Watercolor Sketch* in Paris Sketchbookby Laure Ferlita © 2009 All Rights ReservedIsn't he cute?! Walking around the city* this afternoon, I could not help but notice all the dogs! They're everywhere! The hardest part was figuring out which one to sketch. This little guy was very well behaved and patient - he knew if he sat still just a little bit longer, he...

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A slight softening of the air? A deepening of blue in the sky? A hint of wood smoke in the air? A gentle slowing of time? An urge to wear a sweater when going for an evening stroll? Twilight coming earlier? Subtle changes in the trees, in their leaves? Just a fleeting glimpse . . . . ...

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Watercolor sketch with added Micron pen lineworkStrolling around a quaint neighborhood, I came across this lovely bicycle sitting in a courtyard! Paris* is full of bikes, but most of them are quite modern looking. I wanted something with a little more . . . . personality. This seem to fit the bill. I sat across the street (the courtyard was locked and I...

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You may remember from the Eiffel Tower sketch that I was not too happy with the pen that I used because of how much it bled when I washed over the lines with clean water. Since then, I've been gathering up any gel ink pen I could find in the house and testing* it. There have been some surprising results!You would think all...

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I wanted to make sure that I knew my way back to the Metro (Paris' Rapid Transit System), so I asked the waiter for directions. Lucky for me he spoke far better English than I do French! I have been enchanted with the Metro signs all over the city - many have an Art Nouveau style. This was the first one I've sketched...

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Or, at least that's what himself said when he saw this sketch! I popped into a little out-of-the-way cafe in Paris* for a few minutes today. They weren't very busy and this gentlemen was taking advantage of the lull. He was actually leaning up against a table with his other arm, but I didn't get that far. I'll put it in a little...

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. . . to a great art organization? What makes it great or different or special?Do you play a role in that organization? What might it be? How do you contribute?I am searching for ideas and information on what makes an art organization a [great] living, breathing, growing organism. The kind of organization that you and everyone else WANTs to belong to, to...

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Took some time out from the frantic pace of weekend life to sketch the Eiffel Tower. I was experimenting with combining ink and watercolors on watercolor paper. A bit labor intensive for using on site. I first sketched the tower and trees in pencil. Then I went back and laid in the sky wash. Blotted it with tissues to get the clouds. Then...

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Announcing . . . .The plane will be lifting off on Monday, September 21st, and landing at Charles de Gaulle International Airport! We'll spend 8* glorious days* and 7 gorgeous nights in the wonderful city of light! We'll be sketching** and painting** at quaint cafes and courtyards, museums and street scenes with an occasional surprise thrown in here and there! Learn to sketch...

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Cynthia (Cindy) Carter HunterApril 6th, 1965 ~ August 10th, 2009 Your journey through this world is complete, and now you're free. To fly, to shine brightly, to let the struggle of this life fall away. No doubt, you're already dazzling the angels with that bright smile and those mischievous, twinkling eyes. I pray that you find peace, that you're happy. Say hello to...

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When I first started to read blogs, I was still working in Corporate America and I entertained the idea of starting one - briefly. I didn't think I would be able to keep up with a blog on a regular basis. For me, if I couldn't post on a fairly regular schedule, there didn't seem to be much point.Then life turned upside down...

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Part II of What Are You Waiting For?! Begin!: (To read Part I, please click here.)We need to be deliberate in our choices: we will begin; we will begin now; we will begin now imperfectly. By being deliberate we take the drama out of the situation and get down to what's important - the reason(s) why we want to do [fill in the...

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It seems a lot of us are suffering from being "out of sync", "out of balance" and just plain old "can't get it all done." This post is about some of what I've learned about time management, procrastination, the evil of perfectionism and the woes of not knowing where to start, what to do, or when to do what.Here is Part I: Act!...

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Pink Petticoats PeonyOriginal Watercolor by Laure Ferlita© 2009 All Rights Reserved8.25" x 4.375" (20.96 cm x 11.11 cm)Last week I mentioned that I had not been painting and was feeling out of sync. I thought I was going to paint that evening, but it didn't happen as planned. It was the next day and I think, by then, I was starved for color...

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This is a sad post tonight but one I feel strongly about as it carries an urgent message. My husband and I learned today that a family friend recently collapsed and was taken to the hospital with acute liver failure. She's now on life support. The family is gathering near as she cannot survive. The doctors are unsure as to how long she'll...

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