Another Sketch From Bulgaria

This is a sketch done watching TV.As I could remember the guy was a movie critique or something like this.He has an interesting face doesn't he?

At The Park

I drew this sketch at the beginning of this month.I went to pick up my daughter from school with the intention to take her for a walk as the fall day was wonderful,warm and bright.We could not go farther than the school park which was bursting with kids and parents enjoying the beautiful weather.When my little one went to play with the other kids I noticed this girl reading her book bathed by the bright afternoon sunshine and did a quick sketch of her.I used an ink pen Millennium to do the sketch and later at home I finished it with watercolor pencils and a water brush.

Sketches from Bulgaria

I am back from my trip to Bulgaria.I had wonderful time with my family and friends.I even had a little bit time to sketch.It usually happened when I was relaxing at the parks waiting for my daughter to play on the swings and slides.I took tons of pictures which I intend to use for references for my future paintings.
We did not have much luck with the weather,though.After the first three hot days it became cold even colder than in Minnesota.The temps dropped from the nineties to the sixties with wind and rain.My plans to take my daughter to the seaside failed.I was disappointed too because I hoped I would take beautiful pictures of seascapes,boats and old Bulgarian architecture which make a wonderful subject matter for paintings.
Here you can find three of my sketches done with ink in my sketchbook.The brand of the pen is Millennium,made in Japan.I have tried different ink pens and this one is my best choice so far,fine nib and no bleeding when washes applied.

Memories

I am almost ready for my trip.My suitcases are packed,I just have to throw a couple more things and zip them up.
That is why I kind of relaxed and let myself play around with some paints.I go on trying new things.This one was painted with gouache in my sketchbook.The paper was lightweight and it buckled a little bit.I should have gessoed the paper beforehand.
I borrowed the topic from IllustrationFriday.com.I like to browse this site although I am not a member.I get a lot of inspiration from there seeing so many great works.So,the other day I started thinking what would I paint if I had to participate in the monthly challenge named Memories.I came up with this painting of two kids playing with chickens.When I was little I loved to visit my grandparents' village and play with the domestic animals and my cousins.

Sketches

There hasn't been much time for art recently.I am getting ready for my trip to Bulgaria in September and I am too excited to sit and paint.I had some troubles in connection with that trip.I realised that I lost my daughter's passport 20 days before the trip and I was very upset about that.But now everything is OK.It appeared that if you use a travel agency services they can issue a new passport within ten days.
And also my daughter had a birthday the other day and I was busy getting ready for her party.The party turned out to be a big success and my little girl said it was the best birthday party she ever had .
These two sketches of her are from the last year.I have some new ones but I have to take pictures of them and upload them in the computer.

Talking Monkey

I did this drawing for fun.It is my daughter talking monkey.It makes short records of what you say and then when you press the play button it repeats it.
I drew it with ink and colored pencils in my sketch book,size 9x12.

Pear

Just a quick study with watercolors.Size 9x12 inches.

Artist

This is a sketch of my daughter drawing from my sketchbook 2007.I used colored pencils.

Images From My Sketchbook

As I mentioned in my other blog we had a horrible weather in the Midwest the last two weeks and I was too worried to paint.That's why I am offering two pages of my sketchbook. In the first one you can see my daughter at the computer and in the second my husband's white orchid .I used ink pen Millennium/Made in Japan/ and regular kids' Crayola watercolors for the washes.I was surprised by the rich and juicy colors this student grade paints provide .I like them better than some of the brands I buy in the art store.

More Poppies

These two watercolors are about 4 1/2 x 6 inches.For the blue poppy I used a reference photo from the RIL of Wet canvas.Thanks to the person who provided it.

I just enjoyed painting them.

The Fish Pond

I like to experiment with different subject matter. I have never tried to paint fish before so this is my first attempt. The coi fish is a really colorful and interesting to paint.
This piece is small-4 1/2 x 6 on Strathmore watercolor paper with Prang watercolor paints.
I like to use watercolor paints in pans because it is more convinient, especially for busy moms. And this brand is of a pretty good quality.

