Illustration Friday - Whiskers

It's not yet December but I am decorating our tree and unpacking our Christmas storage boxes means this is going on our wall again.  Pefect for sharing on Illustration Friday this week...Whiskers.




Kauai Sky

I tried something a little different this week.  I gave myself one hour and only 4 colors while painting.  This is a view of the sunset sky in Kauai.  Painted from memory and my vacation photos.  Normally when I paint California scenes I use Cerulean Blue, Hookers Green and Titanium White to create my water and sky.  When I paint Kauai ocean and sky and I can't get the right colors using my "California palette."  Here I used Cobalt Blue, Naphthol Crimson, Yellow Light Hansa and Titanium White.   I was tempted to add something else...but I tend to over mix and use too many colors and end up with mud.  I'm very open to constructive criticism and advise and tips.  :)

 

Painting in the living room instead of at my art desk these days

I ruined my manicure (OPI Into the Night)

Sharing on Illustration Friday and Paint Party Friday.

Happy Friday!! 

 

Illustration Friday - Water

I'm happy to finally participate in Illustration Friday again.  I haven't been feeling the prompt words lately but this week is 'water' and I have no trouble with painting the ocean over and over again.  I love the color a wave becomes just before it breaks and wanted to capture that here.

Green Wave.  Acrylic on canvas.  11X14.

 

I used this picture to paint from.  Taken yesterday.

Bursting with Figs

This time of year is fig time.  We have a baby tree that is not yet producing well but my dear friend has a tree positively bursting with figs.  We get bags and bags of figs from her. 

These figs are so ripe they have burst.

Watercolor on paper

Figs on my art desk...working quickly before the ants figure it out.

When the figs are overripe I like to use them in smoothies, fresh or frozen.  I put them in the blender, skin and all.  They add a nice creamy texture and a subtle flavor.  They are high in calcium and other minerals, loaded with vitamins and antioxidants.  What's not to love?

Fig & Peach Green Smoothie:
1 large fig, cut up and skin on
1 medium peach, cut up and skin on
2 cups mixed baby spinach, collard greens and kale (or any green)
about 6 oz water
add crushed ice if you like your smoothies really cold as I do
when I make fig smoothies for the kids I add barely a hint of greens and much more fruit.

Another amazing way to eat figs and is our go to fig recipe every year on our annual
Girls Weekend in Palm Springs:



Slice figs in half and place face up on pretty serving tray.  Put crumbled blue cheese and roasted almonds on each fig.  Drizzle whole thing with honey.

How do you enjoy figs?  My dear friend and I would love some new ideas!

Illustration Friday - Freeze

I have had trouble keeping up with Illustration Friday lately.  The word this week is freeze which is hard to wrap my head around...the morning fog hasn't been making an appearance and it's finally hot here.  Here is a painting I did years ago after a rare freeze.  The mountains were covered in snow, and it was freezing standing there.  This was actually my first real painting and hangs in my living room.



Snow over Lake Cachuma, acrylic on cavas. 

Carry

 

I haven't been bursting with creativity lately...when I have found the time to pick up my sketchbook I've been disappointed by what's been showing up on paper.  Today I was determined to do something, ANYTHING and I've been wanting to draw on old book pages for a while.

This little bird can carry a tune.

Lost

She knew...with quiet certainty...that all was lost.

 

Kauai Sunset and the big day is here!

Have you ever wondered what keeps clouds suspended in the sky? 

 

I thought this worked nicely for Illustration Friday - Suspend

It's funny and very telling that one of my favorite journal pieces is this watercolor sunset I painted from our lanai looking north over the bluffs of Princeville.  It only took me 15 minutes...which is maybe why it looks so good to me.  I didn't have time to over think and mess it up!

In other big news...we have a new puppy...AND...a new kitty!  The new kitty actually came 10 days ago.  We decided it would be fun to have a kitten and a puppy grow up together.

Meet Io the kitty and Oberon the pup.

Io wasted no time taking charge.  Here she is stalking Obi.

All the excitement wore Obi out.

Io likes to help me work.

Illustration Friday - Hurry

Watercolor on paper

I feel like I'm in a hurry just about every minute of every day...I'm sure lots of people feel this way, we juggle jobs, kids, marriage, household chores, wellness and creative endeavors (not necessarily in that order!) It's important to stop and smell the roses. Yesterday I picked these Cecile Brunner roses and spent about 1 hurried hour painting them so I could post today.  This week feels especially crazy, the last week of school is filled with extra activities and things to remember AND trying to get ready for a two week vacation that starts Saturday!   I'm hoping that after all this hurrying I will have nothing left to do but relax...

