My husband is really good at getting rid of stuff—things I don't think I could ever get rid of! In a recent purge, he decided to trash an old notebook/sketchbook. I picked it up and thumbed through and came across the image below:

From Chris' sketchbook, 1998

The page tells the tall tale of a turkey that wasn't too keen on becoming dinner and how he hid behind a tree in relative safety after spotting the mighty hunter behind the blind. Chris named him, "Pokey Pete" as the bird was too smart to going blindly trotting by the funny looking blind.

The page above was Chris' way of passing a long and otherwise boring day waiting for Pete to stick his head around the tree. I always get a kick out of the extra "tidbits" he adds to his pages, both in a real and figurative sense (see the woodpecker's dribbles on his head as an example). And doesn't the turkey look confused?! It somehow makes it all the more real.

After a long, frustrating and turkey-less day, the mighty hunter set up in a new location the next day and was able to bring home a bird. Was it Pete? No way to know, but I like to think he was a little too smart for that!


See you next week!

Laure

Exploring Ideas

Building a sketchbook, or modifying one I've purchased, is part of the fun when I'm planning a trip like Paris 2018. (Wanna come to Paris, too? Click the link!) After all, why wait until the month before we leave to start playing with our art supplies? I'm ready to go now, but since that isn't possible, I can start preparing.

The system I used when I went to Acadia National Park was one of the most successful systems I've used for travel. (You can read about it here.) It involves creating a leather cover and signatures of the pages separately. The signatures are held in the leather cover via elastic bands like a Midori Traveler's Notebook. Once the trip and pages are complete, everything is bound into a permanent book with a nice cover if I choose or I can leave them in the leather cover.

Second Arrangement

I liked the system because I have a lot of flexibility to change the order of the pages and the ability to add in a page if I needed. It also saved a lot of wear and tear on what would be the final cover. One of the other BIG reasons I like doing it this way is a little scary to mention, but this is it—if I should lose my sketchbook or it became damaged, chances are good I would only lose the pages currently in the sketchbook because I won't carry all the completed sections with me each day I'm in exploring Paris.

In the images above, I have stamped out a variety of stamps on paper and then cut them out so I can arrange them in a bazillion ways on top of the paper that represents the overall size of my sketchbook. Until I find the combination and layout I want, I'll continue to push the pieces around.  

Once I discover the winning combination for the leather cover, I will use permanent ink to stamp them onto the leather and I'll share that part of the process with you in case you're interested in building your own system.

Since the trip is still ten months out, I have plenty of time to explore these ideas and make the sketchbook. If I was boarding a plane next week, I'd be going in a completely different direction with either a book I've already made or altering the cover of a purchased sketchbook.

Do you prefer to make your own sketchbook or do you use one you've purchased?

For The Love Of Pumpkins

There is just something about pumpkins...is it the shape? The intense colors? Or maybe, the delicious goodies we make from these golden orbs of yumminess?! Whatever it is, I simply adore them and they are a joy to sketch and paint. This jewel is forever captured so it can be enjoyed and savored through the Autumn Season!

The original artwork shown above is available for purchase. The price is $20 USD including shipping. This is a mixed media artwork with watercolor and archival inks. The artwork is on an embossed piece of watercolor paper and measures 2.5 x 3.25 inches. It fits neatly into a 4 x 6 inch frame or with a paper backing (the green piece), a 5 x 7 inch frame. The frame shown is for display purpose only and is not included.

If interested, please send me a direct message via the link at the top of the blog. First come, first serve.

Close Up of Artwork

Concept Art for 'Tis The Season

Have you ever noticed that the less time you have, the more inspired you are or is that just me?

Every year, when the temperatures begin to drop, the leaves begin to change, and the decorations start to show up and I find myself ridiculously inspired—I cannot wait to get into the studio to start creating. I have all kinds of art ideas dancing in my head!

Except...the hours in which to create are usual nowhere to be found.

With all the extra activities going on in November and December, finding or making time to create can get tricky. I find myself up at some absurd hour in the morning or burning too much midnight oil in the hopes of getting something finished in time to use it for this year's holiday season. Sound familiar?

And every year as I scramble to get together an idea for a card to send to family and friends, I vow this is the last time I'm going to do this. Instead, I set a goal that I'll create a piece of holiday art every month so I won't be scrambling in December. Inevitably, or so it seems, as the year steams into the last few months of the year I realize that once again, I've not followed through on my plan and I'm scrambling to come up with some holiday art.

However...this year is going to be very different! Because you and I are going to be making holiday art ALL YEAR LONG! 

Introducing 'Tis The Season, An Online Holiday Class!

Here's the super cool thing about this class—the lessons will come out once a month for the year and there are three different class options that allow you to choose what works best with you. You'll also have a minimum of a year with the materials and depending on the class option, up to two years! If you're traveling when the lesson drops, don't worry. It will be there waiting on you when you're reading to start creating.

In addition, these classes are all about the studio and taking our time. There will be an art element as well as a lettering element to each class. The classes will be posted on the first Wednesday of each month and there's even a bonus class available! There will also be email reminders to let you know when the next lesson is available and to help keep you on track.

Come this time next year, you'll have a year's worth of artwork to choose from for your holiday card and gifts! Sound like a plan? Then come sign up!

You can get the details here. 

I look forward to creating with you all year long!

A Month of Gratitude Spread

Most of us have lives full of blessings. I know mine is beyond blessed, but I find that sometimes I lose sight of the bounty because I focus on lack or the wrong things.

Sound familiar?

I invite you to a Month Of Gratitude. This isn't a challenge and it isn't daily, but rather it is a simple recording—in your sketchbook—of those blessings, simple kindnesses and heartfelt thanks we take note of throughout the month of November.

My first entry was about the two sweet trick-or-treaters we had on Halloween...and their guard cat! I kid you not. The cat was following them from house to house, keeping an eye on things along with Mom & Dad. The two little girls were adorable and dressed as Betty and Wilma.

I just realized I misnamed Betty and Wilma—oops!

Since I was still smiling about the cat the next day, I decided that would be my first entry: I'm thankful for humorous "guard cats!"

My spread is in my Stillman & Birn Zeta sketchbook (another blessing as I love these sketchbooks!). I went ahead and added some stamps and ink to colorize the page so that I don't have to paint every entry.  I used some of the new Distress Oxide stamp pads in the Tim Holtz line for the colored background. Love that splotchy background!

I'm not really sure where the pages are going to go, but I do know I'll have a record of those easily missed blessings to remind me of how full my life truly is.

Wanna play?

There are no rules, no obligations, no prompts. Just pull out your sketchbook and start recording those unexpected kindnesses and blessings that we don't normally give much thought to whenever you're so moved. If you share on social media, please use the hashtag, #novembersketchbookgratitude so we can find each other's posts!

I wish you a month of blessings, unexpected kindnesses and a world of awareness!