pen&paper

illustration friday -cultivate

2011-03-21T17:14:00.003-04:00

to cultivate a little garden.

illustration friday- Double

2010-07-23T21:13:00.002-04:00

a small sketch for this weeks topic

the tree

2010-07-21T13:00:00.003-04:00

finished this last night. from a photo i took while visiting the yarra valley in victoria.

kerry

2010-04-22T18:10:00.002-04:00

Lola

2010-04-06T18:42:00.002-04:00

On Brown Paper

2009-07-18T14:03:00.001-04:00

water

2009-07-01T15:37:00.003-04:00

winters day

2009-05-29T12:47:00.003-04:00

Figs

2009-05-20T16:11:00.001-04:00

a kookaburra

2009-05-01T13:53:00.003-04:00

Papou

2009-04-24T11:44:00.002-04:00

I'm Back

2009-04-20T13:31:00.003-04:00

its been a while since my last post. my excuse, i went home to Sydney for a month, and when i got back it was spring.

red,blue and yellow

2009-02-20T18:40:00.001-05:00

hands

2009-02-12T10:44:00.002-05:00

more blind contour drawings.

To the park we went

2009-02-11T13:54:00.002-05:00

it was such a nice day that we went to the park this morning so no drawing.

i finished this watercolour last week, and then i did something i have never done to a painting, i ironed it. the paper had buckled during the painting process because i am lazy and never stretch before i paint and since watercolour paper is 100% cotton i thought lets try it and it worked.

A page of drawing

2009-02-10T10:13:00.003-05:00

a page of blind contour drawing with a little watercolour just for fun.

blind Contour Drawing

2009-02-09T18:56:00.003-05:00

this week i will be working on blind contour drawings.

i first started doing BCDs after reading this book by Betty Edwards.

BCDs are always fun to look at, the time for this drawing was 10 minutes.

Faces

2009-01-20T10:35:00.002-05:00

my topic for this week is 'Faces'.

this is a rough sketch of a watercolour painting i am working on at the moment.

Chair

2009-01-15T10:20:00.003-05:00

this weeks sketche topic is Chair.

A rose

2009-01-11T10:13:00.001-05:00

hands

2008-12-30T13:07:00.001-05:00

this weeks topic is hands

tall trees

2008-12-23T07:10:00.002-05:00

Oh christmas tree

2008-12-22T07:52:00.005-05:00

this weeks sketch topic is 'trees'. i don't see myself having any time to sketch this week especially with Christmas and my sons first birthday and going to new york........

a fun little page from my sketchbook using acrylic paint while singing Christmas songs.

season greetings to all.

the snow boots

2008-12-18T10:28:00.004-05:00

when i first moved to new york from sydney my husband took me shopping with a list of essentials to survive the winter. the list was something like this-hat, gloves, scarf, coat, boots.

'boots? i don't need new boots i have two pairs' said i to my husband. No he replied 'you need a water proof pair for when it snows' . so we went shopping for snow boots and to my great disappointment this is what we purchased.

last winter while wearing my regular boots i slipped on a ice patch. luckily i was not hurt but it taught me to like the ugly snow boots just a little.

little boy shoes

2008-12-17T10:09:00.000-05:00

brown shoes

2008-12-16T13:41:00.000-05:00

Shoes

2008-12-15T11:08:00.002-05:00

i have a solution for my 'what to draw' dilemma. each week i shall explore one subject, the subject for each week will be decided in advance and noted on my calendar. so far i have subjects for three weeks which is enough time to see how successful my little drawing project is.

this week i shall be sketching shoes.

at the museum

2008-12-12T15:28:00.003-05:00

my daughter and i visited the Delaware museum of natural history this morning. we took the scenic route and saw sheep and cattle on the drive back.

rainy day

2008-12-11T10:15:00.002-05:00

i collected this group of leaves a few weeks ago when they were colourful and fresh with the intention of drawing and painting their wonderful colours but it never happened until this morning but now they are old and dry.

listening to Christmas music while i draw. i have been looking forward to Christmas since September.

the basin

2008-12-10T14:35:00.002-05:00

a quick pencil sketch of the bathroom basin. i often find that i am happier with the results of a quick sketch than a laboured drawing.

the cat and shell

2008-12-09T09:31:00.003-05:00

some quick sketches from yesterday. i am working at drawing something each day. the hardest thing is choosing a subject.

sketch

2008-12-08T09:29:00.002-05:00

its cold outside but this iron can get hot. a simple sketch that i did last night before bed.

