Secret Santa!

So, a wonderful Etsy group that I'm a part of is the CAST TEAM. Each year, we conduct a Secret Santa, and everyone that signs up both receives gifts from someone, and sends gifts out to someone else. It really is a fun participation, and a friendly way to engage in the Holidays :)

Here are the pictures of the Secret Santa gift I got from my friend Jennifer... she knows me! I am very happy :)

You can see the wonderful shop of the artist who put together my Smash Journal here!

Happy New Year everyone! Stay safe!

Adjustments...

So, just playing around with the two sketches I drew on Thursday. This first one of the waiting room I adjusted the front of the door by painting some gesso over it, followed by a coat of acrylic white. Then, I added a watercolor wash to the drawing. It buckled some because it is was not drawn on watercolor paper, but overall, I think it looks pretty good.

Compare to the original:

The second one I sketched in pencil while sitting around at Starbucks, and I just added some ink and fooled around with shading:

Now all I have to do is get out there and sketch outdoors... I see so many things I want to draw, from the local gas station to our corner ice cream shop... one of these days :)

In other news, I'd like to share the journal page I created yesterday for the little ones who were lost so tragically in Connecticut. Please keep the survivors in prayer.

Sketchin' The Time Away

So, I had a Dr. appointment today. I won't bore you with the details, but let's just say that the result of said appointment was not the best news. Anyway, I've been inspired lately to try sketching more... and, while I haven't had the chance yet to fix them up, I did two quick sketches.

This one was done in the waiting room of the Dr. office. I see now that the door is too thin, and there are many lines that are crooked, but it's not bad overall.

After I got the news, I decided to go to a local Starbucks and just veg for a while, something I rarely get to do anymore. I am glad that I had my Ipod with me, because I just wasn't into the Ho Ho Ho music they had playing today.

This Starbucks was particularly packed, but they have a deal going on (until Sunday) where you can purchase a holiday beverage, and get one free of equal or lesser value. Thankfully, I had enough left on my Starbucks card, so I bought one drink for there, and one drink for the road. I also managed a quick sketch while I sat at the counter... I left a lot out, because I simply didn't have the time, but I'll play around with it and see what becomes of it.

So that's my day, in a nutshell. I came home afterwards and snuggled with my kids. At the end of the day, having my children close to me is what matters. Tomorrow is another day. Maybe I can make these sketches look better then, huh? :)

Travel Materials??

I work an 11 hour shift as a Home Health Aide... Saturdays and Sundays. It's a pretty good job, and it seems as if it's a long day, but I'm one of those people who like to keep busy. The elderly woman I care for takes occasional naps, and when she does, I like to work on my art journal.

The only problem is, I tend to look like Santa Clause when I come dragging all my materials around with me! The picture above is my dresser... and yes, I use all of this (and more) in my journal... I need to learn to condense!

What do YOU use on the go? Do you need to rent out a travel ROOM to go along with you? :) I think I do...

On another (MUCH more important note...) is a pic of me and two of my children a few weeks back... they are the reason why I do not spend much time on the computer, and I wouldn't have it any other way. My kids are worth everything :) and I love them dearly.

And here is Kyle, acting so cute and pretending he's a frog in his frog towel! Love it when they WANT to pose for pics :)