Redheaded Woodpecker

Today's visitor on the birdfeeder. I am loving the new camera, Nikon D5000, but still trying to figure out settings. Need to definitely get some training or read the manual, akk.

I've added a Squirrel Buster feeder, supposed to shut out those piggin' squirrels. We'll see, hopefully the pigeons can't get at it either as they can sit on the other feeder and gorge until they can barely fly.

timmy the giraffe

I came across a photo of this giraffe and loved the perspective and what's not to love about a giraffe? right? sketch with ballpoint and colored in photoshop

Howtoons - fun kid stuff

Been thinking these guys stuff is cool for kids for a while now so thought I'd share it with you. 

Howtoons: The Possibilities Are Endless, great graphic novel style kids science/craft/make-it book. Instructions for making PVC Marshmellow Gun, Soda  Bottle Rocket Launcher, and more in the book. 

Web-site also cool. http://howtoons.com/

I  used some of the posters I bought from them at MakerFaire in Austin, as prizes at a scout event. The boys were groovin' on them. 

Week in sunny Naples FL and Key West. Not much sketching though.  In Key West stayed at Eden House. Hammocks and gardens. This is the gazebo with a palm tree growing through it.

Merry Christmas

An old sketch - for the season.

An Illustrated Life

An Illustrated Life by Danny Gregory arrived day before yesterday from Amazon. Fascinating and inspirational. I recommend it if you need a push to pick up your sketch book and get to work (fun). Love being able to peek into so many artist's books and see their work and read their words. 

Tangerini

During spring break me and hubby and boy went to Washington DC. Very cool. lots to see of course.

One day I had an afternoon to explore one of the museums part of it was the Kogood Courtyard a splendid space with a waffle-y rippling ceiling of glass. Alice Tangerini, botanical illustrator from the National Museum of Natural History, conducted a sketching session focusing on the plant specimens in the Courtyard. She showed some of her work, real detailed, accurate and beautiful botanical illustrations.

Dave and Sam joined me and we all sat and sketched together. We have never done that and it was really cool. Sam and I make art sometimes but Dave is mostly a woodworker.

Here is one of my sketches from that day. Also I love her name, Alice Tangerini, seems sort of exotic but wholesome and orange.

A few scans from my "I draw pictures all day" sketchbook. Sadly, I don't draw pictures all day, or even every day. But here are a few pages I like. 

The colorful one is a sketch I did in the car on the way to Austin  last year for Christmas. The square is a design for a table I painted for my sister's (one of 6 sisters) kids. For their Christmas present. I thought it came out kinda groovy. 

Family Portrait

It reallly is hard to grow up with such cool toys around. An evening with Sam tinkering with Legos resulted in this family portrait. Yes, it is me with the pink ruffly pantaloons and a flower in my hair. The similarity to real life is scary.

Old bird prints

Picked up some bird pics at a booth at Round Top fair last spring and still they are not framed. But they are cool.