Autumn

2008-12-07T19:22:00.003-05:00

i love Autumn colours.

blue sky

2008-11-12T13:19:00.004-05:00

this is a section of a painting i completed recently on hot press watercolour paper.

i was inspired to paint this picture because of the sky. the sky that day was a 'wow how beautiful ' moment that i experienced walking back to the house after collecting the mail.

pen and ink sketch

2008-10-27T15:27:00.000-04:00

dancing with watercolour

2008-10-24T11:54:00.003-04:00

recently i feel like i am dancing with watercolour. this is a detail of a painting i did recently.

sketching outside

2008-10-21T10:59:00.003-04:00

i have not done much posting lately that's because i have been busy sketching and painting. this morning i took myself outside to sketch, it was cool so i came back inside to add colour.

Roses

2008-10-07T08:24:00.000-04:00

the rose is from my garden.

snow scene

2008-10-04T18:14:00.001-04:00

clouds two

2008-09-29T09:14:00.002-04:00

another cloud painting created using a spray water bottle. this like the first painting was so much fun.

clouds

2008-09-12T11:33:00.002-04:00

oh what fun i had with this painting.

after my last few very 'green' paintings i decided to paint something that was not 'green' and so i painted clouds, but i did not know how to paint clouds until Karl my art teacher handed me a spray bottle of water . like i said what fun...painting wet on wet .

A Tree

2008-08-21T11:38:00.002-04:00

Thank you to all who commented on my last post.

illustration friday -Sail

2008-08-12T15:18:00.003-04:00

its three years since i started this blog so i could participate in illustration Friday. i had no knowledge of blogs or blogging all i knew was that i wanted to submit a simple pen drawing for illustration friday and so i followed the advise on the IF site and created a blog and i called it pen and paper because thats what i had used to create that simple sketch. the topic that week was Empty and this was my drawing. the excitment i felt the following day when i saw that someone had left a comment kept me smiling all day and checking my blog constantly for more comments.

longwood

2008-08-08T17:00:00.002-04:00

my most recently completed watercolour.

this afternoon i purchased the latest issue of 'artful blogging' this magazine is for everyone who blogs. i have every issue and find myself reading it from cover to cover. i guess you could say this is my favourite magazine at the moment.

butterfly

2008-08-05T18:08:00.002-04:00

this is a small postcard sized painting that i finished yesterday.

the bridge

2008-07-30T09:22:00.003-04:00

a Monet inspired watercolour.

The Cat

2008-07-11T13:00:00.002-04:00

finished this last night,

Princess the cat

2008-06-12T06:43:00.003-04:00

its too hot to do anything but lie low!

at the museum

2008-06-11T20:58:00.004-04:00

have you ever tried to do a drawing of live fish with your three year old hanging off your arm? its a challenge that's for sure!

the stairs

2008-06-10T17:19:00.003-04:00

lately i have been trying to sketch more. the goal is one sketch a day. the book i am working in at the moment is small 4X6 this at times is a blessing but most of the time i find it limiting i cannot wait to start a new sketchbook book. soon!

Happy accidents

2008-06-09T18:53:00.005-04:00

my work is normally small enough that i only need to scan it but this time i worked on a large sheet of handmade watercolour paper. well large for me a little bigger than a A3 size and so i had to photograph it.

this painting was coming along nicely until i re-wet some of the leaves and spots started to appear, it looked like my painting had the chicken pox or something and so the painting took a life of its own as i tried to hide the unwanted spots. i guess this is what is known as happy accidents in watercolour.

the side entrance

2008-06-06T14:45:00.002-04:00

Not very good

2008-06-05T09:38:00.003-04:00

here is a not very good sketch that i did the other day, the perspective of the car is all worry. Its not very good but i am still pleased with it because i did it while i was sitting in the car waiting for my husband. normally i would just sit and wait hence waste time but after reading a book i picked up at the bargain section at borders 'learn to paint and draw' i realised its the practice of drawing not what you draw that is important.

the sketch was done in my small notebook that i always carry in my handbag using my Parker pen.

that old car

2008-06-01T19:16:00.002-04:00

a different view of the old ford.

