a dozen different ones?  They don't share well at the feeder.  I do know I have males and females.  How much longer will I get to enjoy them before they head south...sigh....I will miss them.  Here's the bird up close....

I sketched the bird from a photo I found on-line...since they don't stay still long enough to do a quick sketch....and too small to see the details.  How do photographers get such wonderful photos of these birds?

Here's the view from the deck....

I just have tons of trees, so lots of green and a stone wall.  Good the red glass feeder provides a pop of color for the painting!  Continuing to enjoy the sketching process...

The Mailman Brings Joy.....

Dylusions Small Journal

Winsor and Newton Pocket-Size Water Colors

I received two things I've been waiting for in my mailbox this week.  The first is a book I ordered called ...

You don't have to be a New Yorker to appreciate all of the art in this wonderful little book.  I say little because it's about 6 x 8 (hardback) and it has over 120+ luscious drawings by a variety of artists..which is what makes it so great.  It has drawings of the usual, iconic places, but also some very whimsical drawings and water colors.  Love, love, love.  It will continue to inspire me.

In addition to receiving that, the mail person brought me a small package, that actually arrived early, of a Winsor and Newton watercolors pocket-size set. 

Each color is individually wrapped as you can see...like a luscious piece of candy.  The size is perfect for carrying around with you and has a small brush (that little piece of silver you see in the box opens and extends  into the brush).

Now I've done two important things for myself today....got off the couch to take Boomer for a walk.  (After watching 90+ year olds competing in races on CBS Sunday Morning).  And I created some art....the day is off to a good start!  For me, joy often comes in the morning....

TGIF!

Perhaps a future sketch?

Boomer and I enjoying some Jimmy Buffet

music and a glass of wine on a

Friday night....

Gobble, Gobble

In My Sketchbook

Turkey Feather

Wandering in my yard this morning, I found this turkey feather.  I've seen as many as 27 turkeys wander through my yard at any given time.  I never get used to these large birds wandering through my yard.....they're so big!

The feather was a great find....

Walking with Boomer

In my Sketchbook

Water color and Ink

Boomer and I take a walk on this road almost every day.  All of the roads in my town here in CT are very tree-lined;  many suffered serious damage during Hurricane Sandy.  The trees are very tall and very old.  Trees take a lot of abuse and it pains me to see all of the vines (weeds) that climb up them and put them in a choke hold and eventually kill them.  There's just no way to contain all of these weeds.  Some of the vines are like thick ropes.  I wish I could cut them all off.  There's lots of poison ivy and much of  it grows along the edges of the roads.  Some of the vines grow out into the road....I can almost imagine Boomer and I in some sci-fi movie where they grab us around our feet and we're whisked away...perhaps lost forever in the deep, vine jungle.  I like walking on this road where I've seen deer, recently a fox, rabbits and the birds sing as I walk along.  So peaceful.  I feel renewed after this walk.  I wish the trees could be renewed....here are some of those vines (there many different kinds...) creeping out into the road.....