Continuous Contour Pen drawing

Lesson three from Jane LaFazio's Sketching/Watercolor;Journal Style. I chose something simple because drawing directly with pen is intimidating for me. I'm much more the "fiddle around with the pencil til it looks right" kind of artist. But this was such fun, maybe because it was continuous contour and I didn't expect perfection. I think I'll want to do more of this, it really loosened me up better than anything else I've tried.

It has been awhile, but I'm back!

I'm taking yet another online class, this time with Jane LaFazio. These photos are from the first two lessons. I'm learning a few new things each time, painting a little differently than I would ordinarily, and having a great time. I'm actually beginning to loosen up a bit and learning to handle the watercolor a little better I think. These are all on hot press watercolor paper, 5"x7".

Background practice

Another lesson from Laure Ferlita's class. Utilizing my earlier border and background designs. I'm having trouble photographing these pages. My scanner is misbehaving and I can't seem to get a good shot with my camera from these pieces on watercolor paper. Guess I need to read my camera manual, huh???

More class work

Well, it's getting me into the studio! I hope this will become a habit, because I have enjoyed playing with pencils and paints again. My skills are still quite rusty, but I think that probably has as much to do with my age than anything. My hands don't always want to do what the brain says they should these days. Have to admit, the brain is a bit slower now too, but it still recognizes sloppy work when it sees it! ;o)
The first is a prototype for a wine label I've thought about for awhile and seemed to fit one of the projects Laure gave us, a study of borders. The second is a collection of border ideas that were fun to play with. I plan to do more of these to keep as a reference.

I'm Ba-a-a-a-ack!

It has been too long awhile since I've posted here, and just as long awhile since I've done anything "postable" in my studio. I've been entertaining the mother of all artist's blocks (well it has been that overwhelming for me, anyway) and I feel like I'm starting all over again.
Albeit with some trepidation, I signed up for a class with Laure Ferlita and am finding that the lessons are just the right challenge without being too intimidating....which I think was Laure's intent in setting this class up. Anyway, though I've been very slow about keeping up with the class, I have accomplished a few things and here is a sample. I'm very bravely posting even the "oops" factors, so have fun finding them! LOL!! Some things turned out better than I expected and some things didn't..........

New/Old Journal page

After almost a year, I finally remembered I hadn't finished this spread in my Grandma's House journal. 5x8" watercolor in Moleskine journal

Journal Page Purple Hollyhock (2)

Journal Page Purple Hollyhock (2)
Originally uploaded by MaryO 2

I had some more photos of the hollyhocks we used to have in the garden and couldn't resist drawing this beauty. I should do them on better paper, they look pretty washed out in this journal.
6x9" on handmade paper. Watercolor pencils and sepia ink.