Tea Time

2008-05-21T08:40:00.001-04:00

My favourite tea at the moment is 'Lady Grey' by Twinings. Whats yours?

interior

2008-05-18T11:14:00.000-04:00

abandoned

2008-05-16T16:43:00.002-04:00

Rockwood

2008-05-02T21:03:00.001-04:00

finished this one last night. what to do next?

Old Ford

2008-04-16T17:13:00.002-04:00

what a beautiful day! spent most of it outside gardening and sketching the neighbours backyard.

the sketch was done using a broken 5b pencil, i was too lazy to go inside and get another pencil

spring

2008-04-15T10:19:00.004-04:00

a quick portrait sketch from this morning.

as the weather warms up i am thinking about and reading about gardens. while in Sydney last year i came across "playing with water a story of a garden " by Kate Llewellyn. i enjoyed it so much that i am now reading 'The Waterlily" by the same author.

i have also started my own garden but as a beginner i am uncertain of its success.

the kite

2008-04-10T21:22:00.002-04:00

an old post that i am submitting for this weeks IF topic.

Sketching Outdoors

2008-03-30T12:57:00.003-04:00

the days are longer and mild and so my daughter and i are spending time outside sketching and gardening.

Dark and Eerie

2008-03-28T12:56:00.002-04:00

Illustraion Friday- Garden

2008-03-07T16:01:00.004-05:00

this weeks topic for illustration Friday is Garden lucky for me because i have been working on this little watercolour from a photograph i took while visiting the Chinese Garden of Friendship in Sydney Australia.

the improved mango

2008-03-03T12:44:00.003-05:00

i started this painting in june 2006 and at the time i was happy with it, but last week i decided it needed more work. a good painting needs 'darks and lights' my old painting had no darks now it does

the trees

2008-02-24T15:21:00.002-05:00

White Roses

2008-02-17T14:07:00.003-05:00

not alot to say today expect that i got white roses for valentines.

Dancing trees

2008-02-07T18:12:00.000-05:00

there is a group of trees on my neighbours property that are so full of character, not a single straight branch to be seen. they look like they are dancing or perhaps reaching to hug each other.

i received wunderbar news from my friend tanja this afternoon. three of her photographs have been accepted for a upcoming show in april titled two valley trail exhibition. her work is great and now more people can enjoy it. congratulations tanja.

the view

2008-02-03T16:44:00.001-05:00

a early morning sketch looking out my studio window.

the view from my window is of a large lot that is currently for sale there is a small house and pond on the property, it used to be a greenhouse farm but now its abandoned, many different animals live there at the moment, i have seen deers, foxes, cats, rabbits and geese. it is a beautiful scene and i dont look forward to it being developed, but that inevitable.

three trees.

2008-01-15T13:54:00.000-05:00

having a new baby in the house leaves very little time for making art or sleeping for that matter.

this is a pencil sketch of a watercolour painting i hope to begin soon.

merry christmas to all

2007-12-25T11:02:00.000-05:00

a light pencil sketch of me.

Fish and Trees

2007-12-21T11:10:00.000-05:00

i had a roll of film developed yesterday from my recent trip to Sydney and found a few inspiring photos to sketch from.

Waiting

2007-12-20T10:18:00.001-05:00

i am 39 weeks pregnant today.

Hand

2007-12-16T10:45:00.000-05:00

most of the art that i have created recently has been small sketches, just practice until i have more time for bigger projects.

autumn

2007-11-19T19:49:00.001-05:00

i found some time this morning to do this sketch from my studio window while i sketched a deer walked by the tree, but of course i am not quick enough to draw a walking deer.

a winters day

2007-08-25T21:42:00.001-04:00

this is my fourth attempt at painting this scene. my aim was to create a cold winters day after the snow.

birds

2007-08-12T10:02:00.000-04:00

the irony in drawing the kookaburras is that i don't like birds. i am afraid of them, i use to believe i was the only one with this strange phobia but then i chanced on a TV program on phobias and there are other people who also don't like birds. most people don't understand it and think it amusing or stupid but its real. maybe by working with the kookaburras i shall overcome the fear but i doubt it.

laugh kookaburra laugh

2007-08-11T09:50:00.001-04:00

its two years since my very first post on this blog. of course i had no idea what i was doing back then but i was so very excited. i am still very clueless but its fun posting my art and getting feedback.

recently i was asked where the inspiration comes for my painting. all my painting are based on photographs that i have taken.

the kookaburra is a pen and ink experiment.

flowers

2007-08-10T09:29:00.001-04:00

help! i cannot remember what these flowers are called.

my wonderful mother informs me that the flowers are called frangipani. of course they are.

bird of paradise

2007-07-20T15:56:00.001-04:00

my latest attempt at a masterpiece. ha ha

the final harry potter book comes out today, i am amused by the silliness regarding the leak of what happens. i personally don't care if i know the ending of a book, i find that if i know whats going to happen then i don't have to rush through the book and can enjoy the book more, so i often read the last page before i start.

what kind of reader are you?