And the smell wonderful!

Illustration Friday - Faded

 

Even faded flowers can be beautiful.  I gave these yellow spray roses to my daughter after her last ballet recital.  I hung on to them even after they started to droop and brown and now I'm glad I did because they were perfect for this week's topic.  Watercolor on paper. 

Illustration Friday - Sight

Rozsa, in traditional Hungarian folk clothing, was mesmerized by the sight of the giant butterfly.  Colored pencil and acrylic ink. Inspired by the book Tarka Lepke, which I have had for about 35 years.

Illustration Friday - Kernel

watercolor and acrylic on paper

I double checked the definition of "kernel" and a sunflower seed definitely qualifies!  I've had sunflowers on the brain since last week's topic "hitched" (although I ended up with something else entirely.)  We had sunflowers as centerpieces at our wedding...I'm glad I could get it out of my system this week.

"cross stitched" sunflowers. pencil on paper

And here's a little teaser...check these guys out...6 days old

Illustration Friday - Hitched

 

If she gets bored of this place she'd get that wagon hitched up to her pony and move on...

Years ago I used to travel to China for work.  On my  5 or 6th trip I decided I wanted to buy a jade bracelet and my Chinese co-worker, Chain, took me shopping.  I don't know anything about jade, I just wanted a bracelet in a pretty shade of green that fit and was affordable.  Chain was very worried that I would get home and find out I had bought poor quality jade so she kept telling me that my bracelet was "just for funny"...meaning it wasn't good quality, it was just for fun.

My computer was down all day today so I couldn't work and did this little drawing instead.  It's just for funny.

Oh, and this is my 100th post!  Thanks for visiting...and I love your comments! 

Illustration Friday - Jump

This horse likes to jump, not sure how I ended up with a colorful watercolor horse but here we are.  Not even sure I like it at all but it only took me a few hours and I wanted to post early this week...

Watercolor on paper

The earlier version, which didn't feel finished

My sketchbook, I was originally going to go classic with the version in the top right with rider...

Illustration Friday - Heights

Acrylic on canvas

This time of year it's at the greater heights in our local mountains that you will find the most wildflowers.  I'm not sure if there are more cheerful flowers than California Poppies.  This painting was done several years ago and hangs on our wall, this was a good week to share. 

Illustration Friday - Vocal

Acrylic on Canvas

Normally for Illustration Friday I like to create something new based on the word each week and I was doing just that (see below) when I looked at this peacock painting I did a while back.  It's my imagining of Kauai with peacocks instead of roosters.  This is a peacock enjoying the sunset of the Na Pali coast.  Have you lived near peacocks?  They are very loud and very vocal.

Work in progress

 On the opposite end of the bird size spectrum is the hummingbird, perhaps not as loud but no less vocal.  These guys love the Cape Honeysuckle growing outside my bedroom window and it never ceases to amaze me that such tiny creatures can create such a loud sound.

Illustration Friday - Return

Charcoal & Pencil on Paper.  Annie. 

 A return to art. 
A return to art featuring Annie.
A return to Illustration Friday.


We are recently returned from spring break, a fun but somewhat exhausting trip to Disneyland and the desert. 

Andreas Canyon, Palm Springs

Desert Blooms

Intrepid Explorers

Illustraion Friday - Yield

Brier Rose & Honey Bee.  Watercolor, acrylic ink, pen & pencil on paper.

A brier rose whose buds yield fragrant harvest for the honey bee. - Letitia Landon

This original watercolor by me is going to be a giveaway!  Please leave a comment if you would like your name in the drawing.  You must be a follower of this blog.  The winner will be chosen at random.

work in progress

bee practice

Illustration Friday - Intention

 

Giving paintings as gifts was a regular practice of mine a few years ago and it has been my intention to start doing that again.  This painting is for Stella's 5th birthday.


These are apple blossoms in my garden.  Despite the wonderful climate I live in I have had terrible luck with fruit trees...I'm hoping these pretty flowers turn into delicious apples.  I had them in mind when I painted the flowers above although I wanted a more bold pink in the painting. 

Illustration Friday - Capable

There were so many directions this could go and I had a much deeper post planned but in the end...this is what I am capable of creating while watching the Oscars, drinking wine and eating popcorn!

Watercolor on paper

Seen here with the original ink sketch