Almost Christmas Holiday & Art Challenges

 For several art challenges, Spirit=Illustration Friday, Adagio for Artists in blogland one word challenge.

 Slow, slowing down and savouring the upcoming holiday.

 The origin of these pieces is Island Illustrators musical alphabet show which will be displayed in the Victoria Public Libraries rotating through the branches.

Only three more days of work and then holidays begin, looking forward to seeing lots of family and friends. Best Wishes to all :)

It's All About the Attitude

Attitude and Perspective?

A piece I am working on for an alphabet piece A is for Adagio why did I pick this......? Musical theme A is for Attitude is more fitting! I will post the final piece if it comes together.

Christmas Berry & Bough

 Pattern for Illustration Friday challenge & a little holiday joy

Christmas Wreath Refrain

Natural Christmas wreath, tried to refrain from the Christmas rush, with the children's programs at the library its a challenge! Crafts, storytimes and puppet plays......very busy weeks ahead then holidays! I am looking forward to family and rest. How about you?

Winter Colours to Cheer the Soul

Winter frosts call for rich colours, work has been hectic and finding time to paint at a premium. The garden is frosted so I am dreaming of spring, almost time to start seeds. Loving these rich reds and pinks planning on planting  Icelandic poppies and sweet peas soon.

Me and My Shadow?

Who knew a croc could make a good buddy? Mr Bear is not so sure about this......

Winter Color

Bouquet in season, lots of berries for the birds, maybe a Christmas Card? More seasonal than last week :)

A stretch for Illustration Friday Energy challenge but....berries are food for birds therefore their energy source!

Can you find the Joy?

This might be as close as I get to a Christmas card? Do you think it would work?

A Little Bird Whispered a Secret

A little bird told me a secret. I need to get some work done for the upcoming show! I have been busy trying to get some pieces finished for the show and hope to finally get some pieces posted to my etsy shop as well.

Entwined Fall

 Fall is in the air, the leaves and acorns are falling fast....happy weekend.

Which do you prefer?

Pattern Play

Playing with pattern/watercolour. 

Recovering from Canadian Thanksgiving dinner!

We are thankful for family and plenty.

Mr Bears Disguise

 

For Illustration Friday and Sunday Sketches. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving :)

In Bloom on Paper this week

Wonderful sunny day starting to cut the garden back. I have spent way too much time fiddling around with  short video which I hope is now properly embedded! Lots to learn. 

Flowers for you a very short video

Last Faces

 Last faces for the 29 faces challenge, didn't do very well.... good exercise though. I think I should stick with flowers and the odd cat!

Purr ONOMATOPOEIA?

 For Illustration Friday challenge, Paint Party Friday & Sunday Sketches. Our Old Kitty was having the best sleep purring in her dreams. At 19 she does a lot of sleeping, purring and telling us what to do!

Here is a picture of the floor we slaved over! Not really wanting to put much furniture in. The floor was all scarred up and much the colour of the window frames. It has a lovely smooth finish now, original fir floors from the 50's. Kitty's favourite spot is on the sheepskin on the sofa.

Together on an adventure

 For the together challenge @ Illustration Friday. I think these three may have more adventures? Not sure if this counts as a face for the 29 faces challenge?

Another group together, the last bits of garden, windflowers a real favourite next year need to add white ones!

Creative Challenges

 For Illustration Friday challenge totem....+ for 29 faces challenge face #4.

to·tem  

A natural object or animal believed by a particular society to have spiritual significance and adopted by it as an emblem.

In my garden the little birds would be my choice of totem animal; they are very busy enjoying the sunflowers that are going to seed. 

 In bloom this week

With a totem visitor!

Which do you prefer?

Face Posting #2

Watercolour face #2 second day of 29.....

great exercise.

Faces 29 in September?

 Sketches of faces: stretching artistically....between stretching physically sanding floors. I will post a picture of the finished room prior to cluttering it up! Going to try for the 29 faces in September even though I have started almost 1/2 way through, good exercise.

White Cosmos

Joy to be painting & gardening and a weeks holiday :)

Hidden Within

Hidden within; cabbage moths, if only they did good works instead of laying eggs and hatching into insatiable worms....

Feels great to be painting something other than living room walls, we are almost there, walls painted, floors sanded just the smelly floor finish to go down. The end is in sight :)

Flower Power

Quick sketch, loose watercolour + pastel, flower power.

Trio of Lilies

More lilies from the garden.

Hybrid Lilies Ode to Summer

The lilies are all in bloom all at once. The fragrance is amazing as well as all that pollen! For Illustration Friday, Paint Party Friday and Sunday Sketches.

Its a Jungle out there

Its a jungle out there...or in my garden. Wildness is taking over + the garden

Jungle for illustration Friday challenge + Sunday Sketches + Artists in Blogland + Creative Everyday + Inspiration Ave. Several challenges that I have missed for several weeks. I need the discipline of creating every week! Life gets busy but I miss pushing myself to complete and share something each week. Thank you to all of these sites and the creative souls whose positive energy keeps them flowing!

Garden/House excuses.....

 

Gardening like mad, cutting flowers for the local market + road side stand + working full time.....Not so much time for painting. We have also started painting our living room (white over dark wood) I am speckled! Very stinky primer.

 Our days are filled with watering & weeding but also with starting to eat from the garden not all flowers.

 The sweet peas have hit 7 feet tall fronted by lilies starting to open.

 Growing some yard long beans as well.

 First of the tomatoes

Cosmos and sunflowers just getting going. In the birdhouse lots of activity.

I'm very grateful for a deer fence this year what a difference!

So I am wishing for painting time....but for now it is mostly of the house painting variety! I am so thankful to have a house to paint though it be old and always in need of something fixing :)

Equality Sweet Peas and Canada Day!

 In wonderful bloom right now. Equality for Illustration Friday grey/or in colour equal? Which do you prefer?

Also for Paint Party Friday and Sunday Sketches.....

and monochromatic for Just Add Water Silly! 

Happy Canada Day the heat has arrived here 30 Celsius/close to 90!

This is the west coast usually never this warm up at 6 to start in the garden.

Baubles

Bracelets & Baubles 
Watercolour doodles and play check out experiments with yupo paper, what do you think?

Blooms full of love

Sweet Peas, lavender, fragrant love. Playing with yupo paper very interesting lots to learn :)

Surveillance

Behind those dark glasses she kept him under close surveillance....Playing with yupo paper rich colours interesting challenge. For Illustration Friday little bit late.

Handful of fragrance

 

Lavender is in full bloom, buzzing with bees. Playing with backgrounds, which do you prefer? Actually getting something finished to add to Sunday Sketches! Been very busy with family and garden. Happy Fathers day to families out there, my own father is gone but I have great memories to look back on. My husband is looking forward to a nice dinner with our son and our daughter had brunch with us before heading out on a flight to her next adventure, bridesmaid in Hawaii.