Sunset two

2007-07-07T10:10:00.001-04:00

last night i decided to have one of my recent watercolours framed. so i had a art show and my husband picked the two koalas as the one to frame.

which of my recent paintings is your favourite?

sunset one

2007-07-06T08:47:00.001-04:00

a small watercolour that i did last night. when i showed my husband he said it was 'very 70's'!!!

books, books and a painting

2007-06-29T15:55:00.000-04:00

i painted this watercolour last night, its of Watsons bay, NSW. its a very calm painting. a sketch of this scene was done on site and posted earlier this year, its interesting to compare the two as the painting was done from a photograph and the sketch at the beach.

i found a wonderful book today at Barnes and noble in the bargain section. its called The painted Garden by Mary Woodin. the watercolours are simply beautiful, i wish there were more books like this.

one of my favourite books is Across the Aegean by Marlene Mcloughlin. i would love a copy of Mcloughlins first book Road to Rome but sadly her books are out of print.

the white house

2007-06-21T16:43:00.001-04:00

i am very pleased with this painting. now if only i could paint this loosely every time.

Finally

2007-06-19T09:51:00.000-04:00

finally the scanner is working again.

koalas

2007-04-26T08:09:00.000-04:00

for some time i have wanted to list my favourite blogs on the sidebar of my blog, but i don't know how to, so here is a list of links to some of my favourite blogs

http://www.frenchtoastgirl.com/weblog/blogger.shtml
http://penelopeillustration.com/blog/
http://www.lornaart.blogspot.com/
http://learndaily.blogspot.com/
http://www.jperegrineart.typepad.com/
http://esterwilson.blogspot.com/

enjoy.

Stuff

2007-04-22T10:06:00.000-04:00

i have started a new daily project drawing my portrait. the portraits are rather awful so i will not be showing any for a while. instead here are two sketches from earlier this month. the elephant sketch is a copy i did from the book Animal drawing by C Knight, its a must have for anyone serious about animal drawing.

illustration friday Green

2007-04-11T18:51:00.000-04:00

creating and cleaning

2007-04-04T11:05:00.000-04:00

we are moving next month so its time to throw away any unwanted items, this was the plan last night when i started sorting my art supplies, i found three pieces of paper i did not need and i also created this collage.
its a very quick and simple collage of cutting and gluing paper, it makes me giggle seeing this elegant lady singing to the fish.

Birds

2007-04-01T09:01:00.000-04:00

using my daughter's wonderful books as reference for these quick sketches. the penguin photo i originally used was without feet so i added feet from a different photo. The toucan's bright colours always fascinate me.

Giraffe

2007-03-29T18:41:00.000-04:00

Pink

2007-03-27T15:12:00.000-04:00

currently working on painting this cute pink house that i saw last spring in New York.

A Portrait

2007-03-22T13:19:00.000-04:00

this is what i was working on in art class the past two weeks.

its on Arches watercolour paper Cold pressed.300g/m 23x31cm.

Vase 12

2007-03-18T10:10:00.000-04:00

this is the last vase drawing, a blind contour drawing thats twelve in total.

vase ten and eleven

2007-03-17T09:57:00.000-04:00

Chinese brush and ink. these were done about a week ago.

last night i dreamt one side of the vase was broken, i was trying to put the pieces back together but i was missing one . i wonder what that means.........

Deconstructing the Vase

2007-03-10T19:24:00.000-05:00

numbers 8 and 9 .

number seven

2007-03-08T20:14:00.000-05:00

Vase Six

2007-03-06T20:13:00.000-05:00

this is a pen and ink drawing. the ink is scented calligraphy ink by stuart houghton. purchased many years ago.

Number 5

2007-03-02T08:39:00.000-05:00

number five in my vase project. this time sitting down looking up

the Friendship gardens

2007-03-01T09:42:00.000-05:00

the most important thing in painting is 'Darks and Lights'