Sketchbook 2020 - Do it Fast....a child is screaming!

 

sketched these in my backyard in five minutes or less

Revenge

ink on paper

Blood Moon

last night's lunar eclipse

had a tripod, but no telephoto lens

it still makes a cool photo with just a regular SLR kit

Sizzle

ink on paper

Before the Snow Melts....

photograph of Meeker and Longs Peaks

printed with an ink jet on card stock with coloured pencil overlay

Gone Fishing

Trying a new thing to keep me motivated and to keep me posting. 

It's called Illustration Friday!

This week's theme is Gone Fishing!

This isn't my usual style, but I am taking Adobe classes this Spring so I thought I would test out Illustrator for this drawing.  I hand drew it, embedded it into Illustrator, used the Image Trace & Expand tool, then colored it in.  For the original (not pictured), I used Sharpies.  Maybe I'll upload that one too for comparison.

Clouds

My sister requested cloud photos.....

A Series of Sunsets

I have been a bit obsessed with photographing sunsets lately.  Over the past few days, I contemplated on why that is.  I do my daily chores in the morning before work, so when I come home all I have to do is water the garden, feed my dog, and make my dinner.  Then I get to sit-down and relax with the TV or a book and a nice big mug of tea.  This is my end-of-day wind-down and it takes place during dusk; as I am sitting by the window having my tea, I see the sun setting over the mountains and it adds that extra bit of serotonin enhancing my nightly relaxation routine.  Each sunset is unique; sometimes they are so inspiring I just have to run outside and snap a few shots.  Here are a few of my favorites.  Maybe they will make you smile too.

(no photoshopping, no filters)

To end a day...

A beautiful sunset to end a rare day-off and time with family.

(no photo-shopping, but I did use the "sunset filter")

Happy Fourth of July!!

Peek-A-Boo

A cute little visitor to my roses. 

It was hanging out there all day.  I guess it found a cool and soft resting place.

Monday's Moon Rise

It was a little cloudy, but my nephew (who was visiting) had never seen the moonrise.

So we drove out into the prairie (who knew there would be so many cars).

My nephew thought it was pretty cool, and I had fun playing with the shutter speed.

The moon changed colour as it rose above the brown-haze layer.

If you've never seen a moonrise, it is totally worth the effort.  It is definitely an awe moment.

Prickly Pear

Happy Summer Solstice!!

And don't forget the Supermoon this Sunday!

In Colorado (and similar latitudes), Monday will be your best viewing of moonrise.

Head to the prairie for best viewing; Monday's moonrise is at 9:38pm (after dusk).

Check out when moonrise is on Sunday and Monday in your area to see Supermoon!

P.S.  I will start posting again.  My trip to Dinosaur Ridge was inspiring and I will make time in my schedule to do art again.  

Tracks in the Snow

We've hardly had any snow here....I am beginning to wonder if I am really living in Colorado, or if I just imagined that I moved here.  We did get three inches of snow for Christmas though and this brought out the cottontails.  As I looked out my window on Christmas Eve, two bunnies hopped out into the middle of the street and played in the freshly laid snow.  They must have really enjoyed frolicking in the snow because when I went outside in the morning there were tracks everywhere.  Each day after that as the snow stayed on the ground more and more bunny tracks appeared.  They were in loop-d-loops and around trees showing what fun the bunnies had during their late night games.

There were also prairie dogs, but they stayed by their tunnels in the open space down the street.  Their prints look more like butt scoots going from hole to hole leading into their elaborate underground homes.

More Winter Wreaths

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

A Colorado Christmas

Winter Wreath

I made a bunch of Winter Wreaths this weekend, and this one is my favourite so far.  I am making more, so I might post some more Winter Wreaths later on.

(the little touch of moss is my favourite part)

Yummy Salty Roads

Big Horn Sheep enjoying a good salt lick on a mountain highway

(and learning how to use Photoshop, finally)

Oh Christmas Weed, Oh Christmas Weed

For those of you that have seen our Christmas tree pictures in the past, you'll know we go for the deciduous look.  Well this year, we had to improvise because all of our stuff is still in storage.  So I present you with....

Christmas Weed

(a locally grown Colorado tumble weed)

And since the decorations are also in storage, I made these bird ornaments.

(air dry clay with acrylic paint)