The Pair

This is a little piece with pastel on Strathmore paper.The image is 5 by 7.I decided it would be better to concentrate on small simple paintings till I get more familiar with the media.
Pears are my favourite kind of fruit and I also like to paint them because of their shape and color.I hope they look juicy and delicious to you too.
Actually I did this painting two weeks ago. I am kind of out of ideas and inspiration at the moment. Maybe because I fought a lingering cold for the last two weeks and on top of that I caught a pink eye from my daughter which was not fun either.

A Walk Down The Sunflower Road

It is strange how it snowed the whole day yesterday and was cold and gloomy.At the end of April!!!And today the sun is shining bright and it is warm and cheerful with the birds chirping and flying all over the place.Juuust crazy Minnesota weather.

I go on exploring the pastels.My second attempt is another landscape,this time a summer one.I painted it last week on Strathmore paper,size8x10.

Exploring New Media

My interest in art took an unexpected turn.I have been challenged by my husband to do a painting in pastels.I said I could try and now I can't stop trying.
I have worked with pastels once before and although I enjoyed working with them I decided they were not for me because they were very messy and I did not have a studio at that time.And also there was the question how to preserve the paintings without smudging them .
Now as I learned more about the media and as I already have my little studio those problems don't bother me anymore. I just enjoy the process of painting.What I like about them is that they are a faster media and the process of painting with them combines drawing and painting.
My first attemt in pastels is 8x10 big on Strathmore pastel paper.The reference photo is from the Image Library of Wet Canvas.The soft pastels are Grumbascher and the hard ones are of an unknown brand.They are a heritage from my husband's grandmother.

There's no place like home

Finally we are back to our house.After seven months of living with relatives and in a FEMA trailer we moved back in on Saturday before Easter,March 23 .It feels wonderful to be home again.Everything on the first floor is brand new.I love my new kitchen with the new snack bar,beautiful cabinets and new appliances. The living room and the downstairs bedroom are pretty too.And I also got a small studio for my soul.It is a small closet with no windows but big enough for me and my art supplies. It is amazing how we sometimes get what we dream about but the hardest way.
Gradually we are going back to our usual way of life,our old routines and traditions.We still have a long way to go.The house is not completely fixed up,there is some exterior work to be done,siding ,windows on the second floor.And also the yard needs landscaping but my husband is working on it.
The watercolor sketch I'm posting today is not of my house.This house is a block away from mine waiting to be torn down.The owners of the house decided they did not want to fix it after the flood.And it is an usual sight in our neighbourhood. Many beautiful old houses got demolished because people could not afford to fix them.
I painted this piece using a reference photo from the fall two years ago.

Baby Sonya 4

This is another drawing of Sonya from the time she was seven months old.I used my own reference photo.It is completed on drawing paper Strathmore with a regular #2 pencil.

Ashley

This is a watercolor painting of Ashley I did last Friday. She is one of the two cats we adopted after our old cat ,Murphy, died in December last year. We got Ashley, seven years old , and Precious, one year of age from the animal shelter.I have painted Precious in Acrylics and you can see the painting in my other blog vanya'sArtblog.
Ashley is kind of hard to paint because the color of her fur is very specific. It is something between coffee and cream with grayish hew. Otherwise her face is very expressive. She always looks as if she has been startled or scared maybe because of her shy character.

Apples and plums

This is another quick sketch with watercolors. I used my own reference photo. The paper is

Strathmore again and the paints brand is Reeves. I am going to experiment with better quality supplies when we go back to our house. After the flood in August last year we've been living in a FEMA trailer and I don't have much room for making art. I can't wait to go back and it is going to be pretty soon. I am going to have my own studio on the second floor. It is a small 6x6ft closet with no windows but I will be happy to have a small corner of my own for my art and my supplies.

Alana

This is a drawing of my step-daughter Alana from the time she was eleven years old.I used a reference photo I took when we were on a picnic at Farmers' Park.I used a regular #2 pencil on Strathmore drawing paper.

Doodles

It is from my o6/07 sketchbook.Just experimenting with designs.